Calne invited their friends from Bath over for a friendly and took the opportunity to try out 5 new players. Two of the players, Graham Neal and Tom Davis had not played since their school days, whilst youngsters Mike Smith and Mike Benson were the products of local youth sections and lastly the Army experience of Mark Salmon was very evident.

The set piece forward exchanges were controlled by Old Eds, as new boy Tom Davis playing his first game in the second row got to grips with the finer arts of scrumaging. Prop Mark Salmon was a revelation, he was both a solid scrumager and very active in the loose. New backs Mike Smith, inside centre, and winger Mike Benson were very positive attackers and willing defenders and they needed to be as the Old Ed's back line was impressively fast. Graham Neal started the game on the wing but was soon moved to flanker when it was recognised that his ball carrying and support play were exceptional.

Old Eds, as usual, never gave up and with their set piece control and pace backs they score two tries in a minute to keep the game in reach. Changes at half time saw a new found forward dominance and soon after a rare push over try was scored by Vice Captain and no.8 Alan Wicks. Second row Pete McGarry scored another to keep the score board ticking over, but try of the day, if not of the season so far, was scored by fly half James Gladding. In a now trade mark break he beat his opposite number and the covering flanker then chipped over the opposition centres to collect and score.

Post match reflection from captain Mike Charlwood was extremely positive. He commented that with a little more technical training Tom Davis and Graham Neal could easily challenge for first team places, whilst the two Mike's will certainly be putting the existing back line under pressure. He was clearly very pleased with New prop Mark Salmon and mention that he could be having a selection headache very soon indeed. Club Stalwart Matt Arnold warned that if the commitment to training was not improved some very senior players are going to find these youngsters wearing their shirts.

BACK