Festival of rugby sees GAB 2 from 2, but rugby real winner on the day

Originally planned as a merit table festival, a couple of teams we're looking forward to welcoming back into the league structure unfortunately weren't able to raise a side, but Bicester 2s answered the call to join GAB 2s and Aylesbury 3s ahead of the Oktoberfest beers. Three 40min games were played out, with GAB winning 2 and Bicester 1. GAB were delighted to field two debutant colts players in Joe Beesley (centre) and Aaron Ruazol (flank) - both of whom made great impressions. Joe also able to play alongside his uncle Jason Beesley, 41 years his senior. Rob Kenny debuted in the front row, for his first game for the club after moving to the area.

First up was GAB v Bicester... The first 25-30mins of which were entirely spent in the GAB half, playing into the wind and the sun (thanks to Skipper Dickie Tyler getting his bearings wrong after winning the toss, saved from a post match pint by the need to drive home to walk his dog). Thankfully, to make up for this error, Dickie was prominent in defence, alongside his charges, who put hit in after hit, eventually forcing mistakes and keeping Bicester out. Eventually Bicester did score, and it was probably the worst attack they'd structured, just a poor kick chase by GAB and finally a couple of weaker shoulders and they were over and under the posts for a 0-7 lead.

With the restart taking GAB into Bicester half, they then proceeded to have the lion's share of the possession and territory. After a couple of opportunities weren't taken (one stopped after a huge hit on Marc Grant was adjudged to have gone past the horizontal, leading to a Bicester yellow), Sam Parsons crashed over in the clubhouse corner, but sadly his conversion attempt drifted wide and short, so GAB were still 2 points down and time rapidly running out.

Unsurprisingly, due the nature of the game, both sides had lost a few to injury, and when one too many Bicester FR were injured, the scrums went uncontested and an inspired suggestion to get Sam Parsons out from lock to 8 where he could pick saw him run through several Bicester tackles, and carry a couple more over the line for winning score with the final play. The Schwarz elegantly stroked over the conversion and the comeback was complete. Sadly Sam pulled his hamstring in the process and that was his final involvement. Final score GAB 12-7 Bicester 2s.

Buoyed by the win, GAB were on the field again for the next game. By now, fielding a bare 15 hoping the walking wounded would be able to help out later in the match against an Aylesbury team topped up with Bicester players (in almost a forwards/backs split).

It was to be expected that there would be some disjointed defensive shape for GAB to take advantage of, and they duly did, scoring 5 tries to Aylesbury's 3.

The first score went to Kay McLauchlan (who'd only found out 2 days previous that the Oxford Half he was running the next day was 13mi, not 12km...) had the pace to get round the outside after being found by no10 Rob Eynon. The Schwarz narrowly missed with the con attempt.

Eynon was involved in the next score, first putting Marc Grant through a gaping hole in the midfield and then in the next phase a simple pass to let Joe Beesley do his thing - breaking tackling and then beating the cover for lightning quick pace. The Schwarz couldn't miss from bang in front.

Aylesbury had their moments, and had scored 2 tries by this point with direct running and some good offloads, but GAB decided it would be best to get a little more daylight - well, Rufus Kinsey did. Setting off from inside his own half his broke out the initial attempts to tackle him, cantered over the half way line, desperately hoping for quicker support and seeing none fended off the next tackle before just beating the cover to go under the posts in what was the score of the day. As most GAB players were applauding from their own half, Rob Eynon had the high-risk conversion attempt from in front, which he gleefully toe-poked over.

There was still time for 2 more GAB scores, and one more for Ayles. Joe Beesley grabbed his second when Rufus Kinsey found this time he had support after a half break (The Schwarz added the extras) before The Schwarz capped another good game (and only his second at 9) darting over after a series of phase play, but unable to add the bonus points. The game finished 31-19 and was a lot of fun.

The final game was a mish-mash of Ayles, GAB and Bicester against Bicester - basically the 30 players still able to run around all played out one more high scoring high fun affair - part of it under a stunning rainbow after the glorious weather was briefly interrupted by a light shower.

Thanks to both teams for coming to join us and for hanging around for a few beers after too. Just what the doctor ordered to get our Oktoberfest party underway! And particular thanks to ref who covered a game and half allowing plenty of advantage to be played as well.

Tap Social Man of the Match: Marc Grant. Prominent in defence and unfortunate not to get a try for all the metres he made ball in hand. Also helped that he was allowed to drink, unlike his centre partner 29yrs his junior...

Scorers:
S Parsons: 2T
K McLauchlan: 1T
J Beesley: 2T
R Kinsey: 1T
A Schwarz: 1T

A Schwarz: 3C
R Eynon: 1C