PLYMPTON RFC 1977:
From The Begining
Brief History's,Stories etc....
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Plympton RFC. Re-formed mid season 1976-1977.
Plympton RFC. Re-formed Full Season 1977-1978.
13: Ben Furlong Recalls...
13a: With regards to Plympton’s illustrious history no one seems to have mentioned when we won the Sevens Plate Competition at Plymouth Albion. Unless my memory has deteriorated post forty (it’s hard to believe I know) we lost to Albion in a close first round game then went on an amazing run beating Civil Service, Old Technicians and other supposedly better teams along the way. The important bit is that we played some good rugby along the way. I recall Murden being outstanding having abstained from booze the night before for the one and only time in his distinguished career.
14: Syd played at scrumhalf;I recall Tim playing at hooker in the front row with Dick and Darren at Prop. I played at Stand Off with Skipper at Centre. I can’t recall who played on the wing and I’m pretty sure that the Wright brothers didn’t play. As for the year I’m pretty sure that it was 1986. I came up North in September 1989 and had previously played two seasons with Ivybridge.
15: I recall everyone playing well and more importantly playing some good rugby. You are right that it was Civil in the final. I remember John Cundy (Dominic, Ben and Matts dad) watching and being surprised that such a small team pulled off the win.
16: I read somewhere on the site about fixtures against Brixham’s F Troop. I recall an away fixture just before they got banned where we beat them in a predictably nasty encounter. I recall Rob Atkins (him of the flowing locks) scoring a classic wingers try after some good handling. The match was littered with punch up’s some of which got quite out of hand. We more than held our own though which is a testament to the tenacity and gameness of the team. I think this may be the match where Animal accused a member of the opposition of being a dirty bald b*****d only to note that the accused had the finest head of hair in the South Hams! Can anyone enlighten further?
Contributed By Ben Furlong.
Early Years Brief Resume'.
The commitment of all players, committee, members and supporters throughout the full span of Plympton RFC is acknowledged.
1. Fielding only one XV during the early years, Plympton RFC faced second team opposition on a Saturday afternoon. These being second XVs of Plymouth Combination Affiliated Rugby Clubs; Old Techs, Civil Service, Argaum, OPO,OPM, Jesters, Prince Rock, St Columba and others. These as well as ventures into Devon and Cornwall to play opposition; Bodmin, Helston, St Austell, Totnes, Brixham F Troop, Dartmouth, RNC Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Tavistock, Salcombe and North Tawton; among others. As when playing local sides, these fixtures were v predominantly second string XV.
2. Club house at the Hele Arms through these early years, the learning and getting to know the lads is made easy with an active/regular social element to the club. Within 3 or 4 seasons Plympton RFC, a small friendly sociable clubman Rugby Club, had introduced themselves to the rugby tour (with aplomb), although not winning performed above themselves in a semi final of the Lockie Cup v Old Techs 1st XV, and had won the Pedric Cup. The Pedric Cup at the time was a second XV league based season-long competition. B Connor C Travers and C Rocky. were club skippers throughout the early years of club developments.
3. Seeing the Pedric Cup holding pride of place on the top table, I remember a good and deserved atmosphere of 'Pride' from all at the end of season dinner.
4.Tucked within these club developments, Plympton RFC turned in memorable performances to Win the Plate Competition of the Plymouth Combination 7s tournament, this under the 7s skipper-ship of Sid with experienced 7s coaching guidance from Freddie. I remember through the semi game and the final, all neutral supporters sided for Plympton RFC. Beating experienced 7s outfits DHSOB, Civil Service, and Old Techs on the way to victory placed feathers in the hat.
5. It was found that post ‘7s Victory’ celebrations were hindered by the fact the trophy was a Plate. This made drinking from the victory vessel difficult and we figured before attempting to, wasteful. So, skipper Sid made the decision, that being as it was a Sunday afternoon, cucumber sandwiches served from the Victory Plate was the order of the day. This unusual approach to rugby post match celebrations was organised and executed. Best cucie butties ever.
2a. Re: The Lockie Cup Semi. A couple of us who played in that game have recently discovered from a reliable source, what the alleged tactics of OTs were that day.
6. It wasn’t all sunshine, beer, cucie butties and basking in delight. As said, PRFC was predominantly a 2nd XV fixture. Unfortunate mismatches are a part of Club early history. I stress, these not being the fault of PRFC fixture secretaries T Evans followed by T Willoughby. No, these were County Cup competition obligations. The biggest mismatch being v Tiverton RFC. Did they ever run us ragged. Some say it demoralising others promote character building.
7. Cock ups or teething snags also added to character building in the early years, one being a foul up regarding the shirts. PRFC shirts (for a fixture which escapes me, anyone remember?) did not arrive; the opposition only had one set of shirts. PRFC played this Saturday afternoon in SKINS (No Shirts).
8. During the first season of PRFC re-formation 1977-1978, players were at times difficult to find, club members would drag a mate to fill a space in the team (some things never change). PRFC 1977-1979 full-back Tot Formosa, used contacts to scrounge ex Boniface College/Devon schools players S Formosa, V Channon, S O’Keef and others, to bolster Saturday playing staff. It was Tot who introduced me to PRFC in 1977.
9. Ex Albion and Devon (back row/second row) player R Shapcott was the host at the Hele (HQ). He played a few games for PRFC but mostly put us through the paces as coach. Yes, road running was a big thing in them days; up Drunken Bridge Hill being a favourite route, or grid sprints up the banks near the railway bridge in Strode Rd (lots of them). Dark evening ball work was practiced on any available lighted car park or playground, this included an element of committed tackling; yea, on tarmac or concrete, couple of grazed knees and hips. During day light evenings, ball work was done on the footie pitches at St Mary’s: (No showers after training). It wasn’t until a few seasons in to the infancy of the club that gym facilities were used over the dark winter nights.
10. Being Ex Albion R Shapcott assembled an Albion/Devon Veteran XV to play PRFC. These veterans turned up, at KG V, from all over the country. Blimy, they looked old. However, their wits, skills and in apparent positions, pace, had not escaped them. A couple were ‘Purple Shorts’ veterans. Playing against this side, from a point of view, was a learning curve experience which PRFC players appreciated and enjoyed. As a young front row player getting to grips with my position, I learned a lot, a lot lot of tricks from these past masters, which in-turn I implemented as Hooker and front row unit member over coming the years.
11. The first tour PRFC embarked upon was to London (during the bin strike1979). The weekend was arranged so to play games v Feltham Borstal Warders, take in England v Scotland and play London Civil Service, or was it S Smiths old club Chinnor Oxon, on the Sunday. Dead Fly’s on the whistle! Never have so many people been held up and or bemused; as all tour personnel assumed the Dead Fly position on the immediate ground below them, narrow paths, busy streets, bars, restaurant, clubs and all.
11a. With Sid, we were the youngest on tour (by a few months). We had our tickets for the international (first I had been too),tickets were about 4ish quid in them days. We had a few beers in Richmond, chatting to the Jocks. We had no idea how far Twickers was from Richmond High Street. We started to walk toward Twickers, asking people how far to go. Time was not on our side, Sid reckoned running was a way to get to the game on time. Being a forward I didn’t totally concur with this plan. Any-how, we got their just as the Anthems were being stirringly sung. We handed our tickets to the bloke at the turnstile, who said “this isn’t the gate on your tickets, but carry on”. Shouldering our way to a viewing position on the South Terrace (seats hadn’t been invented), we noticed that the chap stood beside us spoke funny and was sporting a kilt. Looking around us, yep, all kilts, every one of them, plus me and Sid. The game ended 7-7, loads of whiskey consumed courtesy of our new found friends... Only with Rugby!!!
11b. England legends on the pitch included Steve Smith, Peter Wheeler, W B Beaumont, Fran Cotton, Roger Uttley and other ‘Lions’ who won the grand slam the following season.
12. It was C Travers who taught me to take my boots to all games, including internationals, just in case they might be short of players. NB. It is alleged that one former PRFC player took this approach one step further, having a roll out pitch, flags and posts in the boot of his car.
History of Victoria RFC
Founder: Jean Pardy
Club house: Victoria Inn, Hooe, Plymouth
Formation: January 1981 – First game versus 59 Independent Cdo. Sqn. R.E. (Vic lost 46-18).
Captain: V.B. Jones (hooker)
Vice-Captain: Phil Davies (stand-off)
1980/81 Season
Sunday side only.
Played 12 games, won 7, drew 1, and lost 4.
Points for: 236
Points Against: 122
Players:
New to rugby – Rob Wills, John Dorman, Ray Thomas, Nobby Clarke, Rob Griffiths, Des May.
Players “borrowed” from local Saturday sides:-
Devonport Services – Bryan Saunderson, Paul Green, Tug Wilson, Vince Jones.
Prince Rock – White, Gary Craven.
Royal Navy – Steve Jones.
OPM’s – Adrian Lewis.
Plympton – Tim Weaver.
The above are some of the “original” Sunday side.
The very first game the Vic played versus ‘59’ Independent Cdo. Sqn. R.E. was arranged with the aid of Dave St. John Smith & Tim Weaver of Plympton RFC – it seems right that it should finish where it started.
First Committee 1981/82
Hon. Secretary: Jean Pardy
Fixture Secretary: Jean Pardy
Treasurer: John Pascoe
Social Secretary: Bernie Chapman
Chairman: Mr. J. Nicholson
The Club President from 1982/83 was Barry John. (Wales & British Lions)
1983/84 Season
Ran both a Saturday & Sunday side. Captain for Saturday’s Leyton Evans, Sunday’s Mathew Cundy. Also this season won the Salcombe 7’s beating Prince Rock (18-6), Kingsbridge (18-4), Hendy (10-4) and Plymouth Albion (20-6).
The Club had tours to Guernsey, Chatham and The Isle of Wight as well as hosting incoming tourists from Somerset, Wales, Netherlands, Southern Ireland, Kent, amongst many others.
The Victoria joined the Plymouth Combination in Sept. 1981 and was accepted by the RFU Twickenham in November 1982.
Originally Known as Victoria Inn the Club had to drop the “Inn” to comply with RFU laws. The two clubs that proposed Victoria were Plympton RFC and Plymouth Argaum RFC.
Jean Pardy the founder of Victoria served on the Plymouth Combination Executive committee for 10 years serving as Assistant Secretary, and Chairman from 1990 – 1992.
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