Match report - Reeds Weybridge '21

Can there be victory in defeat ?

The London Exiles 1XV took to the field for the first time this season on Saturday.  It has been hard yards getting here, we were hit by Covid in September and then struggled with availability and it has been a feat to get the side together. We still have loads of players whom we are waiting on to return from the Covid and lay off malaise. Nevertheless, we managed to get 16 men of the Exiles onto the pitch on Saturday. 

The result ? Not great. We were heavily defeated by a well organised (four matches under their belts) Reeds Weybridge team.  They were good. Solid young players, who were organised and used to playing together and able to constantly create and exploit an overlap out wide.

So can there be victory in defeat? On Friday, I would have said ‘No’, however after yesterday’s match, the answer is ‘Yes’.

The Exiles put out a mixed bag team, with a bunch of debutants and Vets in it alongside the regulars. But we played the match and at times when we had the ball, took the game to Reeds. We were taking a hounding, but all the boys kept their spirit, no one dropped their head, the gloating Reeds supporters were ignored and to a man the team revelled in being back on the Park and playing rugby.

Given what we were up against, everyone put in a stint and did their bit, but some shout outs to Phil and Sam, both playing out of position and bringing real quality to the 9/10 axis, Campbell outside them had a great game as did Big dan in the pack and Niall, leading from the very front at hooker. But a particular shout out to Captain Jack, who lead from the front and by example, never lost composure and kept everyone’s spirits high and working hard.

We knew we were going to lose, but we enjoyed the tackling practice, enjoyed the knocks and the feeling of being on the Park again. We enjoyed many beers at the pub after and then went on drinking into the London evening.

As a Club that has been hit hard by Covid and has lost many players, we scored an important victory on Saturday.  We got out there, we had fun, we locked arms and afterwards we locked in for some beers. 

It may sound like thin pickings, but it’s not, and it’s about building from here. We have lots of returning players and we will get better and stronger from here. So for the Club, dealing with all its challenges, this is a victory and we will look forward to the return fixture.