1st XI v Shrewsbury School
On: Friday 18 November
Venue: Away
Result: Lost 4 - 3
There's been a lot of talk about building walls recently, but when King Offa of Mercia began construction of his dyke in the eighth century, it formed one of the great fortifications of contemporary times, standing, at least according to some, as a defensive frontier against the Welsh and running along the modern day border, only a short distance from Shrewsbury School. How Charterhouse could benefit from the example of the great Anglo-Saxon monarch. Oh to have a defensive frontier, to be able to repel invaders, to thwart aggressors, to frustrate, obviate, stymie or forestall. To go on and construct a great kingdom, which extended sovereignty over most of the south of England and which is foreshadowed only by the reign of Alfred the Great in its dominance of England. The trouble with this Charterhouse side is that they are relentless aggressors, threatening on all fronts, but leaving, at all times, the stable door unlocked. Eventually some highwayman is going to sneak in and walk off with the horse. Or horses. And all the straw.
After a mighty journey across the lands formerly under Offa's hegemony, Charterhouse dusted themselves off and asked absolute wonders of their digestive systems after an extraordinary full English at Warwick services, followed not two hours later by soup and pasta (or alternatively a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and fish and chips dependent on individual players). Perhaps this, or the journey, or the radical back three, or the cold, or even maybe the distraction that today is 'National Apple Cider Day' in the USA, might explain the calamitous start which saw Shrewsbury pile in three goals, leaving Charterhouse staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat. But the away side rallied and by half time, it should really have been 3 - 3, Allen blasting over the bar in the final minute of the half and spurning the chance to equalise, goals from Hammond and Gilbey having given the away side a sniff.
Into the second half and the game looked over when a series of poor decisions and yet more sloppiness resulted in Shrewsbury bagging a fourth. But then Garrard made it 4 - 3 and the game was afoot again. Both sides began to tire as the game closed out, with chances at both ends in a game that might have ended 9 - 9. But 4 - 3 it was and Charterhouse lose again on the road. Not that we don't lose at home as well of course.
This was yet another spirited comeback in the manner of the Eton game, both games seeing the away side present the home side with a three goal cushion before starting to play. You might say we like to lull sides into a false sense of security. But we tend to lull teams into absolute security. Which isn't really the point. And so another fixture plays out in the long calendar of contests between these great schools. As we pass Warwick services for the second time in six hours it's tempting to stop in for more food. Maybe we'll leave it to Beaconsfield. Oh hang on, the driver wants a toilet stop. Oh go on then. We'll find room for something.