Out-doing Basques on dancefloor

BASQUE DURANGO 1ST XV ......................... 67 MACCLESFIELD 4TH XV ................................. 10

THE entire tour party of 22 players and 15 supporters were involved in this long distance away fixture which the tourists had been eagerly anticipating since the previous fixture to the Iberian Peninsula three years previously.

Before starting, team coach Jeremy Bostock announced the starting 15, some of those on the substitutes bench looked disappointed, they were all so keen to take the field and get into the fray.

Actually six of the seven subs had celebrated their 50th birthdays, with a few within reach of their 60th.

Only Louis Smith of the bench-warmers was in his 40s.

Following the well known adage that what goes-on-on-tourstays-on-tour, therefore the highlights of the encounter, only!

Macclesfield had plenty of opportunity to brighten up their supporters.

The notable happenings were an early try after a brilliant interception and dash to the try line from halfway by Richard Hopkin, to tie the score 5-5 at that stage.

In the second half a charging surge by Louis and quickly taken penalty by scrum half Nick Smith led to Nick Richardson, our USA based international guest, diving over for our second try. He claimed to have dived 15 metres, crashing into the corner flag before touching down.

The venue had an AstroTurf pitch, never a favourite with us; rugby balls quite obviously have an awkward bounce but on artificial surfaces they become even more unpredictable. Due to this unevenness the 4ths did concede three late tries, this 21 points left the score-line looking like an unrealistic defeat.

Afterwards full back Oliver Wilson felt obliged to completely immerse himself into the freezing river to the hilarity of the party.

The post match celebrations showed that the visiting contingent could out-sing and outdance all the Basques.

Choirmaster Dr Teale organising the baritones tunefully whilst ballet master Peter Hardwick was magnificent in his self nominated stool standing twirling.

The home side nominated Jonny Thompson Man of the Match, he was brilliant behind a sometimes retreating scrummage to retain possession and gain so many metres, even when being tackled, he was able to carry two tacklers a further 10 metres before being pulled to ground.

The success of the tour is being judged as so many members have already forwarded their deposits to reserve a place on the 2023 foreign excursion, which for the first time ever will include an octogenarian in their ranks.

Great thanks go Jason Walker, Louise Smith and Jeremy Bostock for financial sponsorship and all the tour committee for their hard work ensuring the smooth running of our annual tours.