By Alec Micklethwait

Cambridge. A city of history and culture, home to one of the most prestigious universities in the world and now the host of the mighty Fins next stomping ground - against Cantabrigians RFC. This match report is inspired by the rich history of literary heritage contained within this city.

The kickoff was followed by some big carries from Fred, Max and Henry who valiantly broke the oppo line, but were eventually put down and turned over. The boys put up some staunch defence and stopped them on our tryline. However, an unfortunate interception led to a chip and chase solo try from the oppo winger to open scoring.

Having been reinvigorated by some solid hydration support from “water pixie” Eve (her words not mine), we won a jackal deep into their half, followed by some hands that you wouldn’t believe had been under the knife 6 months ago from James Stables who carved through their defence like butter in his return match to then offload to chairman Fred who clearly saw the vision all along and ran a beautiful support line. Conversion missed, it’s game on at 5-7.

A second tackle that knocked the ball out from Francis saved us from conceding another try.

Mitch dressed for the job he wanted, wearing a bench number and ending up there after a frightfully high tackle with a tasty side of concussion. He's okay guys dont worry I checked. Josh valiantly replaced him in spite of his dodgy leg.

Some disciplining of the supporters (Alec) led to some more sporting encouragement from the bench, which wasn’t enough to counter the quick feet and good line that saw their winger come on and score under our posts.

Keen observation led Coach to implore the lads to kick the ball into space instead of running it. James Stables took to coach’s advice and kicked deep to them and this led to a ten minute campaign in their half that led the lads to some great forwards play that finished in a brutish carry over their try line from debutant front row Pete.

Some trickery in the form of a throw over the whole line out from chairman and try scorer Fred found the hands of player of the game Henry, who proved that winning the very same award last game was not beginners luck by crashing through their defensive line.

20 minutes in, a quick bout of hands off a line out caught the lads off guard and the oppo went over our tryline before a nasty step saw them go over again to finish the half.

12-26 to Cantabs at half time

Conferring. Brooding. Good old fashioned comradery. Coach reminded the boys that he cannot coach their hearts, nor their effort. The lads came together and rallied before boldly marching back out there.

A third try saving tackle comes from Fran before Cantabrigians worked their way to our tryline again. Undeterred, Fran made his fourth try saving tackle of the day to knock the ball away.

Some top level chat from the sideline preceded another score from the oppo.

We’re knackered. We’re hurt. We’re beaten up. Mitch doesn’t know where he is. But we’re also angry. We’re resilient. We’re Finsbury effing Park.

50 minutes in - we fly up at them, they knock it on. We attack from the scrum, they’re caught offside. Chairman and two time try scorer Fred makes it a third in his preseason try tally. We are so back.

Finsbury Park 17 - 38 Cantabrigians

“We stand firm on our tryline. We fend them off. We still have life. There is still time.”

The oppo hear me say this and score another try. That one’s on me lads.

Park Vet Jake who knows how to break some tackles (and hearts as I’ve heard) blisters through their winger true to form, losing a boot in the process. Bosh.

Some Cantabrigian complacency leads to further knockons as they attack, highly suspect seeing as they are the ones who asked for uncontested scrums.. Staunch Park defence leads to another oppo knock on and we march onward with new breath in our lungs. I enjoy a cold pint on the sidelines. Mitch still doesn’t know where he is.

Things get a bit higgeldy piggeldy in the last 15 minutes as Coach puts it. Balls are passed, balls are dropped - more rugby is played. Our tryline gets crossed a few times more and the ref blows the final whistle.

In the hallowed grounds of Cambridge University where some of the most famous poets, scholars and creative minds of all time have walked, Coach Fridge joined that hefty list: ‘Amazing heart and effort today. A lot of what we saw against Wasps in terms of how we protect the ball and make decisions has improved massively. Defensively, we looked at adjusting systems and off ball defence and it’s pleasing to see us building towards something. Now we just need consistency from everyone to turn up to training every week so we can develop our game plan and grow as a club.’

Thanks Fridge, took the words right out of my mouth. If you know someone that could be at training and isn’t, get onto them and bring them along - no one likes a skiver.

Our party bus (thanks Ed) drove into Cambridge with great fervour, but the Cantabrigians got the best of us. We loaded up on pints and cans and piled into the bus once more to head home with our heads held high.

Final score 17-48