Crewe fielding a strong XV showed a ruthless edge on Saturday defeating a belligerent Didsbury XV to top the League and continue one of their best runs of results for many a season. The Crewe team played with a strong structure to their game, using their pods effectively and getting over the gain line. The forwards dominated the set piece from the start and created an effective platform. This allowed the backs a supply of clean ball and as the game developed, some quality tries were scored. There were some very strong individual displays from flankers Alex Gammage and Stu O'Leary, fullback Alex Copnall looked a quality player and young wings Harry Price and Eddie Spibey running in the tries but all 18 players played very well.The best news is that the team is very much a work in progress and that there is massive potential to develop and improve their play, so the best is yet to come! There will be few 2nd teams that will be able to live with their power and pace. There were also welcome returns to rugby for centre Mike Greatbanks after missing the last 13 months after a ruptured cruciate ligament injury and prop, Al Hargreaves, who played his first game at prop after a persistent shoulder injury and being involved in charity 'Tough Mudder ' events for the Motor Neurone charity MND. Both players coming off the bench with No 8 Dan Lawrence at the same time to make a significant impact on the game.

The Crewe boys conceded an early penalty but after that the forwards caused mayhem at the restart blasting their opposite numbers with a fierce drive. After a couple more phases, Crewe were awarded a 5mtr scrum on the opposition line on the right hand side of the pitch. A solid scrum allowed Matt Wright, playing his 1st game as at No. 8, to pick up at the base and smash his way over for an unconverted try.
In the 10th minute, a well fielded kick by wing Eddie Spibey gave him space to dance down the left touch line to score in the corner. A 20 minute spell followed where Crewe struggled to impose their superiority but in the 35th minute from an attack in the opposition 22 the ball was moved swiftly to the left and from the ensuing driving maul, flanker Stuart O'Leary broke away to drive over the line from 5 mtrs out, converted by Alex Copnall with another impressive place kick. From a lineout 8 mtrs out, 2nd row Phil Alcock took a good two handed catch, the forwards set up a drive, steadily proceeding towards the line for flanker Stuart O'Leary to break off and score his second try, converted by Copnall with a magnificent kick. The talk at half time was to be patient, keep the ball and produce cleaner ball for the scrumhalf by getting to ground earlier and driving past the ball. The forwards relished the challenge and started the second half with intent. From a tap penalty, prop Al Hargreaves, charged through the defensive line and off loaded to Phil Alcock in support, a ruck followed and Stuart O'Leary picked up and went over for his 3rd try of the game. Virtually, from the restart Harry Price collected the ball from the half way line and showed his pace to outstrip the cover defence to score in the right hand corner, converted again by Copnall. Centre, Mike Greatbanks, now enjoying his come back game made an incisive break but was unfortunate to not be awarded a try as he dived for the line. The pressure was really telling now on the Didsbury players and another swift set of hands put wing Harry Price through on the right to score his second try. Probably the best try of the came now followed as a ball from a ruck on the right hand side of the Didsbury 22 was moved swiftly to flyhalf Chris Morgan, 2 dummy runs by centres Greatbanks and Robbo Roberts allowed full back,Alex Copnall, to run a fantastic line to split the Didsbury centres to score under the posts. Robbo Roberts, a player with a lot of potential, had worked hard all afternoon in the centre gaining the hard yards and because of his carrying, 2 defenders went to tackle him thereby providing the gap for Alex to score a delightful try. Left wing, Eddie Spibey not one to be out done, joined the scoring for a neatly taken try on the left, converted by Copnall. A strong break by prop,Al Hargeaves, popped the ball onto Captain Dave Germain who continued the movement with a neat offload to Chris Sproston who crashed over for a try. A high ball was then fielded by Alex Copnall who neatly stepped the defender to feed wing, Harry Price, for him to show his pace again to score his 3rd try, converted by Copnall. The next try was from a break by Centre, Mike Greatbanks who fed wing Eddie Spibey and in turn off loaded to fullback Alex Copnall, to score under the posts, converting his own try. Harry Price, fielding a loose ball on the left chose possibly the wrong option by going blind but managed to out pace a tiring defence for the final try, converted by Alex Copnall.
This was a great team display which demonstrated how far they have developed this season. With Captain, Dave Germain, leading by example and a combination of youth in players like the Price brothers, Gammage, Lawrence, Spibey, Wright, Morgan, Copnall and the experience of Alcock, Bugzy Davies, Outhwaite, Evans, Greatbanks and Hargreaves - the team showed a great balance. Not to be outdone, the 3rds with a similar combination of youth and experience also produced a dominant display to maintain their top spot in the league.

The club is really enjoying a purple patch throughout the teams at the moment but despite the cold and dark nights now closing in, it will not last without training. So, please make sure you put Tues/thurs and Wednesday gym with Kirk into your schedules and continue to enjoy your rugby on a Saturday.