u13's Match Reports 2007 - 2008

It was a case of something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue as MKU13s began the new season at Field Lane on Sunday against Northampton Casuals. Old were the faces of many parents keenly anticipating the match, new were Coach Ed Holliday, some parents, and the 15-a-side format on a full-sized pitch, borrowed were the smart red shirts, and blue were two of Glyn Lewis's fingers by the end.

From the moment they arrived at the ground on a fine Indian Summer's morn in their "Number Ones", white shirt, club tie etc. until the final whistle, there was a focus and maturity about the team which suggested that they were aware that this was a big step up for them. 15-a-side on a full size pitch with 20 minute halves, quite different to what they had been used to and when kick off arrived they were quite obviously up for it.

Duffin kicked off, Casuals passed down the line but were forced into touch. The early exchanges saw both teams looking to pass the ball, MK were quick into the Casuals line and they could make no headway.

Early exchanges were dominated by MK with breaks from Rob Friend and Zachary Ezenagu, and a powerful burst by Elliot Ryan all being held up.

Casuals could make no ground and resorted to kicking to clear their lines. Duffin kicked downfield and a casual player attempted to catch the ball whilst in an offside position, this saw MK awarded a penalty just 10 yards from the Casuals try line. From Friend's tap the ball went to Oliver Anderson who charged forward and offloaded to Ryan on the wing. The pack were there en masse to bundle him over for the first try of the season. A most uncharacteristic try. Ezenagu narrowly missed the difficult conversion.

Casuals restarted, Ezenagu caught the ball and launched a fine Garryowen deep into Casuals territory, with the backs in hot pursuit the ball took a Casual bounce and went over the dead ball line. The game was restarted with a scrum on half way.

MK kept up the pressure as the half developed. The forwards were dominating their larger opponents in the scrum and some promising handling moves in the backs. Again MK won against the head and made good progress down field. Another Casuals scrum, Flanker Cook was quick off the mark to make the tackle and the ball went loose but an MK knock on ended the move. From the resulting scrum a Casuals player passed to no-one in particular and newby Tom McEwan pounced on the ball showing pace at centre, and when he was held up Duffin took the ball and passed to Ezenagu at some speed. The No. 8 first outflanked the Casuals' line and then ran in under the posts. Unfortunately Duffin's conversion hit a post and came back infield.

Casuals restarted, Duffin caught and some fine passing through the backs and strong running from Ezenagu took them deep into Casuals territory, where they were to spend the rest of the half. Duffin, Ezenagu, McEwan and Anderson all applied pressure. Lewis was forced into touch and the ball went sweetly through the backs as full back Ffred Bollom came into the line, but nothing was to come from it. Whether poor decision making, too much kicking, passing too late, or waiting to offload when the overlap was there was responsible, MK were not able to capitalise on their territorial advantage.

Casuals could make no headway, penned back by the sharpness of the MK defence and some fine tackling from McEwan and Lewis. Casuals were arguing amongst themselves, a sure sign of the frustration they were feeling. Just before the half, prop Mann felt something click in his neck and came off, to be replaced by the versatile Hunter and the last action of the half saw Lewis's fingers trampled, he was replaced in the second half by Gould.

Casuals restarted the game, Ryan caught the ball, passed to Anderson and he ran well before being caught, MK won a penalty for offside and Duffin kicked to touch. Casuals won the lineout but a great drive through from the MK forwards disrupted their move. From a casuals scrum, Cook was again quick off the mark to make the tackle and dislodge the ball, he picked up and passed, the ball came to Ezenagu and he set off downfield but was caught.

There was little fullbacking for Bollom to do as Casuals did not look like they were going anywhere, and he needs to come into the line at pace and let others know he is going to do so. One time he did make a run and from the tackle MK hit the ruck as hard as they ever have, allowing Ezenagu to pick up and run wide (as ever !!) to score in the corner. His conversion was just wide.

From the restart both teams battled for superiority but poor handling and strong tackling from Duffin saw a temporary stalemate until Bollom launched a huge kick downfield, Ryan looked favourite to get the ball and would surely have scored until he was blatantly impeded by the Casuals winger. The Referee appeared to have seen this, but called play back for a previous infringement and a penalty to MK. MK tried to move the ball downfield with some good passing and strong running from Marchbank, but again kicking when they should have passed and knocks on did more to halt their progress than the Casuals defence.

It was MK possession and territory all the way until, perversely, in the dying minutes Casuals found themselves in MK's 22. They could make no progress and the game petered out with a series of broken plays and the Referee signalled Full Time.

So, a very interesting start to the season with plenty to praise. MK had had all the territory and most of the possession in the first half so the forwards must have been doing something right. But the put in to the scrummage is now so dog-legged that hardly any go against the head. MK won two in the first half as their smaller forwards shoved Casuals back and this was creditable. The line-out, in contrast, is much more contested, and here Mad Dog Marchbank and the forwards made the best fist of it seen for a long time, with Ezenagu, Will Holliday, Billy Cook and newby Michael Woodruff gathering the long throws consistently, while Ben Leddingham and Mann wrapped up a lot at the front. However the backs and forwards had not linked up as well as territory and possession suggested they should: Friend and Duffin are a relatively new pairing at half back, and they got it better in the second half but still there was a lack of penetration.

Casuals are not the toughest opposition they will face this season but the way the players went about their jobs bodes well for the future. There was a determination and passion about their play, and no little skill.

Three new additions to the team all had good games. Michael Woodruff played in the second row and put in a solid performance, Bradley Simms played on the wing and, apart from a couple of knocks on, also had a solid game. Tom McEwan at inside centre was quick and strong in his tackling and his timing of the pass was excellent, always drawing his man and taking the hit, but getting the ball away. The others would do well to study his technique.

Billy Cook and Ollie Anderson took on the new role of flanker and both had good games, Anderson always in support and full of running, Cook quick off the mark at the scrum.

The backs passed well and often and were quick to disrupt any moves the opposition tried to put together. The only criticism would be that they kicked too often and unnecessarily, as the Coach pointed out after one such kick, they need to have more belief in their own strength. They also need to work on getting over the gain line, not simply passing down the line if they are to avoid "Tringitis". Those who were at Nottingham in 2004 will understand the reference.

On a sunny, breezy Autumn morning, Milton Keynes U13's made the short trip into the Northamptonshire countryside to take on Bugbrooke, (the Badgers), on the biggest pitch they'd ever played on.

With Glyn Lewis and Louis Rutter out injured, and Elliott Ryan still in France celebrating England's shock win over Samoa, changes were necessary in the back division. Orama Chiromo, making his debut for the team, had looked impressively speedy in training, but could he reproduce it in the heat of battle?

Bugbrooke were an unknown quantity, these two teams had never met before and information on their previous performances was difficult to come by. We watched them warming up and noted that they had a couple of "Big Lads" and that they passed the ball well. This was their first game of the season.

Bugbrooke kicked off into the wind, but with the gradient. Anderson received, ran the ball back at then and started a passing move that saw the ball moved quickly to Chiromo who gave every indication of the threat his speed could pose by showing various Bugbrooke Badgers a clean pair of heels until he was stopped some thirty yards short of the Badgers' line. Bugbrooke recovered the ball from the ruck but it was won back immediately by Ezenagu, using his strength to rip the ball from the opposing player. Another ruck and Bugbrooke again won the ball, they moved the ball through the backs but the winger was tackled and Duffin picked up the ball from the ruck and hared down the touchline to register the first try of the day. Ezenagu narrowly missed the difficult conversion.

With this terrific start under their belts it was looking good for MK as Ezenagu caught the restart kick and set off on one of his characteristic diagonal runs. There is a street in Barcelona called El Diagonal where he may have been born. In any event, even if his own side did not quite know where he was going, two or three Badgers stopped him and the Badgers were awarded a scrum. MK won this against the head and the Number 8 picked up at the base and off he went again. Nobody near him. But he lost possession again and the Badgers kicked to clear but the ball went straight to Chiromo - so quick, so deadly - who ran in for his debut try for the club. Ezenagu narrowly missed the wide conversion.

Bugbrooke restarted, MK passed and rucked well to move the ball downfield. A high tackle on Woodruff was penalised and MK kicked to touch. The teams exchanged scrums and forward passes and kicks to touch, in the midst of this Mann's neck injury flared up and he was replaced at Prop by Hunter, with Marchbank coming on at Hooker. With the "Mad Dog" in the pack the forwards had a bit more bite!

But although the scrum continued to perform well the lineout was rapidly becoming a lost cause, and although MK were in the ascendant they could not take clean lineout ball. Four in a row were lost but the Badgers were not able to capitalise on this as MK's tackling was as fierce as ever. When MK were awarded a penalty for the wrong side the ball went sweetly down the line to Bollom who really should have looked for another pass. As it was a scrum was called and won against the head, and scrum half Friend set centre Simms up to go over but he dropped the ball as he tried to touch down. A shame, all in good time Bradley!.

MK won the 5 metre scrum and drove for the try line but Bugbrooke recovered the ball and kicked to touch. They then won 2 MK lineouts and moved the ball away from the danger area. Bugbrooke were awarded a penalty for a high tackle and kicked for touch again, but they were short and Chiromo was waiting, he caught the ball and sprinted effortlessly downfield and around the Badgers' defence to score under the posts. Captain Duffin elected to take over kicking duties and duly slotted the first successful conversion of the season.

With flanker Anderson ruthlessly marshalling his forwards (a passing back opined that he didn't know what Anderson did to the opposition but he sure as hell put the wind up his own team) MK continued their domination. When Bugbrooke were awarded a penalty for a high tackle they kicked for touch. The ball went loose from the throw in and after fine running by Marchbank, Anderson picked up and made yards before passing to Friend who found the rampaging Ezenagu who went over for MK's fourth try of the half,

One or two high tackles had been flying around but the game had been played in a good spirit, and when the half-time whistle came it was a somewhat shellshocked Bugbrooke that reached for the water bottles. In contrast the MK team talk was about "White Line Fever" and the need to play as a team and for each other. Bugbrooke, despite being 4 tries down, had played some decent rugby, some of their tackling was excellent but they had no answer to the speed and strength of Ezenagu and Chiromo.

With such a strong half time advantage we were hoping to see MK turn on the style in the second half. Bugbrooke were no mugs but MK had been closing them down so effectively that they had barely been in the MK half. From the restart Bugbrooke knocked on, MK won the scrum and Friend passed to Duffin on the blind side. The little fly half made a powerful burst before passing to Chiromo on the wing and in he went for his hat-trick of tries in his debut game, dotting down in the corner. Kicking duties reverted to Ezenagu again and once more a narrow miss.

And so it seemed things would continue with a rampant MK in the van. But perhaps the Badgers had something special in their water bottles because from this point on MK seemed to tire and the Badgers began to seek redress. Some strong running and good passing, aided by 4 penalties in as many minutes, took them deep into MK's half. Their Number 8 went perilously close to scoring before Ezenagu managed to floor him. Bugbrooke had a scrum on the MK ten metre line but the ball went loose until Tom McEwan fly kicked into touch on the full. From the resulting scrum the ball went down the Badgers' line only for Duffin to put in a try saving tackle. MK were losing all the throw ins and again the ball went through the Badgers' backs, this time only a last ditch tackle from Bollom keeping the sheet clean. Another crunch tackle from Duffin just kept the Badgers at bay but when MK lost yet another line out five yards out there was no stopping the Badgers Number 4 going over in the corner for a richly deserved try.

Three more penalties to Bugbrooke, one for backchat after a neck high tackle, and they were back on the MK 1 yard line. MK won the ball and moved it quickly to Chiromo on the wing, he turned on the afterburners and sprinted the length of the pitch to gently dot down in the corner for his fourth.

Bugbrooke were well beaten but their heads didn't drop, they took the game to MK once more. Aided by 3 penalties they moved into MK's half but good work from the MK forwards and Bollom and Ezenagu stripping the ball in the mauls stopped them in their tracks. As the game was drawing to a close in a relatively long second half Duffin kicked downfield, he ran after the ball, recovered it and ran again. MK were awarded a scrum on halfway. Ezenagu picked up, went off on the diagonal, and eventually straightened up to score under the posts. This time Robert Friend converted and the final whistle went.

So, a comfortable win, but one that we learn little from. Most of the tries were great individual efforts, but you cannot argue with the count. Bugbrooke had the better of lineouts and rucks and achieved parity in rucks and mauls. The boys were clearly very tired in the second half on this admittedly large pitch.

An oustanding debut from Orama, there won't be many players who can match him for pace but his performance wasn't all about his speed, he also put in some good tackles. The MK defence was, as always, excellent, with Duffin oustanding. The tackling however needs to prevent the opposition from offloading.

Time too to praise some of the unsung heroes. Billy Cook's industriousness is nothing short of astonishing, Will Holiday's composure grows by the week, and Mad Dog is, well, as mad as ever.

And praise too for the Bugbrooke supporters. Always behind their team with cries of "C'mon you Buggers" which quite alarmed the MK parents at first!

On the journey home, down a winding country lane, we passed the remains of a badger lying in the middle of the road, there wasn't much of it left, probably hit by a Juggernaut from Milton Keynes.

It was a warm, sunny Autumn morning which saw Milton Keynes, from the North, travel to High Wycombe, in the South, to contest Round one of the Bucks Cup. This was a first ever Cup match for both teams and MK were hoping to emulate the feats of the Northern teams in that other Cup competition currently taking place in France ... and Cardiff.

With Coach Ed Holliday held up in the Sunday morning traffic of rural Buckinghamshire there was consternation in the ranks as to whether he would arrive in time for the anthems. But arrive he did, with a car load of shirts, but not enough for the 20 players jostling for a number who included the welcome return of Glyn Lewis from injury.

There was little time to warm up, but the team went through their drills without fuss or bother or larking around. This is something new this season along with a much more mature approach to training. It is sure to bring the right results.

Milton Keynes kicked off through captain Duffin, a good high kick which brought a knock on and the first scrum. The ball was quickley heeled to No. 8 Ezenagu who picked up and headed for the hills, he shouldn't have got far, but some poor tackling allowed him to keep going all the way to the tryline for the first score of the game. His own conversion attempt was wide right.

The Wycs restart with a drop out. Who catches it and runs through the Wycombe defence as if it wasn't there? Who has left his own support way behind him but shredded the Wyc defence? Yes, him again. Two tries, two minutes. Coach Holliday, not sure whether he was pleased or cross, gave the conversion to captain Kieran Duffin, presumably on the grounds that it was time somebody else touched the ball. Despite being day-nursed up to the nines for his cold, he made no mistake.

This time Wycombe kicked away from Ezenagu, straight into the arms of Marchbank who started off a passing move, but a knock on gave Wycombe a scrum. Probably a little shell-shocked at this opening sequence, High Wycombe began to recover some composure and to string some rugby together, going through the phases that Milton Keynes had not yet had to bother with. They forced their way into the MK half and were awarded a penalty for hands in the loose. A tap was taken and the big No. 5 forced his way through to touch down. The conversion was missed but the somewhat slack MK defence made us realise that there could still be a game on.

Good rucking from the forwards won the ball and MK moved the ball through the backs to Lewis, his way was blocked so he ran back across the field and fed to Bollom who took the ball at speed. The birthday boy nearly lost it but went over in the corner to increase the MK lead, Duffin just missing the kick.

The sense of unreality continued as Will Holliday caught the restart and ran powerfully forward, offloaded in the tackle to Mad Dog Marchbank who forced on and then fed Orama Chiromo. Route 0.5. is Orama's favoured way to the try line and he duly showed a clean pair of heels to the Wycombe defence straight down the left touchline, and then inside under the posts to hopefull cries of "He's yours Paddy" from the Wycombe faithfull. Ezenagu converting.

Tom McEwan caught the restart kick and passed to Duffin. These reports have often highlighted how lethal the little outside half can be in front of the posts, and again we were treated to a jinking yet powerful run slicing through what we must still call the Wycombe defence. They had at least forced him wide and Ezenagu could not convert the try.

In some respects this was not yet a rugby match at all, more a series of runs from deep to score in some kind of try of the season competition. At last a maul formed in centre field, Oliver Anderson stole the ball and flung it out to Mad Dog, thence to Bollom and on to Chiromo, foot down on accelerator, Route 0.5, this time to cries of "Don't let him run" Try converted by Ezenagu.

The restart was caught by Holliday who set off on a strong run. Wycombe won a penalty but made nothing of it. Ezenagu stole the ball from an ensuing ruck and passed to Bollom who used one hand when he should have used two, and knocked on. Then the full back sped off again only to pass forward. After this brief interlude the scoreboard began to tick over once more. Ezenagu again stole and passed to McEwan who found Lewis and the little centre moved it on to Bollom, again at pace, who went over for MK's seventh try of the half, Duffin just failing to convert. To their credit Wycombe were still trying to push forward but when the half time whistle came the game was to all intents and purposes over.

The game was over as a contest and both teams took the opportunity to bring on fresh players. Milton Keynes gave debuts to Boyland for Hunter and Crook for Ryan, and brought on Gould for Woodruff, High Wycombe brought on some of their Under 14's. How true to the rules this was seemed less important than making a game of the second half, but were there to be an upset some difficult questions would have needed answering. In the first half the Wycombe forwards had been competitive but their backs had not tackled well and had been seriously outpaced. With the changes now their side seemed to gel better and some competitive rugby began to break out. Both sides were hitting each-other hard. MK were given a scrum for a knock on but Wycombe won it and their No 8 picked up and set off on a powerful attempt to break the MK line. That he did not was down to a three pronged defence by Anderson, Lewis and Billy Cook. The Wycombe fullback received the ball deep in his own half and went on a strong run, he broke through several MK tackles before finally being caught, a ruck formed, Wycombe won it and passed through the backs to the Full back, who had joined the line outside his winger, and he went over for the try. This was rugby, and the Wycs deserved their score, aided and abetted though it was by MK tackling too high to prevent the offload. The conversion attempt was short.

Bolstered by their older players, the Wycombe forwards began to dominate their MK opponents. An injury to Holliday saw more changes made, Bollom moving to replace him in the Second Row, McEwan moving to Full Back and Simms coming on at centre. Wycombe were having more of the possession and the game became a series of scrums and rucks. Wycombe were making good progress towards the MK line but MK tackled well with one tackle from Crook on a much larger opponent, standing out. The MK scrum began to hold and scrum half Rob Friend made a break but when play broke down the Wycs came away and only the blitz defence stopped them. Once the ball broke and Ezenagu kicked ahead only for Duffin to chase, pick up, and run hard through to score. No support, but not (again) needed. Ezenagu converted, and MK again confirmed the Gallactico nature of their performance.

The score came against the run of play, Wycombe were having a much better half. Gould caught the restart and was immediately flattened by three Wycombe players, the result of which was a fracture. Get well soon Jonathan. Notwithstanding his nasty injury, Gould may reflect ruefully that he avoided the fate of his replacement. There may be Global Warming, but the bite on Bollom's shoulder was not the work of a mosquito!! Holliday returned to the fray. Wycombe continued to press and MK resorted to kicking to relieve the pressure, they were helped too by a couple of minor indiscretions which led to penalties. Neither side could gain the upper hand and the game moved to a close without either side looking likely to add to their tallies. There was just time for McKechnie to make his debut in place of the injured Cook before the Referee blew for time.

A comfortable victory for MK who again showed the threat they pose running from deep. Poor tackling in the first half allowed MK to rack up the points but Wycombe looked strong when driving forward and once they introduced some players with a bit of gumption they offered much more competition. MK still need to improve at the breakdown, too often they are pushed back in rucks, and there is still a tendancy to try to tackle round the chest. But you can't complain about 8 tries no matter who the opposition are and congratulations are due to all 20 players for their first win in the Cup.

Now a second round tie at home to Buckingham beckons on November 25th. Next up are the much Bicester who beat MK comfortably last season and narrowly in the final of the Banbury Festival back in April by two tries to one. This will be a test of the great start to the season so far. And let's hope our injured players - Louis Rutter (ankle), Jon Mann (neck), and Jon Gould (arm) - will soon be restored to the fold.

A late night in front of the television it might have been, but MKu13s players arrived early at Bicester for their eagerly awaited clash with last season's nemesis on a lovely autumn morning. The red shirts, this week entrusted to Mr and Mrs Friend for ablutions were, however, again somewhat tardy in their arrival, but this time the cause could be found in Mr Friend's Saturday night revels rather than the vagaries of Sunday morning traffic. Apparently England had won a semi final or somesuch.

It was a warm, sunny Autumn morning. Only matched by the expressions on the mum's faces who were to embark on a bit of pre match shopping at Bicester village. Poor Tom having to wait for mum's return (eviction) to get his boots and kit from their locked car! Both teams then had to return to the changing rooms for a stud inspection.

MK's comfortable victories so far this season hadn't told us much about how the team was progressing. Most of the tries scored had been from long distance with players running through or around some poor defence. Previous encounters with Bicester had shown that this fixture would provide a benchmark.

The loss of Orama Chiromo due to a cold was going to limit MK's options out wide, but the team was cheered by the appearance of Jon Gould on the touchline nursing last week's trophy - his broken arm.

From the off we could see that Bicester were a good side and Zachary Ezenagu made his intentions clear early on with a fine tackle on the Bics marauding No 8. But MK were losing out in the scrums where Bicester were in complete charge early on, winning a number against the head. More observant spectators wondered if something was going on which probably shouldn't have been. Bicester's superiority in ruck and maul moved them progressively downfield. Bicester were awarded a penalty and kicked into the in goal area where Kieran Duffin just cleared into touch when he should have touched down for a 22 drop out. Bicester won the line-out and MK just managed to hold them up on the line, but they won the resulting 5 metre scrum and their No. 8 picked up and carried over to give them the lead. The try was converted.

MK restarted, Bicester kicked it back and won the lineout. One of the big forwards broke from a maul and made good ground with the help of some poor MK tackling, another maul formed and the Bicester pack drove it forward before the No.8 broke free, brushed off a number of attempted tackles and went in for the try. The linesman's flag was up for foot in touch, but the referee overruled. The conversion was missed.

The MK restart failed to make the requisite ten yards and Bicester opted for the half way scrum, which twice had to be reset. Again there was a feeling that something was not quite right, but it looked more like MK carelessness when Bicester again won the scrum easily, though why they immediately kicked for touch was a little less easy to grasp. Then we grasped it - they fancied a line-out, which they duly won, again easily. The MK backs were too slow to realign and the ball sailed sweetly down their back line creating a 3 man overlap for an easy score in the corner. The kick was missed.

MK kicked off and Bicester kicked to touch. MK won the lineout but the pass was low and knocked on. Bicester won the scrum and the ball was passed to the inside centre, he broke through, kicked, chased and pounced on the ball to score the try. The kick was good.

What happened? This procession of tries was becoming serious role reversal from the previous Sunday when MK had put five unanswered tries in a row on High Wycombe. Milton Keynes were playing a side who were playing rugby and losing badly to them, particularly in the set pieces. A Bicester coach remarked that he was surprised to be winning so comfortably. Supporters were feeling uncomfortable and sensed a very heavy and damaging defeat in prospect.

From the restart there were a couple of Bicester knock ons and MK were awarded a scrum near the Bics twenty-two. Elliot Ryan was pinged for offside, but then the referee reversed the call for a spot of backchat (or chopsing as we call it in Wales). Quick thinking scrum half Robert Friend took a quick tap and headed for goal, he was caught but the support was there to form the maul from which Anderson broke free to battle and spin his way over for the try - just! Ezenagu converted from beneath the posts.

The team were visibly lifted. A collective resolve formed. Perhaps a pivotal moment came just before the whistle when Bicester attacked from yet another won line-out and a big lad peeled off and had just full-back Ffred Bollom to beat to be through to the line. He didn't beat him. Bollom's tackle dislodged the ball, and quite possibly an arm, a leg, or a tooth as well. It was colossal, and a sign perhaps that we would see a more determined MK in the second half. But the half was not over and good runs from Holliday, Friend and Marchbank, plus some good passing from the backs. But a knock on ended the move and Half time was called.

In truth the really pivotal moment turned out to be a half-time discussion between the referee, the two captains, and the two hookers about the point at which a hooker is allowed to raise his foot to hook - not until the ball is in the scrum. And guess what - MK started winning scrums. Rhys Boylan came on for Dan Hunter.

The restart was caught by Cook, he passed to Woodruff, who was tackled around the neck. Ezenagu kicked downfield but it was returned with interest to the MK 22 where a ruck formed. Bicester went over the top and this time Ezenagu's kick found touch. Both teams battled to gain the upper hand. MK were winning the scrums, both theirs and Bicester's, but losing possession in rucks in the next play. There was good runs from McEwan and good ripping by Oliver Anderson and Michael Woodruff regained possession to allow Ezenagu to make a powerful burst but he was stopped and the ball was not recycled. Ian Crook replaced Bradley Simms and was immediately high tackled. Ezenagu went for broke and looked to have scored but in the act of touching down with his right hand his left arm was adjudged to be in touch - perhaps again best to keep the ball in both hands.

It had taken some time and a poor start, but MK were playing proper rugby at last. MK won a scrum against the head and passed well, Ezenagu went off at a tangent and almost scored, just being forced into touch a couple of yards short. MK won the lineout but couldn't gather the loose ball. Another scrum against the head, Ezenagu picked up and made the perfect pass to Lewis at full speed who went over in the corner. A great score, arguably the best of the season as they had to work for it through a series of phases. The difficult conversion was missed.

This seemed to wake up the Bicesterians who went back to doing what they do best, maul, drive, run. The kick off was knocked on giving Bicester great field position near the MK line. The Bicester No. 8 picked up from the base and passed to their No. 7 who scored under the posts for an easy conversion.

The teams traded kicks, a strong run fom Bicester was ended by a fine tackle from Lewis but Bicester won the scrum and move the ball quickly to the wing where the fullback had joined and he went over for another try. The kick was wide.

So, no miraculous win, but it would be a shame to collapse after such a strong comeback. MK were awarded a scrum for a knock on. The ball went from Friend to Duffin who kicked and Ezenagu chased, but was held up. The resulting five metre scrum was neatly won, Friend passed to Duffin and on the blind side came through full back Bollom at pace to gather the sharp pass and go over in the corner, another fine try by the team. Ezenagu missed the difficult conversion. The game ended soon after without further incident.

Once again Bicester's big forwards dominated proceedings, though their backs showed some good skills and they all tackled well. MK's poor start meant that the game was over as a contest after 15 minutes, but they rallied well and once the forwards began to compete and win the ball they showed that they can "build" a try rather than rely on the Galacticos to run them in from half way.

There is plenty to work on. The one-on-one tackling, with some notable exceptions, was flaky, and better sides are going to expose this. The scrum improved noticeably in the second half when the playing field evened out, but the line-out was fairly shambolic throughout and definitely needs improving. It was good to see the rippers in the team ripping in the mauls again but the rucks are often on the verge of being won when nobody will bend down and get the ball out.

Perversely this loss can be viewed as our best performance of the season. No game for two weeks now so there is the time to work on these aspects of the game. Hopefully a lot will have been learned today.

On a warm, sunny autumn morning the MK Warriors made the short trip down the M1 to Luton to take on Stockwood Park. There was a lock up next to the Clubhouse which was selling fireworks, it appeared to be doing a brisk trade. We were hoping the boys had brought a few fireworks of their own. A few injuries, Zach Ezenagu and Tom McEwan, but welcome returns for the two Jons, Mann and Gould.The MK contingent arrived early in order to snap up the limited parking spaces,

The warm up lacked intensity which was unusual for this season. During tackle practice coach Ed Holliday had been heard to shout encouragement to his full-back "Ffred, don't cuddle him!" and this was to prove the only cuddly moment of the day in a somewhat untidy and ill-tempered affair.

MK kicked off and elected for invention by neatly switching the kick with Chiromo neatly gathering. Unfortunately it did not travel 10m and Park elected for a scrum which they won and lloked to pass, but made no progress. A penalty was awarded to MK for what looked like violent play. Jon Mann went on the burst but was held up and unable to recycle and the Park got another scrum. From the resulting maul the ball was ripped by Marchbank and taken forward by Anderson, the ball was moved quickly through the backs to Chiromo, who rocketed down the sideline and scored under the posts. Bollom's conversion was good.

Mad dog Marchbank caught the restart kick and made a good few metres before passing to Lewis who at first ran diagonally (eat your heart out Zachary) but then looked inside to find Chiromo, and we were treated to another virtuoso performance from the flyer as he left the Park defence gasping for breath. This time Kieran Duffin added the two points.

MK were fourteen points up within eight minutes and Park looked like they did not know what had hit them. But they certainly knew who Chiromo was now.

The restart was caught on the bounce by Cook, who surged forward, he was swallowed up by the Park defence but hands on the floor meant an MK penalty. MK chose to move the ball through the backs but a forward pass ended the move. Fractured play continued, neither side really looking happy with the ball. A number of off-the-ball incidents were spotted by your intrepid reporter which, had they been spotted by the referee, might well have resulted in a few Off-the-field situations. But they were not spotted, and play continued. Park now began to make ground and looked to have broken through the MK defence until a fine tackle from Simms led to the ball going out of play for the first lineout of the day. MK won the rather messy lineout and moved the ball through the backs, but a wild pass from Lewis trying to find Chiromo saw the ball bobbling around in No-Mans land until picked up by a Park flanker who belied his position by exhibiting a bravura fleetness of foot which involved him dancing through what passed for the MK defence. The tackling, or rather the lack of it by one and all, was shocking, and over he went for a splendid, well-deserved, and converted, try.

Game on, then. The long MK restart was won by Park who made progress up the right, but this was halted by an excellent Bradley Simms tackle. MK won the resulting scrum, and Bollom - somewhat puzzlingly - came into the line to receive, and booted the ball into the Park half, which would have made some sense had anybody chased it. Park retrieved it only to be stopped again by excellent tackles from Simms and Elliot Ryan. Again an MK scrum, won well, and down the line went the ball from Robert Friend to Duffin to Lewis, not the best of passes but Chiromo got hands on it, then out again, then back in as he bobbled the pass. He got the ball under control, lit the blue touch paper and sped in for his hat-trick try. Bollom converted and the Referee signalled half-time

It had been a good performance from MK, though the tries were scored from distance, the approach work had been good. The forwards were rucking and scrumming well and the backs were moving the ball quickly and tackling fiercely. Park were playing with their usual aggression and had showed some good skills. Their discipline had let them down at times, in particular when they complained to the Referee about a forward pass, not realising that he was playing advantage. Park decided that a change of personnel was needed and brought on some more of their under 14's. MK brought on Hunter for Mann and Gould for Simms. When we realised that the fourth official (a second referee) was now on the field we wondered if the search for off-the-ball incidents had been stepped up a little. Perhaps the video equipment had broken down, making citing difficult. But no - this was just a training session for a novice referee.

Park kicked off the second half. Ledingham caught the ball and surged forward, MK looked to pass but knocked on. From a scrum, Duffin rushed forward, he was caught and went down, the ruck was superbly cleared out by Ledingham, winning the ball for his team. Another scrum and MK moved the ball sweetly from Friend to Duffin to Lewis and then to Chiromo but this time the flyer was bundled unceremoniously into touch. Given that most Park eyes would now be on Chiromo, one wondered why other options - such as the full-back coming fast into the line down the middle to change the angle - were not tried. But they weren't.

MK were now winning their own scrums quite easily with Rory Newman looking very solid on his debut for the club at prop, and even the rucks were looking up, with Will Holliday and in particular Michael Woodruff pushing confidently over the ball. However once again the half-backs did not seem to be communicating that well. Very English. Too static too often.

Then, a good strong run from Marchbank and some superb tackling from Lewis, Duffin and Ryan. Lewis in particular was like a Jumping Jack, tackling a man, getting up and tackling another....despite being warned by his father "not to get involved" after his recent injuries. MK were awarded a penalty and threw the ball to Chiromo, but Park were wise to him now and he made little ground.

The game now had little shape about it. When one of the referees spotted some further handbags at close quarters, Chiromo took the quick option which was taken on by Duffin who doubled back on himself and offloaded to Oliver Anderson who took it on, only to be floored by the defence. Off he came with a bang to his head, uncertain whether ground, boot, or both, to be replaced by Hamish McKechnie at 7 who immediately inspired MK to their only against the head scrum of the day.

Park were finishing the stronger but the MK defence was holding firm, with another double tackle from Lewis. A ruck drew in the MK defence and a Park player made a clean break, it looked to be a certain try but Chiromo sprinted from the opposite side of the field to make the tackle. However, no contact was required, he put so much of the fear of God into him that the centre turned round and starting running for his own try line. Reputations are made in this way. MK won the resulting scrum and Friend booted the ball into touch to end the game.

In many ways a fine performance from the Warriors against a team that did their best to intimidate them. This worked last time the teams met and park won a close game. But the Warriors, though put off, stood up to them and deserved the win. It is important to fight aggression with aggression, but it should be controlled and targeted and a good hard tackle or a solid phalanx is worth a hundred handbags. Individually many good tackles were put in, but sometimes the commitment was uncertain. It was another step on their learning curve, a different sort of team than those they have faced so far this season.

MK won all their scrums and won one against the head, they gave away no penalties, they rucked well and passed often. There was a bit of a tendency to "get it to Orama" and then admire his footwork and on at least one occasion this cost them a possible try.

Next up is the Bucks Cup second round on November 18th, and there are some very, very big fish to be fried in the New Year where all 15 players will be required to work as a team.

Rarely can the old rugby adage that forwards win matches and backs determine by how many have been better proved than on a drizzly, mizzly morning on Sunday when Milton Keynes under 13s took on a game Buckingham side in the second round of the Bucks Cup. MK had won two of last season's three encounters, but the Buckingham forwards had impressed and cup ties are by their very nature one-off affairs.

The teams had been granted the honour of playing on the First team pitch, for the first time ever. The pitch was easily the biggest they had played on thus far and we wondered how they would make use of the wide open spaces.

Buckingham were already out warming up as the MK players arrived. Half an hour later the Warriors came out and had a quick 20 minute warm up before going back into the changing rooms. Was this a new tactic?....keep them warm and fresh and work them up into frenzy? If so then it worked, the players came out looking mean and hungry, you could tell they wanted to win this one.

Zachary Ezenagu began this one with the wind behind him, delivering a long kick off deep into Bucks territory. It was cleanly taken and the Bucks made some 15 metres (can we revert back to yards now, given the latest EU directive?) before the maul formed. A forward pass gave MK the scrum, which was won easily and gave us an early indication of where the power was to lie. Ezenagu made a good break, eschewing the diagonal and running straight for once (his father was running the touchline so perhaps he thought it best to keep away from him) but was held up. Another scrum saw the ball move sweetly to Orama Chiromo who made a strong touchline run. From the resulting lineout Ezenagu tipped the lineout throw but Bucks recovered it. The ball went loose and Ezenagu reacted quickest, picking up and going over for a genuine No. 8's try. Bollom's difficult kick was short.

Ezenagu caught the restart and somersaulted through the challenge only to be penalised for not releasing, which seemed a bit harsh as he was not held. Buckingham passed the ball and drove deep into MK territory with a rolling maul which was brought down in the 22. MK were again pinged, this time for hands in the loose. Anderson learning his trade! This was a kickable penalty right in front of the posts, and kicked it was - the first time this side had ever conceded a kicked three pointer. At 5 - 3 the game was on.

The restart was knocked on, MK won the scrum and passed through the backs. The ball was knocked on, Bucks won the scrum but great pressure from Duffin forced Bucks into kicking. MK pressed forward, but there were some poor hands - it was cold and damp. From a scrum, Ezenagu picked up and set off on a long run, breaking tackles all the way before being caught 5 metres short. Ryan was in support and he offloaded to Duffin who went over for the score. Bollom's difficult kick was short.

Bollom caught the restart and charged forward, Ezenagu kicked downfield, the Bucks full back returned the kick with interest, too much interest as it bounced into the in goal area. Ezenagu's 22 drop out was knocked. MK won the scrum and got the ball to Chiromo but he was wrapped up. From another scrum, Bucks kicked downfield. Bollom caught the ball and set off on a strong run, he was caught but got the ball to Lewis, he fed Chiromo who sprinted down the touchline breaking two tackles on his way to cross over for the try. Duffin's difficult kick was short.

At this point MK were looking pretty comfortable. The forwards were doing most that was asked of them. Though the rucking was still uncertain, they were winning their own scrums, pressurising Buckingham's, and getting evens in the lineouts, while the backs looked threatening, and both were tackling well. The Bucks coach urged his players to "keep it in the forwards" a sensible move as his backs were making no progress against the usual spirited MK defence. The trouble is neither were the forwards.

Buckingham resorted to the high ball looking for space, but Bollom looked comfortable under the high ball and it was not working. After one take he pulled off an outrageously exaggerated sidestep (clearly he still remembers the revolving clothesline) which even his father spotted. One of the kicks went to Chiromo and he made a strong run down the sideline, eventually being forced into touch about 5 metres out. The lineout was won superbly by Holliday but MK lost out in the ruck and Bucks kicked downfield. The teams exchanged kicks again but all the pressure was coming from MK. There were strong runs from Chiromo, Bollom and Ezenagu and some fine passing from the backs but they couldn't break through some good defending and the half ended with no further score.

The MK half time team talk was fairly similar to the pre match one and the post match one, concentrating on the need to be more decisive in rucks and mauls. Guess what they'll be doing in training this week. In truth, this was the only area of the MK that was weak. The forwards were scrumming well and winning the lineouts. The backs were passing well and intelligently, despite cold fingers, and the tackling from all was fast and hard.

Bucks restart was caught by Lewis, he ran hard and made good ground but the ball was lost and Bucks came back at MK, passing well. The won a penalty for a high tackle and the ball was handed to one of their giant props. He charged forward but was brilliantly tackled by Mcewan, who went in low, the ball went loose, Ezenagu picked up and drove forward, Anderson took it on further. MK were awarded a penalty and Ezenagu found touch. The lineout was caught by Ledingham and he drove forward but was forced into touch. More kicks and lineouts followed, with neither team making any real ground.

As the second half developed MK's superiority continued. Flankers Billy Cook and Oliver Anderson were continually sniping at the Bucks halfbacks to such an extent that they were unable to create anything, and once the umbilical between backs and forwards is effectively cut then the situation becomes untenable. The pack was continuing it's ascendancy, increasingly threatening the Bucks scrum and now winning against the head. The shove was well timed and Mad Dog Marchbank was hooking quickly and precisely. From one such scrum Ezenagu picked up and went blind, then reversed back to pass to Duffin, to Lewis, to Chiromo, and the flying winger left all behind him for another corner try. This time Ezenagu could not make the kick.

Several Bucks players were in front of the kicker at the restart and MK opted for the scrum. Ezenagu picked up from the base and kicked for touch, a kindly bounce taking over the touchline just 1 metre from the tryline. Bucks won the lineout but Anderson and Cook were on them so quickly that the scrum half had to touch down in goal. MK won the 5 metre scrum and Duffin went for the line, but he lost the ball and Bucks kicked downfield. Strong runs from Ledingham and Chiromo brought the ball back to within metres of the line. Bucks won a lineout but Newman burst through the line to tackle the ball carrier in his in goal area. Mk won the scrum and passed through the backs, it was sloppy, the ball being dropped twice, and Bollom decided to kick to touch. Ezenagu won the lineout but Bucks managed to force MK backwards to relieve a little bit of pressure. The MK forwards made a great shove to win a scrum against the head and the ball was moved quickly and skillfully from Friend to Duffin to McEwan to Lewis and finally to Chiromo who went over in the corner, a magnificent move from the backs, begun by great work from the forwards, a real team effort. Ezenagu's difficult kick was short.

Rory Newman was continually harassing in the lineout and MK were getting at the very least even ball from this aspect of play which has not traditionally been their forte. In the powerhouse Michael Woodruff and Will Holliday had the measure of the Bucks second row and were giving good service from the throw ins.

Hunter came on for Cook and Simms came on for Ryan.

The restart was caught by Newman and he charged forward. Whether they felt they'd done enough or not who knows, but at this point MK did seem to go a little off the boil or maybe the Bucks wanted to give it one big last shove, and Buckingham enjoyed probably their best period of play for the next five minutes or so. Buckingham were awarded a penalty for "not binding properly" and given another ten metres for chopsing by Ledingham, but the "they shall not pass" attitude of the entire MK team denied them. Great tackles from Simms, Lewis and Woodruff and another scrum against the head saw them pushed back into their own half. Bucks won more penalties and were pressuring MK but a Bollom interception moved them back again.

Then a wonderful team effort from the lineout saw Holliday rise like a salmon to make a clean catch, found Duffin, he found Friend, then McEwan, Lewis, Bollom in the line and finally Chiromo...another one? No, not this time, though the build up deserved it, and the winger was finally held. And that was it as the final whistle concluded proceedings for the day.

An excellent morning's work then, Ben Leddingham and John Marchbank's shiners attesting to the huge effort put in by one and all. The forwards provided the platform and the backs did the necessary. Simple really.

Bucks strength is in their forwards but they were well matched by the MK pack who finished the game on top. The MK backs showed some great passing skills and their timing is improving. The main concern, as ever, is the apparent reluctance to go in hard or take charge of the ball in rucks and mauls but let's not detract from a fine performance by the team. Every player contributed to this win including those on the sidelines who were unable to get on. The hard work is done in training and now that we regularly see a high turnout for training sessions, the benefits are being felt during games.

The team know that if they move the ball quickly and accurately a try will surely follow. Trys are being scored by supporting the runner which bodes well for the future.

It was Advent Sunday and Autumn finally arrived with a vengeance. Strong winds and horizontal rain greeted the players as Wellingborough U13 arrived at Greenleys to take on Milton Keynes U13. The Wellingborough players wasted no time in getting out on to the pitch to warm up, though after 40 minutes in driving rain they didn't look too warm. MK made do with a quick 20 minute session in which they looked focussed and ready to play.

The strong wind blew straight down the pitch towards the Clubhouse and MK would have the advantage in the first half. The Warriors lined up as follows:

Duffins kick was a good one but the wind and an unkind bounce took it over the dead ball line and the game restarted with a scrum on half way. On such a day as this the forwards would have a lot of work to do, conditions were not conducive to flowing passing movements, it was a day for mud, sweat and tears in the Engine Room. The packs were fairly evenly matched size wise, perhaps Wellingborough had a slight advantage, so technique would play a big part.

'Borough won the scrum and kicked downfield, McEwan fell on the ball and was caught, a maul formed and Anderson popped out and set off on a strong run. A maul formed and MK were penalised for coming in at the side. 'Borough kicked, MK were awarded a penalty for a high tackle and Duffin kicked to touch. Wellingborough slowly moved the ball downfield, passing and running well and outrucking the MK forwards. McEwan made one try saving tackle but 'Borough moved relentlessly on They won a scrum on the MK 5 metre line, a Duffin tackle knocked the ball loose and a 'Borough player picked up and dived over for the try. The kick was held up by the wind.

After the restart, Wellingborough won a penalty for "hands in the ruck", they ran the ball but knocked on. MK won the scrum, Duffin to Friend to Ezenagu who ran hard but was forced into touch. The lineout was tipped to the MK side and Anderson picked up and drove forward. But the ball was lost and a series of passing phases saw the 'Borough wing sprinting down the sideline, a tremendous JPR-like tackle from Chiromo took him into touch just shy of the line. 'Borough won the lineout and went over for the score as the MK forwards failed to penetrate. The wind again played havoc with the conversion.

MK found themselves two tries down without having played too badly. The change of personnel in the backs may have unsettled them a little and perhaps one or two wrong decisions were made, also, the Wellingborough backs were quickly up on them and tackled well, even Chiromo was finding it difficult to find running room.

After the restart the teams traded penalties, Ryan was penalised for the most blatant piece of obstruction seen this side of Bloemfontein, the 'Borough were penalised for not releasing. A 'Borough passing move was ended by Ezenagu as he tackled his man and stripped the ball, he disappeared into a maul only to pop out again and set off on a strong run, he passed to Chiromo who ran hard but was tackled into touch just short of the try line. 'Borough won the lineout but Mk were awarded a penalty. They tried to run it in but were held. Another penalty was awarded and Ezenagu tried to force his way over but was held up on the line. MK were awarded another penalty for going over the top, again Ezenagu tried to force his way through but 'Borough were there in numbers and he was held up on the line again and the Ref awarded another 5m scrum. Once more MK tried, and failed, to go the direct route to goal, 'Borough attempted to kick but it was magnificently blocked by Friend, unfortunately the ball rebounded over the dead ball line for a 22 drop out.

The teams then traded kicks, leading to a MK lineout. Wellingborough won it and a superb passing move, with the Full back coming in to create an overlap, saw them move the ball to the MK 10 metre line. MK won the scrum and kicked long, Chiromo chased and made a great tackle. MK were awarded a penalty which they took quickly. 'Borough hadn't retreated so MK were awarded another penalty. Anderson charged forward, Duffin took it on and passed to Ryan, he was held up just short and a maul formed. Cook was injured, the Referee failing to spot the Judo throw, and was replaced by Hunter. MK were awarded the scrum, the ball went from Duffin to Friend, to Ezenagu to Chiromo and he went over for the try. Duffins Conversion attempt was wide.

MK were back in the game but 'Borough's response was instant, a series of rucks saw them pressuring the MK line, MK tried to kick but the ball went straight to a Borough player and he ran in for the try. The kick was missed and the Referee blew for half time.

Wellingborough are a strong well organised side and were worthy of their lead. The MK forwards were struggling at first but gradually got into the game, the hard work they had done in training was beginning to bear fruit. The backs were getting the ball but not always making good use of it. There was some wild passing, not advisable in the strong wind, and some chose to run when they should have passed.

Adigwe came on at Centre, his first appearance for the club, Ezenagu moving to his more accustomed No. 8 position, Holliday moved to his usual second row position, replacing Mann.

The early stages of the second half saw the ball staying with the forwards in a series of rucks. 'Borough were awarded a penalty for offside and moved the ball towards the MK line, they broke from a ruck and and moved the ball through the backs, running in for a fine try. The kick was wide.

Mckechnie came on for Simms

Mk kicked off, 'Borough kicked it back, but too long and MK had a 22 drop out. 'Borough were awarded a penalty when MK went over the top, not for the first time today, but this was a result of the much improved rucking of the MK forwards, rather than standing around looking for the ball they were driving into the rucks and pushing back the opposition, occasionally they infringed, but for all the right reasons. 'Borough ran the penalty into touch 5 yards from the try line. Mk won the lineout and tried to pass their way out of trouble but the 'Borough forwards got amongst them and MK had to touch down. MK forwards got a great shove in the 5 metre scrum and won the ball, again they tried to pass but a stray 'Borough hand knocked it forward. MK won their scrum and Duffin kicked. MK gradually moved away from the danger zone. Chiromo had a good run but his pass was intercepted, Marchbank made a good tackle, Friend another and Ezenagu had a strong run as both sides battled for the upper hand. There were a few mistakes, mostly handling errors - not surprising considering the conditions - but there was a lot of good rugby from both sides. The MK forwards were now dominating their opponents, a good job as 'Borough again threatened the MK line. Good runs from Anderson and Adigwe were negated by strong drives from 'Borough and MK had to defend their line again. Another scrum won against the head allowed Duffin to kick, then Ezenagu kicked, but a strong 'Borough run down the touchline looked likely to end in a try until McEwan and Ezenagu combined to get the player into touch. MK won the lineout - the forwards even beginning to win these now! - and Friend kicked to touch, he was hit late - not spotted by the Referee - and retaliated by kicking the culprit - not spotted by the Referee - another Borough player rushed over to offer his opinion on the matter but Mad Dog ran over and one look from him persuaded the 'Borough player to think again. MK won the lineout and strong runs from Duffin and Ezenagu moved them into 'Borough territory before the Referee called an end to proceedings.

A deserved victory for a good Wellingborough side but MK, in particular the forwards, can be pleased with their day's work. The work they have done in training and the coaching they have received from Stuart Sams has paid dividends. Their rucking today was much better and won them a lot of ball. It was a tough day for the backs, missing two of their regulars and in difficult conditions, they struggled to make ground. Individually they all did well but just couldn't put it together when they needed to.

MK's first fixture of 2008 somehow survived the recent floods and on a sunny, breezy January morning the MK contingent made the short trip to a school field in Oakham. Bedford were already out and training as the MK players arrived in dribs and drabs. Everyone made it though with the exception of Glyn Lewis's boots, which were languishing in a school locker somewhere. There were no changing facilities and, more importantly, no tea or bacon butty facilities, but the pitch was in remarkably good condition. MK warmed up and the players looked to be in a serious mood. Perhaps they were worried about Bedford's reputation, it was difficult to find out too much information but it seems they are used to winning, and quite handsomely on occasion. This was to be the only game MK would play ahead of the Bucks Cup semi final with Olney on February 3rd. No pressure then.

MK kicked off, Bedford kicked it back to Chiromo but he knocked on in the tackle. Bedford won the scrum and looked to pass but Lewis was quickly in amongst them and a superb tap tackle caused the Bedford centre to knock on. MK won the heel and No. 8 Zachary Ezenagu picked up from the base of the scrum and ran into the corner for the try. Ffred Bollom had a difficult conversion attempt from the sideline in a swirling wind, but aided by a fortuitous gust he made it brilliantly.

This was a very early score and we wondered how the Blues would respond. They immediately went on the attack but a number of further knocks on and clearing kicks from Robert Friend and Ezenagu briefly calmed things down. From yet another Blues knock on MK won the scrum fifteen metres from their own line but slow handling as the ball went down the line and an ill advised pass from McEwan allowed a Blues centre a neat interception and to go in under the MK posts, and the conversion was good.

MK restarted and Bedford tried to pass but could make no progress through a solid defence. The MK pack were scrumming well and won one against the head, Ezenagu went on a run but couldn't break through. Bedford's passing game was stuttering in the wind and against some fine defending and knock ons were costing them dear. The wind was tricky and handling errors allowed the game to become becalmed.

MK won another scrum and Ezenagu booted the ball into touch just a couple of yards shy of the try line. From the lineout a good charge down from Tom McEwan led to MK being awarded a penalty for hands in the loose. Anderson was tossed the ball and he surged forward, Ezenagu picked up from the ruck and went over the try line but was held up. The MK scrum was penalised and awarded to Bedford, they kicked to touch. A pity, for this was a good passage of play for MK. MK went for the quick lineout, like they'd seen on the telly, but Lewis was penalised for not releasing after the tackle. Bedford kicked downfield and MK knocked on. Bedford won the scrum and passed through the line right across field but made no forward progress and ended up in touch. MK's lineout ball was deemed not straight but their pack won the resulting scrum and Friend kicked downfield. Bedford kicked it back and it went over the try line, MK should have touched down but tried to run it out before Marchbank managed to touch it down. Unfortunateley this was judged a knock on and a 5m scrum awarded rather than 22 drop out.

MK again won against the head and Ezenagu booted downfield. The Bedford Fullback recovered the ball and went on a strong run before being caught just short of the line. Bedford won the ball from the ruck and went over in the corner. The referee looked to his touch judge for confirmation. Confirmation was given by a spectator though some thought the ball was dropped in the act of scoring. No matter, try given, get on with the game. However, MK were feeling aggrieved by this passage of play and their mental attitude was to suffer for the rest of the game.

MK's restart was allowed to bounce into touch. Bedford won the lineout and kicked downfield. MK passed the ball through the backs to Chiromo who set off on a strong run but his pass was deemed to be ever so slightly forward. Another Chiromo run was ended when MK were penalised for crossing, this was to be a Theme of the Day for the Referee who penalised players for running into each other more times in this game than has seen in the last 4 seasons. Bedford kicked this penalty to touch but MK won the lineout and released Chiromo once more but he couldn't break through some strong tackling. A couple of penalties saw Bedford move close to the Mk line but great defence saw MK win the ball and Chiromo was off on a long run before being forced into touch.

The Referee blew for Half Time with MK in a promising position.

The half time team talk emphasised that the game was theirs for the taking if MK could just put into practice what they had learned in training. The backs were too static when receiving the ball. MK would have to start well to get something out of the game. They had looked a bit rusty in the first half and had let a number of decisions get to them. The tackling was again solid and the forwards had brought some of the end of last year's steel straight into 2008, but ball handling was still letting the side down.

Bedford's restart was knocked into touch. MK won the lineout and were awarded a penalty for a high tackle. Ezenagu sent a great kick into touch just 10 yards from the Bedford line. They won the lineout and passed. MK were awarded another penalty when Bedford went over the top of a ruck. Ezenagu ran for the line but was stopped. He managed to get the ball back and it was fed to Chiromo who stepped on the gas in the way we have come to expect and outflanked three Blues defenders to go over in the corner. This time there was no friendly gust of wind and Bollom could not convert, but with the game poised at evens there was now all to play for.

Bedford's kick off was caught well by Friend, he fed Ezenagu who sent a long kick downfield and Bedford kicked to touch. Holliday won the lineout but Mk could make no headway. The MK pack won two scrums against the head, one through a magnificent heel from Marchbank who reached through to the Blues second row to hook the ball back but the kick downfield was poor and Bedford were awarded a penalty for a high tackle. This was another Theme of the day for the referee who was letting nothing even slightly high go unpunished. Bedford knocked on and as the teams lined up for the penalty, Rutter came on at Full back for Bollom. Bedford were caught offside at the scrum and Ezenagu kicked the penalty into touch near the Bedford goal line. MK won the lineout and a penalty for a high tackle. Ezenagu took it quickly and charged for the line. He was held up but got the ball back for Chiromo to pick up and run for the tryline. He was held up and pushed back by three Bedford defenders but showed tremendous strength to push through them for the score. Ezenagu's difficult kick was good.

Penalties were coming thick and fast, at least nine apiece by the end, but hardly anything for off-side which seemed to be the most common offence. Rustiness was still evident in the MK backs as the ball was very slow to travel down the line, but no matter - penalties were to come to the aid of both sides.

Ezenagu caught the restart and ran straight. He was superbly tackled and lost the ball forward. Simms came on for Ryan.

Bedford won the scrum and passed, the runner was tackled high. Bedford ran the penalty but were penalised for handling in the ruck. Ezenagu kicked, Bedford kicked it back and into touch. Bedford won the lineout and passed, a ruck formed and MK came up with the ball. Lewis ran and was tackled; he held the ball aloft, waiting for an MK player to take the ball from him. The referee deemed he had held on too long and awarded a penalty, shortly folowed by another fifteen or so metres out. The Blues took a short one and were given another ten metres as MK had not retreated. But then they took another short one and the Blues went under both the MK and the referee's radar to touch down between the posts. The conversion tied the score.

MK kicked off, Bedford passed but knocked on. They were then penalised for breaking off from the scrum. Ezenagu ran, MK passed and won another penalty. Mckechnie came on for Cook and had to be reminded that he was on as a flanker and not a winger. MK kicked to touch and won the lineout, but knocked on. Bedford won the scrum and kicked to touch. Both teams were looking for the winning score but could not break through some solid defending and the Referee finally signalled the end of the game.

A game where the lead changes hands three times is a rarity at this age group so it has to be congratulations to both sides for an enjoyable encounter in what proved to be excellent rugby conditions. So, honours even, which was probably a fair result. Both teams competed well but were let down by basic errors. The MK forwards won their particular battle as once again they faced bigger opposition and outscrummaged them. The MK backs were out of sorts and their passing let them down. Bedford's backs looked quite impressive but let themselves down with a host of knock ons. The Referee was quite pedantic, but despite murmurings from some of the players, showed no bias. The players will have to get used to dealing with many different styles of Refereeing and the coaches pointed out to them that whinging about the Ref will get them nowhere whereas making the most of his leniency with offside would have worked to their advantage. It's a learning experience. There is obviously work to be done before the semi final with Olney. It remains to be seen who gets the last laugh.

There is very little worse in rugby terms than to lose a semi final to a last minute try when the last minute seems to be perpetually postponed until the try comes, but that is what befell MK under 13s on a chill, blustery but dry morning away to a feisty Olney XV on Sunday.

Olney were already out training when the MK contingent arrived and looked quite impressive. The spectators remained in the Clubhouse until the last possible moment before braving the biting wind.

Milton Keynes kicked off with the wind at their backs, but up the slope. A few kicks were exchanged before Olney obligingly knocked one on. Zachary Ezenagu picked up at the base of the scrum and made his intentions clear enough, striding off with the wind only to be held up 5 yards short of the Olney line and pinged for holding on. There was nobody there for him. Olney's kick for touch barely made 5 yards against the howling gale. The lineout was tipped towards the Olney try line and bobbled about invitingly but MK couldn't make the most of it and another penalty allowed Olney to run the ball out of the danger area. Olney seemed phased by the strong wind and they started throwing the ball about dangerously close to their own line and but for a penalty conceded for going in from the wrong side MK could have capitalised on this. But the breakthrough was not long in coming. Two quick tackles from Lewis broke up Olney possession and led to a knock on. From the scrum the ball came to Glyn Lewis who sweetly fed Orama Chiromo and the winger sped past three Olney defenders who were motoring themselves in a vain bid to catch the flyer. He rounded all three of them and cut back to score virtually under the posts. Ffred Bollom made a tricky conversion look very easy.

The restart was returned by Ezenagu, he offloaded, a ruck formed and the ball squirmed loose. MK tried to pick up but knocked on. Olney won the scrum and drove forward. An Olney player took the ball on but Ezenagu caught him and stripped the ball, he fed Chiromo, he then fed Ryan but Olney had him surrounded. Olney seemed to have learned from their earlier mistakes throwing the ball around in the wind and now they started going through the phases, recycling effectively and making considerable forward progress despite the wind. They were well in the MK half when MK were penalised for a high tackle. Olney were given another ten yards for MK failing to retreat and then with MK in some disarray - too much grumbling and not enough looking - an Olney back ran through unapposed to score near the posts. The kick into the strong wind was missed.

The two teams adopted different styles to counter the wind. Olney gave the ball to their forwards and they looked impressive driving downfield. MK tried to pass but were let down by poor handling. Ezenagu broke free and a score looked likely as he bore down on the try line with only two men to beat. Inexplicably he chose to chip the ball forward, despite having a man outside, and the ball was carried, by the wind, over the dead ball line. More patience and team work were needed, but the ball ran dead a number of times. Olney, by contrast, were going through the phases, recycling, keeping possession and gaining territory. It was canny, effective stuff in the face of a bitter wind, and MK did not seem to have an answer. To win this game they needed a bigger first half lead than just two points. Then out of a partially formed maul out came fly half Robert Friend with what looked like a potentially very threatening back injury. As he lay flat out on the grass the teams made their way back to the dressing room to get some respite from the cold and wait for an ambulance and for an adjoining field to be cleared and the game restarted there.

McEwan moved to Fly half, Ezenagu to Inside Centre and (George) came on at no. 8 to make his debut for the Club. In the two minutes that had to be played Olney won a penalty but Ezenagu's monstrous boot cleared the danger.

It would be interesting to see each side's second half tactics. MK were now into the wind which was as strong and bitter as ever. It was a tight contest. Milton Keynes forwards were given as tough a time as they have had all season by the well drilled Olney pack. Both sets of backs were struggling in the cold and wind but both had shown that they could make breaks given the chance. Both sides tackled well and it was clear that this could go down to the wire.

Ezenagu claimed a bobbling restart and MK were under pressure straight away. An illegal use of the boot gave them a penalty and Chiromo tried to set off on a run. He was soon caught and his pass was knocked on giving Olney a scrum close to the MK line. They tried to run it in but were forced into touch. They won the lineout and dropped over the try line, but smart work by Bollom saw him get hands on the ball and a 5 metre scrum was awarded. The MK backs must have been numbed by the cold as they didn't spot the Olney centres sneaking round the blind side and a 2 man overlap meant that they were able to stroll in for the score. The kick was missed.

After the restart MK were awarded a series of penalties but did not seem to be going anywhere. Ideas seemed limited and grit and determination would have to be the order of the day. Olney were pinged for going in from the side just on their own twenty two. Oliver Anderson charged for the line but was stopped just short. Olney kept MK out after a series of short scrums but then they were penalised for a high tackle. Ezenagu wasted no time tapping to himself and setting off at breakneck speed for the Olney line which through a mix of grit and sheer athleticism he crossed ahead of the chasing pack - a terrific effort. The tension was clearly getting to Olney players and supporters as the protested the ball had been run over the dead ball line. The referee had none of it and photographic evidence proves that Ezenagu was well within the line, but not so his pursuers. There followed the curious incident of the conversion being timed out as the support cone for the kick could not be found in time. It was in fact in Mrs Bollom's coat pocket as she was ministering to her son who had been flattened by a knee in the ribs some minutes earlier while trying to stop Olney's second try. By the time the cone did appear the referee blew his whistle and time was up. But crucially MK had restored their 2 point lead, but would it be enough?

Simms came on for Ryan and Olney restarted the game. How long was left? Opinions varied on these questions, as indeed did the referee's, as requests to know how long was left solicited replies of eight, five and three minutes, but not in that order. What followed was a period of intense pressure from Olney in the MK twenty two as they tried to batter a path through the MK line.

The home team were awarded a penalty for not releasing and put together the best passing move of the day, moving the ball through the backs to the winger, who was forced into touch. Another Olney penalty, another passing move and they were tackled on the try line, fortunately for MK Olney were penalised for not releasing and Ezenagu put the penalty into touch. Olney won the lineout and took the ball into a maul, somehow Ezenagu emerged with the ball and fed the backs. The ball was moved to Chiromo but he couldn't break through. Mk were awarded a penalty which Ezenagu ran. Then Olney were awarded a penalty and they ran at MK but were forced into touch. The lineout wasn't straight, not many were on this blustery day, but the Referee chose to penalise this one and Olney opted for the scrum. MK won the scrum and the ball ended up with Full back Rutter, he was caught in two minds and with Olney bearing down on him his pass went astray and into the in goal area where MK had to touch down. Olney won the 5 metre scrum and passed, but knocked on. They won the MK scrum but this time a forward pass ended the move. Olney were penalised for pulling round the scrum and Ezenagu kicked to touch to briefly relieve the pressure. Olney came back at MK, a fine Lewis tackle ended one move but a long run from one of the Olney backs ended with him going over in the corner. We all thought they had scored but the Referee deemed that he had hit the corner flag before touching down and awarded a lineout to MK. How much longer? Olney won it and drove towards the line. The ball went down but MK hands were beneath it and a 5 metre scrum was awarded. How much longer? Olney then won a penalty, twice they were stopped and twice the Referee ordered it retaken because MK were not back the required distance. How much longer? It was 3rd time lucky as Olney broke through the MK defence to score. The kick was not taken as the ball fell off the cone just as the player was about to kick and the Referee signalled the end of the game.

So that was it. Out in the semis. Very hard to take. To borrow some lines from the other great game, cricket, "When the last great scorer comes to mark against your name, it matters not who won or lost but how you played the game". Well it does matter and the reason Olney won was because they played a cleverer game in both halves, they played the conditions better and reaped their reward. Simple really.

The clock seemed to stop in the final exchanges, but the referee had an excellent game showing neither side favour and indeed awarding MK more penalties than they have had all season and disallowing three Olney tries. You'd think he could afford a decent timepiece though!

The good news is that Robert Friend's back is not broken just very sore. We wish him a speedy recovery in time for next Sunday's home game with Tring.

Whatever it was - anticlimax at losing last week's Bucks Cup semi final so narrowly at Olney, an off-day, a collective lack of will and ambition, or just rubbish - Milton Keynes under thirteens went down to their heaviest defeat ever at Field Lane on Sunday to as confident, athletic and powerful a side as they have ever met. Thirteen unanswered tries for Tring in a festival of authoritative running rugby gave a flavour of what sides not far away from Buckinghamshire are capable of. This was an overwhelming performance by Tring, a side to whom MK have given as good as they have taken in recent contests.

It started well enough. After the MK kick off the home side did not touch the ball again for some four minutes but they repelled what Tring threw at them. A scrum was eventually called and MK won this against the head, Ezenagu picking up at the base and passing to Chiromo who made thirty metres at his usual lightening pace. MK were even awarded a penalty and went for touch in the Tring half. Tring won it, and then to those of us who have watched this team develop over the last four years in various contests it hit us in the face as plain as a pikestaff. Four years ago in the Nottingham Festival their under nines lost to the MK Galacticos by three tries to one. But unlike MK Tring were trying to pass the ball down lines. Rarely did they cross the gain line, but the intention was clear. Pass, support, move on, run into space, take, offload, find space again, work together, one for all and all for one, and so on. They had been working on this for a long time and on Sunday we saw just how good they had become at it.

MK either could not or would not counter it. Mitigating circumstances? Glyn Lewis, the fiercest tackler in the side, had to go off mid way through the first half. At this point it was only 7 - 0. Injuries to Robert Friend and Ben Leddingham prevented their playing. But from this point on Tring could seemingly score at will. There was always somebody making themselves available or willing to go straight through rucks. 38 points in the first half and 39 in the second it was. How they wanted it. And how MK did not. Nobody seemed willing or able to commit to tackling or rucking and flailing arms was as close as many got to making contact. All we had left was to cheer MK's individual acts of bravery - a line-out take by Will Holliday, a charge by Anderson, a great pick up and run by Mad Dog Marchbank, a powerful break by Billy Cook.

But in the end that was that. Well played Tring, a delight to watch. For Milton Keynes? Skill? Knowledge? Attitude? A huge amount to work on. But then again Wales lost to England by massive scores in the World Cup warm up matches. But who won when it mattered in the Six Nations a couple of weeks ago? There's still a lot to play for. We can measure our progress when we play Tring again next season.

It had been raining for 24 hours, surely the game would be off? But apparently these Buzzards will play in all weathers and the MK contingent made their way to Leighton Buzzard looking for their first win of the year. The steep slope of the pitch had led to the formation of a sizeable puddle in front of one set of posts, but both coaches agreed that, as everyone had turned up, the game should be played. The greatest threat to life and limb was drowning, but after the Tring fiasco drowning in water was a much more attractive proposition than drowning in points.

Buzzards only had 14 fit players and so started at an immediate disadvantage against MK's squad of 22. The kick off was brought forward by 25 minutes so that the players wouldn't have to suffer the conditions for too long.

With the wind and rain at their back MK kicked off and within minutes from a maul Ben Leddingham fed Rory Newman who in turn fed Zachary Ezenagu who avoided the lakes and went over some ten yards in from the touchline. Kieran Duffin missed the difficult conversion. Conditions were not good and the ball was slippery but once the players were wet there was no point in not carrying on getting wetter still.

LB won the lineout and then a scrum. Duffin was too quick off the mark and LB put the penalty into touch. The lineout ball was knocked on and the scrum awarded to LB. They won it and looked to pass but a fine tackle from Clark knocked the ball loose and he kicked it downfield. LB were in a panic but an MK hand knocked on and Buzzards had another scrum. They heeled the ball quickly but before the Scrum Half could get the pass away he was wrapped up by Cook, coming round from the blind side and doing the Flankers job perfectly. LB tried to pass again but a good tackle from Marchbank put his man into touch.

The wind was playing havoc with the lineouts and blowing the ball to the LB line, they kicked downfield, Rutter collected and set off on a strong run but MK were caught offside at a ruck. LB ran the penalty, then passed then kicked downfield. McEwan chased back and fell on the ball, he popped the ball up to Ezenagu who cleared downfield. A series of lineouts followed from which neither side gained an advantage until LB tried to pass. Tom McEwan and Michael Woodruff who put in two crunching tackles on the Buzzard centres, dislodging the ball so Orama Chiromo could pick up and burn his way over the line. Ezenagu made no mistake with the kick.

Despite the weather MK's handling was better than the Buzzards' and in Ezenagu and Chiromo they had better legs as well, the two combining for MK's third try. The restart didn't travel the required 10 metres and MK opted for the scrum on half way. They won it, passed down the line, the ball ended up with Ezenagu and he headed for the corner, drew his man and passed to Chiromo who scored under the posts. Ezenagu converted.

Holliday caught the restart but his pass was knocked on. LB won a scrum but, again, Cook was quick off the mark and caught the Scrum half, a maul formed, Anderson wrestled the ball free and fed Duffin, he passed to Ezenagu and he sprinted in from half way for the score. Duffin converted.

MK made changes at half time with Simms on for Ryan, Bollom on for Rutter, Mann on for Woodruff and McKechnie on for Cook.

It should have been tougher in the second half for MK as now they were to face the teeth of the strengthening wind and rain, and sure enough the Buzzards were able to assert more pressure, encamping much more in MK territory than had previously been possible. They even won an MK scrum against the head, a rare event, but their pack had been good all day and easily matched MK, the result of this was Chiromo having to touchdown behind his own posts. LB won the scrum and tried to pass their way in but a thumping Jamie Noone-like tackle from Duffin loosed the ball and MK were awarded a scrum on half way. Ezenagu picked up from the base and threw a difficult pass to Clark, he took it superbly and burst through the LB defence to register his first try for the club. Well done George! Duffin's kick was wide right.

Clark was given a well deserved rest and replaced by Gould. The restart went into touch through Chiromo's legs, LB won the lineout and looked to pass but great work from Marchbank forced them back, a ruck formed Newman picked up and drove forward, the ball was fed out to Ezenagu, he dropped it but Chiromo was on hand to pick up and kick to touch.

Holliday won the lineout ball, fed Friend and he kicked downfield, LB kicked it back, Bollom retrieved and went on a strong run, Anderson took the ball and surged forward, Holliday took it on, MK rucked well and Friend picked up and passed, the ball went through the backs to Chiromo and he touched down - a great try, the ball going through several phases and quick passing from the backs. Friend converted.

Harry Miller came on for Chiromo and Hunter for Marchbank. LB kicked deep, Holliday returned it into a maul, the ball hit the ground and bobbled over the MK tryline where it was grounded by Simms. LB won the scrum and went for the line but were stopped. Another scrum, just 1 yd from the line, was won by LB, the passed it out and the centre went over, the referee awarded the try. Spectators may have wondered why the ball bounced so high immediately after apparently being grounded just over the MK line. In fact it was because the ball was actually touched down on fullback Ffred Bollom's foot and was then kicked away without actually making contact with the ground. Ah well, you might think, the Buzzards deserved something for all their efforts. Bollom didn't and, as usual, had "a word" with the referee.

LB tried to run back the restart but a great tackle from Duffin put a stop to that. A Strong run from Miller and two from Simms moved MK downfield. From a ruck the ball was passed to Duffin, he went on a long mazy run and over for the try. A throwback from seasons gone by. Friend's kick was good.

The final phases of the game saw good rugby from both teams. A good drive from McEwan, strong runs from Bollom (after he intercepted), Miller and Holliday were countered by good work from LB who drove their way to the MK tryline but were held up. By now they were down to only 13 players and a further injury saw the Referee ending the game.

So, a win at last and some decent rugby in poor conditions. Leighton Buzzard were game to the last and probably shaded the forward battle. After the bitter disappointment of Tring the players should be congratulated on making a good fist of a game which challenged feet, hands and minds in equal measure. One or two of the older male spectators agreed that the Welsh saying "Fe godwn ni eto" could apply as much to the boys as to the Welsh XV, if not to themselves. "I bought the last one""We shall rise again".

Some thought it would never happen, some thought it already had (at under 7), but the long awaited clash between these local rivals finally happened. Milton Keynes are firmly established at this age level but Bletchley are still developing, last season being their first.

The sun shone and it was almost warm as the two teams took the field. Bletchley only had 14 players but some of them were from their very good U14 squad.

Bletchley kicked off and the ball was caught on the hop by Marchbank. He offloaded and the ball moved swiftly through Mk hands to the opposite side of the field. Simms and McEwan, playing against their old team mates, moved the ball forward, Marchbank received the ball again and set off on a diagonal run which took him to the 22, a maul formed, Duffin passed to Ezenagu who ran straight, he offloaded in the tackle. Duffin passed to Lewis, he went on a mazy run, offloaded to Holliday who was bundled into touch just short of the tryline. Bletchley's lineout ball was slightly suspect, but the Referee played on and Bletchley kicked. The ball was taken by Simms and he drove to within a few metres, Anderson got even closer, the forwards were rucking well, Holliday picked up and passed to Ezenagu who went in for the score. Bollom's kick was just short.

Marchbank took the kickoff well but was penalised for a forward pass. Bletchley won the scrum and looked to pass, but a wayward ball ended up in the hands of McEwan, he fed Ezenagu who sprinted down the sideline for the score. Bollom got fed up with waiting for a cone to appear and drop kicked the conversion.

The restart was again caught by Marchbank and he went on a strong run through the centre of the Bletchley defence, then Anderson and Ledingham took it on but a stray boot knocked the ball into the hands of the Bletchley forwards and they drove downfield before Marchbank made the tackle and stripped the ball in one movement. Bletchley recovered it but were penalised for running into their own player. MK won the scrum and Friend kicked long, the Bletchley winger foolishly tried to take on Chiromo and was shown the ground, a ruck formed and a Bletchley player handled. Anderson took the penalty and drove forward, Newman picked up and drove again. A ruck formed, Ezenagu recovered and passed to Holliday, the ball went quickly through the MK backs, there were some great offloads in the tackle. The crowd thought that Simms had got the try but the Referee signalled a 5metre scrum with MK to put in. Duffin fed the backs who moved it swiftly to Lewis, he had men outside but cut in and the chance was almost lost. A ruck formed and Newman picked up and dove over for his first try for the club. Bollom's kick was good.

Newman caught the restart and a ruck formed the ball appeared quickly and Duffin passed, the ball went through several pairs of MK hands to Chiromo , he passed to Ezenagu, who had looped round but the ball was foreward, a shame as it was possibly the best passing move they've put together all season. From the scrum, Duffin quickly caught his man and the ball went loose, Bletchley recovered and surged foreward but a knock on ended the move. Ezenagu picked up from the base of the scrum and ran for goal, he drew his man and passed to Chiromo, but again it was slightly forward.

Bletchley won the scrum and kicked downfield, the ball ended up with Chiromo who slipped into cheetah gear and sprinted round the Bletchley defence, he almost made it but was bundled into touch a yard short. Ezenagu won the lineout and the ball moved swiftly through the backs to Chiromo, who went over in the opposite corner. Ezenagu's kick was wide left.

The restart was collected by Marchbank, MK tried to pass their way through the defence but ended up kicking deep into Bletchley territory. The Referee called them back for a scrum to Bletchley. Their No.8 picked up, but Duffin was on him immediately, Anderson picked up and a maul formed, Woodruff got the ball back to Holliday, he fed McEwan who kicked long. The Bletchley winger put a good clearance into touch while under pressure. MK won the lineout and passed Lewis reversed direction and the kicked, Chiromo chased and was first to the bouncing ball which he took in under the posts. Bollom's kick was good.

Anderson collected the restart and surged forward, an infringemant led to a Bletchley scrum, they won it and tried to kick but Cook blocked it and made the tackle. Anderson was penalised for using his hands. Bletchley chose to run the ball with their big forwards but some some excellent ripping and driving from Marchbank won the ball back for MK, it went loose and again Bletchley drove forward but they were held and the ball popped out of a ruck for Ezenagu to pick up and sprint down the sideline for the try. Duffin's difficult kick hit the upright and the Referee signalled Half Time

MK made several changes at half time and early in the second half, the coaches making sure that every member of the squad got a decent run out.

MK kicked off, Bletchley tried to run the ball but knocked on, the Referee played advantage and MK passed well but they knocked on. MK won a scrum against the head, Duffin fed Friend but he was caught, he managed to get the ball back to Clark who set off on a strong run. Great rucking from the forwards saw the ball recycled quickly and it moved quickly through the backs to Chiromo who went in for the try. Bollom converted.

Newman caught the restart and charged forward, Anderson picked up and drove on. Duffin fed the backs but the ball went loose, Gould recovered, he fed Woodruff who surged forward, Anderson continued the charge, the ball went out to Friend and his fine run took the ball into Bletchley territory but an infringement allowed Bletchley to kick to touch. Holliday caught the lineout ball cleanly and fed Duffin, he sent the ball through the backs to Ezenagu, now playing Centre and he set off on a strong run. A stray MK boot in the ruck gave the ball to Bletchley but Anderson had hold of it and when it didn't reappear from the maul the Referee awarded the scrum to MK. A quick heel allowed Duffin to pick up and run straight through the middle of the Bletchley defence for the try. Friend's kick was wide right.

Bletchley enjoyed a period of superior possession for a time but good tackles from Chiromo and Mann ensured that they made no significant progress. MK continued to pass, with Clark and Gould seeing plenty of the ball, one strong run from Clark saw him pass to Gould out of the tackle, he likewise fed Ezenagu who ran crossfield before slipping a sweet pass to Chiromo who slipped into Habana gear to outsprint the defence and score in the corner. Duffin put over a fine conversion from the wing.

The restart didn't make the necessary 10 yards and MK opted for the scrum on half way. Some good passing came to an end when MK knocked on allowing Bletchley to make ground with some good passing and running before they too knocked on. From the scrum Duffin passed to Friend and he popped the ball up for Ezenagu to run on to at pace, and he just kept running, the length of the pitch to score under the posts - a well thought out move. Ezenagu's kick was good.

The game ended soon after with MK's forwards in the ascendance as they had been for most of the match

Bletchley are obviously an inexperienced side and it was a fairly easy day's work for MK. The forwards dominated their opponents despite giving them weight and height advantage and they rucked and mauled well.

The backs were superb, no sign of white line fever they passed at every opportunity. They just need to learn to run straight and draw the tackler, there's still too much of a tendancy to drift wide, but it was a delight to watch MK doing to their opponents what Tring had done to them just a few weeks ago.

There was a certain end of term feel to MKu13's last home game of the season on Sunday as they eventually overcame a feisty Bugbrook XV. Injuries to skipper Kieran Duffin (knees), past skipper Oliver Anderson (ankle), Robert Friend (neck and back) and attendance at a martial arts convention by master tackler Glyn Lewis saw Will Holliday take the captain's arm band, hooker Mad Dog Marchbank switch to scrum half, winger Elliot Ryan to No. 7 and full back Ffred Bollom to centre.

Torrential rain had been forecast but had failed to appear. The kick off was delayed, Coach Holliday ran to changing rooms and returned - red faced and panting - with a dustpan and brush, which he used to remove something unsavoury from the pitch. A few spots of rain began to fall as Bugbrooke kicked off, but thought better of it and went off to fall on some other poor souls.

Holliday caught the kick off, Ezenagu kicked long, Bugbrooke kicked it back but conceded a penalty which Ezenagu put into touch. He then tipped the lineout ball to Marchbank and the ball went through the backs to Chiromo who touched down for the score. Bollom made a difficult conversion look easy.

Newman caught the restart and drove forward but the Badgers rucked better and won the ball, they passed and rucked well and moved into MK territory but turned the ball over, MK drove forward through Newman, Ledingham and Marchbank. Ezenagu stole a Badger Lineout and good runs from Bollom, Ryan and Gould took the ball deep into badger territory until a minor misdemeanour saw Bugbrooke awarded a free kick. They thought they had a penalty and kicked to touch expecting to get the lineout, but the referee awarded it to MK. Ryan caught the ball at the back of the lineout and ran hard. A knock on by MK in a ruck followed by a penalty for hands in the ruck allowed Bugbrooke to clear their lines and kick to touch. The Lineout was deemed not straight and MK opted for the scrum. As so often this season Ezenagu picked up at the base and went over in the corner. This time Bollom made a difficult conversion look difficult and missed it.

The restart was caught by Gould and MK looked to pass but were forced into touch. Bugbrooke won the lineout and passed well but they two were forced into touch. A badger attempted to kick downfield but succeeded only in hitting Clark, who picked the ball up and set off on a strong run but his pass was knocked on. Bugbrooke ran at MK and made some headway until called for crossing. But they had a Gallactico. A long Ezenagu downfield kick (he must stop this) was taken by their No. 8 ( some say No. 11 but we'll let that pass) who went on a mazy run through the MK defence, tackles were missed, and he went over for the score the try of the day. The conversion was missed.

The Bugs were more in the game now and the determination on Michael Woodruff's face indicated that he was not going to miss any tackles even if others were. But MK were still making silly mistakes. Two penalties for the wrong side led to the Bugs making touch near the MK line. This was taken by Ryan, revelling in a rare appearance in the back row, and his feed to Ezenagu made space but eventually came to a halt with a knock on from Chiromo.

Changes were made with Marchbank reverting to hooker and Billy Cook, Bradley Simms, Harry Miller and Jon Mann replacing Dan Hunter, Hamish McKechnie, Jon Gould and Ben Leddingham. However one might reasonably say that the next score came despite rather than because of these changes. Ryan moved sharply from a scrum and made room but Bugbrook dislodged the ball and knocked on and Ezenagu again picked up at the base of the resulting scrum and went over from fifteen metres. His conversion missed narrowly.

Holliday caught the restart, Marchbank took it on but knocked on. The MK pack were rejuvenated and won the scrum, the ball moved through the backs to Clark who had a good run. His pass was knocked on and Bugbrooke came back at MK but a smart piece of work from Bollom, pinching the ball from a Badger, saw him over for his first try since his birthday last October. Ezenagu kicked a terrific conversion from near the touchline.

Four tries to one. If Bugbrook were to come back they had to score next, and they very nearly did. Mann caught the kick off but MK were penalised. Bugbrooke ran at them. MK drove over superbly at a ruck but Bugbrooke still had the ball and took it to the 1yd line where a tremendous tackle from Ryan saved the try. More pressure from Bugbrooke produced a huge pile up on the MK line which when unravelled revealed Bollom's hand as the MK saviour. More unravelling was to follow. Bugbrooke won a scrum but Chiromo was quickly into the line to make the tackle. Mk drove over and Chiromo set off on a run, Newman and Ezenagu took it on before being being forced into touch. Badgers tried to pass but could not make progress and good runs from Bollom and Cook moved MK downfield before a high tackle from Chiromo gave Bugbrooke some respite. They tried to run at MK but a fine tackle from Marchbank stopped them. The MK forwards now took over and pushed the Badgers all over the field before Ezenagu picked up and ran in for the try. He also converted.

Marchbank caught the kick off, Mk passed the ball quickly to Chiromo and he sprinted down the sideline, cut inside to bamboozle the last defender and scored under the posts. Ezenagu converted.

Another restart. "Let's have a name on this one" bellowed Coach Holliday. The name was Ezenagu who tore a full sixty metres to score as two would-be Bugbrook tacklers collided, one taking a particularly nasty knock to the chin. He took no further part in the game. Ezenagu made a pig's ear of the conversion, striking the ball far too high up.

MK were scoring at will now as Bugbrooke gave up, the restart was taken by Ryan and he ran at the badgers, got knocked down, got up, got knocked down, got up, got knocked down and stayed down. Mk drove over passed down the line to Clark and he ran half the length of the pitch for the try. A louche Ezenagu took ages over the conversion and it was charged down.

Whatever it was - Marchbank back at hooker, Cook at No. 6 - the MK ruck and scrum began to look irresistible. Desperate defence just kept out Rory Newman who grounded the ball a mere fist short of the line after a powerful MK rolling maul. After a lineout seven metres from the Bugbrook line the ball went across the field via Marchbank, Bollom and Miller to Chiromo who forced his way over the line to bring up the MK half century. And there it stayed as Bollom missed the kick and the final whistle went.

Yet another game of two halves, 12 - 5 then 41 - 0. As with Dunstable last week, this game showed what an effect stronger, faster runners can have on a game at this level where many teams still try to tackle high. These advantages will be lessened when teams learn to tackle properly and with conviction, until then, enjoy the show. It has been a long season, a bit stop and start, with highs and lows, tankings taken and given, new Gallacticos, some very good rugby but also mistakes, injuries and tantrums - a typical u13s season perhaps.