Starting line-up

1 Shannon Neyland 2 Harry Cowley 3 Rik Relph

4 Matt Price 5 Nick Wells

6 Carl (ZigZag) Goodey 7 Chris (Glove) Milne (Capt.) 8 Stewart Faben

9 Ritz Steytler 10 Daray Horn 15 Roger McGachan

11 Lloyd Smart12 Will Clear 13 Colin Weir 14 Matt (Paper boy) Turner

16 Richard Cowley 17 Jay Hall 18 Chris Beddows 19 Anthony Brown 20 Alex Moreau 21 Bob Copping 22 Eddie 'BillBob' Murphy

Manager: Sam Vail

Match report by Sam Vail

First game of the Season and probably the warmest game day we will ever play. Pitch is still hard as rock so well done for everybody who put their bodies on the line for this game.

In the absence of Beaky the Team Captain, Chris 'Glove' Milne was in charge and as always, lead from the front. 22 Renegades turned out and impressed everyone with the new warm-up routine.

The game started at high speed with the Renegades mashing into the opposition and Darey driving over the line in the 4th minute. Darey was unable to convert. Biggleswade were shocked into action and immediately came back, pressing hard. The Biggleswade scrum was strong and helped by their scrum-half feeding the ball outrageously. However, the Renegades line-out was a triumph with Carl and Glove competing for and winning most of the ball. Biggleswade scored a converted try with some quick running from a tap penalty. Definitely something for the Renegades to look at was the speed of reaction when a penalty was awarded against them. Too many turned backs and strolling back 10 yards. Renegades were struggling several times from quick taps. Colin was able to add a second try by making a surging run around the opposition. Again, unconverted.

The first half ended Renegades 10 Biggleswade 14.

Glove gathered the team for an inspirational speech which fired the team to new levels.

Despite being pinged constantly for penalty offences, the Renegades were holding their own and managed to pull ahead through a bruising Carl try. Biggleswade pulled ahead from another quick tap and lazy Renegades defence. However, Fabio pulled town a ball at the end of a line-out and bashed his way through 4 tackles before scoring a 4th try for the 'Gades.

Darey and Antony rounded off the show with 2 more tries both made by strong running and excellent passing. Both tries converted by Glove.

There was some great running from individuals including Lloyd and Paperboy who chased everything. Darey suffered a small eye cut which he dealt with before getting back on the pitch to run the backs. Fabio was everywhere and tackling everything. Glove seemed to be at the base of every ruck, whether he wanted to be or not. Roger was solid at fullback and could do with a bigger pitch to show his skills. Thanks to the replacements who made a big difference with fresh legs.

After what seemed like 2 hours, the match finished with a first ever league victory for the Gades. Retirement to the Waggon & Horses and some excellent food! Members were handed their new polo shirts and enjoyed a refreshing drink. Eddie has lost his shorts, anybody got them?

"Glove you did an excellent job as capt' and didn't victory taste so much sweeter as it wasn't just for pride that we were playing.
As long as we stay solid together as a team and no more rubbish that hopefully we've now left behind us. This should be a great season regardless of results.
Well done everybody and thanks. Cu next week" Jay Hall

"WELL DONE guys, a great start to the season and a really enthralling game to watch.
My views from the touchline to either ignore or take forward....

THE BAD..
Too many penalties given away, I think if the ref was tougher someone might have had a 10 minute rest! I reckon the count was about 4-5 against them and 15 or more against us. Better opposition would have used the opportunity to spank us.
Once penalties were conceded there was little attention paid to the quick tap.
In the first half we seemed to be keen to kick possession away and didn't set up any phase play, the second half was much better.
Defence was not bad on the whole but the team needs to LOOK UP. If you're not required at the breakdown, spread out a bit from the ruck/maul area. Still too many tackles going in high, your first priority is to stop the player then secure the ball.
Support play!! still not happening and probably the cause of our penalties in one form or another. Is it solely the responsibility of the forwards? Should the backs or whoever is closest help to secure the ball in the first instance and then when more support arrive retire to their given position?

THE GOOD.
The lineout was very very good on our own ball, and stealing theirs.
The scrum was good and held it's own.
Ball movement and running was good, as was off the ball running and support play. Passing seemed accurate and the ball was not thrown loosely around showing composure and confidence in taking the ball in to contact.
Having said we kicked away a lot of ball, the times it was kicked when it should have been was very effective and had good range. The kick chasing was excellent and put a lot of pressure on their players.
Our defence of the high ball and chip throughs was good as were the hands that caught those balls.
The restarts were controlled well when we were receiving and chased well when we were kicking one of which led to and excellent try.

SUMMARY.
The first game of the season now out of the way, players are finding out stuff, their own strengths and weaknesses, and getting to know each other "on field" my only advice would be communication.

HIGHLIGHTS
Stuart, nailing their No.7, Gloves great low tackle on their fat bald one stopped him dead, the sweeping try scored from the second half kick off was so basic and effective. Ritz had a very good game at No.9, but well played everyone and I look forward to the next one I watch." Tom Wykes

"A big thanks to the crowd and the bench too. Let's keep the numbers up, it helps to have choices especially when there's strength in depth." Flora

"I don't usually contribute much to the email banter but...
There was a point in the second half on Saturday where we were on the back-foot, they had just scored we were feeling knackered and our heads were starting to go down. Instead of giving up (as we may have done last season), the Glove dispensed a few words of inspiration, everyone dug deep and we went back at them.

That is what it is all about - that is why we joined the league. Now every game counts and it was superb on Saturday to see a big squad of renegades, individually busting a gut to win, all working together to win, and (of course) winning. Well done!" Colin Weir

Try

Daray Horn 2
Colin Weir 1
Carl Goodey 1
Stewart Faben 1
Antony Brown 1

Penalty

Conversion

Chris Milne 2

Drop Goal

Nominations

Player of the match Stewart Faben (Nominated by Biggleswade)