By Sussexhugh
August 18 2002

Middlesex 7's Report

Two 'Berms' and a Dagger

by Sussexhugh

So on a hot sunny summers day the usual motley crew traipsed back in to Twickers to lounge in the sun, loiter with a ball in the car park and quench their thirsts in the sun. But thats enough about the team, the supporters were their usual magnificent selves, dual camped in the car park and beside the Royal Box in the lower west.

Geraldine and Bisach braved wigs and Annette mysteriously had Marie's green balls on her head. To us beasties of an Eastie bent this was all a little 'Peters Patch' for our liking but we snuck in like squatters, green wigs budging up blazers and flannels.....then of course there was MWM. Can anyone tell me how in 2002 you can get in to a major sports ground with 2 melons with fuses attached and a large dagger, supposedly for slicing the melon....but then those of you that have seen The Day of the Jackal will recognise the prop if not the particular weapon used!

The team put out was much as per that announced though Dec was up in the stands , Co**le was nowhere to be seen and Hoads had been press ganged in from his weekend off. No idea who was coaching but O' Sheas had his feet up and Richard Mack our physio appeared to be giving the team talk!

I have to say, the Middx 7s has had a lick of paint of late. I suppose the sun helps, but the crowd was good, 25000ish and the teams several grades above the once familiar Maybes and Hasbeens. In fact Bristol, Leicester and Sarries apart, the sides all looked strong. On paper, the Army, last years winners, looked tough, while Quins, Falcons, Wasps and ourselves were in with a shout. Wigan and Bradford were unknowns though Billy Bisach who keeps whippets and knows about such things reliably told me that Bradford were practically Great Britain in disguise.

In the draw we were way down at the bottom so got a good chance to evaluate the opposition first. The Army trounced Sarries and Bradford put one over their Tykes neighbours. Glaws put out a Quins side with 3 of Englands 7 playing while Sharks beat a mediocre Wigan (though apparently Sale are now just 'Sharks').

And so to our first round game against a Falcons side bristling with young speedsters... Wilco, Taione, Stephenson, Walder, May etc.

We ran out in our smart new strip....which looks exactly like last years so phew,no need to buy another. And no logo either...can I have one please?? (Freddie tells me Im talking like a Grand Dad!!)

In the event Baby Barrett ran the show, Tofty looked a handful and our winged apostles, Pieter and Paul, caused mayhem on the periphery. It was a game that could have gone one way or t'other ...as it was, Jonny boy had a conversion as the clock wound down to tie the game but put it across the goal and LI romped home to a decisive 19-17 win...pah...round 2 here we come! Falcons were a good side and went on to thrash Wigan before romping off with the Plate.

In the 2nd round the Army stuffed Barf while Robbies Bulls put 40 on Henrys Glooms. Sale were no match for Wasps. Our tie saw the rematch against a Saints side that Im sure included at least 14 internationals. To be honest we were magnificent, Sackey scored 2 and Saints were poor. As the clock ran down at 28-5 I am sure I heard cries of "we want 37"...but then I could've been wrong. After all its not really something we like to talk about.

Meanwhile back in the Lower West the team (ie the supporters ) were joined by the players. Conor and JC and wives and to be's. Kirkie, Dec and many Glaws and Quins joined our merry throng. And so started the 'berm' quest.

MWM set out to share her massive melons with anyone who wanted a suck... had Prince Charles been in the box he would have had no chance...the photos will follow but my personal favourite was Mark Evans head down looking bewildered... he looked a troubled soul and I daresay if there is a Mrs Evans she will have a job consoling her husband...."wake up darling...youre screaming... shes apparently harmless..you are sure you didnt give her our address?". Nigel Melville will almost certainly also need therapy.

And so to the semis. In the first, the Bulls scored 5 tries to destroy the holders and favourites The Army and we had Wasps.

We were 2 good sides with flair aplenty. Having Lewsey and Sampson at prop may not rattle Beefy and LaLa in the mud in feb, but on the 7s field they looked scary. As it was we took the lead first before their props ran in to make it 10-7.

In the second half we played with our backs to the wall...ET tackled like a Trojan. Sadly as Wasps pounded our line, Burrows who had looked good all day high tackled and was binned. While off the field we actually stopped them scoring. With the clock running down we burst upfield with (I think) Kevin Brennan. I believe had he taken the tackle he may well have scored as he fell over the line...it was that close. Sadly he tried to pop it up and the catch was spilled. A little tap in to touch from the resulting scrum then won the game for Wasps.

Overall I think we played well and on a better day would have made the final at the expense of Wasps. In the final the Bulls (S**t theyre big and fast!!) put 40 on Wasps and therefore probably we were saved a few bruises. They were the best side on view by a mile though I think our top 2 or 3 Union sides if also at full strength would run them close.

On the positive side, we looked fit and keen and the likes of Cannon, Burrows, Tofty and ET will offer us much needed depth when the injuries
start to arise. I hope Baby Barrett isnt sidelined as a 7s player. He certainly has lots to offer the full side with his pace and acceleration.

On the negative side Hoads went down clutching (I think) his ankle. He limped off but no idea how bad it is.