Today was to be Cryptians’ day as they saw off a resilient Smiths side in wet, windy and muddy conditions. You wouldn't have wanted to wash all the kit after this game!
Cryptians got off to a flying start which saw them get straight into the Smiths twenty-two, from which outside centre Josh Flounders broke through a gap in the Smiths defence and off-loaded in the tackle superbly with one hand to put Adam Proverbs in for the try.

Cryptians next score came from the second-row again. After a slick bit of turnover play in the Smiths half, the ball drifted across Chris Kent, to Flounders again, then to Proverbs who lofted the ball to Rich Langbridge. Langbridge homed in on the try line and trying to avoid touch, shipped it back inside to Proverbs who managed to hold off the tackles to score Old Cryptians’ second for the day.

By now the playing kit of both teams was ruined, more brown than anything of the maroon and gold for Cryptians and the blue and white of Smiths.

Smiths did have some bad luck with the wind, choosing to kick to touch numerous times but against the wind. The wind also thwarted a Smiths attempted penalty, from which Cryptians cleared their lines.

At the death of the half, one more Cryptians attack saw Jack Flounders do extremely well in picking up a loose ball flying out of the Smiths scrum and gaining a few yards before passing to Marc Blackford who scored with ease from inside the 22. Blackford also added the extras.
The second half commenced with Cryptians still not quite hitting their straps, but nonetheless Captain Chris Price rallied the troops and they were back out to regain control of the game. Cryptians had a stroke of bad luck when Blackford was hit late causing a temporary substitution, meaning Josh Flounders stepping in at 10 and a rejig in the centre.
A pop move from some loose handling managed to get Cryptians 5 metres or so from the line when they were awarded a penalty. A quick tap and offload to Eric Reddy saw the prop score crash over the line. Josh Flounders unfortunately missed the conversion.

Smiths did hit back at Cryptians with some good forward play and running rewarding them with a good try crashing them over the line. Their try was easily converted.

Marc Blackford’s return to the pitch gave stand-in scrum half Ben Conway the chance to mark his return to the Cryptians first team after a university semester, with a try. After once again the conditions got the better of both teams, a loose ball gathered by Conway allowed him to successfully find a gap in the Smiths line and run the ball in under the posts. The extra points came from the unlikely source of back-row Chad Crosby - his first points for the first team.

Cryptians rallied and stormed the castle again with one final score from try-machine Mike Simmonds. After the sarcastic laughter of refereeing decisions given against him, he was given his moment in the last minutes of the game. A good piece of defence from Cryptians as centre Josh Flounders (you’d never believe he wrote this report would you?) tackled the Smiths fly-half and stole the ball. This led to a good couple of phases from the forwards, only to come up short of the Smiths line. Quick ball from Conway to Blackford, gave Simmonds a simple finish out wide. Blackford added the extras.
The full-time whistle was then blown for Christmas to come early for Cryptians with a bonus point win and lump of coal for Smiths.

The post-game plans were for Christmas jumpers to be worn. These ranged from Chris Kent’s complete with lights attached, to Graham Thomson’s pieces of paper stapled to a striped jumper to that of Chris Price and Mike Simmonds wearing women's jumpers. They somehow underestimated what size they'd be in women's clothes. The bonus of the day and the Christmas treat for all was Steve Parry joining the lads in the showers. A quote from the man himself, "I've been like this all my life, naked."
To all a Merry Christmas, and now looking towards Boxing Day kick off at 12pm against old rivals Old Richians, in a chance that could see more horns on the mantle!

Josh Flounders

Old Cryptians RFC

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