Vipers 95 - 0 Deepings

Deepings IXV visited Leicester Vipers on Saturday but unfortunately finished the wrong side of the score sheet. The team are commended though for the way they conducted themselves, on what was a hard afternoon.

They played with a pride and passion that should make all at Deepings RUFC very proud of the team, their spirit never quavered, and was a lesson to all that watched the game.

On behalf of Vipers RFC, Peter Whyatt said "Our players to a man, our coaches and supporters had nothing but praise for the commitment and camaraderie that your team [Deepings] showed on a cold miserable afternoon. Deepings RUFC you can hold your heads high on any ground in the world and good luck for the rest of the season."

The Deepings players also had some thoughts on match, Prop, James 'Rosé' Clarke suggested it all fell apart with the first kick of the match, " I was really looking forward to an away win this week, then kick off came, and to set the mood Oli [Peacock] decided to drop kick the ball a mere four metres past half way line, and a subsequent two metres vertically to leave confusion amongst Vipers and of course Deepings. It was Vipers who capitalised on this confusion and ran away with a narrow win."

In reply Fly Half, Oli Peacock, offered his disappointment, "Off that first kick I was expecting the ball to bounce, rather than disappear into the ground and become engulfed in mud, I would have expected the ball to have bounced more had I dropped it into a sinkhole!"

"I felt bad about this, having had a sleepless night after the match on Saturday night, I decided more practice was needed. I took it upon myself to go to the river Welland and find a nice bit of un-dredged bed of said river. I then deflated a rugby ball completely to ensure chosen ball would not bounce. My final step was to wade out into the quagmire until waist deep and began my practicing."
"In conclusion I feel I may now be more prepared if we arrive at a questionable pitch only to find that some absolute jester has painted white lines on a ploughed field"

Guy Cunningham, who some have said is the saviour of Deepings IXV this season also put the narrow loss down to the pitch conditions. "My valuable expertise was ignored this weekend. The field had standing water, waterlogging, ruts and a high risk of surface run off. Therefore no live stock would be allowed on said pitch, nor would any vehicles. By going on it you risk your single farm payment under direct offences of good farm practice, cross compliance and soil protection review offences. Therefore my request to postpone the event due to an unfit field were ignored and there could be a 5% fine of their SPS or single farm payment"

Deepings IX are at home this weekend, 22nd Feb, kick off is at 14:15pm, come and support the team against Brackley RFC.