On a bitterly cold Saturday morning, after a heavy night on the ale on Friday (the true athlete that I am, I can’t miss a works do where the beer is free…), this author was not entirely looking forward to a grudge match against an Eccles side we beat just five weeks prior in what was a tit-for-tat battle with points being scored by both sides.

Regrettably, the 3rd XV had a shortfall in numbers and so with a contingent of troops called up to assist, and despite the icy temperatures and biting wind, the Sedgley 4th XV turned out well and 14 of the revered shirts were pulled on by the Tigers. With Eccles having a spare body, we gladly welcomed the 15th member of the team and the scene was set for an epic.

As so often happens on the 4th XV, we found ourselves with a chronic lack of backs which left Director of Elite Rugby, Steve Harrison, to sport the No 15 shirt. Some say he’s lost a yard or two of pace to play in the full back position – most say he never had it in the first place. Whichever your opinion, he certainly had a safe pair of hands and a level head and that certainly showed when it mattered.

With a quasi-familiar pack and the teaming up of Johnny Allen and Chris Drench playing in the centres (fed by Tony Jones at fly-half) all that we were left to find was a willing scrum-half! With time ticking, the decision was made to shuffle the pack and back row Chris Mills was given the duty of playing at scrum half with Andy Taylor in the No 8 shirt. And so it was, we set up to begin the game, refereed by none other than fan-favourite and tour-organiser extraordinaire, Steve Ward.

From the outset, the Eccles youthful and exuberant backs ran hard at the Sedgley boys and whilst making ground, found themselves tackled hard. In the scrummage, once again the team held strong and the pack felt tight, driving forward on our own put in and holding Eccles back on theirs. The line-out was an issue but with a little communication, the boys made the best of a bad situation and managed to retain most of their own ball. It became apparent that the Eccles team, whilst worthy opponents, struggled to defend against a well established rolling maul (as most teams do!) and as such, the Tigers forwards surged up the pitch time and time again in these maul situations.

The first points were soon notched up and a furious exchange of tries followed with each try being answered and equalled by the opposition. Johnny Allen scored one of the Sedgley tries following a 60 yard sprint and a dummy to rival that of Pete Keers some weeks ago. Pete had walked Jonny through his dummy for the what I’m told is the 15th time in the bar earlier on the Saturday so I can only assume those wise words were heeded by the young centre… On a serious note, great support play from Chris Mills and Andy Taylor ensured the Eccles defence were well occupied whilst Johnny made his dash for the line. Another of the Sedgley tries came from the other centre following some quick passing across the line and Chris Drench battered his way across the try line. Both conversions were scored by Tony Jones.

More scores followed by both sides (apologies to those Tigers who scored and have not received direct praise – I forget after many knocks to the head!) and with full time rapidly approaching, my body decided to cave in to my night of debauchery and wantonness and I was struck down with cramp.

After being told to get up and play on for the last two minutes as my leg spasmed uncontrollably, my response was less than gentlemanly and therefore not to be replicated here for fear of damaging the delicate eyes of the good reader. Rest assured, I made my point very clear that I couldn’t stand let alone play on! And therefore, I finished the game most unglamorously with my leg in the air being stretched out by Doctor Dick who had made the trip to watch his former side in battle. A little later, the Doc also made another discovery in that DOR Mark Knight had, in an earlier tackle, broken a rib and prop Billy had also sustained damage in combat.

When the final whistle was sounded by Mr Ward, the score was 27-26 to Eccles. The match had been the classic encounter expected and as was stated on the day, was “a fantastic spectacle for the neutral…!”

The 4th XV still have some areas to work on but with training now a weekly event, the boys are improving week on week and morale is improving with it. The team have no fixtures over the festive period and will regroup to play against Trafford MV 3rd XV on the 12th January.