Old Fartdordians (Darts Vets) home to Hove RFC Vets – Saturday 14th March 2026

Team: Tim Stagg (Capt), Ian McKenzie, Gav Renno, Paul Chandler, Dan Lewis, Martin Gubby, Tom Peryer, Luke Rendell, James Bathie, Liam Yorke, Aiden Kirby, Gav Dixon, Alan Knuckey, Ross Garner, Gareth Whitmore, Matt Edwards, Ed Spencer, Henry Gregory, Mike Pastor, Arron Pearson, Lewis Couchman, Fran Moore, Tim O’Donnell

Team Manager – Nigel Tarrent

Score: Old Farts – 49 v Hove - 17

Darts Scorers: Navi x 3, Liam Yorke x 2, Alan Knuckey x 2, Macca x 1, Aiden x 1

Hove Vets contacted us earlier in the season to arrange a friendly Vets match, as one of their players knows Teefy from their university days. The Hove team travelled up from the south coast to the Memorial Ground Saturday, bringing with them near perfect rugby playing conditions.

This was the 1st Vets fixture that Darts have had this season and it was great to have 25 players available enabling a decent squad to be assembled. We even had two players come out of the woodwork on Saturday morning (rare as hen’s teeth), asking to join the squad for a game, which helped make up for the 5 players who bailed on the Friday evening!

Darts are keen to try and get regular vets fixtures and Saturday was a good reminder of what social rugby is about. A hard game played in the right spirit and great fun to be a part of. A few beers and some excellent pizza (from Greystone Pizza in Bexley Village) after the game and a couple of bottles of port during it (thanks to Teefy)

The game kicked off at 2.30pm and it proved to be 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 true consequences having emerged. Im currently moving like a pensioner on an icy staircase. With even basic tasks, such as going up or down stairs or attempting to wipe my bottom now being accompanied by small inadvertent gasps, sharp hisses, and the occasional whimpering!

A few points worthy of mention…

1) With limited front row options available a big thank you to Macca, Paul, Henry, Couchy and Liam for keeping the scrum contested for 80mins. The Hove pack made us work hard at every scrum, so well done to the front row union!

2) Darts backs played brilliantly with Knuckey and Gav Dixon pulling the strings all afternoon and Martin Gubby pulling on the boots to achieve yet another season of playing rugby Darts.

3) Storming runs from the junior coaches playing for the vets in the backs including Luke Rendall, Aiden Kirby, Gav Dixon, James Bathie, Gareth Whitmore and Fran Moore. Running like they were stuck in treacle or had deep sea divers boots on.

4) Stand out performances from Navi, Knuckey and Yorkey! These 3 players were the difference between the two sides and all put in a great shift. Even though Liam had less fun at loosehead for 20 mins!

5) The forwards was also packed with junior coaches including club chair Gav Renno, Mini’s chair Ed Spencer, u9’s Lewis Couchman, u12’s Tim Stagg, u10’s Matty Edwards,

6) Matt Edwards and Couchy rolled back the years to generously give numerous unnecessary penalties away for a plethora of reasons, normally involved with poor decision making and lack of skill

7) Dartfordians defence in the tight was very good, some excellent tackles from Ross Garner and Tim O’Donnel who rolled back the years rampaging about trying to hand off anyone and everyone

8) Dan Lewis, Arron Pearson, Mike Pastor and Macca put in a great shift, doing all the dirty work at the breakdown, tackling, carrying and generally doing all the hard and tiring stuff.

9) Knuckeys lovely cross field kick to Navi, was a strong contender for dick of the day, but everyone enjoyed watching Navi get folded up like a deck chair.

10) Dick of the day had to go to Teefy, who was too much of a wimp to play against his old mates

It was overall a good hard game of rugby, tough and competitive throughout. Played in the right spirit and a few beers and Pizza!!!

MoTM award – Liam Yorke