Saturday 10^th December 2011

Hammers 25 SODAM 19

On a chilly Saturday in December, the happy Hammers congregated in Hurlingham Park for their last home match of 2011. Ed Spooner appeared all pumped up after a fun run from Wandsworth. While the rest of us carried on our usual casual warm up, Ed was like a greyhound out of the blocks, joyfully bounding around after the ball and running some truly great lines. Meanwhile Paul arrived on that cold afternoon fully prepared, minus socks, hair and his 7s t-shirt. The pundits expected a high quality, high velocity performance from the Hammers. Unfortunately the first 15 minutes were a sad disappointment. Some nonchalant handling and a laissez-faire approach to mauling saw us placed under early pressure from which SODAM profited for two rapid converted tries. 14-0 to SODAM. Another team might have cut their losses and ran or felt that cold wind and remembered that they should have stayed in bed watching Saturday Kitchen. But Hammer’s weren’t bothered and Ed was still chomping at the bit way out in left field. Paul said something about Balls Deep and then Felix, like a cat, slinked his way through the SODAM defence for try. From the graceful to the brutal, a shell shocked SODAM next felt the brooding power of Paul who barged over for our second try. Meanwhile another Balls Deep move resulted in Giacomo adding one for the photo album, sustaining a beautiful shiner that should probably have been lanced.

HALF TIME: HAMMERS 10-14 SODAM.
Now very much in the ascendancy the Hammers took advantage of the shift in momentum. Suddenly the Hammers started to spread it and Ed, who had been lusting insatiably after that ball all game finally got his chance and bolted like a greased whippet for try time. Not a minute later, we were back again and our irresistible onslaught continued with Tony driving over for another try. Could this day get any better? It could for one man. A kick, a bounce, calamity and confusion, then there was Nico. Calamity and chaos, Nico burst out of the fire to sprint home from half way and touch down under the posts whilst evading a Felix in hot pursuit. This was an important moment. Many, many years of hurt were banished in 6 seconds. The last time Nico scored a try I was still playing with Duplo. The final phase of the game witnessed Tony and Ginger, hardy veterens, leading the forwards in a heroic defence of our try line in which the ball was held up innumerable times (or was it?). Tony demonstrated to everyone how to tackle like a bastard by driving and dumping a giant SODAM prop back into the mud. Meanwhile, the Backs were freezing their nuts off. SODAM did manage a try at the end but we weren’t bothered.

FINAL SCORE: HAMMERS 25-19 SODAM

POST MATCH
Pev had come to play for the Hammers but was drafted by SODAM before any of us had met him, except Simon who didn’t tell us. So when Kev met Pev in the shower, Kev was predictably confused by the appearance of this randomer soaping up next to him.

Cheers to SODAM for joining us for Lash Ball at the Sheaf. They showed the same spirit in the pub as they did on the field. Many suffered particularly Tim and Mrs Dave (A SODAM player’s girlfriend). Some were literally all over the table (Ed), and one person cleverly pointed out that the SODAM prop who had a beard was in fact a prop who had a beard. Good game, good drinking, good night.

PS: To those in the 3s who have become acquainted with a couple of my housemates i’ll start the bidding at a Homemade Pie and a pint of Guinness or two for the price of one?