BRIDGNORTH VETS TOURNAMENT 2011 - 'THE RETURN OF THE HIPPOS'

The Hippos outclass the opposition to win the title with 3 superb victories......match report read on.

After last week’s victory at Aston Old Eds and the fact that the Hippos haven’t technically* lost all season it  may not come as a great surprise to the avid followers of the herd to know that the BRFC Hippos are this year’s winners of Bridgnorth RFC’s ‘Vets’ Tournament.

It doesn’t seem like a year ago that we came in last place having made the tactical error of celebrating our first game win over Bromsgrove (the eventual tournament winners) with a couple of beers... several players having a couple of beers nearly 5 times.

But whilst this year’s tournament was played under the same blistering sunshine and on a pitch that was rated ‘Firm to Concrete’ there were a few changes to the personnel of 12 months ago. Firstly, Tony Nash said he was turning up and did. Secondly, so did a few new Hippo debutants as well as several stalwarts missing from last year which, for starters, meant we had a pack to go the distance. For the first time in any match report I’ve done, I could honestly use such terms as ‘push over try’ and ‘driving maul’ to describe the action. If this wasn’t shocking enough I could also throw in references to ‘soft hands’ & ‘running rugby’, as a point of fact rather than a suggestion on what our players should pray for.

But certain traditions can’t change;

The pre match meal was a fry up at our usual training base in Bridgnorth’s Falcon Hotel, a 5 star establishment that doesn’t have as much Pernod in it now, as it did on Saturday.

Dan ‘Bomber’ Gallagher turned up late and was still awarded the Hippo’s Stand Out Player, a split decision as Judo Jason put in a big shift at tight head.

Special mention must also go to the new Hippo Ambassador Mr Robert ‘shoulders’ Salisbury whose negotiations with the tournament administrators meant an efficient and satisfactory conclusion to the day’s events in order that we could “go hard or go home”. (Cleggy & I chose the latter.)

Finally, our thanks to Ritchie Brighton for the two texts he sent in organising the tour and respect to my new found gym twin Hesy...only the tattoos could set the guns apart!

Good work.
Willo

* “I’m clearly the most successful captain in Hippo history...the first game of the season we lost doesn’t count....they had an underage player ....I wouldn’t play a ringer”

Capt D S Berry 23.04.11

Pictures courtesy of Bridgnorth RFC & J. Allen - click here