Spitfire Gold (Bowl) Veterans Competition 2019-20
Dartfordians Vets Home to Beccehamians (Vets) – Sunday 5th January 2020 – 2pm kick off
Final Score 49 – 17 (Win)
Tries: Phillips x 2, Chandler, Stagg, O’Neill, Gubby, Butter Fingers
Conversions: Duggan x 7
Team: Alan O’Neill, Mike Fiander, Chris Nathaniel, Paul Chandler, Tim Stagg, Pete Evans, Dermot Sweeney, Peter Evans, Matt Edwards, John Bucksey, Lee Oliver, Dan Lewis, Dan Phillips, Tony Mead, Jamie Collins, Dan Duggan, Tony Gunn, Martin Gubby, Jonny Roots
Darts played their first proper veterans’ games for a few years and welcomed Beccehamians to the Memorial ground on a fine Sunday winters afternoon. There were four drop outs from the team selected on Thursday but fortunately Martin Gubby also made himself available, so Darts had a squad of 18 players (which is a rarity most weeks) .
There were some familiar faces in the Beccs side and they were out and warming up well before kick off, showing intent and causing a few people to question whether vets rugby on a Sunday really was such a good idea!
However, Darts were fortunate to have a very strong vets side available this week, with numerous ex-first XV players and 3 ex-captains. Darts started the first half very brightly and Bucko was soon causing the Beccs defense and attack problems with his dynamic carrying and tackling. Darts played some excellent rugby in the first 40 mins and ended the half 49 – 3 up, with 7 converted tries
A few points worthy of mention…
1) A stand out man of the match performance from Dan Phillips playing out of position at scrum half - he was involved in nearly all our tries and ran all game, as well as taking on the captains duties.
2) Tony Mead at flyhalf was his usual excellent self, some massive clearance kicks getting us out of trouble from our 22 and his ghosting, arching runs making inroads into the Beccs defence.
3) Danny Duggan got 7 out of 7 kicks at goal and had a good game in the centres before stepping in to flyhalf to replace the injured Mead
4) the Darts pack dominating the line out with Laces and Matty Edwards winning all of their own ball and causing unceasing problems to the Beccs Line out.
5) The Darts defence was generally excellent with Dermot Sweeney, Bucko and Laces working hard and Jamie Collins and Lee Oliver putting in some massive hits. The 1st half defence was so good that Beccs opted to take a penalty.
6) We scored 7 excellent tries, with forwards and backs interplay, good support lines and good offloads from the ground keeping the ball alive. The best try came from a kick return by Gubby, producing some of the old magic, with an outrageous dummy and great side step, before putting Phillips away for a try.
7) Great work from Chandler, O’Neill, Nathanial and Fiander in the front row at set piece. The scrums started off as a good contest but with a lack of front row cover Beccs ended up being dominant in this area. However, Darts line out and rolling mauls were excellent and resulted in two of the tries.
8) Great close quarter carries by Dan Lewis and Paul Chandler made Darts some good yards and resulted in a try for the giant Boris Johnson lookalike.
9) The indomitable Vice Captain, Staggy crashed over for yet another contender for try of the season. This time appearing like a magician’s rabbit to latch onto another loose pass by Phillips. A hitch kick, chip and chase, multiple side steps, a goose step and a huge dummy were again not involved as he flopped over from almost 5 yards out nearly bursting the ball with his derby.
10) Butter fingers Bucksey managed to drop the ball over the line after he stole it from Chris Nathaniel from the back of a rolling maul.
11) When Dan Phillips fly hacked through and chased, sprinting 70m up the pitch, with the ever sprightly Nathaniel in tow, with the ball teetering on the 5m line, Phillips won the foot race, dives onto the ball, hoping to use the soft and wet ground to slide in for another try. Only to realise the ground is neither soft of slippery. He slides about ¼ of an inch and stops. Nathaniel piles into the back of him. Result = Knock on scrum down to Beccs and Dan Whispering to Chris, I think you were inside me!
12) Tony Gunn and Jonny Roots on the wings worked hard all game with Gunn making a couple of strong runs and Rootsy looking like he was running in treacle every time he got the ball.
To their credit Beccs came out for the second half and played some good rugby, they scored 2 unanswered tries and the game finished 49-17. It was overall a very good and enjoyable game of rugby, tough and competitive and played in the right spirit and both teams hung around for a beer and a bite to eat after. Everyone that came along got a good run out (at least a half) and it was great to play some good rugby with great friends.
MoTM award – Dan Phillips
Worthy of Note: John Butter fingers Bucksey, Martin ‘The Magician’ Gubby and Tony ‘injury prone’ Mead