Moor made a number of changes at half time. Jones went into the back row and P.S-A drifted into the centre. The Kondratowicz bruvvaz slotted in at half back, and made a difference! Jaz showed that the ability to pass off both hands is a must at scrum-half, and Maz kicked intelligently and ran with confidence – all he needs now is a timely pass and straighter running from first phase! Moor began to gain the upper hand and turned the screw as the half progressed. ‘Jones The Tackle’ became very effective in gaining and retaining possession. Tom Ireland began to show that he’s a very evasive runner who’s likely to pop up on the ball carrier’s shoulder unannounced. The front 5 began to put the squeeze on and dominate scrummage, which made up for the piss-poor lineout. P.S-A kept screaming, “Stae on zee peech – durnt go eeento turch!”, and he was right, ‘cos there was no way we were going to compete in the lineout.

The front rows decided to have a bit of an arm-wrestle. Great! Suddenly, there were only 6 men on the park that mattered. The ref was beginning to wish that he’d not been born a fly-half. “Ref! Watch the boring!” exclaimed the Bede’s loose head. “Boring? Yes it is - Extremely!” replied the ref as Tiny’s ‘tache exploded into a grin wider than a 192 bus. Pooley had o-d’d on adrenalin and needed a lobotomy, so the stricken Kirky – a true martyr and defender of the cause - returned to the field to add a little sanity to the last 10 minutes. If truth be told, he shouldn’t have wimped off in the first half – “showed ‘is cauliflower arse, isn’t it??” according to ‘Jones the Tackle’.

I must mention Beggy. He was brilliant beneath the high ball, and never hesitated to put himself in with a chance of hospitalisation when returning kicks by charging, forthright and with dread courage, into the onrushing blue hordes. The man loves pain and is the purest adrenalin junkie you could ever wish to meet. I love him to bits. It is a measure of the man and his talents when, at the end of the match, he complains because he didn’t have to make a tackle. All who know him also know that tackling is Beggy’s lifeblood, deemed to be better than sex. I will admit it is – to watch him perform autopsy is pure pleasure… maybe next week, pal.

Moor were now shunting the Bede’s pack backwards and taking ball against the head fairly regularly (Tiny’s chuckles were infectious). And Lo! In the East, there came to pass a knock-on, harshly given against the Bedian captain playing full-back. There being no room at the inn, a scrum took place, and the innkeeper motioned to the stable, where beasts lay in drag and a manger rocked slowly. (Had to get the Nativity in – after all, it IS Christmas). A bright star rose and held all in wonderment.

Continued possession saw Moor force pressure on the Bede’s line. Jaz got onto the end of a fantastic play where the ball was off-loaded in contact on numerous occasions and then he dropped the ball onto his knee from 3 yards out when a score looked inevitable. The resulting scrum was powered by Moor, and Santa’s Little Helper (Jaz!) scuttled beneath ‘Jones the Tackle’s’ tackle to poach a try. I don’t know how Maz missed the conversion!

!4-10 to Bede’s, and 10 minutes remaining… what a nail-biter! P. S-A drifted beautifully outside his man from a scrum and looked for support… “Ou est Danni??” was the battle cry as the international ran out of room looking to put the Moor winger in for an easy 5 pointer. Good point, actually… where WAS Danny? He would surely have been there to run the try in from the Squadron Leader, so what caused the complacency?

The last 5 minutes… pure rugby! A quick passage of recycling saw the ball passed to the left where the strength of Philippe showed as he shrugged off desperate tackles to score a try which went unconverted. Moor edged into the lead by one point courtesy of the French International connection. From the restart, Moor pulled on their cool heads. The ball retention was superb. Slowly but surely, Moor worked the phases to run down the clock – and they did it with professionalism unknown at this level until…. Maz decided to have a hack at a drop goal, fully 40 metres out, with a minute left on the clock. Disaster could have ensued, but didn’t (thankfully). Moor slowed the game down, recycled and eventually ran our one point winners as time ran out. A much-needed victory from a hard and closely contested match.

The joyous celebrations were short-lived as the ref tore into his squad and then relented (Xmas, after all!) to congratulate them on a job retrieved and the ninth win of the season. One more in the cup against Glossop and it will be 10 before Xmas – almost unheard of in recent times from a Moor 3rds – 10 in a season was thought to be acceptable, but not for this season’s crew.

Some interesting conversations took place in the post-match bar. ‘Jones the Tackle’ remarked that he’s thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon, but might be unavailable owing to a pending operation. Boo. At least he had a beerio with the lads. Someone remarked that P.S-A was great and still ahd the magic, being able to beat anyone in 1-on-1 situations. The irony was obvious as it dawned that P.S-A is an international winger playing against…. Bede’s 3^rd team! Nevertheless… the fact is that 30+ men enjoyed their afternoon in a hard-fought battle, and they all deserve congratulations in so doing, regardless of history. The Bede’s boys were chuffed to be playing against some illustrious opponents, and the Moor lads were likewise enhanced by their presence. I, for one, think that it’s a wonderful and laudable occasion when stars can return to their roots and illuminate the afternoon to the benefit of all… on which note I end by saying that the Squadron Leader will be returning to action next weekend! Beware!