On a sunny but chilly evening, Friday night rugby returned to The Blackmore for the first time in many a year, as Sidmouth Veterans welcomed their counterparts from The Devon Branch of the rugby charity, Wooden Spoon. Wooden Spoon is a national rugby-based charity that raises money for children’s charitable causes through matches and events held throughout the year.
The orders were to have some fun and entertain, and both teams duly obliged, dishing up a feast (or maybe just a large snack) of rugby that had something for everyone with the result not being decided until the last 2 minutes.
Under clear skies and with the Blackmore looking picture perfect in the evening Spring sunshine, and with the smell of deep heat hanging heavily in the air, watched on by an ever-increasing crowd and ‘fresh’ from a classic Vet’s warm-up - some touch, some dropped balls, light stretch (or in one player’s case, turning the heating up in the car on the way home from work!) and line-out chaos, the two teams took to the field adorned in kits that would make any rugby stash enthusiast purr.
The Wooden Spoons side is a Barbarians of sorts with players from several different clubs coming together for each fixture, and they brought a side that featured some well-known names from the annals of Devon rugby and a starting front row including two players with international Barbarian honours. Sidmouth knew they would have their work cut out in the scrums, and this proved to be the case as they were pushed off the ball for two tries in the first 10 minutes, one for Scrum Half Rich Guy and one for Prop Wayne Reed. One of which was converted by Geoff Davey.
However, once Sidmouth had weathered the early storm, they started to create chances of their own. First, a break from a centre filed scrum by Scrum-half Steve Trim was moved to Ian jones on the wing, who carried deep into the Spoons’ 22. When he was tackled, the Spoons’ defence conceded a penalty and a quick tap saw Number 8 Dan Trim power over from close range. Glenn Channing added the conversion.
Next, a set move from the back of a line-out saw the ball moved to Dan Retter in the Centre, he dummied his way through a gap in the defence and found Full-back Mark Bishop with an inside pass to score under the posts. Again, Channing added the conversion to leave the half-time score 14-12 to Sidmouth.
Once the half-time oxygen had been taken on, Sidmouth kicked off down the slope carrying the momentum from the end of the first half and they extended their lead with a set move from the base of the scrum that has been seen on The Blackmore many times over the years. Trim to Trim to draw the cover and put centre Mike Milburn away to score in the corner for an unconverted try.
It was then the Spoons turn to weather the storm as Sidmouth dominated possession and territory and really should have extended their lead with at least two more chances to score going begging.
But the ebbs and flows of a game of rugby are why we love it so much…..
Losing Hooker Neil Barratt to a leg injury, meant Sidmouth’s lineout failed to function effectively and with the men in Green starved of possession, it was the Spoons who finished like the experienced thoroughbreds they are! First, Full-back Rich Williams followed up his own kick through, to score a try that was converted by Geoff Davey, to make the scores 19-19 with 10 minutes to play and set up a grandstand finish.
Then with 3 minutes left on the clock, Sidmouth conceded a penalty on their 22. The Spoons very diplomatically turned down a relatively easy 3 points and kicked for the corner. From the ensuing lineout, 12 men piled in and forced their way over in the corner for an unconverted try to seal the win for The Wooden Spoons. 24-19.
Considering the scratch nature of The Wooden Spoons side and the fact that this is the first full season of the Sidmouth Vets team, there was some really entertaining and in places high quality rugby played by both sides. The match was played in an excellent spirit and the smiles (or grimaces) on the faces of players and supporters alike should ensure that Vet’s Friday night rugby at The Blackmore is here to stay.
Thanks to Lydia for carrying out physio duties that became somewhat more extensive than expected, Duncan for the food and of course Clare and the ladies 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/
The orders were to have some fun and entertain, and both teams duly obliged, dishing up a feast (or maybe just a large snack) of rugby that had something for everyone with the result not being decided until the last 2 minutes.
Under clear skies and with the Blackmore looking picture perfect in the evening Spring sunshine, and with the smell of deep heat hanging heavily in the air, watched on by an ever-increasing crowd and ‘fresh’ from a classic Vet’s warm-up - some touch, some dropped balls, light stretch (or in one player’s case, turning the heating up in the car on the way home from work!) and line-out chaos, the two teams took to the field adorned in kits that would make any rugby stash enthusiast purr.
The Wooden Spoons side is a Barbarians of sorts with players from several different clubs coming together for each fixture, and they brought a side that featured some well-known names from the annals of Devon rugby and a starting front row including two players with international Barbarian honours. Sidmouth knew they would have their work cut out in the scrums, and this proved to be the case as they were pushed off the ball for two tries in the first 10 minutes, one for Scrum Half Rich Guy and one for Prop Wayne Reed. One of which was converted by Geoff Davey.
However, once Sidmouth had weathered the early storm, they started to create chances of their own. First, a break from a centre filed scrum by Scrum-half Steve Trim was moved to Ian jones on the wing, who carried deep into the Spoons’ 22. When he was tackled, the Spoons’ defence conceded a penalty and a quick tap saw Number 8 Dan Trim power over from close range. Glenn Channing added the conversion.
Next, a set move from the back of a line-out saw the ball moved to Dan Retter in the Centre, he dummied his way through a gap in the defence and found Full-back Mark Bishop with an inside pass to score under the posts. Again, Channing added the conversion to leave the half-time score 14-12 to Sidmouth.
Once the half-time oxygen had been taken on, Sidmouth kicked off down the slope carrying the momentum from the end of the first half and they extended their lead with a set move from the base of the scrum that has been seen on The Blackmore many times over the years. Trim to Trim to draw the cover and put centre Mike Milburn away to score in the corner for an unconverted try.
It was then the Spoons turn to weather the storm as Sidmouth dominated possession and territory and really should have extended their lead with at least two more chances to score going begging.
But the ebbs and flows of a game of rugby are why we love it so much…..
Losing Hooker Neil Barratt to a leg injury, meant Sidmouth’s lineout failed to function effectively and with the men in Green starved of possession, it was the Spoons who finished like the experienced thoroughbreds they are! First, Full-back Rich Williams followed up his own kick through, to score a try that was converted by Geoff Davey, to make the scores 19-19 with 10 minutes to play and set up a grandstand finish.
Then with 3 minutes left on the clock, Sidmouth conceded a penalty on their 22. The Spoons very diplomatically turned down a relatively easy 3 points and kicked for the corner. From the ensuing lineout, 12 men piled in and forced their way over in the corner for an unconverted try to seal the win for The Wooden Spoons. 24-19.
Considering the scratch nature of The Wooden Spoons side and the fact that this is the first full season of the Sidmouth Vets team, there was some really entertaining and in places high quality rugby played by both sides. The match was played in an excellent spirit and the smiles (or grimaces) on the faces of players and supporters alike should ensure that Vet’s Friday night rugby at The Blackmore is here to stay.
Thanks to Lydia for carrying out physio duties that became somewhat more extensive than expected, Duncan for the food and of course Clare and the ladies 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/
