Ahhhh...its here, the rugby season.

We start the season with a 'friendly' vs Wolverhampton at their gaffe. We arrived in good time and set about getting ready with aplomb. Slightly concerned with the size of some of their players in the changing room opposite, only to find out that was their 1sts who were also playing at home - phew.

We started the season as we mean to go on with some last minute changes and swapping around but we fielded a full team with two, yes TWO, subs. Very grateful to James Chitham for gracing us with his presence pre-Uni and to Klaus for dusting off his boots to join us.

And so we were off, with us kicking to them and having swapped balls to our better training one, the pain began.

We started well and Wolves showed their intent by running from deep straight away. Some fine tackling by Fingers in the centre, who clung to them as if his life depended on it, and pressure from Chitham Jnr (Henry) we held them at bay. Wolves eventually kicked away possession giving the back three of Jack, Adam and Chitham Snr to attack. With some lovely offloads we were soon in their half.

With Roger and Darren protecting the ball we gradually worked our way up the field, some strong running from TD, got us closer and closer but Wolves seemed to hang on each time (helped by gently pulling our 9 for the day, Mr Simon Lee, into the ruck whenever they could). Eventually after running a dummy line the ball found none other than Pete at 10, who glided between 2 and through 1 to score the first try. Simon was unable to convert.

That was it, we were riding high on a crest of a wave - if Pete who hasn't trained or played for a long time - can score so can we. After fielding the kick we carried our way gradually back up the field. With the feeling of being we became guilty of taking it too far or trying that offload to many and gradually scrummaging became more and more a facet of the game.

Unfortunately for us, as Wolves certainly had us there. The superior weight and technique of the Wolves pack meant time and time again they had a solid platform to attack from, turned ours over or put some pretty serious pressure on our set piece. The same could not be said for the lineouts, within the first 20 both Phil and Adam had stolen the Wolves ball.

Despite this the next score came to Wolves, it was from their good set scrum and the nippy scrum half did what he did well all game, skipped around the edge, dummied and went on to score. This was converted and we were 7-5 down leading into the half time break.

Klaus came on and gave us some words of wisdom, having been watching and cheering with intent from the side. Adam went off, having creaked his neck making a sublime tackle, so Tom Wright came on.

The second half kicked off and it was not long, the next scrum actually, that we noticed Wolves had pretty much changed their entire pack. This freshness in the legs, and the realisation that with Fingers and Stephen in the centre they weren't going up that route, they stuck the ball up their shirts and gradually edged their way up. Some very good ball stealing by Phil, some awarded by the ref and some not??, did well to keep them at bay but eventually they did cross the whitewash which they converted.

The next try was Harborne all the way, through a combination of the following (I think) - Phil/Daz stole the ball, Tom W took it up on the right, supported by Jack, after going to ground the ball was recycled by Simon out to Fingers, he took it up to offload to me, I managed to catch it AND draw a player to offload to Adam (ginger one on wing not the injured one off field), he took it up to offload to Chitham Jnr who did sublimely well to take it all the way to the line. He was hauled short and was 'rescued' by Chitham Snr, who scooped up the ball, jumped the bodies to touch down. This was converted by Simon and we were back on. 14-12 to Wolves.

However, the celebration was to short lived and pretty much from kick off Wolves ran in a try. 21-12 to Wolves.

What was to happen next was a good old tussle between a large pack and some stout defenders. They came and came and came, we held them off each time. Some good defending from Darren, Roger, Liam and Phil at the fringes held them at bay. We eventually turned the ball, with Pete smashing it into touch we all stood and breathed a sigh of relief. However what happened next I have never seen or heard in my days. Pete's smash did make it off the field, only to hit an overhanging branch far left, bounce off, fall along branch over pitch, fall back onto pitch, into the waiting arms of a Wolves player - who duly ran in to score.

Not a lot we could do but go back at them and we did. After some storming ball carrying by TD, who had been a needle in their side all day, we ploughed our way back up the pitch and eventually Fingers worked his way over the line. The ever present Simon converted and we finished the game at 28-19.

A sterling performance by all, not one took a step back, and Klaus made it onto the pitch for the final 20 following an injury to Jack.

See you all next week.

NB - I may have some of the above wrong and I apologise, any amends please note in the comments boxes below and I will endeavour to right any wrongs.