No training for 2 weeks

Lancers, no training tonight (21st December 2009) or next week 28th December 2009. Next training either 4th January or 5th January. We will confirm ASAP. Have a fantastic Christmas, next set of matches 9th January. Subject to some tweaking, the new set of fixtures for the second half of the season have now been posted.

ALL GAMES POSTPONED

All games this weekend have been postponed due to the weather. Can you pass on the message to anyone else who was due to play.

Those wishing to partake, meet at the Apple Tree to watch a bit of Heineken Cup rugby and have a few beers before heading up to town? Meet at about half three four ish. Christmas party as advertised at the Stage Door!

This weekend…

Teams for the games this weekend:

Rebels – Home to Beckenham – 14.15 K.O. Meet at 13.00.

Mike Jennings (captain), Nicky, Tony, Kellok, Callaway, Sam Skinner, James Horrex, Justin Erwee, Kerry O’Sullivan, BJ, Iain Smalls, Chris Buckle, James Tennet, James Munn, Silent Bob.

Subs: Kiwi Kerry, Nick RP, Carl N

Any queries then Mike Jennings can be contacted on (07590) 545050

Tourists – Away to Dartfordians – 14:15 K.O, Meet London Bridge 12.00 or 13.00 at Dartfordians.

Pete Boulter, San, Tibor, Abe (captain), Bull, Tony Kalu, Tolu, Yemi, Derek, Tunde, Makalele, Bertie Elliot, Augustin Houette, David Jennings, Sam Banks.

Subs: Donkey, Patrick, Todd

Any queries then Abe can be contacted on (07983 433224)

League Champions… (Lancers I v Brocklians) (Away) (13/12/09)

Lancers made themselves league champions this weekend in a well-worked 22-0 victory over Brocklians. They have now made it eleven victories and 2 walkovers in an explosive first half of what is only their second season. They have also justly been awarded with early promotion from the Bishops Finger Kent Metropolitan League to the Premier Kent Metropolitan League. This represents another significant step towards their aim of joining RFU league Kent 2 next year.

The Brocks were always going to be a difficult game; their second team have only played two fixtures league so this was effectively a game against their first team who did not have a fixture this week. They chose to play on the smaller of the two pitches they had available hoping to restrict the speed of the Lancers backs and making use of their heavier forwards. The first half was a closely fought game and it was with some relish that the Brocks looked to impose themselves on the Lancers. Tej Thakker (flyhalf) had a clearance kick charged down early on and for a moment the Lancers looked vulnerable with only a scrambled defence preventing a try being scored. The Lancers though regrouped admirably led by Tej Thakker himself who simply stepped up to the challenge, upping both his kicking and positional game.

The first half was ultimately only separated by an early solitary try by Lancers captain and Number Eight Nich Bull crashing over having fought to break the gain line from close range. Special mention in the first half should be made at this stage to Carl Noack who stood in for the injured Tim Jamieson at inside centre to captain the Lancers defensive line and did so with single minded focus, justly being awarded by the lack of any points conceded.

In the second half the Lancers hoped to capitalise on the downward slope. They did this through Tej Thakker’s probing kicks to the corners which allowed the Lancers defensive wall to hold solid. By a steady defence, probing kicks and well built phases the Lancers were able to slowly break the Brocks defence. Tunde Adeniji (second row) scored both of the Lancers second half tries, thereby almost being awarded man of the match in process. However he was piped to that award by the general stupidity of the Lancers at open-side flanker, Ian TheBridge and his disregard for his own personal safety who prevented the Brocks from taking advantage from the breaks they did make.

Next week then sees the Lancers debut in their new league against Guy’s Hospital IIs.

Tries: Tunde Adeniji (2), Nich B; Cons: Tej Thakker (2); Pens: Tej Thakker

Tour

Next year we thought we would aim for a new destination outside the British Isles, where they speak a weird language and have many many strange customs.
A land where afternoon naps are a norm and late night partying is a daily occurrence. Many men use a two-handed shake where the left hand is placed on the right forearm of the other person. Female friends kiss each other on both cheeks, starting with the left.
Ohh Yes.
Its Spain……. Its BARCELONA !!!!

Its our intention to take a party to Spain, the land of Paella, the running of the bulls and a invation by the Lancers.
Some useful Spanish phrases:
Excuse me, I’ve lost my trousers: Excúseme, yo han perdido mis pantalones
Fifty four beers please: Cincuenta y cuatro cervezas satisfacen
Your eyes are like diamonds and your moustache glistens in the sunlight: Sus ojos son como diamantes y su bigote relucir en la luz del sol
Get your poncho, you’re pulled! : Consígale el poncho, yo le están tomando casero!
You talkin’ to me? : Usted está hablando conmigo
This group will be leaving London 30 April and returning 02 May 2010. (Below oppo home ground)

Meaning you will need to book holiday from work (unless you’re a seasoned tourist and sensibly book a recovery day). We will be flying from a London airport and are currently in the process of arranging bed and breakfast accommodation and all kinds of shenanigans. At the end of the tour, you’ll arrive on your door step with a tour rugby shirt in your grubby little hand, some “I’ve been to Barcelona T-shirts” for the Mrs/Mr, oven mittens and a smile on your face.

 

The cost of the tour in total is £200.
This can be paid either as a lump sum or in 3 installments, the first of these is £70 (due asap) followed by 2 further payments of £60 + £70 (due 01/01 and 01/02).
If you would like to book your place on tour please either pay the
full amount (£200) or the deposit amount (£70) on or before 15 December 2009 (contact 8 BALL – 07766382804/davidjapril@yahoo.co.uk or Yuppie – 07740419539/ccallaway@f-m-r.co.uk).

2’s Team vs Bromley 4’s

It’s been very difficult to pick a side this week.  Really sorry for anyone who has been left out but we are going to be able to put out 3 teams shortly so everyone will get a game.  14.15 K.O so meet at the cage for 13.00.

Team for Saturday.

Mike Jennings, Nicky Ling, Yemi – If released from 1’s, Chris Callaway, James Kellok, James Horrex, Oli Donaghue, Abe/Jon Crowther (not confirmed)/Bertie, Tom Seaman, BJ, Ryan (not confirmed)/Iain Smalls, James Tennet, Alistair Gilmour, James Munn, John Hehir.

Subs 

Iain Smalls, Abe, Kerry O’Sullivan, William Thiam, Keith Motsi, Bertie Elliot

1s for this week (Away against Brockleian’s)

Apologies this week for not posting the 1s and 2s together. It’s my (Nich’s) birthday tomorrow and I am attending Pete’s citing on Wednesday so wanted to get this sorted ASAP this week.

1s are from as follows this week:

Shrek, Derek, Nick RP, San, Tunde, Richard B, Yemi, Sam, Donkey, Nich B, Will, Tej, Todd, Tim J (subject to injury check Thursday), Patrick, Carl N, Tim V, David A, Pete Evans (citing permitting).

Meet time is 12:30pm at London Bridge or 1:00pm at the Brockelians  ground; kick off is 2:15pm.

2nd half collapse… (Bexley II v Lancers II) 05/12/09

Lancers arrived at Bexley for their penultimate game of the season with a bare 15 players.  However a rousing pre-match team talk from James Munn and Chris Callaway let Lancers know the importance of the game in hand.  A win would effectively secure second place and some silverware for the club.

Lancers started the game knowing they needed to be patient and build phases in order to create scoring opportunities.  The scrum despite being vastly dwarfed by the opposition held their own and the lineout was proving to be very strong with reliable throwing from James Gotsell and great jumping from James Kellock and Chris Callaway.

It didn’t take long for Lancers to break the deadlock.  A well worked lineout led to a rampaging break from Dave Patterson who offloaded to Chris Callaway to charge between the posts. 

The lineout would produce all three Lancers tries with Dave Patterson and Ollie Stross both scoring from long range runs off successfully taken lineouts.

The score of 21-5 at halftime may have been a bit harsh on Bexley as they were never out of the game.  However, Lancers took their chances well and their defence repelled any Bexley attacks.

The second half however was a different story altogether.  Lancers were forced to retire 3 players through injury and had to borrow replacements from Bexley.  This seriously upset the balance of the side and the set piece began to suffer  a great deal.  Lancers defence was nothing short of woeful in the second period and Bexley punished us for it.

The final game for the 2s is next weekend so improvements are needed.  If Lancers can keep their concentration for the full 80 minutes against Bromley there is still a good chance of getting some silverware in our first season.  We start the second half of the season on the 19th December in a higher division so it is important that we improve our game and commitment.

HT Score 21-5 to Lancers

FT Score 24-21 to Bexley

Tries: Chris Callaway, Dave Patterson & Ollie Stross

Cons: Ben Courtney (3)

Team: 1) Dave Patterson 2) James Gotsell 3) Peter Boulter 4) Chris Callaway 5) James Kellock 6) Ayoub Lamrani 7) Ollie Stross 8 ) Ricky Van Der Linde 9) Tom Seaman 10) Ben Courtney 11) Javier Mendez 12) Mathieu Bivillaud 13) Alastair Gilmour 14) William Thiam 15) James Munn (c)

The best yet… (Lancers I v Charlton Park III) (Home) (05/12/09)

This was the Lancers penultimate league game of their ‘mini-season’ having been awarded promotion halfway through the season due to their strong performances finding themselves being undefeated in 12 league fixtures. They faced their closest rivals in the league in Charlton Park III and this match would therefore show whether the league was right in giving them an early promotion.

The Lancers were happy to be at home following last weeks skirmish on a narrow pitch and looked to make use of the extra width by passing wide and making us of gaps as they became available. Despite this intention the opening play was closely fought, Charlton Park gave no quarter. Eventually it was a set-piece scrum in the Charlton Park 22 that broke the dead-lock. Nich Bull (Number 8 ) picked up from the base of the scrum, drawing the Charlton Park back row and fly-half then off loaded to Kerry Rowlands (flanker) who scored. It was a well-worked set piece move that was made possible by Will Groat acting as a strong running decoy runner.

Charlton Park were not going to take the score without a riposte and they almost got their wish using their greater weight and strength to push forward and winning a scrum 8 metres from the Lancers’ try line. However the ball was fumbled achieving a Lancer’s turnover which through a great run by Tim Venn (wing) and some strong interplay meant a second score for the Lancers this time under the posts for Tej Thakker to convert.

The rest of the first half was more of the same, strong physicality from Charlton Park, forcing the Lancers to pick and choose their moments before being able to score. That said, Charlton Park did not give up but were made to punish for any defensive lapse. Notably Kerry Rowlands from a number of successive kick-offs cutting devastating lines through the Charlton Park team

Into the second half, Charlton Park really battened down the hatches, cutting out some of their mistakes and really forcing the Lancers to defend hard. The Lancers though were significantly aided by the pinpoint kicking of their fly-half, Tej Thakker. He not only was able to turn any significant Charlton Park advantage into an almost instant defensive head ache for themselves but also set up a stunning try for Tim Jamieson (inside centre) with a deft chip over the top. He deservedly won man of the match after the match.

Final score then 66-0; going forward there is one more league match to achieve a clean sweep with a struggling Brockleians II side before stepping up a league to the Kent Merit Premiership on the 19th December 2009. The Lancers remain on target to make a strong application to Kent RFU to join the National Leagues in Kent 2 next year.

Tries: Nich B (4), Kerry Rowlands (2), Tim Jamieson (2), Patrick J, Carl N; Cons: Tej Thakker (8)

Christmas Party

Don’t forget, Christmas Party is the 19th December at the ‘Stage Door’ pub near Waterloo Station. Tickets on sale at training and through the Captains at weekends. Cost is £5 which includes food, partners are welcome, should be a very special day as it will be the first of the ‘new’ season and with a fair wind and a bit of luck the first day the clubs puts out 3 sides.