BU 2s v AECC RFC Trial Match (Oct 2008)

Trial Match:
Bournemouth University 2nd XV 0
AECC RFC 47

With the season already in full swing - the lads had already managed a whole session of non-contact training - it was time for the traditional first litmus test, a trial match against Bournemouth University's second string. Despite several high profile injuries to Thomas Waller, Jon Coller and Luc Meersseman among others, the college still fielded a remarkably strong side; as well as some exciting freshers in Tom Faulkner, Dayne Ferrar and Mat Bateman to name but three, the AECC also fielded a returning Robert Todd (google it.)

Bournemouth were keen to show their coaches what they were made of, with their first XV travelling to Plymouth for their season opener, and it was no surprise to see the game open with ferocious exchanges. Before long, though, the class of the AECC back line became evident as the midfield axis of Todd, Joe Williams and Simon Tottle opened up a hole for Tottle to run in the first try. Winger Ed Crawford put in his most committed performance for the college to date, with some crunching first half tackles flying in, and was rewarded with a try later on in the game. Details of tries and scorers are unfortunately sketchy, due partly to the inadequate reporting skills of a nameless injured ginger, and partly to the vigorous nature of the celebrations that followed in the Toggler's Arms on Wednesday eve. Suffice it to say that flawed as the AECC's game may have been, the sheer class and ingenuity of their running game allowed them to run up the score to a dazzling 47-0 by the time the final whistle was blown, some 25 minutes short of the standard 80. The democratic man of the match award was won by full-back Dayne Ferrar, who pipped Simon Tottle, Ed Crawford and the imperious Callum Forrest by one vote. Newcomer Nate Lee showed fantastic commitment and some interesting NFL-style moves which earned him a couple of votes - we all look forward to seeing his second appearance in the sky blue and white! And finally Matt Bateman brough some fine experience to the base of a struggling scrum, enabling the backs to unleash the full force of their pace.

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Big thanks go to all the newbies especially Tom Faulkner who managed to somehow injure himself, to all the supporters in tow, and to Bournemouth University's Carl Martin who very kindly agreed to referee the game at short notice. 

AECC lineup: Dayne Ferrar, Ed Crawford, Simon Tottle, Joe Williams, Neil Petrie, Robert Todd, Mat Bateman, Struan Brown, Joe Frost, Piet Le Roux, Callum Forrest, Tom Faulkner, Lee Le Roux, Tom Donaldson, Antoine "Bru" Helsen, Nate Lee, Laurence Plant

CHEERS BRU'S!!

AECC RFC: Not bad for a touch team