After a summer of touch and tanning, around 25 Evergreens veterans arrived with anticipation for their first match of the season at the Blackmore. There’s something special about rugby under the Friday Night Lights at the Blackmore, and, after the usual go around of checking that ‘yes, the line out calls were the same as they always had been’, and ‘yes our inspirational leader Bish works on a ratio of one minute physio to one minute of game time’ the side lined up to play a select XV for the rugby mental health charity, Looseheadz.
As might be expected from a side that spells their name with a Z at the end, the average age of the Looseheadz side was a ‘tiny’ bit younger that Sidmouth’s veterans. But after initial nervousness what followed was a match played in great spirit. The game started as a tense affair with neither side really establishing a pattern of play. The Evergreens settled nerves after about ten minutes with the game’s first try, the forwards carrying right and right again and then Dan Retter having presence of mind to float a beautiful miss pass over the onrushing Evergreens defenders to Mike Milburn who dotted down under the sticks, for a try converted by Retter. (which hilariously my auto correct keeps trying to change to ‘retiree’).
It was another Evergreen, wearing the wrong colour shirt, Glenn Channing, (the non-TOWIE GC), who created the next opportunity with a smart chip over the top of the blitzing Evergreens defence which was collected by the Looseheadz full back who ran in a very good individual try, converted by Channing to even the scores.
It took less than five minutes for the Evergreens to pull ahead again with a try I’ve only seen for the first time watching the video to write this report. Watching it has made me eat crow, because in the build up to the try, Rhys Thomas made a great steal and carried well. I picked up off the base of the ruck and carried again. As I lay on the floor, I heard the sound of a kick and thought ‘for F***’s sake: the backs have kicked it away again’ before I then heard the roar of the crowd. What actually happened was Retter kicked a beautifully weighted cross kick which Mark ‘I don’t have OF’ Dapling caught diving at full stretch to score in the left corner. Shows how much you can judge about rugby from the bottom of a ruck. ‘Bloody backs’, I owe you an apology! The conversion was missed 12-7 to the green machine, which is how it ended at half time.
With a deep squad the Evergreens rang the changes at half time bringing in a mix of youth (Adam Howe, making his over 35s debut) and (mainly) experience but further debuts from Henry Sanford and Jon Hannay. The side in the second half picked up where the first half left off, playing with fluency and spirit, including competitive work at the breakdown.
It was a great steal to the right of the posts around the ten-metre line which led to the moment of the match. Ian Jones, recovering from having his bell rung by tackling the biggest Looseheadz player with his face, spread the ball left. It moved through the hands and Adam hit a beautiful outside arc, stepped in and the path opened up to the try line before him. At this point, readers: I have to report an international war crime, because a sniper nailed Adam just as in his head he started to celebrate and gear up for the swan dive. Explanations vary from the sacrilegious: there was a divot in the pitch, to the likely (he tripped over his own ankle). Either way, down he went untouched. As Adam is very keen to point out: the ball quickly moved right off the ruck for James Salter to dot down in the corner. So, an unselfish assist (ish) to Adam. Retter added the conversion. 19-7.
Speaking of things that we will never mention again, midway through the second half Bish was denied a fabulous try after a one handed pick up of Ian Jones’ box kick was wrongly adjudged to have a foot in touch. The Evergreens subs had a clear view straight down the touch line and let their displeasure be known with pantomime booing, picked up by the grandstand. No doubt Bish will record the five- pointer on his personal stats excel spreadsheet we all know he keeps, in any case.
After a typically hard carrying performance, Dan Trim came off at the 60-minute mark and was replaced by Carl ‘Midas’ Creek, whose golden touch meant he scored with his very first touch after some smart play by Retter and Jones moving the ball to the right corner where Creek, who had not ventured more than a metre from the touchline where the Sidmouth subs reside, touched down for an unconverted try, 24-7. Then Channing made his mark for the Evergreens this time, dummying his way through the defence following good work by the forwards, cruising in the right-hand corner. 29-7
Looseheadz pulled back a consolation try at the other end, their young winger stepping in and fending off a weak tackle by (whispers….) me to score. 29-12.
Channing completed the scoring, with a Dawsonesque hitch kick and dummy to beat the last man and score in the corner, following good work from young pups Spencer Garner and Henry Sanford (110+ years of life experience between them!). The conversion was missed. 34-12
The final whistle was blown five minutes before time after a typically hard carry by Tristan Beavis left a Looseheadz player with a head knock. Thanks to Lydia and the Looseheadz physio for their really speedy attention to the player, who thankfully is fine. Beavis span out of the contact stepped another tackle and offloaded to Mike Milburn who cut through the defence only to be pulled back by the referee’s whistle, so we missed out on an early contender for try of the season, but for good reason, safety is always first and absolutely the right call by the ref.
With that the curtain came down on a good game of rugby played in the right spirit in front of a good crowd. The Evergreens can reflect on a well-earned win, with game time for a lot of the squad, in the name of charity, and played against a nice bunch of lads for a great cause. Man of the match was Tristan Beavis, closely pipping Rhys Thomas who must’ve had 15 turnovers and once again came out with his nose intact!
The inaugural Devon veterans league starts in October and the team have ambitions to win it. Hard tests like this can lay the foundations for that success, particularly if the team start to play to pattern and structure. If we can create and score tries without pattern, think how we can control a game with it. Looking forward to seeing everyone at training.
Thanks to Lydia for physio duties, hydration officers Stu and Chris, the team in the bar and on food, Mike on the Mic, Bish for organising, and the admin/leadership of other players too like Jonesy, Luke and Tim.
We have built something really special here and I know I speak for a lot of the squad when I say we are proud to be a part of it. I for one took a moment after the game as the sun set over the ridge line of peak hill behind the club house with its pinks and crimsons, and while a big group of the players’ kids played on the floodlit Blackmore behind me and thought this is what it’s all about. It’s the same sort of pride I feel proudly running out with a shirt advertising a nightclub which no longer exists and I can only vaguely recall ever having been to on it. It’s a special team in a special club. Thanks a lot for letting us be part of it, and here’s to a successful season.
Tries: Milburn, Dapling, Salter, Creek, Channing x 2
Conversions: Retter (2)
Sidmouth Evergreens 34 – Looseheadz 12
Reported by Pete Singfield.
As might be expected from a side that spells their name with a Z at the end, the average age of the Looseheadz side was a ‘tiny’ bit younger that Sidmouth’s veterans. But after initial nervousness what followed was a match played in great spirit. The game started as a tense affair with neither side really establishing a pattern of play. The Evergreens settled nerves after about ten minutes with the game’s first try, the forwards carrying right and right again and then Dan Retter having presence of mind to float a beautiful miss pass over the onrushing Evergreens defenders to Mike Milburn who dotted down under the sticks, for a try converted by Retter. (which hilariously my auto correct keeps trying to change to ‘retiree’).
It was another Evergreen, wearing the wrong colour shirt, Glenn Channing, (the non-TOWIE GC), who created the next opportunity with a smart chip over the top of the blitzing Evergreens defence which was collected by the Looseheadz full back who ran in a very good individual try, converted by Channing to even the scores.
It took less than five minutes for the Evergreens to pull ahead again with a try I’ve only seen for the first time watching the video to write this report. Watching it has made me eat crow, because in the build up to the try, Rhys Thomas made a great steal and carried well. I picked up off the base of the ruck and carried again. As I lay on the floor, I heard the sound of a kick and thought ‘for F***’s sake: the backs have kicked it away again’ before I then heard the roar of the crowd. What actually happened was Retter kicked a beautifully weighted cross kick which Mark ‘I don’t have OF’ Dapling caught diving at full stretch to score in the left corner. Shows how much you can judge about rugby from the bottom of a ruck. ‘Bloody backs’, I owe you an apology! The conversion was missed 12-7 to the green machine, which is how it ended at half time.
With a deep squad the Evergreens rang the changes at half time bringing in a mix of youth (Adam Howe, making his over 35s debut) and (mainly) experience but further debuts from Henry Sanford and Jon Hannay. The side in the second half picked up where the first half left off, playing with fluency and spirit, including competitive work at the breakdown.
It was a great steal to the right of the posts around the ten-metre line which led to the moment of the match. Ian Jones, recovering from having his bell rung by tackling the biggest Looseheadz player with his face, spread the ball left. It moved through the hands and Adam hit a beautiful outside arc, stepped in and the path opened up to the try line before him. At this point, readers: I have to report an international war crime, because a sniper nailed Adam just as in his head he started to celebrate and gear up for the swan dive. Explanations vary from the sacrilegious: there was a divot in the pitch, to the likely (he tripped over his own ankle). Either way, down he went untouched. As Adam is very keen to point out: the ball quickly moved right off the ruck for James Salter to dot down in the corner. So, an unselfish assist (ish) to Adam. Retter added the conversion. 19-7.
Speaking of things that we will never mention again, midway through the second half Bish was denied a fabulous try after a one handed pick up of Ian Jones’ box kick was wrongly adjudged to have a foot in touch. The Evergreens subs had a clear view straight down the touch line and let their displeasure be known with pantomime booing, picked up by the grandstand. No doubt Bish will record the five- pointer on his personal stats excel spreadsheet we all know he keeps, in any case.
After a typically hard carrying performance, Dan Trim came off at the 60-minute mark and was replaced by Carl ‘Midas’ Creek, whose golden touch meant he scored with his very first touch after some smart play by Retter and Jones moving the ball to the right corner where Creek, who had not ventured more than a metre from the touchline where the Sidmouth subs reside, touched down for an unconverted try, 24-7. Then Channing made his mark for the Evergreens this time, dummying his way through the defence following good work by the forwards, cruising in the right-hand corner. 29-7
Looseheadz pulled back a consolation try at the other end, their young winger stepping in and fending off a weak tackle by (whispers….) me to score. 29-12.
Channing completed the scoring, with a Dawsonesque hitch kick and dummy to beat the last man and score in the corner, following good work from young pups Spencer Garner and Henry Sanford (110+ years of life experience between them!). The conversion was missed. 34-12
The final whistle was blown five minutes before time after a typically hard carry by Tristan Beavis left a Looseheadz player with a head knock. Thanks to Lydia and the Looseheadz physio for their really speedy attention to the player, who thankfully is fine. Beavis span out of the contact stepped another tackle and offloaded to Mike Milburn who cut through the defence only to be pulled back by the referee’s whistle, so we missed out on an early contender for try of the season, but for good reason, safety is always first and absolutely the right call by the ref.
With that the curtain came down on a good game of rugby played in the right spirit in front of a good crowd. The Evergreens can reflect on a well-earned win, with game time for a lot of the squad, in the name of charity, and played against a nice bunch of lads for a great cause. Man of the match was Tristan Beavis, closely pipping Rhys Thomas who must’ve had 15 turnovers and once again came out with his nose intact!
The inaugural Devon veterans league starts in October and the team have ambitions to win it. Hard tests like this can lay the foundations for that success, particularly if the team start to play to pattern and structure. If we can create and score tries without pattern, think how we can control a game with it. Looking forward to seeing everyone at training.
Thanks to Lydia for physio duties, hydration officers Stu and Chris, the team in the bar and on food, Mike on the Mic, Bish for organising, and the admin/leadership of other players too like Jonesy, Luke and Tim.
We have built something really special here and I know I speak for a lot of the squad when I say we are proud to be a part of it. I for one took a moment after the game as the sun set over the ridge line of peak hill behind the club house with its pinks and crimsons, and while a big group of the players’ kids played on the floodlit Blackmore behind me and thought this is what it’s all about. It’s the same sort of pride I feel proudly running out with a shirt advertising a nightclub which no longer exists and I can only vaguely recall ever having been to on it. It’s a special team in a special club. Thanks a lot for letting us be part of it, and here’s to a successful season.
Tries: Milburn, Dapling, Salter, Creek, Channing x 2
Conversions: Retter (2)
Sidmouth Evergreens 34 – Looseheadz 12
Reported by Pete Singfield.
