Last weekend Bletchley Rugby Club started off their 60th Anniversary season and their promotion to South West 2 East league with a real punch when they held an open air festival at Manor Fields.    See Party on the Pitch 2007






 

Bletchley Vets took on very close rivals Milton Keynes Vets for the Justin Hales Memorial Cup, presented by Justin's widow Emma and which will be an annual event in memory of a well loved player of Bletchley and also Milton Keynes who passed away unexpectedly very recently.  On this first occasion over 35+ veteran players came out of the woodwork for Bletchley whilst Milton Keynes fielded 20 plus players themselves.

With the numbers of players wishing to take part, the game was played in short sessions (essential for Vets) so as to ensure everyone had a game and did not get too tired.  Bletchley had the upper hand at the outset and went 14 pts to nil ahead but then some dropped balls by Bletchley allowed Milton Keynes back into the game and they drew level after the second session. 

Unfortunately, in the final session Milton Keynes scored the only try to run out winners by 21pts to 14pts - so the Cup went to Milton Keynes for the first year but the Bletchley Vets vowed that next year the result would be different.

Report by Don Griffiths...

Bletchley Vets entertained Ampthill on Saturday 24th March in a very close contested and entertaining game. With a number of players away on holiday it was always going to be difficult to field a full team, so special thanks to Edger, Luke Jenkins, and Dave Morrissey for stepping forward to help. Even with this Bletchley took the field with 14 players, and Ampthill sportingly agreed to also play with only 14.

Before kick off Ampthill used the time constructively to run through a very impressive warm up drill, with the squad coach calling out the orders. Bletchley toyed with the idea of running their own warm up drill, but Justin decided that finishing his pre match fag should have a higher priority.

Despite this Bletchley started off the game well, when Shepherd kicked a perfect high ball for the forwards to catch and drive. Graeme Mclean and Edger were to the fore causing Ampthill problems when breaking from the early rucks, and Bletchley worked there way into the 22. Unfortunately following a quick turnover Ampthill kicked long and Galavain playing his first game had to cover back, the clearing kick did not make much ground and Bletchley found themselves back in there own half.

From the line out Ampthill spun the ball wide and after Morphy, Dufour, and Renson put in some great covering tackles, Shepherd cleared the ball. The Bletchley lineout started to click with Dickson and Mclean dominating.

At this stage one of the Ampthill players needed to come off with chest pains and subsequently went to hospital. Hopefully he has had a fully recovery.

Only disappoint the team had back in the dressing room was that there was not a winner for the sweepstake. No one bet on Renson lasting 80 minutes, and Smith not knocking on. Both teams turned round at half time with no score, with Ampthill coming the closest to scoring with a missed kick at goal.

The second half saw the Bletchley forwards take control, with captain Graham Bolitho and lock Graeme Mclean have excellent games. It was Justin Hales however who forced Ampthill into conceding a penalty. Fly half Dave Shepherd kicked the goal for Bletchley to take a three nil lead.

It remained at that score until the final minute when quick ball from a line out from Dave Morrissey released the backs and a well times pass from Simon Morphy created the space for the impressive Mike Dufour to score near the posts. Dave Shepherd converted and the referee blew the final whistle with Bletchley’s vets running out 10 nil winners.

The Bletchley Vets knew that they were in for a serious game of hard competitive rugby when they walked into the changing rooms to find a supply of the latest in sports hydration drinks the new isotonic drink Fosters Ice, Derek Nye convinced everyone that it was important to maintain fluid levels

As always with Buckingham the game was not played on the pitches outside the clubhouse but involved a nice walk down the road to the local park. Which caused confusion to a number of traveling Bletchley supporters who spend hours driving around the north Bucks countryside looking for the pitch.

Due to a number of last minute withdrawals from the Buckingham squad, Bletchley lent them a number of players, Michael Dufour centre, Jon Evans prop, Pete Renson wing, and Chris Jackson flanker, who all had great games, Chris (or to use his new name offside Jackson) occasional forgot who’s side he was on and make regular guest appearances at the back of the Bletchley ruck.  

From kick off the Bletchley forwards started to impose themselves on the game with some good driving play from Justin Hales, Graham Lant and Chris Goodman. At the break down Graham Bolitho was there quickly to pull Jackson from his offside position and Derek Nye feed the ball to the backs, in one of the best moves of the game Shepherd committed his man and passed to Revell, who passed to Bailey, who passed to Morphy who passed to Smith who knocked on!!  Paul Goffin the referee for the match had his chance to award the first of 35 scrums during the match, Buckingham won the scrum and cleared for touch.

The Bletchley lineout worked well all day, with the introduction of the Goodman two thumb routine, Lant and Howell were jumping with a certain smile on their face all day. Despite all of the pressure Bletchley had with good rucking from Deano, Ferries, and Bolitho, and the fine back play of Bailey and Revell Bletchley were unable to turn the pressure into points, and just before half time Buckingham had a break, for the Bletchley try line fortunately for Dufour the ref had already blown for an alleged high tackle on the Buckingham winger by Smith, and his try against his home club was disallowed. 

Bletchley worked their way back up the pitch only for the ball to go lose and Buckingham kicked long down field, where the new ‘mark’ Stainsby happened field the catch and then produce a clearance kick with such speed it was a blur.

The second half saw a number of changes with Adrian Williams, Mike Dickson, Roy Haynes and Alan Brown all on, and Hales ensuring that the ball had an extra layer of sticky mud for Smith. Williams and Dickson soon made there presence felt at the breakdown and Brown was soon making darting runs down the pitch, only to be stopped short of the line, the ball was quickly recycled across the pitch to Howell, who managed to drop it in front of the posts. However it did allegedly go backwards, and was therefore not a knock on. But this style of play turned into the norm with Revell also losing control of the ball as he crossed the line. Bletchley were starting to wish that they had taken the 3 points on offer earlier in the second half. However Buckingham were the first to score, and Bletchley were 7 points down.  This was the shake up that Bletchley needed and in the closing minutes Bletchley score two tries to leave the score 7 - 12. But the speed of the game was starting to tell and when Buckingham kicked a long clearance kick down the centre of the field, we had Brown and Morphy on the wings arguing who should run into the centre and field the ball. Brown was forced to get the ball in the end but ensured that he then gave Morphy a nice hospital pass.

Although the large crowd did have a display of fine running rugby, it was a hugely entertaining game. The team then returned to the clubhouse where Howell and Goodman managed to remain there long after everyone else had left.

Tries: Roy Haynes, and Derek Nye, Conversion Dave Shepherd.