A mixed weekend of results for Barnes, with both out Men’s and Women’s 1st XV’s losing to strong opposition, the Men away at Dorking, and the Women at home to Hammersmith and Fulham 0-17. The Men’s 1st XV report is below. Our Men’s 2nd XV also went down to arch-rivals Esher 2nd XV 33-24.

The shining light in a fairly gloomy weekend was our Development XV, 52 - 10 against Rosslyn Park Nomads. In a side packed of our Under 21 players from previous seasons, the lads more than did us proud.

This weekend we will be wanting to get back to winning ways across the club.,
The Originals kick off on Friday night at Chiswick against their Vets, whilst on Saturday the Men’s 1st XV are at home to newly promoted Colchester, the 2nd XV is away to Blackheath 2nd XV and the Occies are at Barn Elms in their first game of the season against Old Cats.
On Sunday our Women’s 1st XV are in action, away to Havant Ladies, full details are below.
Good luck to all our teams this weekend.

Onwards and Upwards Barnow!

Michael Whitfield - President Barnes RFC

Friday 20th September Fixture
• Chiswick Vets vs Barnes Originals - 7;45pm KO
Saturday 21st September Fixtures
• Barnes 1st XV vs Colchester - 3pm KO
• Blackheath 2nd XV vs Barnes 2nd XV - 3pm KO
• Barnes Occies vs Old Cats – 3pm KO
Sunday 22nd September Fixture
• Havant Ladies - Barnes Women 1st XV - 2:30pm KO

Dorking Men’s 1st XV 29 - 24 Barnes Men’s 1st XV - words by Rhino
This much awaited rematch between Barnes and Dorking did not disappoint in terms of both drama and passion, Dorking winning the game in the last play of the game, one side ecstatic and one side crest fallen.

It was Barnes that started more forcefully, our scrum dominant in the early exchanges, and from a perfectly executed catch and drive, hooker Josh Archer touched down for our first try. With fly-half converting, Barnes led 7-0 inside the first couple of minutes.

As ever with these two sides, the game was played a lot in no man’s land, between the two 22’s, and Dorking broke the deadlock, their sharp backs creating a hole which Dorking’s prolific try scoring winger Toby Macrae was happy to scythe through and score after 20 mins. With the conversion missed, Barnes maintained a narrow 5-7 midway through the first half.
This score clearly sparked a reaction from Barnes and, after a series of pick and drives, a penalty was awarded to Barnes, which we kicked to touch. From the line out, we resumed the driving pick and goes, and it was George Dean who barged aside a couple of defenders to score. With Jack Martin converting, we extended our lead to 5-14 with half time approaching.

As ever with these encounters, Dorking just didn’t lie down, and another slick handling move saw the home side’s centre Tom Howe complete the score. With Henry Anscombe converting, the Barnes lead was cut to 12-14.

As was predicted before this game, it was settling down as a game of Dorking’s backs against our forwards. It was Dorking’s forwards however sucked in our defence before the ball was again moved slickly by the Dorking backs for full back Max Coyle to score. With the conversion missed, the score was 17-14 as the half time whistle blew.

As in the first half, Barnes scored straight form the start of the 2nd half, winger Paul Webb pouncing on a loose Dorking pass to scorch up the touch line to score, the reliable Martin added the extras, and Barnes retook the lead 17-21

After that really positive start, Barnes camped in the Dorking 22, but the home side’s defence held us out for 5 mins before they turned the ball over. From a scrum in our 22 our clearance kick was charged down, and suddenly Dorking were deep in our 22, and their backs did the rest, Toby Macrae scoring his second try. Although the conversion was missed, Dorking were back in the lead 22-21.

As tiredness crept in the pace clearly dropped, and both sides made uncharacteristic mistakes, and the game was meandering towards a Dorking home win, Barnes were awarded a penalty just inside the Dorking half, up stepped up and slotted it to the great delight of the Barnes supporters and players.

At that stage we need to lock the game down and control the ball but unfortunately, we didn’t, and the Dorking full back Stephens scored in the last move of the game, Anscombe converted and that was it, Dorking won 29-24 in the end, and probably deserved it on the balance of play, it is going to be some rematch…again!