Old Fartdordians (Darts Vets) away to Blackheath Vets – Sunday 9th October 2022
Team: Tim Stagg (Capt), Pete Evans, Ian McKenzie, John Bucksey, Tony Mead, Clint Walsh, Steve Henning, Ash Niles, Jon O’Donnell, Andy Lazenby, Alan O’Neill, Gav Renno, Adam Hudon, Paul Chandler, Mike Fiander, Dan Lewis, Lee Oliver, Martin Gubby, Dermot Sweeney, John Bucksey
Score: Blackheat Vets – 31 Old Farts – 26
Darts Scorers: Laces – 1 try, Meady 1 try and 2 conversions, Gubby 2 tries and 1 Conversion
Darts Vets travelled the short distance down the A2 to play Blackheath Vets, in the Evergreen Cup, at their Well Hall ground on Sunday.
This was the 1st Vets fixture of the season, Darts are keen to try and get a regular vets team out, seeing as at Darts we have a wealth of grey haired, slightly over weight (or very in some instances), rugby players, who, if you will let them, will bore you to death telling you about their 5th team try in 1989 against old ballbaggians on a wet December afternoon.
Despite the wealth of talent at our disposal, there seemed to be a reluctance for these old buggers to sign up to 80 mins of rugby, in 25 degree heat, on a rock hard ground, in October, away to Blackheath! In total Paul Chandler, Dan Phillips and I contacted over 63 potential players, which resulted in us getting 19 players to turn up for the game. This I am sure you will agree is actually a good result, the downside however was that only 4 of them where backs! it would appear that forwards tend to keep their physiques, their fitness levels, their general prowess on a rugby pitch for much longer that the wet look wax brigade! I would note however, that the best Darts players on the park on Saturday where all playing in the backs.
The game kicked off at 2.30pm and it turned into a very competitive and enjoyable afternoon of rugby with both side showing tenacity in defence and good attacking intent. It was a hard game, which I am sure all participants are feeling the effects of today (Monday) with the climbing / descending of stairs and even the wiping of bottoms being a challenge for our reporter, both of which have been punctuated with small gasps and hisses!
Blackheath ran out eventual winners and deservedly so, Darts however left the field feeling that the game was very winnable and had were held up over the line twice, so the game was lost by the narrowest of margins (I am gutted we did not win it ☹)
Prior to the game the Darts U16 Girls, who are clustered with Blackheath U16 girls to make the ‘BlackDarts’ entertained Medway at Well Hall ( a cracking game of rugby) and nice to see that coaches from both Blackheath (Rob) and Darts (staggy) who helped trained the girls together earlier in the day, then went on to compete against each other for their vets teams.
A few points worthy of mention…
1) The back line, Bucksey our seasoned openside started at scrum half, Meady at flyhalf, JOD at inside centre, Andy Lazenby at outside centre, Gubby at flyback and then our out and out, corgi registered, gas merchants on the wings. Starting with Lee ‘Lighting’ Oliver (usually a blind side flanker) and Michael ‘Flash’ Fiander (moving from his usual spot of hooker), with Steve ‘Hurricane’ Henning moving from his usual spot of loosehead prop. Joking aside none of those chaps would have wanted to play on the wing and all volunteered to help the team and stuck at it all game and in fairness defended valiantly and worked hard to keep us in the game (which they did). Lee also made some storming runs from the centres when he switched there. So thank you Lee, Mike and Steve!
2) Blackheath started keenly moving the ball well and opening up an early 2 try lead, using their outside backs to good effect. There where some queries about whether their flyhalf was a veteran or one of the u14’s roped in to help out.
3) Dartfordians defence in the tight was very good, some excellent tackles from the usual suspects and a great shift in the tight from Paul Chandler, Clint Walsh and Ash Niles, who scrummaged excellently all game.
4) Macca, Gav Renno and Dermot put in a great shift, doing all the dirty work at the breakdown, tackling, carrying and generally doing all the hard and tiring stuff. Before Gav escaped to the backs for a rest, where he proceeded to nonchalantly volley the ball into touch from full back
5) The return of ROLF – nice to see Big Al returning to the front row, he came on for the last 20 mins and had a positive impact on the scrum and a good 30 minute whinge about the referring decisions
6) A very big thank you to a True Dartfordian Adam Hudson, Huddy played all his youth rugby at the club (a fellow 2001 Kent cup winning colt) and drove 2 hours each way from the midlands to come and play for the vets this Sunday. He had a great shift winning and stealing lineout ball, tackling his socks off and working relentlessly around the park, also turned up with his club tie on!
7) Head Cases, despite Blackheaths early lead Darts made a valiant come back with Tony Mead blasting through the defence to sprint in for darts first try (conversion missed). Bucko was making some great runs from scrum half. Both unforgettably took knocks to the head in contact and following the head injury protocol where subbed off the field and where unable to return, the loss of two brilliant players had a detrimental impact to our chances. This was further compounded by injury to outside centre Andy ‘Lightning’ Lazeby who had a strong first half but was forced to retire with a should knock.
8) But Cometh the hour, cometh the men! Dan Lewis stepped into scrum half and had a fantastic game, really got our forwards going and the big carriers from paul Chandler, Laces and staggy started to make some in roads in the solid Blackheath defence. Also with Meady’s retirement the ever green Martin Gubby moved from full back to flyhalf and showed that despite 20 B&H a day and a limited fitness regime, class is timeless. Gubby score two brilliant tries, jinked and stepped his way through the defence on a number of occasions and even slotted a conversion. He put in some great tackles and was deservedly out MotM. Unfortunately, he was also forced to retire through injury before the end. (Now we were down to 1 recognised back in Jon O’Donnell, who managed to last the full 80 mins and carried like a trogon for the whole game, crashing it up and making yards every carry. He also tackled his heart out all game and was another contender for MotM.
9) Dicks of the day…
Staggy was a strong contender for his 3 shocking restarts. The highlight of which was some strange skippy hop whilst rising like yeast to catch the restart. Despite his huge frame, he felt the need to lift the knee to catch the kick, whilst shouting ‘Stagggggyyyyyyysssss’ before knocking the ball on for the 3rd time, resulting in a Blackheath try. This would have been a strong contender for DoD, but it actually proved to be the catalyst for Laces down fall.
Ex-first team Captain Pete Evans, decided to stamp his authority (which goes with having held that esteemed position) onto the half time talk. He was in no mood for talking tactics, staggy’s transgressions along with those of others, had forced him to the point of eruption, eyes bulging, spittle flying everywhere, screaming at the team about their 1st half performance. The words he used will not be regurgitated in this report, I think even he will admit an apology is needed to the team! The awkward glances around the huddle and the lack of eye contact being made will stay with me for some time!
Darts managed to claw back the early blackheath lead bringing scores level at 19 all. Darts then got a score in front through gubby. But to their credit Blackheath brought on some fresh legs in the backs in the last 20 mins (show offs!) and managed to clinch the vital and winning score. Darts where out on their feet at the end, having put in a great shift. The moral of the story being find more backs and buy some scrum caps!
It was overall a good hard game of rugby, tough and competitive throughout. Played in the right spirit and a few beers and some Dominos Pizza!!! After the game to celebrate!
MoTM award – Martin Gubby