PENGUINS AGAINST CANCER

The 2024 Scanlan Cup Match 

The main event of the day, following the Guy’s Past v Present match, was beautifully introduced by the GHRFC President Ben Challacombe and Guy’s Penguins stalwarts Charlie Beardmore (President) and Pat Gush (Vice-President) with two minutes silence for Paul Scanlan. (Adios Amigo).

​

The Penguins skipper started the proceedings in typical style with a kick off that didn’t make the 10m but fortunately the resultant scrum went nowhere. Multiple turnovers resulted in the Penguins chipping to the corner to put the Guy’s XV under pressure. A penalty let them off the hook enabling them to clear their lines.

​

Recurrent penalties and some loose tackling let the Guy’s XV in to score down the right which was well converted. The Penguin skipper’s kicking boots were again left wanting with the restart going straight out this time and the Guy’s XV found themselves with a penalty in the Penguins 22. Some good defence and a turnover saw the Penguins work their way up to halfway only to be let down with their discipline again to be marched back to their 22. More penalties had the Penguins pinned in their 22 and the Guy’s XV took a scrum under the posts to launch from the platform and score and lead 12-0.

​

Finally, a restart went 10m and an excellent defensive read by the Penguins enabled Ekeowa to run in unopposed down the right. The left hand upright got in the way of the extra points to leave the score 12-5. Some more sustained Penguin pressure had the Guy’s XV pinned back in their 22 but a great clearance brought play back to the halfway line.

​

The Penguins were starting to warm up now and no more so than Ekeowa with his twinkle toes and slinky hips. Oooohs and ahhhhs from the crowd were heard whenever he touched the ball. Some good try line pressure resulted in the ball being called held up but there were a number of disconsolate Penguins who felt it had clearly been grounded. Intricate interplay and quick ruck speed meant a sharp reverse down the short side and a great midfield miss-pass had Ekeowa over the line once again down the right. (Guy’s XV 12-10 Penguins). More Penguin pressure persisted prior to the break but the score remained.

​

The Penguins started the second half in flying form with wonderful interplay and handling surging them into the Guy’s XV 22. Hadlington sniped at the ruck 10m out and went over untouched (Guy’s XV 12-15 Penguins). A fluffed restart gave the Penguins a scrum on the halfway line from where they pinned the Guy’s XV onto their try line. The Guy’s XV full back tried to run it back with nifty footwork only to pass it to the persevering Penguins who walked in under the posts for a converted score (12-22). The Penguins really started turning on the flair after the restart. More intricate handling and a chip down the blindside from Gretton was gathered at full tilt by Ekeowa who goosestepped his way through the desperate attempts to tackle him. With afterburners applied he made it over the line, under the posts, carrying a few flailing Guy’s XV players (12-29)…cue the crowd going wild for the hattrick hero!

​

A period of slow grinding pressure from the Penguins created an overlap for Reading with which he merely had to walk in in the left-hand corner…alas the act of catching the ball was a task too many and the try went begging. The cries of “Gin Him” were clear for all to hear.

​

For a brief moment both teams forgot how to play rugby and decided to play a mixture of the kicking game and basketball. Tired bodies were sprawled everywhere, and the Penguins were first to take advantage of it with some crisp handling resulting with another score under the posts (12-36). Immediately after the restart the Penguins attacked the left corner again with quick ruck speed and even quicker hands repeated the play which Reading dutifully held onto and fell over the line with the final play of the game.

​

Final score Guy’s XV 12 – 41 Penguins XV.

​

Much beer flowed and the 180th Annual Club Dinner that followed the match was a roaring success at The Institute of Civil Engineers, One Great George Street.

​​​​​

Pete Gretton

​Penguins Skipper

It's a well known fact that Penguins can leap