Warwich vs Norwich Medics (lots - 5)

Captain's diary- 11th November 2005
7.30am- climb aboard 'Luxuary coach' to discover no toilet and only 13 players.
7.45am- re-count- 15 players are on the coach- I've discovered an inability to count at 7.30am!
7.50am- set off for Warwick.
11.00am- arrive at Warwick
12.00- Warm up, watch Warwich warming up... they look quite good???
12.30- Kick off.
12.31pm- Warwick score first try..........
14.00pm-Game finishes- good time had by all, both teams agree that the scoreline doesn't really matter, what really matters is that everybody enjoyed themselves.
14.30pm- England vs Oz on in the union.
16.30pm- England win!!!
17.00pm- the Warwick lads want to play a few drinking games.........

_______________________

It all got a bit hazy after that.

The Warrick game was NMRFC's introduction to the NAMS (National Association of Medical Schools) rugby league. It was an eye opening experience, this fixture shows us what level other medical schools are playing at, and more importantly what we should be aiming at.

However, saying that everyone on the team put a lot of effort in and never gave up. There were periods of the game where the NM, put Warwick on the back foot and showed some real potential, however our inexperience of playing as a team and the fact that we were quite short of players did show through and we were comfortably beaten, (score: lots-5).

The Warwick 'experience' as a whole was an enjoyable one, we had the oportunity to mix with people from another medical school, while doing something we all enjoy, which basically is the whole point of the NAMS. The Warwick guys were a nice bunch of lads and they promised us a return fixture, possibly in the new year.

Martin (captain)

Nowich 3rds Vs Norwich Medics - 52-5

It was an unseasonally warm autumn day on the 29th of october 2005, but appart from that it was a day like any other.......with one major difference......... I smelt greatness in the air!!! It was the inaugural full XVs game for the Norwich medics rugby union football club.

It has been a long 18months(ish), leading upto this first game, but all the hard work in setting the club up, was paying off. The kick off was at 2.30pm the conditions were perfect and the medics made a magnificent start, for the first 20mins of the game Norwich 3rds were well pinned into their 22. The front three were totally dominanting in the scrum to the point where we had to have uncontested scrums for the rest of the match due to a mysterious 'neck injury' in the Norwich front row!!
However we were unable to turn this pressure into points and after about 25mins Norwich scored their first try. The medics held Norwich well in the first half, only letting 3 tries passed their defence.
The second half was however a different story. The experience of the Norwich Backs (and the fact that their number ten was larger than a small planet) showed through and they we able to take advantage of any small mistake that was made by the medics.
However that was not the end of the story in the dying moments of the game Norwich gave away a penalty on their 10 metre line, the penalty was taken quickly, they gave away another pen for not retreating, the momentum built, again I took the tap quickly and after sacrificing myself in drawing their number 12 the pass was made to James rumbles who took full advantage of the resultant hole in the Norwich defensive line, and after a darting run of around 20 yards the ball made its way to the wing where Matt 'Gay Boy' Wilis scored a magnificent try in the corner!!
The 52-5 scoreline does not reflect a game, in which both teams put up a good fight and the medics did not let their inexperience show.

NMRFC's first experice of the XVs game may not have been a win but it was most definatley an enjoyable and learning experience for all involved. If we keep playing with such passion and determination I'm sure NMRFC's first win won't be far away.

Martin (a proud Captain)