Match Preview

The Fun Bus Travels to Fairford.

Before I mention Saturday’s game, congratulations are in order as the first team are through to the final of the county cup. The semi-final which should have taken place this past Wednesday was cancelled as unfortunately due to a string of first team injuries our opponents, Gordon League were unable to field a side handing Cryptians a free pass to the next round. We now look forward to the County Cup Final in which we have drawn Cirencester Rugby at Home on December 21st. Victory here of course puts us into the regional section of the national vase.

In other news, it’s been three weeks now since Toby Harris claimed himself a man of the match award and also a nagging shoulder injury so will be supporting from the touchline again this week. This won’t be welcomed by the contingent of old farts who have had enough of him mingling among them whilst insisting that he deserves voting rights in their man of the match award. So much so, I hear that plans are in place to award him the title of "worst hairline in the club" to which there is much competition at Old Crypts..

But I digress, the 1st XV fully rested after a week off brings us to this week’s league clash against Fairford RFC but what do we know about them? A quick look on google and you'll learn that they’re a relatively new club by normal standards as they were only established in 1994. Then after some success in the Dorset and Wiltshire leagues, they withdrew in the 2015/16 season to rebuild. They then joined the Gloucestershire leagues.

That task of rebuilding is clearly going well with promotion to Gloucester 1 this year followed by a solid start in their new surroundings they are currently sitting 2nd behind us. They will relish the chance to take on the unbeaten league leaders on home turf. Six wins from nine with one draw this year shows their intentions and it won’t have gone unnoticed by the Crypts coaching staff that they are unbeaten at home since December last year either.

There’s a huge buzz about this one and Coaches McMahon and Worrall have approached this game in their normal detailed way and have picked a strong side to travel throwing themselves back into the mix as they both pick up starting XV shirts. The team sees the return of Nick Stroud from his mid-season break to Poland in to replace Jack Flounders as he jets off to Madrid for the weekend. We're not sure who's signing off on their holiday forms during the season but fortunately our strength in depth is a huge factor to Crypts success so far this season. Stroud will partner Gareth Flounders in the second row, whilst Gareth Winter is back bulking up the front row as Euan Brice takes some extra time to recover from a knee injury.

The back line as always looks menacing with Jones and McMahon in the centre, as does the heavy and disruptive back row of Rickets and Hurdle joined by skipper Crosby returning to openside to lead his men out.

The Team;

1. Kellaway
2. McMahon, J
3. Winter
4. Flounders, G
5. Stroud
6. Ricketts
7. Crosby ©
8. Hurdle
9. Stephens
10. Worall
11. Langbridge
12. Jones
13. McMahon, L
14. Flounders J
15. Mustoe

16. Saunders
17. Trigg
18. Brind

In closing, I’ll end with a call for you all to get to Fairford, it’ll be a cracking game. Lots of support and noise always appreciated. Fun Bus Travels to Fairford.

News travels fast!

Check to see our write up from The Local Answer;

https://thelocalanswer.co.uk/news/sport/rugby-union/1912-glos-general-cros-rugby.aspx?area=all&area=all