Pre-season, Crewe and Nantwich 18 Holmes Chapel 60

Crewe and Nantwich 18 Holmes Chapel 60

Holmes Chapel made the short trip to play Crewe and Nantwich on Saturday for a pre-season friendly in which was going to be a good test for Chapel having just achieved promotion to the South Lancs and Cheshire division 2 with the home side dropping down the other way after having 12 points deducted.
Experienced prop Paul Watson was the captain for the day in the absence of new 1st XV captain Jon Griffin who it is rumoured to have been the guest of honour at a Bratwurst tasting tournament while his vice-captain Mark McEnaney is believed to have been booked in for a cut and blow dry and also his roots touched up.
The Villagers had 25 players available for the game so coach Rick Clarke while managing to give everyone plenty of game time was also able to get an idea of which players are in form going into the new season.
No one could have predicted the high scoring game that was to come but after a cagey start from both sides the visitors were soon ahead and then managed to keep the score board ticking over at a steady rate for the rest of the game.
Everyone in the Chapel squad can pleased with the overall performance and result which has given the selection committee a few (good) headaches going into the new season. The tries came from winger Ed O’Hare, Kyle Ridgeway who had a good showing at fly half and inside centre in his first competitive game for the visitors, Mike Cottam who was returning to the club where he played a youngster all those years ago, scrum half Ed Meyrick, winger Matt Ambrose who was also playing against his former club, outside centre Paddy Kennedy returning after a shoulder injury ruled him out of the entire of last season crossed the white wash twice, as did Mitch Lawrence who looked sharp on the left wing, the blindside flanker Tom Chambers scored his first ever try for Holmes Chapel and combative second row Jimmy Ainsworth also got his name on the score sheet.
The game however wasn’t all plain sailing for the away side, Crewe and Nantwich’s back line caused problems all day with quick hands and strong running, though Chapel will be left thinking they could have prevented some of the home sides points following some poor tackling which they have a couple of weeks to iron out.
As always fitness levels aren’t what they should be in games played in the middle of August, this was probably highlighted by number 9 Ed meyrick having to take a ten minutes rest behind the oppositions posts late on in the game.
All in all the good number of travelling support will have left the Crewe Vagrants ground in good spirits with what they has seen and will be now looking forward to the start of the season on 4th September where the 1st XV travel to Trentham and the 2nd XV host Ashton on Mersey 3rd team.

Training continues on Tuesday and Thursday night at the Station Road ground with a 7pm start, all are welcome.