Oval/Egg

Gloucester’s 28-24 victory over the esteemed – and, yet, rather cynical – Tigers of Leicester was welcome, thrilling and mightily important in the ol’ scheme of things. It proved a topsy-turvy encounter with the home players starting proceedings with verve and pace and enterprise before the ruggedness and power of the visitors took over and carved out two fine tries before the break. The second half saw the Cherry and Whites use their collective expertise in broken play with the young prince Simpson-Daniel, the youthful Allen and, especially, the majestic and quicksilver Richards carving up the Leicester ranks with some bewitching running. The blindside scamper and sprint by the fair-headed scrum half that took play from his own ten metre line to the shadow of his opponents’ posts was worth the admission fee alone and when the erstwhile and energetic Hazell collected the pass to bundle over for a try, the popular side erupted as only the popular side can. The match ended with Gloucester defending a five metre line-out, a man short, and with Leicester poised to claim the match with a pushover maul. Slightly anticlimactically, the throw was deemed not straight, Leicester were penalised for dissent and the city were able to punt to safety and victory. Marvellous.

One of the Coles’ new chickens came up trumps today and produced its first egg. The shell was as white as birch-bark and, verily, a thing of gentle and beguiling beauty. We are back in business. Well done m’bird!