There’s something special about Friday night rugby under floodlights at The Blackmore, and last week was no different as Sidmouth Veterans welcomed their counterparts from The Devon branch of the charity, Wooden Spoon.
Wooden Spoon is a national rugby-based charity that raises money for children’s causes through matches and events held throughout the year. Prior to the match Sidmouth were announced as a Wooden Spoon partner club, with a plaque presented by David Fowler of Devon Wooden Spoon and a collection was taken during the match with £145 being raised for the charity, thanks to all that donated.
With the Blackmore looking picture perfect in the evening autumn sunshine, the smell of deep heat hanging heavily in the air and hamstrings tightening in anticipation, the two teams took to the field. As usual the orders were to play some ‘Easter rugby’ and both teams duly obliged with the teams sharing 7 tries in an entertaining spectacle for a healthy crowd.
Against the run of play the Spoons took the lead in somewhat comedy fashion when a loose pass was cleared ‘football style’ into his own half by Sidmouth wing Tim Treloar, and a quick lineout gave the Spoons possession deep in the Sidmouth 22. Sidmouth regained possession but chose not to clear their lines, which proved costly when a memory lapse from Sidmouth’s ‘maverick’ fly-half Ian Jones coupled with a breakdown in centre Andrew Dare’s ability to read minds, allowed Spoons fly-half Geoff Davey to kick and regather the loose ball to touch down near the posts. Davey converted his own try. 0-7.
Normal service was resumed when Treloar reset his compass and put a penalty deep into the Spoons 22, flanker Spencer Garner rescued a stray lineout ball and set up a ruck near the Spoons line allowing number 8 Dan Trim to pick up and power over from close range. Dare’s conversion attempt from the touchline drifted just wide.
Sidmouth extended their lead with a set move from the base of a scrum deep in the Spoons half. Jones dummied Dare (telepathy restored!) and outside centre Dan Prettejohn timed his run perfectly to take Jones’ pass at full pace and score under the posts. Dare made sure he made no mistake with the conversion, ensuring another visit to the bowling club’s roof for the Sidmouth ball boys! 12-7
Just before half-time Sidmouth almost extended their lead when, following multiple phases of good handling from backs and forwards alike, winger Mark Dapling laid some ghosts to rest as he scooped up a loose pass from Prettejohn, he was tackled just short of the line by Spoons winger Harley Worthy (guesting from Sidmouth and playing his first game in 16 years!), but managed to offload to flanker Rhys Thomas who just failed to gather the inside pass for what would have been the try of the day.
The half time injection of fresh legs was to Sidmouth’s advantage and they extended their lead when Dan Trim broke free from a ruck on the Spoons 10 metre line, he evaded the attention of two would be tacklers, ignored the cries of “Trimmer pass!!” from at least two teammates, and despite being hauled down just short of the line, managed to touch down for his second try. Dare’s conversion attempt was caught by an unseasonal gust of wind! 17-7.
It is credit to the ethos of the Spoons that despite only having the bare 15 players, they came back at Sidmouth and spent the next ten minutes in the home side’s half, with several attacks being repelled by excellent Sidmouth defence and one too many handling errors being the only reason they didn’t add to their score.
It was against the run of play that Sidmouth scored their 4th try when following a lineout in the Spoons 22, Jones switched the direction of play to send Dare over in the corner for an unconverted try.
However, the Spoons weren’t done and ensured an exciting finish when good handling created space for their outside centre to score, Davey converted to make it 22-14 with ten minutes to go.
Having lost in the dying minutes in last season’s fixture Sidmouth weren’t to be denied this time and sealed the win when ‘forwards coach’ Matt Gingell, who had valiantly donned his boots to make up the numbers, proved that he had lost none of his poacher’s instinct to pop up on the opposite wing, near the base of a ruck, to get his hands on the ball and score in the corner. Final score 27-14 to Sidmouth.
Rhys Thomas was named Player of the Match sponsored by The Jack in the Green. Honourable mentions must go to Yann Tripet who was playing his first game in the front row in over 5 years, looked powerful in both the scrum and the loose, and came back on for the Spoons only minutes after being granted a well-earned rest after 60 minutes in green, Sidmouth second row Jason Stephens who played out of position at Prop for the Wooden Spoons for 60 minutes to ensure that the scrums remained competitive.
Thanks to Lydia for carrying out physio duties, Duncan for the food, (the man on the…) Mike Dibble and of course Clare her team behind the bar for their sterling efforts as always.
Anyone who wants to find out more about The Wooden Spoon can do so here https://woodenspoon.org.uk/region/devon/
Wooden Spoon is a national rugby-based charity that raises money for children’s causes through matches and events held throughout the year. Prior to the match Sidmouth were announced as a Wooden Spoon partner club, with a plaque presented by David Fowler of Devon Wooden Spoon and a collection was taken during the match with £145 being raised for the charity, thanks to all that donated.
With the Blackmore looking picture perfect in the evening autumn sunshine, the smell of deep heat hanging heavily in the air and hamstrings tightening in anticipation, the two teams took to the field. As usual the orders were to play some ‘Easter rugby’ and both teams duly obliged with the teams sharing 7 tries in an entertaining spectacle for a healthy crowd.
Against the run of play the Spoons took the lead in somewhat comedy fashion when a loose pass was cleared ‘football style’ into his own half by Sidmouth wing Tim Treloar, and a quick lineout gave the Spoons possession deep in the Sidmouth 22. Sidmouth regained possession but chose not to clear their lines, which proved costly when a memory lapse from Sidmouth’s ‘maverick’ fly-half Ian Jones coupled with a breakdown in centre Andrew Dare’s ability to read minds, allowed Spoons fly-half Geoff Davey to kick and regather the loose ball to touch down near the posts. Davey converted his own try. 0-7.
Normal service was resumed when Treloar reset his compass and put a penalty deep into the Spoons 22, flanker Spencer Garner rescued a stray lineout ball and set up a ruck near the Spoons line allowing number 8 Dan Trim to pick up and power over from close range. Dare’s conversion attempt from the touchline drifted just wide.
Sidmouth extended their lead with a set move from the base of a scrum deep in the Spoons half. Jones dummied Dare (telepathy restored!) and outside centre Dan Prettejohn timed his run perfectly to take Jones’ pass at full pace and score under the posts. Dare made sure he made no mistake with the conversion, ensuring another visit to the bowling club’s roof for the Sidmouth ball boys! 12-7
Just before half-time Sidmouth almost extended their lead when, following multiple phases of good handling from backs and forwards alike, winger Mark Dapling laid some ghosts to rest as he scooped up a loose pass from Prettejohn, he was tackled just short of the line by Spoons winger Harley Worthy (guesting from Sidmouth and playing his first game in 16 years!), but managed to offload to flanker Rhys Thomas who just failed to gather the inside pass for what would have been the try of the day.
The half time injection of fresh legs was to Sidmouth’s advantage and they extended their lead when Dan Trim broke free from a ruck on the Spoons 10 metre line, he evaded the attention of two would be tacklers, ignored the cries of “Trimmer pass!!” from at least two teammates, and despite being hauled down just short of the line, managed to touch down for his second try. Dare’s conversion attempt was caught by an unseasonal gust of wind! 17-7.
It is credit to the ethos of the Spoons that despite only having the bare 15 players, they came back at Sidmouth and spent the next ten minutes in the home side’s half, with several attacks being repelled by excellent Sidmouth defence and one too many handling errors being the only reason they didn’t add to their score.
It was against the run of play that Sidmouth scored their 4th try when following a lineout in the Spoons 22, Jones switched the direction of play to send Dare over in the corner for an unconverted try.
However, the Spoons weren’t done and ensured an exciting finish when good handling created space for their outside centre to score, Davey converted to make it 22-14 with ten minutes to go.
Having lost in the dying minutes in last season’s fixture Sidmouth weren’t to be denied this time and sealed the win when ‘forwards coach’ Matt Gingell, who had valiantly donned his boots to make up the numbers, proved that he had lost none of his poacher’s instinct to pop up on the opposite wing, near the base of a ruck, to get his hands on the ball and score in the corner. Final score 27-14 to Sidmouth.
Rhys Thomas was named Player of the Match sponsored by The Jack in the Green. Honourable mentions must go to Yann Tripet who was playing his first game in the front row in over 5 years, looked powerful in both the scrum and the loose, and came back on for the Spoons only minutes after being granted a well-earned rest after 60 minutes in green, Sidmouth second row Jason Stephens who played out of position at Prop for the Wooden Spoons for 60 minutes to ensure that the scrums remained competitive.
Thanks to Lydia for carrying out physio duties, Duncan for the food, (the man on the…) Mike Dibble and of course Clare her team behind the bar for their sterling efforts as always.
Anyone who wants to find out more about The Wooden Spoon can do so here https://woodenspoon.org.uk/region/devon/
