once bitten

The Ruts played the Esher Floodlit Festival last night.

Given the Prime Minister's fatuous Suarez intervention this week, it made me smile to recall, as we were on our way to the ground, that last time we played Esher one of their pack bit Ben without anyone taking very much notice at all. It might surprise our government, but the sun came up the next morning, and the veil of the temple was not rent in twain.

The Bomber's team came second in the U12A category in "the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life" as the hosts and winners beat us by a single try scored with a crash ball from a five yard penalty when a draw would have been enough for the boys to lift the trophy.

Cowbridge were at the tournament as well which bemused me, as it is an awfully long way from the Vale of Glamorgan. At first I thought there must be another Cowbridge in the South of England, but no, they came by coach all the way from Wales, arriving as you might imagine fashionably late.

Looking ahead, as we are a bit short of forward crunch in the touring party that is going to the Burnham on Sea Festival next weekend, the coaches are thinking of switching Ben from full back to second row as he has turned out as an emergency lock for the school this year. (Probably too late for him to play his way into contention for the Lions as a utility player though as the squad is to be announced the day after we get back.)