Draw against Erikslund

8 jul 2023 0 kommentarer

Long speeches and loud grunts have their place in the game, and more often than not the pre match arena is full of the testosterone raising and adrenaline pumping fervour that accompanies any contact sport setting. The calm before a storm is what tired scribes use but that was the energy. Heads were clear, chat was focused and the captain was cutting his nails as he delivered the most bilingual team talk in Plebs recent history. Calm as it was, the moment Plebs received possession of the ball they sent King Mokoena blasting his way through a wall of defenders. As soon as his pod had cleared, James Oakley was feeding the next pod, and the next in a frenzied attack that allowed Plebs to get on the front foot, and Saul Davalos to play his line into space with all the defenders that had been dragged into contact.

Otto Klintenberg, our 17 year old outside centre, absolutely obliterated anyone that was attempting to counter ruck Plebs and used his size, speed and energy to make everyone who got close to him mistake him for a seasoned veteran with a background in violence. Hampus Wåhlander, captaining the side, is a man of few words and fewer of them are actually words but he did say something to the effect of "guys…… tackle… hit hard… best feeling…. Booom…. Arhghhghgg" and he went forth to deliver. Him and Jean-Rémi Cazette, who played his last game for Plebs, were stonewalling the opposition runners, and once momentum got going they unleashed a blitzkrieg of confusion and heavy artillery upon the opposition which pumped everybody up.

Saul, who embodies that pasion latina better than anybody, decided to ta attack the line once more and chip over the top of the rushing defensive effort of Erikslund. The kick was cheeky and soft, almost playful, like a feather fluttering and folicking in the summer breese bouncing around before deciding to go out into touch mere inches from the try line UNTIL Otto channeled his inner NFL athlete and jumped into touch and slapped the ball backwards to a supporting Serwan Khidr who caught it, magnificently, and landed into the try line! Try scored and the wide kick was made by the strongest pelvis on the team one can assume based on the size of those brass cojones that Saul must have to make that kick.

Uppsala was on top it felt like, but Erikslund were executing their game plan very effectively, using heavy runners to cuk in our defence and their centre to make some very nice runs out wide. He combined well with their 9, who is always hugely a dangerous player and kept the guards busy and honest during the game. Whilst Plebs held the line a lot and were stopping tries, Erikslunds efforts were going to be rewarded eventually, and they were with a well taken try to level the scores.

Plebs quickly identified how we were getting magneted to the rucks and using some real leadership and experienced fixed that issue immediately. The game continued with Joss Myers barreling into their line off set pieces and Jean-Rémi making breaks. The scrum was an even contest but young hookers Aron Frisk and Ryan Coupland stepped up well and commanded the lineout. The scrum was brilliantly held by no less than 7 front row combinations which must be a new record of sorts! With the gameplan being followed, it didn’t take long for one James Oakley to do something magic and score the next five for Plebs. Conversion made and on we go. Shortly before the half Saul slotted a penalty and Plebs lead 17-12, which had the whole sideline feeling very pumped up.

Second half was a game of attrition, with both teams playing hard nosed and not giving an inch, so much so that it almost went scoreless! Plebs had to defend the line time and time again, and eventually the line allowed for an inch, and the EKF 9 took a mile and scored a try. Whilst the conversion was missed and the game went on to end 17-17, there were some mixed feelings amongst the squad but truth be told, it was a great result! Yes, the win would’ve been nicer but this team really beat up Plebs last game and this game was a different story. The club has grown, we had 3 juniors make their first team debuts. Noah Kaul had a nice game, playing his space well and keeping EKF from playing in his area at all. Plebs also were down their coaches and captain during the week and the rest of the team took charge, and trained really well and played an unbelievable game under tough circumstances. Michael Bruun-Nielsen played his first ever game in the centres (although don’t flankers think they're centre like?) and had a great opposite man yet stepped up and contained him very well. In other times a rudderless ship may have gone adrift but it appears the leadership team has set up the squad with leaders all over, experience to take over and not miss a beat. It was a proud day for Plebs and the coaching teams who have made the team this independent and smart.

/ Jorge

Starting XV:

1. Pelle Mikaelsson

2. Aron Frisk

3. Per Adolfsson

4. Joss Myers

5. Niclas Larsson

6. Jean-Rémi Cazette

7. Hampus Wåhlander (C)

8. King Mokoena

9. James Oakley

10. Saul Davalos Guaita