Woz On - relief following win with high hopes for the weekend

Hurrah! A win for the Ton - that's the big 'woz on' news this week!

It was a bit touch and go as to whether or not it should have gone ahead given all the rain. Luckily the pitches had had a two week rest so all looked fine on the surface with no "scrum ploughing" patches.

The problem was, we didn't take account of all the rain over night and boy did it rain in the morning!

I'd already nonchalantly passed the ok message to Falmouth saying everything was fine but I got a call from Brendon at 11.30am to say "ermmm we might have a problem…!" Alarm bells were ringing as I drove down to look!

As is the way with this league and long distance travel, for some games you have to set off by 10am and the fact is if you go and the ref says it ain't playable, the home club can be liable for the travel expenses!

This means there's always a bit of pressure to get the call right on 'bad weather' days, even though you have a double home, a sponsors lunch, the prospect of a good bar take and Ally and B*ggeroff already in full cooking mode in the kitchen!

With puddles everywhere, I have to say, there was a full-panic mode from me. What if we'd got it wrong?!

Luckily, the sun showed its face as we were speaking and Brendon was insistent we could get it playable with a bit of graft.

So, armed with buckets, brushes and spikes, we set about trying to remove gallons of the standing water and there was a lot of it!

We even put out an APB to the players to come down early with their forks and buckets as well.

An hour and a half later with a full sweat on, we got it done.

And, as it turned out - by kick off time, it was sort of all fine, if not a little soggy under foot.

Phew, got away with that one!

Obviously, it was still a wet pitch which meant handling for both sides was tricky and the game was a little error strewn to say the least, but big hand to the supporters for braving the elements and with Synergy Farm Vets one of the clubs sponsors there as well, it's fair to say the support was very partisan.

The Ton played much better than their last outing and with several front line troops back in action, things were much better and the scrum was defiantly better.

We still had to come from behind to get the win and it was a nervous last five, but as they say - some times 'you have to win ugly' and that's what we did! Hurrah!

Unfortunately the Otters up on the top pitch lost narrowly to league leaders Tiverton, but it was only by one score late on in the game and it was felt by manager Harrison.

It was the one that got away for sure and one suspects that given Tiverton's senior sides not being in action with their games already called off, their ranks will have been bolstered!

It's another 'hey ho' situation re that, but on a positive note - it's great to see us fielding strong second teams this season.

Sunday was a busy day at Tonsville, in slightly better conditions and as with Saturday, it was great to see all the teams respecting the two minutes silence for remembrance day.

Our Junior teams seem to be performing pretty well at the mo' with most teams reporting positive results each week, which can't be bad!

The 14's stuck one on Crediton with a 37-zip score line which will have been a good warm up for their big cup game away to Newton About this weekend.

The 13's aka the 'Tigers' did one on Crediton as well with a 40-25 score line. So all round, things are looking good!

The weather's being a pain as usual. Given the pounding the pitches got during last weekend's game we've had to put a training ban on the pitches this week, but only in an attempt to ensure games go ahead at the weekend.

Just a bit of a notice - my Chum Helen has put up a post from the Honiton sports shop informing us the problematic club tie situation is solved and they are now in stock at the shop.

As a plug for them as a local business, don't forget they stock all our logoed kit items for you to buy.

'Tis Crimbo round the corner and they have an easy pressies option for any Tonites. I'm thinking a Honiton hoodie or something similar - pop in and have a butchers.

This week it's a tough away trip for the Ones, with a trip down to top-three Kingsbridge.

Let's hope the win last week will be a big confidence builder.

The Otters are at home to Topsham, but we've had trouble getting them to come up to us over the last few years.

Churchie did the fixtures the other way round this year - with a 'you come to us first' approach I think it's four years we've played them away with cry-offs when it comes to coming up here.

We did send a 'strongly worded' letter last season so hopefully they are not no-shows this time!

Sunday - as already stated, there's a toughie for the 14's as they are away to Newton About in the cup.

Hopes are high as they are going great guns this season.

The 13's are home to Teignmouth with the 7s and 8's home as well.

The 12's 11's 10's and 9's are away to them.

Just a note - the 10's away game is not at the main club, type in the Morrisons' post code and the pitch is right by that address apparently.

No politics this week you'll be pleased to hear - so signing off with the usual #UTT.