On Saturday a game was played where Melbourne had won before even stepping onto the pitch, the only down side was they would also lose. 

Both teams had a mix of experience and youth, with the 3rd's a little bit more reliant on the experience (it's nicer phrasing it that way than just saying there old!!). Even before kick off you could tell it was going to be a game both teams were going to be well up for with the 2nd's wanting to prove what they could do after a stuttering start to the season and the 3rd's just wanting to take this piss back at the pub if they won.

The game started with the 2nd team kicking off attacking the cap park end. From the kick the 3rd's brought the ball back hard and made good ground the 2nd's gave away a penalty in between the 10m and 22m lines and to the left of the posts. Even though it was a friendly the 3rd's elected to go for the posts, which shows how much this game meant!! Pez narrowly missed the kick hooking it just to the right of the posts where Chris Fulton was waiting to collect it and touch down for a 22 drop out.

The game carried on evenly matched throughout, the 3rd's dominating the line with Colin claiming a lot of good ball and the scrums were well contested by both sides. The first score came from the back of a ruck just inside the 3rd's half, James Ayer picked up from the back and went himself. He chipped the ball over the 3rd's heads and chased after a missed catch and a bit of fumbling James managed to get his hands on the ball which he popped up to Nathan who ran in the try from around the 22m line to place the ball under the posts which gave Rob a comfortable conversion, 7-0 to the 2nd's.

The 2nd's then started to put the 3rd's under some pressure which resulted in the ball being spun out to Chris Fulton who went over in the right hand corner, Rob was unable to convert this one. Then just before half time Nathan made a break from around the 3rd's 10m line to go over just to the left of the posts. Rob got the conversion to make it 19-0 to the 2nd's at half time.

The 2nd's came out the better in the second half as straight from kick off it was run back. After a couple of phases of play Nick parks danced his way through the 3rd's defence to score about level with the 15m line to the right of the posts, Rob narrowly missed the conversion.

The 3rd's kicked off again with the ball going straight to Bob, he off loaded to Nick who ran the ball back at the 3rd's. The game evened up for the next 10 minuets with no side having a clear advantage until James Ayer broke free to score next to the left upright, despite a rather high tackle near the line. Rob got the conversion to make the score 31-0.

The 3rd's then upped there game considerably and had there best spell of the game and really tested the 2nd's defence which was standing firm until the 3rd team was awarded 5m penalty, from this they moved the ball out to the wing where Pete Burchill was waiting to power his way over the line, Pez was unable to get the conversion.

For the last 10 minuets the game was played out with the 3rd team having much the better of the play but they were unable to breach the 2nd's defence so the score finished 31-5. Nathan Goodyear was awarded man of the match for the 2nd team for his 2 trys and Colin Topliss was awarded man of the match for the 3rd team for his outstanding work in the lineout.

This was a good game well contested by both sides and if Melbourne can keep on putting out a 3rd team like the one on Saturday they shouldn't lose many games this season. It was another solid performance by the 2nd team who have been playing well but just missing a some confidence that has now hopefully arrived after the last 2 performances, let's not let it go next week and as our inspirational leader says 1-80 (I think that's the number of pints he's going to by us depending on the performance!!!)