Second Match Report

Hello again everyone back home. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers throughout the week.

Match report

Thursday 27th July KO 8pm

CIS RUFC 25 - RC THE DUKES 5

Try scorers: Tom Hocking (3 tries), Frank Mayfield, Ralph Mercer

Man of the Match: Tom Hocking for an all round outstanding performance on the pitch picking up a hat trick (and off the pitch entertaining as "Tour Tom Jones").


This match was played with a very interesting twist. As we turned up to the Dukes ground to assess the pitch we discovered something rather important was missing - THE POSTS (due to grounds maintenance????). As you will realise, this made for a great fast moving and high scoring game, as there was no option but to run most penalties. I should also note that our poor fly half Ben May did NOT miss all his conversions but in fact had no posts to kick at.

All that aside we were in for a very competitive match against some very strong opposition. The Dukes had in their starting line up no less than three Holland International players and one Romanian. We were in for a real battle up front.

Having now had a few days to get to know each other and even a training session we were much better prepared this time to get straight into the game and in fact Tom Hocking crossed the line early on to open the scoring.

At half time the home side trailed by one try. Unfortunately again injury hit our side with Neil Roe sustaining a significant calf strain rendering him unable to continue.  The second half seemed to be played at an even higher tempo and at this stage the CIS team started to really take control running in three more tries before the final whistle.

Most credit has to go to the pack as they were surely outweighed man for man perhaps except for the mighty JUDGE Mike Smith. It was a great performance from Stevie George playing out of position at Full Back and cool and collected Ben May at fly half.

The evening was completed with a fantastic sing off in the clubhouse, and I think all the team ill agree it was a hugely memorable rugby occasion.

THE TEAM - Ben Ockenden, Andy Bryce, Ben May, Greg Morgan, Mike Smith, Pete Nicholas, Tom Harris, Jon Friend, Neil Thompson, Angus McDowell, Frank Mayfield, Chris Hutton, Tim Friend, Ralph Mercer, Ross Jackson, Dan Baldwin, Johnny Hannah, Dave Smith, Bob Ockenden, Alex Zarifeh, Neil Roe, Stevie George, Tom Hocking.

Thank you for all your prayers and support as we travel in Holland. Please could you pray for; - A speedy return from injury for Neil Roe,
- A good performance against Zuid Holland on Saturday
- But most importantly that we would continue to be great ambassadors for the kingdom and true disciples as we play the sport we love. Thank you.

God Bless,


Ralph Mercer
Tour communications officer for CIS Rugby tour Holland