Topsham 3rds 24 (or was it 26?) Sidmouth Vets 26
With the list of absentees as long as some player’s Christmas lists, and forwards outnumbering backs 3 to 1, the visit to Topsham to play a mixed 3rds and O35s was always going to be a challenge. That challenge was made greater by some interesting interpretations of some of the laws of the game by players and officials alike!
Despite arriving to find a Topsham backline with an unerring sprinkling of youth in midfield, a warm-up in brand new training tops that looked frighteningly like…..a warm-up, had left Sidmouth Evergreens in confident mood.
But confidence is a fickle beast, and when the Topsham fly-half weaved his way through some lacklustre defence to score a converted try, closely followed by a second try in the corner, things looked ominous for the Evergreens. 12-0
On the half-hour mark debutant full back (R)Ed Furnival was sent-off. Despite the protestations of both captains, he received his marching orders as his judo roll (around the body of the Topsham centre) that was a perfectly legal clear out the last time he pulled on a green shirt as a back row 15 years ago, was adjudged to have been around the neck, which implied it was a suplex that The Undertaker would have been proud of!
It didn’t take long for Topsham to make the man advantage count, creating the overlap to score in the corner, the try was unconverted. 17-0
But just like the trees that bear their name, the Evergreens don’t lie down easily, and when Hooker Luke Knight powered over from a tap penalty near the posts, Glenn Channing converted to make the score 17-7 the men in Green took the initiative. They set up camp near the Topsham line and with the front row of Greg Howell, Knight and Mark Unsworth rolling back the years in the scrum, and Alex Graves-Morris and John Carnall providing good possession at the lineout, Sidmouth entered the closing stages of the half on the front foot.
Sidmouth were awarded a 5-metre scrum, which they pushed Topsham back into the in-goal area, all that was left was for Number 8 Graves-Morris to touch down……but with his navigation not being as accurate as his lineout ball, it was not to be, and the scrum was re-set. Again, the Sidmouth pack overpowered their counterparts, but this time Graves-Morris was robbed of his try by another shrill blast. No penalty try, no yellow card, just the half-time whistle….. “I just don’t understand “, one young fan was heard to exclaim with tears of frustration in her eyes, a slightly less polite version was heard from elsewhere on the touchline….
Half-time 17-7 to Topsham
With both sides being repeatedly warned for questioning the referee’s decisions both Captains were read the riot act, but as sport mirrors life, sportsmanship, common sense and experience often trumps the letter of the law and Vets spirit was to the fore when Topsham were kind enough to allow Sidmouth to bring a player back on to even up the sides again.
Back up to a full quota and with metaphorical muzzles applied to both team and coaching staff, Sidmouth kicked off, only to have a strange sense of deja-vu as the Topsham number 7 caught the kick off and ran around some (and through other) weak tackles to score under the posts. The fly-half converted to make the score 24-7 to Topsham.
Again, this seemed to galvanise Sidmouth and they hit back when centre for the day Rhys Thomas, revelling in the wide open pasture, albeit with hamstring heavily strapped but refusing to leave the field “if I stop, I won’t start again”, channelled his inner Scott Gibbs and took two tacklers with him as he scored near the posts. Channing converted 24-14.
Then a moment of quality as Channing was tackled just short of the line, he managed to offload ‘out the back door’, Mark Dapling must have been surprised by the pass as he gathered it cleanly and dived over for the try! Which was then disallowed for a forward pass…..
But Sidmouth were not to be denied, and multiple phases allowed Channing to drop down a gear and crash through three tackles to dive over the line, Spencer Garner was on hand to dot down just to make sure, but it was settled that the score should go to Channing. 24-19 and all to play for going into the last ten minutes.
With the Sidmouth subs rolling on and off, it’s a credit that the momentum in the scrum and lineouts remained, and when Channing kicked a penalty to the corner, the resultant catch and drive lead to the maul being collapsed. Pete Singfield took the penalty quickly and crossed the whitewash for a try that would have capped a fine performance from the big second-row. Only for him to be robbed of his moment in the sun by the referee instead awarding a penalty try which confused both teams, but meant that the conversion was not necessary. 24-26 (or so we thought).
Somewhere in the chaos Topsham had gained another two points but they had also lost a man to a yellow-card. So on the referee’s book it was 26-26 with 5 minutes to go, and with diplomacy trumping accuracy no-body dared ask the question.
A grandstand finish was on the cards, and it didn’t disappoint, both teams searching for the win, Topsham had a try disallowed and Channing came up just short with two long range penalties that would have taken maths out of the equation “they’d have got there if the balls were better”, which I believe was a comment on equipment and not anatomical.
With the last blast of the whistle finally bringing the 95th minute to a close, the match was over and the players retired to the bar decked out in fine selection of Christmas attire and walking like extras in a John Wayne film. All that was left was for Red Furnival to cap his memorable debut by drinking a beer out of a used rugby boot!
There were lots of stand-out performances with people playing out of position and chopping and changing whenever required. Mark Unsworth, Greg Howell, John Carnall, Glenn Channing, Rhys Thomas were all mentioned in despatches, but man of the match went to Luke Knight, who was everywhere for the whole game, scored a try and somehow managed to escape with his head still attached to his shoulders! I should also mention to Carl ‘Lego’ Creek (suitable from 2- who at one stage seemed to be required to change position from the back row to the wing every time there was a stop in play.
Thanks to everyone who came and supported and to Lydia for physio duties as always.
Next game sees the return leg against Topsham at The Blackmore on January the 20th.
With the list of absentees as long as some player’s Christmas lists, and forwards outnumbering backs 3 to 1, the visit to Topsham to play a mixed 3rds and O35s was always going to be a challenge. That challenge was made greater by some interesting interpretations of some of the laws of the game by players and officials alike!
Despite arriving to find a Topsham backline with an unerring sprinkling of youth in midfield, a warm-up in brand new training tops that looked frighteningly like…..a warm-up, had left Sidmouth Evergreens in confident mood.
But confidence is a fickle beast, and when the Topsham fly-half weaved his way through some lacklustre defence to score a converted try, closely followed by a second try in the corner, things looked ominous for the Evergreens. 12-0
On the half-hour mark debutant full back (R)Ed Furnival was sent-off. Despite the protestations of both captains, he received his marching orders as his judo roll (around the body of the Topsham centre) that was a perfectly legal clear out the last time he pulled on a green shirt as a back row 15 years ago, was adjudged to have been around the neck, which implied it was a suplex that The Undertaker would have been proud of!
It didn’t take long for Topsham to make the man advantage count, creating the overlap to score in the corner, the try was unconverted. 17-0
But just like the trees that bear their name, the Evergreens don’t lie down easily, and when Hooker Luke Knight powered over from a tap penalty near the posts, Glenn Channing converted to make the score 17-7 the men in Green took the initiative. They set up camp near the Topsham line and with the front row of Greg Howell, Knight and Mark Unsworth rolling back the years in the scrum, and Alex Graves-Morris and John Carnall providing good possession at the lineout, Sidmouth entered the closing stages of the half on the front foot.
Sidmouth were awarded a 5-metre scrum, which they pushed Topsham back into the in-goal area, all that was left was for Number 8 Graves-Morris to touch down……but with his navigation not being as accurate as his lineout ball, it was not to be, and the scrum was re-set. Again, the Sidmouth pack overpowered their counterparts, but this time Graves-Morris was robbed of his try by another shrill blast. No penalty try, no yellow card, just the half-time whistle….. “I just don’t understand “, one young fan was heard to exclaim with tears of frustration in her eyes, a slightly less polite version was heard from elsewhere on the touchline….
Half-time 17-7 to Topsham
With both sides being repeatedly warned for questioning the referee’s decisions both Captains were read the riot act, but as sport mirrors life, sportsmanship, common sense and experience often trumps the letter of the law and Vets spirit was to the fore when Topsham were kind enough to allow Sidmouth to bring a player back on to even up the sides again.
Back up to a full quota and with metaphorical muzzles applied to both team and coaching staff, Sidmouth kicked off, only to have a strange sense of deja-vu as the Topsham number 7 caught the kick off and ran around some (and through other) weak tackles to score under the posts. The fly-half converted to make the score 24-7 to Topsham.
Again, this seemed to galvanise Sidmouth and they hit back when centre for the day Rhys Thomas, revelling in the wide open pasture, albeit with hamstring heavily strapped but refusing to leave the field “if I stop, I won’t start again”, channelled his inner Scott Gibbs and took two tacklers with him as he scored near the posts. Channing converted 24-14.
Then a moment of quality as Channing was tackled just short of the line, he managed to offload ‘out the back door’, Mark Dapling must have been surprised by the pass as he gathered it cleanly and dived over for the try! Which was then disallowed for a forward pass…..
But Sidmouth were not to be denied, and multiple phases allowed Channing to drop down a gear and crash through three tackles to dive over the line, Spencer Garner was on hand to dot down just to make sure, but it was settled that the score should go to Channing. 24-19 and all to play for going into the last ten minutes.
With the Sidmouth subs rolling on and off, it’s a credit that the momentum in the scrum and lineouts remained, and when Channing kicked a penalty to the corner, the resultant catch and drive lead to the maul being collapsed. Pete Singfield took the penalty quickly and crossed the whitewash for a try that would have capped a fine performance from the big second-row. Only for him to be robbed of his moment in the sun by the referee instead awarding a penalty try which confused both teams, but meant that the conversion was not necessary. 24-26 (or so we thought).
Somewhere in the chaos Topsham had gained another two points but they had also lost a man to a yellow-card. So on the referee’s book it was 26-26 with 5 minutes to go, and with diplomacy trumping accuracy no-body dared ask the question.
A grandstand finish was on the cards, and it didn’t disappoint, both teams searching for the win, Topsham had a try disallowed and Channing came up just short with two long range penalties that would have taken maths out of the equation “they’d have got there if the balls were better”, which I believe was a comment on equipment and not anatomical.
With the last blast of the whistle finally bringing the 95th minute to a close, the match was over and the players retired to the bar decked out in fine selection of Christmas attire and walking like extras in a John Wayne film. All that was left was for Red Furnival to cap his memorable debut by drinking a beer out of a used rugby boot!
There were lots of stand-out performances with people playing out of position and chopping and changing whenever required. Mark Unsworth, Greg Howell, John Carnall, Glenn Channing, Rhys Thomas were all mentioned in despatches, but man of the match went to Luke Knight, who was everywhere for the whole game, scored a try and somehow managed to escape with his head still attached to his shoulders! I should also mention to Carl ‘Lego’ Creek (suitable from 2- who at one stage seemed to be required to change position from the back row to the wing every time there was a stop in play.
Thanks to everyone who came and supported and to Lydia for physio duties as always.
Next game sees the return leg against Topsham at The Blackmore on January the 20th.
