Cadet Willie McBride--Operation Crocodile by Rodney Dearing

Author:Rodney Dearing
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Authors On Line Ltd

10

TESTING TIMES

The next day was crisp and clear. Scrummage was as good as his word and let them all sleep in until mid-morning. After another ‘Farmer’s Breakfast’, Scrummage and the boys jumped into Puddles and drove off to the nearby rugby ground for some practice before the match.

Scrummage led the way into one of the changing rooms, where a group of players were changing into rugby practice gear. The pungent smell of liniment filled the air. Scrummage steered the boys towards a massive, barrel-chested man, with legs like tree-trunks, enormous arms and no neck.

‘This is the team’s captain, “Pinetree” Meads,’ said Scrummage. ‘Pinetree, these are the two players from Surrenden, Willie McBride and Gareth Jones.’

Pinetree shifted his bulk to face the boys. ‘Aw, yers, we’re very pleased to have you fellas aboard. You certainly look pretty fit,’ he said with an appraising eye. He turned to face the rest of the team.

‘Hey, listen up, you fellas. This is Willie and Jonesy from Surrenden, who have just arrived to join the team. Willie is playing at No 8 and Jonesy at scrum-half. I’ll let you introduce yourselves. Now let’s get a move on. Be outside in five minutes, so we can put down a scrum and try some lineout moves.’ Pinetree pointed to a large canvas bag and said to the boys, ‘Practice jerseys and pants are in there. We’ve got some spare boots hanging over there in the corner. Use your own socks.’

The boys nodded and started to rummage around in the bag. Other players came up to introduce themselves and welcome the boys to the team. They found some rugby gear that fitted and trotted out of the pavilion and onto the field. The rest of the team had already started their warm-up exercises. Under Pinetree’s watchful glare the team were doing push-ups, sit-ups, stretch exercises and sprint runs between the goalposts.

‘OK, you fellas. Now you’re all nicely warmed up, we’ll do some set-piece training,’ said Pinetree. ‘We’ll get a scrum down in the scrum machine.’ Gareth, as scrum-half, waited off to one side, ready to put the ball in front of the hooker’s feet.

‘Right,’ called out Pinetree as he packed down on the side of the scrum, ‘let’s get a bit of a go-forward on the count of three. Keep low and maintain a good straight back.’

‘One, two, three,’ he called. The entire pack grunted with effort and shoved sharply forward as Gareth put the ball in. The scrum machine reluctantly moved back a yard and the ball shot out of the back of the scrum between Willie’s feet.

‘Not bad. Not a bad scrum,’ growled Pinetree appreciatively. ‘We’ll just do a dozen more to iron out any bugs and then we’ll get our line-outs sorted out.’ The practice continued for a good hour, before Pinetree seemed satisfied that the team would be able to play effectively.

‘Don’t underestimate the opposition,’ he cautioned. ‘I hear that they might even tour Brittanica next year, so they’ll be very good. Take a rest now and be back ready for the kick-off at 2.

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