This was not such a wrench for me as about then I started to watch the Warriors so was still getting a huge rugby fix. In our second season I started to meet a few posters from the board and found out that the end of the season there was a little competition called the Fat Blokes Se7ens. I went along met more posters from the board and had a great time.

Having decided to play again last year and went up to the club to train alongside the Wanderers and was told about their plans for the 3rd team. While this got my interest I thought no more of it as I winged my way to enjoy the Fat Blokes again. However a strange thing happened after last year’s competition. While enjoying a drunken award ceremony called the Bob’s some of us said what if we all went along and tried playing again for the Wanderers.

So after deciding we would give it a go we meet up at a few training sessions and were welcomed by Stuart James the Wanderers DoR the coaching team of James Price, Niall Crawford and the legend Steve Lloyd. We did some good sessions, well good for us and then out first game came along, Hereford 4th s at home start of the season.

Well to say it was a baptism of fire would be an understatement. A lot of unfit men running around after a lot of much fitter men. While we showed some good signs in our first match we were well beaten with the final score line of 5-57. We then followed this by a good away result were we almost beat a Ledbury side losing 31-30. Progress in only our second game? Maybe not!

It proved to be a false dawn we went through many games becoming a one half team, being very competitive for a half but not being able to string two halves together to get that elusive win. All the time however we grew as a team, everyone willing to work for everyone. Also socially we enjoyed ourselves, new friendships made and bonds of team mates forged which makes this game of rugby so special in my eyes.

We couldn’t however put the performance to get a win. A few things we thought were hampering our progress, not a settled team as many of the players were season ticket holders, injuries robbing us of some of our better players at crucial times, some teams not playing their 3rd or 4th teams against us but their better sides. We also lost both of our co-captains in the first half of the season so struggled on without a regular captain too. All these excuses were used but the team spirit remained.

The only problem was we wanted a win. We had picked up a couple of wins via default with teams not being able to put out a team so we got points for that but we wanted our own win. This to me was the biggest shift in our mind set. At the start turning up playing having a few beers was enough for us but somewhere along the way we got competitive. A loss at home to Malvern put the team on a new low and I for one wondered were we good enough to keep playing. I doubted myself and I know a few of the other guys did too. We needed something to keep our faith in ourselves.

Then with a game to replay we had Bromyard come along to Weston’s for our second to last match of the season. As the Bromyard players stepped off the coach we saw these guys looked a lot fitter and younger than the guys we played before. Hearts were sinking when our captain turned round and basically said ‘**** it lads come on I don’t care who they are lets just get out there and win!’

So we ran out and within 5 minutes were 0-5 down. But then something strange happened. We fought back like never before, why we did I don’t know, but we all of a sudden were 7-5 up. The in the second half we scored two more tries and dominated the team and we had our first real win of the season with 19-5 score line. We were jubilant and celebrate our win. All the hard work and heartache seemed worth it.

Our final league game of the season was against my old team Pershore and we went into the game with a new level of confidence. It showed every tackle was made, lines were broken and yards were made. It was another dominant performance and with this we felt we had repaided some of the faith the club had shown in us by never really criticised us and letting us still do it our way. We felt a real part of the club and it was a great way to end our season for all involved. We did play a friendly against Old Edwardians as well which was another win with a 34-19 score line. It brought to an end a long and enjoyable season for everyone who played for the 3rd s this year.

On a personal note I would like to say a huge thanks to all of my team mates that made my first year back one of the most enjoyable of my playing career. I have made new friendships and strengthened others that existed before. We have our End of Season party next week and for me it is the start of another summer of fun with the Wobblers and I am already looking forward to my 2nd year of Wanderers action.

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