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Bangor took on Bethesda in their first ever game.  Bethesda got 10 or 12 tries and Bangor 4 or 5 tries, played over four, 15-minute quarters. Ref. Louie, made a note of the score, but he doesn’t do texting.

After our warm-up and stretches, the afternoon got off to a great start with our hosts inviting us into their changing rooms for a civilised glass/cup of port.

Suffice to say, the match was a physical one and played competitively, in good spirit throughout. The forward pack gave a great account of itself, and to build on their grit, we really missed the absent brethren - play-makers who can operate centrally, call the play and fire that ball out wide, which was the main difference between Pesda and Bangor. Due to both fielding depleted sides, we had no subs and almost everyone played the full match, no mean feat and testament to our fitness and training. Pesda still have fast hands and made the ball do more of the work than we did. Lesson learned for next time…..

Apart from legacy injuries, everyone made it in one piece, I think there was only one yellow brandished and that was to Bill H J It was a nice gesture that Pesda agreed for Mr. Batty’s senior and junior to play together for the last quarter.

And where’s Ian G been hiding those pipes? – wow, it sounded good across the park and the players and crowd were made up. Definitely one more ‘skill’ for the vets tour. Pesda were great hosts, their showers were hot and there was food and ale in the clubhouse for us, till late.

Lowri took some pre-match photos for insurance purposes and to help us match dental records. We played in blue because our new squad kit is still overseas thanks to Icelandic VA. Fortunately, our club came to the rescue with the loan of the former NWRU Provincial jerseys. Anybody else got any photos to share, particularly action shots? There was a cracking one taken of both teams together by someone who looked like a photographer.

Feeling stiff as ‘ell today, but with that warm glow, not really felt in earnest since I last had mud in me ears - 1999!!!!!!

The EGOR Festival in Caernarfon will be a blast – confirmed everything with one of the organisers yesterday – we will need to provide player details for our ‘Vets Passports’ in the next couple of weeks.

Just training this Friday gents, perhaps a few stretches and a game of 7’s touch or join the run out against the U12s?

I believe there is a BBQ on the go too.

Trying to organise another vets friendly match for a week Wednesday or better still, a week Friday. I’ll keep you posted.