By Our Rugby Correspondant
July 25 2005

The Arabian Knights stormed to victory in the FB7s Shield on Saturday, winning the first trophy of the season for Saracens. Having relinquished their Arse with a tactical nightmare during the first match, a re-think ensured that the day went just to plan from thereon.

Back Row (L-R) - Rupes, Sleepy, Andy Y, Large, Eddie (legend), Big H (capt), Wayne, Waldo, John, Paul
Front Row (L-R) - Fil, Rob (v. fast), Kwong (ditto), Ian (plus strangely shaped collar bone), Stuey
Strangely Missing - Larry

The Arabian Knights took the field again at Abbey RFC, Reading, on Saturday in an attempt to defend their Arse. A trophy was garnered, only this year we moved up a level.....

The day started with Waldo embarassing the rest of the team by taking on isotonic sports drinks in an attempt to sustain his energy through the day - two bottles of Spitfire Sport, a new ale-based drink from that well-known Kent brewery. Pre-10am. And so, the first game against Bruno Nero's - who didn't have a fat bloke on the pitch, one of them had gloves on for God's sake! It wasn't cold! Now, this lot quite fancy their chances of doing well each year. Until they ran into the Knights.
A 19-12 victory followed for the Knights, tries from Creative 21, Kwong (I think) and someone else (Eddie?) along with 2 conversions immediately messing up any chance we had of getting into the Arse Tournament for those finishing bottom of the group. Time for the captain to have a tactical re-think.

Bath next - they had already had pangs of guilt by turning up with, literally, not an ounce of fat to spare between their squad of 20! Seriously, "fat" they were not. Quick out the blocks they were - 22-0 up at half time, looking as if they could score at will, and the Knights' game plan in disarray. But don't forget - we have that vital ingredient called "experience"! And, with several half time subs, turnovers-a-go-go! Before you know it, the Knights are 27-22 up, the Bath Tubs (great name) are looking shell-shocked and we're played 2, won 2! I must mention the ref for the Bath game who took more stick than a ref is probably supposed to - I mean, when have you ever seen any ref in the Premiership check with the 2 captains, then his touch judges, then blow his whistle for the start of the game and get pole-axed by the kick-off as he was standing in the wrong place right in front of the kicker? Thank God the poor bloke was ok and had a sense of humour.

Next up for the Knights - Bristol Pasty Eaters. To prepare, more Spitfire Sport was consumed by some, plus an Isotonic Stella by others. An easier win for the Knights this one, tries from all over the place and only a thoroughly deserved late consolation for Briss. They did have the best cheerleaders though, PROPER nurses (as opposed to our fake ones!).

The final group game - against the Mercenaries. Win and we've won the group and are playing in the Cup! Lose and we're in the Shield! You wouldn't credit it, but our captain's tactical nous meant that we lost the game, fairly easily, by 38-5. Nothing but the Shield to play for! Who would have thought that? Not many of the Knights who, by now, were down to about 11 "fit" players.

Our semi-final was against Big Bob's Villagers, from East Peckham RFC, who we conquered at the same stage in the Arse last year. Easily the heaviest (and most organised) team we had played so far, our brave Knights soldiered on to a half time lead - 19-7 up. The half-time team talk went something like "great, keep it up." Oh, and the captain brought some water out as well. Genius. No problem holding on, highlight of the game being, with 30s left, the Knights' Creative 21 clearing to touch to the sound of "see, that's all they've got" from one of our lovely opponents. If there had been a scoreboard, we'd all have told him to look at it....

So the final of the Shield - against Gingells Gut Buckets, the coaches of the mini rugby section at Abbey RFC, our hosts for the day. So, in true chivalrous Knight fashion, we let our hosts win. No, we didn't.
The same 7 as the semi final took the field and, once we'd kept the ball in between the lines from the kick off, we ran riot. 19-0 up at half time, 38-0 was the final score - tries from Rob (2), John, Kwong (2) and Eddie (IIRC) made it a comfortable victory against oppo who were no mugs! The clearing of the bench with a few minutes to go was a sign of confidence from the captain, who himself managed to play a whole 10 minutes in total during the day before injury and the art of delgation kicked in!
So no Arse - but proud winners of the Shield Competition!

Many thanks to Big H for organising, to all who played, to all who supported (you know who you are!) and to Abbey RFC plus Eek the Weeble (from Irish) for putting on such a top day out. Aches, sores and limps were the order of the day but, as the jaegermeister flowed, the Arabian Knights had brought the club their first trophy of the season. Some players even said that they would really enjoy the opportunity to play in the Middx Sevens - so Dimes, if you read this, contact a Mr. A. Yule, a Mr. K. Waldock or a Mr. H. Harman via this message board - they would love to hear from you.

Arabian Knights -Shield Winners 2005, Fat Bloke Sevens.