"Revenge"

Previously on FPRFC:
A bruised and sorry (but still roguishly handsome) Finsbury Park RFC travel back from southwest London with only a losing bonus point to show for their efforts. How had it come to this? Despite some bright sparks they had struggled to string much together and let Thamesians take the game away from them.
Rain lashed against the train windows. Outside a storm was brewing.
“Revenge….” Muttered Urban, in his fake northern accent. “…. We will get our revenge”
The year 2024 – Modern day:
Judgement day had arrived. A chance to right the wrongs of the previous meeting and write a new chapter in Finsbury Park history. Today’s guests at Dungeon Downhills – Thamesians RFC.
Fins started brightly and pinned Thamesians back in the opening exchanges before winning a scrum on the left-hand side in our own half.
The backs pulled trigger and sent the ball down the line and set Johnny Olive galloping free out of the 22. With cries from the rest of the team to “Give it to Gary”, all that remained was to finish the 2 on 1 and put the winger on debut away in the corner.
Johnny, perhaps thinking that his opposite number looked more like a Gary than his new teammate, decided instead to pop the ball to the opponent’s fullback, who broke away and offloaded for Thamesians to open the scoring.
0-5
This first punch managed to wake the team up. The arrows piled pressure on from the kickoff, and were soon level through Freddie Barton. Receiving the ball on the left, and not finding a single small teenager to brutalise in front of him, he decided to stroll round the remaining defenders to dot down for the Fins’ opening try.
7-5
Thamesians managed to strike back through a driving maul (7-10) before Park finally hit their purple patch.
The team worked their way up the pitch again with strong carries from Harry and Charlie before winning a scrum on the Thamesians line. Number 8 Will “Big Will Harris” Harris peeled off blindside and bounced through three would-be tacklers to score (video footage must have been shared with the England camp, with Ben Earl pulling an identical Fins-inspired finish the very next week).
14-10
The forwards battered the opposition’s line before Will sniped (like a coward) to score. Johnny also made up for his previous intercept, scything through the Thamesians line like a prime BOD to seal a bonus point on the stroke of halftime.
24-10
During the break the message was clear from ‘captain’ Urban. Don’t panic, control the game, and don’t give away stupid penalties.
In a stirring act of rebellion (because no one respects him) the team immediately gave away two quickfire penalties before allowing Thamesians to bully their way over and open the second half scoring.
24-17
The opposition had their tails up and turned the screw to try and get back into the game, and only heroic fins defence on our own line stopped Thamesians from narrowing the lead. Buoyed by this victory Finsbury managed to weather the storm, and were able to work their way back into the game.
Clever kicking from Sam and Will pinned Thamesians in their own half. The team, while not firing fully in attack, managed to control the second half, and managed to maintain the 7-point lead going into the closing minutes.
With the clock in the red the flying Francis manged to steal the ball at the lineout and seemingly win the game for the home team. All that remained wall to kick the ball out.
Will Gillham, who clearly had £50 riding on a draw, decided instead to gently chip the ball to the Thamesians’ fullback and politely asked him to have another go. Several tense minutes and multiple penalty advantages later Thamesians chipped to the corner and Johnny managed to rise highest before kicking out and securing the win.
Revenge. Divine justice. Destiny. Call it what you will. But this day a great cosmic wrong was righted, and Fins sit back on top again.
Final score 24-17
Tries: Freddy B, Will Harris, Will Gillham, Johnny Olive
MOTM: Will Harris
DOTD: Will ‘Under Stress’ Gillham