Clive Stuart-Smith column

By Clive Stuart-Smith
Esher RFC scrum-half

Stuart-Smith has captained the England Saxons side

The last two weeks have been somewhat of a learning curve for us. We have come up against the top two sides with plenty of experience near the upper echelons of the game.

In both games, against Worcester and Nottingham, our discipline has been particularly poor and that has meant easy points for the both of them.

With regard to penalties, we have been making the same mistakes over and over again, particularly when it comes to leaving hands in the ruck. Have you ever left a piece of bread in the toaster for just a few seconds too long? It doesn't end well.

In both games we have showed glimpses of what we are capable of and as one supporter kindly put it: "You have just got to sock it to them for 80 minutes not in dribs and drabs."

Confidence is still high but we now fully understand if we are slightly off the pace the result will go against us

It simply means to give someone a heavy blow, (possibly with a sock filled with concrete). They are spot on. Having a good half followed a very poor half does not win you games.

Moving swiftly on we have a real crunch match next up; London Welsh. We will work hard on both our discipline and our kicking this week but not forgetting that we are at our best when we just get out and attack whoever we are playing. Confidence is still high but we now fully understand if we are slightly off the pace the result will go against us.

Esher lock Barker is "a weird and wonderful animal"

This Friday Esher Rugby Club travels back to the murky Middle Ages in a 'themed night'. Many of the streets in London are named from this era and what actually took place there. Threadneedle Street was the tailor's; on Milk Street cows were kept for milking and on BobBarker Street the most interesting of all.

A weird and wonderful animal would entertain everyone from Royalty to Plebeians with his daily memoirs interspersed with a tune played from his flag-festooned trumpet.

It was not uncommon for animals to be put on trial and be sentenced to death if found guilty of their crimes. A lot of good animals were lost as they found it hard to defend themselves. Even Bob was once put on trial; however, he was found not guilty and to this day still practises his art on a Tuesday and Thursday evening.