Honourable Artillery Club 64

Old Habs 7

The latest stop for Old Hab's 1st XV was the fabulous setting of the Honourable Artillery Club in the City of London.

Welcoming back old-hands Hurley, Ramshaw and Simmons provided some much-needed bulk and experience in the pack.

Despite conceding an early score, OH hit back strongly in the middle of the battlefield, with a well taken interception try by Mike Yeabsley.

This gave OH a deserved 7-5 lead, and they continued to take the fight to the hosts.

But, soon after, a serious torn calf muscle put paid to the mighty JJ Taylor in the early exchanges and, without his muscular presence in the ranks, OH lacked territory, but gamefully limited the HAC to two long range shots, turning around at half-time still very much in the hunt at 19-7.

Tiredness and injuries started to affect OH early in the second half, and the superior fitness of the army team slowly and painfully exposed the depleted ranks of the Croxdale Road crusaders. OH dug deep in defence, with Pete 'That Dress' Hurley pulling off some great covering manoeuvres on the flanks.

With the magenta battalions back in formation, the OH cheekily ventured attacks of their own, winning wave after wave of penalty in the HAC half.

In a spirited move, scrum-half Bartman kept all penalties in hand, but OH were unable to penetrate 'the Gunners''defences.

The organisation and speed of the HAC back line, coupled with an outstanding display by their fly half, began to tell, with HAC running out eventual winners 64-7.

Despite a crushing defeat on paper, OH can feel proud of a gutsy performance against a well-drilled, physical team.

This should provide confidence before some more bruising league matches over the festive period.

Evidence of this spirit was displayed by Yeabsley, who wiped the floor with his opposite number during the clubhouse Olympics that followed in the magnificent HAC HQ.

December 12, 2001 12:42