Swing low, sweet chariot

Yesterday I strolled down to Twickenham RFC to see them play for the first time this season. Their opponents, Stevenage Town, are top of the league and unbeaten. T's are second having lost unexpectedly to Enfield Ignations. I was, therefore, looking forward to an exciting game.

The Twickenham team which took the field was fairly similar to that which got relegated last year. They have a very young side, with one or two older heads. Stevenage, looked more like the proper rugby team with the right shaped people in the key positions. Their front row were traditional fat popos, they had two tall beefy second row forwards and a quick youthful back row. All their three-quarters looked tricky and there was a bit of pace on the wings.

The game itself was pretty scrappy though. Both teams had periods of the match were they could not command possession, and when they did get it, basic handling skills let them down. Stevenage went on to win 22-11 which was a reasonable reflection and it will be no bad thing if T's stay in this league for a few more seasons to gain some experience, and put on a bit of weight!!

The atmosphere in the club was fine, although opposition teams never stay for as long these days, so that was when it became apparent that the Twickenham demographic has become somewhat fractured. Apart from me and a few other supporters in their late '50s and mid '60s there was a definite lack of older members. The 35-50 age group no longer seems to embrace the club on a regular basis. Sure they may have young families or other commitments, but with plans to expand and rebuild the clubhouse, sustaining the community will become a struggle.

Still I am sure the club has had troughs similar to that which it is in at the moment, and hopefully with the right direction from the top, it will soon climb out of it and start to again become a location of choice on Saturday afternoon. Sunday mini rugby continues to be the strength of the club though, I still haven't checked it out this season to see what the level of yummie mummie is. Another time perhaps.