Supervets rugby wins again
"And so ended the inaugural season of the Bedfordshire Barbarians Supervets who are very proud to have raised over £2,000 for charity while proving that rugby isn’t just for the 20-somethings"
On a suspiciously warm spring afternoon the Bedfordshire Barbarians Supervets turned out against Middlesex Supervets.
Middlesex kicked off, as Karl Belmar (Stockwood) assumed captaincy from the injured Barbarian Charlie Nissen.
The game started brightly, with both teams exchanging possession of the ball regularly in what was an equally matched event, however Andy Copley (Bedford Swifts) scooped up a loose ball and set off uphill dodging a number of defenders to score in the corner, conversion missed 5-0.
Middlesex responded with their own try as one of their locks burst through the line. After a large amount of broken play and once again lots of exchanging of possession Middlesex, added three more quick tries to go 5–19 up.
Down but certainly not out Barbarian Steve McDade (Leighton Buzzard) decided to take matters into his own hands as he promptly sidestepped two unsuspecting opponents to score under the posts. Paul Harman (Stockwood) added the extras. Not to be done by his colleague #15 George Maluga (Bedford Swifts) powered over for his first try of the afternoon, Harman converted. A loose ball near the Barbarians’ line gifted Middlesex another score, sending everyone off at halftime with Middlesex leading 19–26.
Taking to the field for the second half, the Bedfordshire Barbarians gained the slope which resulted in two quick tries, Paul Harman going over the oppositions tryline, followed by George Maluga bagging his second. Then Brett Antill (Dunstablians) added the third in the corner. The Barbarians tails were up, confidence surged, muscles protested.
However, Middlesex refused to lie down and added a try and a penalty to edge back in front.
Then came a highlight: Birthday boy Virgil Ferguson (Bedford Swifts) surged down the wing scoring what seems to me a try in every game he has played 39–38 was another victory in sight?
A last-gasp score by the visitors snatched the game 39–43, leaving the Barbarians stunned, exhausted, and reaching for ice packs.
And so ended the inaugural season of the Bedfordshire Barbarians Supervets who are very proud to have raised over £2,000 for charity while proving that rugby isn’t just for the 20-somethings, it’s also for those who need a good 48 hours to recover afterward! So, if you are over 50, enjoy/ed rugby (any level) or just want to get back on the field again you will be more than welcome, please email [email protected] for more information.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors Lagan Homes (main sponsor), JLC Safety (shorts sponsor) and @twistedworldstudios (photography sponsor) for your support getting this group of old men off their chairs and back onto the rugby field, it would have been a lot harder without you and of course you the supporters, we hope you have had fun with us along the way, see you next season.