The Day of the Descent
While Coach Harris celebrated his descent into middle age with a weekend away, the Gloucester Primary Schools' B Team embarked on a decent of their own, down into the depths of Clearwell Caves.
Before the new squad had even reached the edges of the Forest of Dean, Williams decided to let everyone know that he is a very poor traveller through a very graphic demonstration; Coach Wixey made a mental note to purchase a mop and bucket for the mini-bus and earmark Williams a special seat for the season...right next to Coach Harris.
As the intrepid group headed for the entrance to the caves, the nervousness increased and tales of their impending doom became more exaggerated. Once in the caves and the spiders were passed, the group settled down to focus on the first challenge of the Corkscrew. Once conquered, confidence increased and the Rabbit Hole became just another passageway. When the Mouse Hole was arrived at though it brought about quite a few comments such as, “Are you serious?” and “You’re having a laugh aren’t you?” Coach Wixey was regretting every piece of chocolate he had eaten in the past year and immediately placed himself on a new diet. The brave group all headed straight through the tiny gap - everyone that is except Sutherland, who made every excuse possible, moaned continuously and managed to get every part of his body stuck at some point. Eventually he succeeded and joined his mates. Wixey was pleased with the delay as it meant he had burnt off a further 100 calories. After a lot of squeezing, scraping and grunting, Wixey emerged at the other end to (generally) supportive cheers. Sutherland’s moaning immediately turned to his hunger and the need for food.
With the caves well and truly conquered, the group set off to join the A Team for lunch at Symonds Yat, Balkwill’s birthday cake going down very well meaning Wixey’s diet had lasted for less than an hour.
At Cannop Ponds, Elliott demonstrated that he is the only cricketer in the team. Balkwill and Sallis gave worthy performances, but the rest showed they would be better off sticking to just playing football. Williams however was so bad and dangerous at bowling that after his first over he was asked not to bowl again. Professional umpire Owen then banned him for the rest of day after his second over and when he tried to bowl another ball, he was promptly banned from all forms of cricket for eight months - or at least until the season is over. Amazingly he still thought he was good!
Collins was to cycling what Williams was to cricket. After a spectacular crash, Wixey asked him to repeat it later as he did not catch it on his phone video. Collins duly obliged by crashing into a stationary bike that he just did not see. Wixey missed it yet again. Please note that in six years’ time Collins could hold a driving licence! Sallis made a late attempt to go for the worst rider award by instigating another pile-up, but was not even in the same league as Collins.
The mini-bus trundled back to Longlevens with the incumbents tired and grazed, but happily reflecting on their bravery down the caves and their recollections of the day’s activities. Some new friends made and a few new memories stored. A good day to begin the campaign.
Before the new squad had even reached the edges of the Forest of Dean, Williams decided to let everyone know that he is a very poor traveller through a very graphic demonstration; Coach Wixey made a mental note to purchase a mop and bucket for the mini-bus and earmark Williams a special seat for the season...right next to Coach Harris.
As the intrepid group headed for the entrance to the caves, the nervousness increased and tales of their impending doom became more exaggerated. Once in the caves and the spiders were passed, the group settled down to focus on the first challenge of the Corkscrew. Once conquered, confidence increased and the Rabbit Hole became just another passageway. When the Mouse Hole was arrived at though it brought about quite a few comments such as, “Are you serious?” and “You’re having a laugh aren’t you?” Coach Wixey was regretting every piece of chocolate he had eaten in the past year and immediately placed himself on a new diet. The brave group all headed straight through the tiny gap - everyone that is except Sutherland, who made every excuse possible, moaned continuously and managed to get every part of his body stuck at some point. Eventually he succeeded and joined his mates. Wixey was pleased with the delay as it meant he had burnt off a further 100 calories. After a lot of squeezing, scraping and grunting, Wixey emerged at the other end to (generally) supportive cheers. Sutherland’s moaning immediately turned to his hunger and the need for food.
With the caves well and truly conquered, the group set off to join the A Team for lunch at Symonds Yat, Balkwill’s birthday cake going down very well meaning Wixey’s diet had lasted for less than an hour.
At Cannop Ponds, Elliott demonstrated that he is the only cricketer in the team. Balkwill and Sallis gave worthy performances, but the rest showed they would be better off sticking to just playing football. Williams however was so bad and dangerous at bowling that after his first over he was asked not to bowl again. Professional umpire Owen then banned him for the rest of day after his second over and when he tried to bowl another ball, he was promptly banned from all forms of cricket for eight months - or at least until the season is over. Amazingly he still thought he was good!
Collins was to cycling what Williams was to cricket. After a spectacular crash, Wixey asked him to repeat it later as he did not catch it on his phone video. Collins duly obliged by crashing into a stationary bike that he just did not see. Wixey missed it yet again. Please note that in six years’ time Collins could hold a driving licence! Sallis made a late attempt to go for the worst rider award by instigating another pile-up, but was not even in the same league as Collins.
The mini-bus trundled back to Longlevens with the incumbents tired and grazed, but happily reflecting on their bravery down the caves and their recollections of the day’s activities. Some new friends made and a few new memories stored. A good day to begin the campaign.
