Desperados back on the Island

After an unwanted hiatus, the mighty Desperados finally managed to turn out this week against their regular friendly rivals Canvey Vets. Saturday morning saw the usual last minute scramble for players, lifts and spare boots, a fiasco much resembling Keir Starmer’s recent Green Policy Pledge! Despite DRUFC having a strong South Essex contingent, the D’s just about scraped together 14 players but with Canvey also light the game kicked off with 14-a-side for each team. The first 5 minutes were pretty even but the returning “continental” Dave Genovesa managed to slip a defender and sprint 50 meters for the first score of the afternoon. The Desperados have hardly ever had a lead and didn’t know what to do with it! Despite some great tackling from the likes of Feeley and Williams Canvey managed to score 3 well worked tries in quick succession. The D’s found themselves in the Canvey 22 a few times but couldn’t get the last pass to stick before the halftime whistle. After some lovely Ruby Port during the interval the 2nd half kicked off as the rain started to come down (a little known fact is that it rains 364 days of the year in Canvey). The D’s managed some great up-the-jumper rugby with some brilliant line breaks from the likes of Rawlinson and Hunt (in a man-of-the-match performance) which meant the D’s were up in the Canvey 22. Just short of the try line fly-half Howard found winger Williams for the 2nd score of the day. The hosts hit back with another couple of scores before Genovesa went on a dribbling spree but was just caught up before the try line. The last play of the game saw the Desperados punch up the middle again before finding Pete Power out on the wing who decided to show his trademark sidestep to 3 defenders to give the visitors the last points of the day. Final Score 45-19. The D’s then retired to the changing rooms for a well earned shower, some tequila-infused lager and a rendition of American Pie!

Thanks for everyone that pulled on a short and to Canvey for being great hosts as always!

Match photos can be found HERE

Team:
Johnson, Hunt, Tank, Newson, Church, Rawlinson, P. Power, J. Fergie, Curly, Howard, Williams, Genovesa, Feeley, Drake

Tries:
Genovesa
Williams
P. Power

Conversions:
Howard x 2