Forfeit for Green Machine as Vase weekend looms
Deepings were unable to build on their South Kesteven derby success when a shortage of players meant they had to forfeit their league game at Brackley
The Green Machine who have travelled to Nightingale Close with just 13 first team players as a mixture of injury and work commitments left coach Tim Edwards in an impossible situation.
The usual starting front row, Kirk Green, Dom Peacock and ex-1st XV skipper Gareth Silverwood were amongst players absent for Deepings who ended up playing a scratch friendly to avoid being docked points.
It ended 38-19 but the score was immaterial considering the feat of 55-year-old Deepings veteran Denham Hughes who played his first-ever “game” at prop, winning the unofficial man of the match award voted for by both sides.
Edwards said: “Unfortunately, the league rules state that you must have front row replacements and we couldn’t satisfy this requirement.
“So the boys went down to Brackley with a scratch team and played a friendly against 15-men Brackley which was a bit of a shame after the week before when we won against Bourne.
“Brackley was a game we definitely could have won, but we could only take two props down who were both veterans and we’re hoping to get some players back for the cup game at East Retford.”
Saturday’s Midlands Junior Vase second round tie against the Midlands Four East (North) side will be a test of Deepings’ discipline, according to skipper Guy Cunningham who scored the winning try against their A15 rivals Bourne the previous week.
Cunningham said: “East Retford are quite a tough team who are very forward-orientated and hopefully, we can get a front row out for that game.”
Deepings will have vice skipper Steven Corrigan back after having a run-out on Saturday in his return from injury.
Edwards said: “The lads who went down to Brackley put in a good performance and some of them got some game time when they could show what they could do.
“It was good to get Steve back, but he’s not 100 per cent yet and because we played the friendly with Brackley, we’re hoping it’ll be a good week for us because it’s definitely a winnable game.”
Winston Brown
winston.brown@jpress.co.uk
Tuesday 24 November 2015
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