Old Freemen's Rugby Football Club Archive September 2001 - May 2002

• Surrey 2 RFU Final League Table Page
• 1st XV Results
• 2nd XV Results
• 3rd XV Results
• 1st XV Match Reports
• 2nd XV Match Reports
• 3rd XV Match Reports
• Easter Tour Report 2002

1st XV Results

2nd XV Results

3rd XV Results

Back To Top

1st XV Match Reports

16 March - Shirley Wanderers - WON - 23 - 8 - RS

Old Freemen’s ended their League campaign with a 23-8 win at Shirley Wanderers, sealing the Surrey Division 2 runners’ up slot. Whether this brings promotion to Surrey 1 is now in the hands of the RFU and depends on the volume of teams from Surrey who might be relegated from  higher leagues. London Exiles took the Surrey 2 title with a win over Mitcham. 

Shirley gave the Old Boys a tough contest and the scoreline was perhaps flattering, but an early lead laid the base for the win. Alex Tribick on the left wing continued his purple patch with a brace of tries in the first quarter. A scintillating break from his own half by Dom Smith ripped through the defence and Ian Nickoll and Richard Hill joined in at pace before Tribick powered over in the corner. 

Scrum-half Smith soon turned several phases of ruck ball won by the hard graft of his forwards into another score for his voracious winger, who could scarcely contain his delight. 

Shirley replied with a try from a forwards rumble but, despite putting Freemen’s on the back-foot for long periods in the second quarter, they were unable to turn a mass of possession into more points by some hard-nosed defence. Each Freeman earned praise for their tackling but Steve Beebe, Dave Goode and Malcolm Beech deserved special mention, along with the usual heroes of the back-row, Chas March and Richard Butterfield. Patrick Miller again looked a useful acquisition.          

When not forced to tackle, fly-half Jeremy Davies enjoyed himself in the testing conditions. Two first half penalties gave a 16-8 half time lead. He then rounded off the match by taking a spectacular crash ball from the wily Smith and burying the ball over the try line, before adding the conversion.

After a false start to his season caused by injury, skipper “Bob” Butterfield has set a fine example to his players both on and off the field and deserves the success that this season has brought, with only two league defeats. Chairman David Harn will still be smiling when you read this report!

Old Freemen’s:            van Dort, Tribick (Shires), Hill, Nickoll, Moreland, Davies, Smith, Beebe, Morrison, Goode (Pepper), Beech, Sheldon (Tyrrell), Miller, March, Butterfield (captain).

A final game on Saturday will be followed by the traditional Easter Tour to Bournemouth, when over 100 players, friends and family members make the annual pilgrimage.  

9 March - Mitcham  - WON - 16 - 10 - RS

Old Freemen’s brave win over Mitcham leap-frogged them into second place and set up the Surrey League 2 championship battle for a grandstand finish. All three teams at the top still have a chance of winning the title before the final round of matches.

Freemen’s will need to beat Shirley Wanderers, whilst they need last Saturday’s opponents, Mitcham, to beat leaders London Exiles in the final matches of the campaign on Saturday.

Playing downhill, Mitcham dominated the Old Boys’ in the first half but the defence held firm. When Freemen’s took the lead after 20 minutes with a Jem Davies penalty, it was their first trip into Mitcham’s half. Parity was restored with a Mitcham penalty on 35 minutes.

The Old Boys’ back row of skipper Richard Butterfield, Chas March and Patrick Miller on his debut, were at their attentive best to keep a resilient Mitcham at bay. Half time score 3-3.

Freemen’s started the second half with an urgency that brought two further penalties from Davies, one a huge thump in the windy conditions from 40 metres. Scrum-half Dom Smith then set in motion the best move of the match as he released Davies, Ian Nickoll and Richard Hill. Alex Tribick’s take under pressure to score a try in the corner was greeted with delight by the Freemen’s support as they prepared for a tight finish.

Mitcham responded with great character but Freemen’s held firm. A well-worked Mitcham try, converted 5 minutes from time, opened the door for the visitors but there was not enough time for them to gain the upper hand.         

Old Freemen’s:   van Dort, Tribick, Hill, Nickoll, Moreland, Davies, Smith, Beebe, Morrison, Pepper (Goode), Beech (Sheldon), Tyrrell, Miller, March, Butterfield (captain).

 Surrey Division 2 (top) (9^th March 2002)

                                    P            W            D            L            For            Against            Diff            Pts

 London Exiles               13            11            1            1            515            155                  360            23

Old Freemen’s             13            11            0            2            320            109                  211            22

Mitcham                       13            11            0            2            269            142                  127            22

Freemen’s win was some consolation, albeit scant, for the news that their stylish young centre, Matt Lister, had simultaneously been under surgery for a serious knee injury. The damage has prematurely ended the playing career of an exciting young talent. Freemen’s will be hoping for a strong performance to seal promotion on Saturday as a tribute to their popular colleague.  

2 March - Old Abingdonians - LOST 21 - 31 by DH

 Old Freemen visited Old Abingdonians on Saturday in the quarter final of the County Shield Competition.

Although the O.F. started well within ten minutes they had lost two of their leading players with serious injuries, and had conceded an early try.

This appeared to unsettle the O.F. and with March the only player to maintain his usual standard of play O.F. allowed O.A. to settle into their own rhythm and dictate play.

O.A.’s then scenting the potential victory kept running at O.F. and for the second week running the O.F. defence was left stranded on one than one occasion, and conceded tries which normally would have been stopped.

The O.F. were unable to break the strangle hold O.A. had on the game and eventually O.A. won the match 31 – 21.

Three trys were scored for O.F. by  Butterfield, Tyrrell and Coyle  with Davies converting them all.

Team,  Beebe, Stainer,  Pepper, Beech, Tyrrell,  Sheldon, March, Butterfield, Smith, Davies, Nickoll, Lister, Tribick, Shires. Subs Miller, Coyle, Moreland.

23 February - Old Amplefordians - LOST 0 - 28 by RS

This match was one to quickly forget for Old Freemen’s who caught a cold in wintry conditions against the old boys of Ampleforth School at Merton on Saturday. In a severe dent to their promotion hopes, Freemen’s crashed to a disappointing 28-0 defeat.   

Freemen’s were lacklustre apart from a few sparks of inspiration. Jon Stainer, Chas March and Richard Butterfield battled hard to give them some shape but promising breaks failed to find support runners and the handling was too insecure in the gales. Freemen’s usually watertight defence was exposed against the powerful and free-running Amplefordians. 

It seemed that the sleet storms of the first half had been weathered when Freemen’s turned around only 0-8 down. But four second-half tries of high-quality, the first after only three minutes, left the Ashtead-based side struggling to regain some pride. Playing with only 14 men for the last 10 minutes through the loss of concussed prop Dave Goode, and with no other fit replacements available, was a cruel blow but the game was as good as over by then. The final whistle was greeted with some relief by a freezing touchline.     

Old Freemen’s:   Hill, Tribick (Shires), Peskett, Lister, Nickoll, Davies, Smith, Goode, Stainer, Pepper (Beebe), Sheldon (Suttle), Tyrrell, Barnett, March, Butterfield (captain)..

On Sunday, Freemen’s will meet Old Abingdonians in the quarter final of the Surrey Shield, at Old Bevonians ground next to the A3 (kick-off 2.30 p.m.). The winners will be at home to Old Whitgiftians in the semi-finals.  

9 February - Old Cranleighans - WON 35 - 15 by RS

Old Freemen’s booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Surrey Shield with a resounding 35-15 defeat of Old Cranleighans from the division above. 

At half-time, Freemen trailed 8-15 although they had met fire with fire and were more than holding their own. There was a danger of them receiving a rude foretaste of future hard challenges. An exhilarating second half performance of 27 unanswered points against strong opponents proved that they would not be fazed in the higher division, should this occur. 

Cranleighans’ big pack set up an early try which skipper Richard Butterfield wiped out when the storming Chas March put him in after being tackled just short. A Jeremy Davies penalty put Freemen’s ahead but two OC’s tries in two minutes before half time, one from a cruel bounce after a speculative kick, gave Freemen’s a shock and put OC’s back in the lead.      

Butterfield and March drove the team forward by example with Rob Tyrrell and Malcolm Beech making great inroads into the midfield. Hooker Neil Morrison stole half a dozen against the head and Dom Smith ran through the attacking options as Freemen’s dominated the second half. 

Richard Hill started the final quarter feast with a try which saw him then leave the field with a broken nose. Stacey Sheldon, March and Davies had created the field position for the score. 

Dave Hawes scored a try in the corner with his first touch as replacement for Hill. Davies stroked the conversion from the touchline. Matt Lister went in at the other corner after a slick one-two with his full-back.

Davies hit a wobbly dropped goal before Ross Moreland took a scoring pass from his skipper in the final minute.       

Old Freemen:  Hill (Hawes), Tribick,  Peskett, Lister, Moreland, Davies, Smith, Goode (Pepper), Morrison, Beebe, Beech, Tyrrell, Sheldon (Barnett), Butterfield (captain), March.

On Saturday, the Freemen’s club takes over Jersey on one of their annual tours, captained by veteran David Norrington.

2 February -Old Abingdonians - WON 52 - 5 by RS

An eight-try demolition of Abingdonians by Old Freemen moved them to the top of Surrey 2. With leaders London Exiles losing their first game the previous week and out of action last week, Freemen took the opportunity to improve their points difference and nick the top slot.

An assured first half performance turned into a rout in the second half as Freemen stamped their authority with an entertaining display of all-round rugby which should have produced an even bigger scoreline. Over-eagerness led to a number of forward or incompleted passes in situations which should have been finished off more cleanly.  

The game was only five minutes old when Richard Butterfield launched upfield from half way with the attentive Dominic Smith on hand to collect the scoring pass from his captain.

Abingdonians used the slope and the wind to put the home side under pressure but it took twenty minutes before they got their first and only score.

Jeremy Davies then struck an amazing conversion from the touchline into the teeth of the gale to complete Matt Lister’s first try. A Jon Stainer try stretched Freemen’s lead to 19-5 just before half-time.   

In the second half, Freemen cut loose. Lister, celebrating his exam success, completed a hat-trick. Chris Peskett was confident at centre and Richard Hill saw plenty of action in attack from full-back. Props Steve Beebe and David Goode grafted to complement the back-row of Stacey Sheldon, Chas March and Butterfield.   

A try by Rob Tyrrell, a shimmy by Jeremy Davies and a virtuoso solo effort by  a teasing Butterfield sealed the victory. In tricky conditions, Davies commendably ended with six conversions from eight attempts.   

Old Freemen:            Hill, Tribick,  Peskett, Lister (Nickoll), Shires, Davies, Smith, Goode, Stainer, Beebe, Beech, Tyrrell, Sheldon (Hall), Butterfield (captain) March. 

On Saturday, Freemen welcome Old Cranleighans to Ashtead Park in the Surrey Shield second round (kick-off 2.30p.m.).

26th January - London Fire Brigade - WON 29 - 0 by RS

Freemen’s winning run in Surrey 2 continued with a convincing 29-0 triumph over London Fire Brigade on Saturday at Ewell.

London Exiles continue to hold top slot but the Old Boys keep snapping at their heels in second place. Butty’s boys improved their points difference in fine style in preparation for a tough end-of-season race between three teams vying for the top-slot. They have the best defensive record in the division, having conceded only 66 points in 10 matches to date.

In an entertaining game despite the dreadful conditions, Richard Hill made it three tries in two weeks as the Old Boys played a more expansive game than of late. Hill gave Freemen the lead on 10 minutes, scoring from a blind-side break. Uphill and into the wind, Jem Davies’ conversion hit the post.  That ended the scoring in the first half as two evenly-matched sides slugged it out.

The second half started with Freemen’s rampant and applying pressure on the Brigade defence. Forwards linked easily with backs. The back-row of Richard Butterfield, Chas March and Stacey Sheldon created havoc and from a Dom Smith tap penalty prop Richard Pepper, just arrived on the field as replacement, produced a dramatic try from 5 metres. Pepper’s elation grew as Davies converted. 

Three further tries in quick succession by Freemen put the result out of doubt.   Hill rounded off some spectacular handling across the full width of the pitch by the backs after Butterfield, Jon Stainer and Malcolm Beech had gained hard yards from the halfway line.    

With Ian Nickoll in creative mode, centre Chris Peskett capped a telling contribution with a try from a heel against the head.  The third try in this sequence saw Dave Shires elude the defence and steam in from half way after Nickoll and Ross Moreland had timed their passes superbly. Davies converted.

Towards the end of the match the Brigade came close to denting the Old Boys defensive record with a series of attacks but the line held firm. 

Old Freemen:            Hill, Tribick (Moreland), Peskett, Nickoll, Shires, Davies, Smith, Goode, (Pepper), Stainer, Beebe, Beech, Tyrrell, Sheldon (Hall), March, Butterfield (captain).

On Saturday 2nd February Freemen are at home in the League to Old Abingdonians (kick-off 1p.m.) followed by the internationals and a "School Dinners" night in the clubhouse from 7.30pm onwards.  All welcome. School uniform obligatory! Costs only £3. Please email Irene & Ronnie Gummer if you'd like to attend. We'd love your support for another great night in Ashtead Park!  email: k8gummer@talk21.com or call 01932 244581. 

19th January - Old Paulines 2nd XV - WON 38 - 12 by RS

Speed combined with power was on show as Freemen’s giant second row Rob Tyrrell scored a hat-trick of tries in a 38-12 win against Old Paulines II at Ashtead Park on Saturday.

Tyrrell was the main target for Freemen’s close-range attacks, well directed by energetic Dominic Smith, a general at scrum-half. Paulines found it difficult to suppress the big man’s determination.

Skipper Richard Butterfield gave a quality display, leading by example from number 8 as Freemen found route one rugby through the middle to be most productive against a well-drilled opposition. Constant forays into the heart of Paulines’ defence produced the rewards as the pack responded to the call, Simon Crane and Stacey Sheldon roaming with particularly good effect. Quick ball allowed powerfully-built centre, Ian Nickoll, to swoop in for Freemen’s first try after only 5 minutes from a midfield switch-move with Jem Davies and Matt Lister. Davies kicked the first of 4 conversions.

Flanker Tim Barnett strode in for a try from 40 metres, before Tyrrell started his solo demolition job on Paulines try line, with his first score after 20 minutes.   Freemen’s defensive organisation then lapsed and the visitors bounced back into the game with two almost identical tries from left to right drift moves. The half time score was 19-12.

Front-rowers Steve Beebe and Jon Stainer made good yards and some telling tackles as Freemen dominated the second half possession. Richard Hill’s pace was on view chasing a clever Davies chip but was just beaten as the ball trickled beyond the dead ball line. Alex Tribick stood firm in the tackle and Sam Telfer was an eager contributor to the Old Boys cause, but free-flowing back moves were rare.

Tyrrell notched tries two and three in the middle of the half and wing Ross Moreland cut-through to round off a series of strong attacks just before the close. Davies’ conversion gave the final score of 38-12 to Old Freemen, capping an assured team performance. 

Old Freemen: Telfer, Tribick, Lister (Hill), Nickoll, van Dort (Moreland), Davies, Smith, Goode,  Stainer, Beebe, Crane, Tyrrell, Barnett, Butterfield (captain), Sheldon. 

Freemen II also won, 30 – 17, against Old Paulines III, but the thirds lost 12-39 at home to Old Paulines IV.

Freemen make the short journey to Priests’ Hill, Ewell, on Saturday for a Surrey League 2 match against London Fire Brigade.                      

12th January - Streatham & Croydon - WON 12 - 5  by RS

Freemen’s fly half Jeremy Davies kicked the heart out of a useful Streatham/ Croydon team with four penalties as the Old Boys ran out 12-5 winners in an even game in Surrey League 2 at Ashtead Park on Saturday.

Eight wins from nine League matches leaves Freemen in second place behind London Exiles but  they had their work cut out to halt the fourth-placed visitors’ run of 5 wins.

Freemen have the best defensive record in Division 2, a fact they needed to demonstrate by conceding only one try in the first half. Helped by a strong wind, Streatham/ Croydon dominated territory and pressed hard but the all-round organisation of Freemen was high-quality. There were some  notable big tackles as Rob Tyrell, Chas March, Tim Barnett, Matt Lister and Alex Tribick held the visitors at bay.

The half-time deficit of 3-5 was reversed early in the second half by a Davies penalty and then  the Old Boys stepped up a gear. Skipper Richard Butterfield injected pace and urgency into the attacks and Jon Stainer, Richard Hill, Ian Nickoll and Sam Telfer were influential as Freemen gained the upper hand.    

Two further penalties from the reliable Davies after 20 and 25 minutes of the half gave Freemen their winning margin. Streatham fought back strongly towards the end of the match and a last minute interception break by their fly-half nearly nicked the draw but was halted as he was swamped by Freemen on their 22 metre line.   

Old Freemen:            Hill, Tribick, Lister, Nickoll, Telfer, Davies, Dartnell, Goode (Beebe), Stainer, Pepper, Beech, Tyrell (Sheldon), Barnett, March, Butterfield (captain). 

Freemen II won 24-19 at Streatham/Croydon but the thirds narrowly lost 18-20 at home as both clubs turned out three sides.

Freemen’s Surrey Shield home game against Old Cranleighans on Sunday has been postponed to 9^th February, due to OC’s other commitments.  

First of all, A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS to all our readers!!!

…And well done to all the players in the Club for providing some great entertainment and to the growing band of supporters. Three teams out on the weekend before Christmas says a great deal for the spirit in our Club, and welcome back to all those down from Uni for the hols. Welcome aboard.

On the last Saturday before Christmas, in freezing conditions, there were still some 40 Freemen’s supporters on the touchline at Ruxley Lane, including the fit again David Harn, back to his grumpiest best!. Thanks to all of you, on and off the field, in the bar, in the kitchen, etc. It’s fun when you’re winning!! And we’d all be lost without Theo’s great efforts on the web-site.

And now a Correction…

In last week’s report on the Surrey Shield win over Mitcham, Rob Tyrell was inadvertently credited with a try that was in fact scored by the first XV captain, Richard Butterfield. I apologise for any embarrassment this may have caused to the parties involved and I am pleased to put the record straight. Needless to say, it was Richard who pointed out the error; I’ve not heard from Bison yet !!

And now to Saturday’s game

22nd December - Old Haileyburians - WON 23 - 0 by RS

A brace of tries for second row Stacey Sheldon crowned Freemen’s 23-0 win at Haileyburians on Saturday. The victory keeps them handily placed second in Surrey 2 behind London Exiles, the only team to have beaten them in the League to date.

Freemen’s first try came after only 4 minutes when the lively Jem Davies collected his own chip and chase but was then held illegally. Prop Richard Pepper set up the ball from the penalty and Sheldon smashed his way through to the line to touch down.

Malcolm Beech won the line out that paved the way for Chas March to score Freemen’s second try after 20 minutes. Davies converted and added a penalty. Freemen led 15-0 at half time lead, having outplayed OH in the pack despite spirited resistance.

Freemen’s backs found more space in the second half, centres Ian Nickoll and Matt Lister combining well with Davies against a tight defence. Nickoll, Alex Tribick, Richard Hill and Dom Smith all made chances with speedy breaks but were stopped short. Dave Shires enjoyed his romp on the wing with a number of telling moves.

Sheldon’s second try after 10 minutes of the half was a gift from skipper Richard Butterfield who threw him the final inside pass after some clever and pacey work from 40 metres by Nickoll and March.

Davies added a penalty just before the final whistle to seal the victory.

Freemen again fielded three teams on Saturday and all won. Against Old Paulines, Freemen II won 48-0 and Freemen III won 34-24, rounding off a satisfying first half of the season’s action.

Old Freemen:            Hill, Tribick, Lister, Nickoll, Shires (Moreland), Davies, Smith, Beebe (Goode), Stainer, Pepper, Beech, Crane, Sheldon, Barnett, March, Butterfield (captain).                     

16th  December - Mitcham - WON 20 - 10 by RS

The prize was a place in the second round of the Surrey Shield but Freemen were pitted against fellow Surrey League 2 table-toppers, Mitcham, and a spiky contest ensued. The Old Boys took the spoils winning a tight match by 20-10 at Ashtead Park on Sunday. 

Freemen’s pack were the solid base for their win, scoring three tries. Freemen’s hooker Jon Stainer and tight-head prop Richard Pepper set the second half alight with several heels against the head, which demoralised the Mitcham team. 

After Jem Davies leveled the scores at 3-3 with an early penalty, scrum-half Dom Smith immediately created space for second row Malcolm Beech to storm in for a try from 20 metres.

The Old Boys failed to stretch their lead with a number of missed penalties and careless handling errors with  Mitcham going  ahead just before half time. A converted penalty try was awarded as the home side were guilty of persistent off-side at a series of short penalties.

Mitcham had several attacks snuffed out by tenacious defending, notably by the back row of Tim Barnett, Chas March and skipper Richard Butterfield.

Rob Tyrell, on the field for the injured Simon Crane, rounded off a forwards move with a try and Butterfield got one just before the final whistle, receiving a quick tap from Smith and plunging through the mass of the Mitcham pack to touch down. Davies converted.

It was not a pretty game but Freemen’s move into the second round draw, due to be played in January.   

Freemen II lost 3-0, a dubious last-minute penalty, in a rousing contest with a London Welsh XV. Freemen III lost 40-7, also to a London Welsh XV.

 Next Saturday Freemen are away at Old Haileyburians (kick-off 2.15 p.m).

 Old Freemen:            Goodall, Tribick, Lister, Nickoll, Shires, Davies, Smith, Goode (Beebe), Stainer, Pepper, Beech, Crane, (Tyrell), Barnett, March, Butterfield (captain). 

8th  December - Woking - WON 20 - 0 by RS

Old Freemen’s forwards created the base for a solid 20-0 victory over fellow Surrey League 2 league challengers Woking at Ashtead Park on Saturday. 

Tight defence and strong work especially by their back row of skipper Richard Butterfield, Tim Barnett and  Chas March strangled Woking’s aspirations as Freemen dominated the possession and territory in the second half. This allowed the Old Boys to sit on their 17-0 half time lead and add a Jem Davies penalty at the death.  Freemen’s first try after 15 minutes resulted from a typical burst by March from a scrum 30 metres out. Barnett and Butterfield joined in before Malcolm Beech was driven over the try line to claim the score. Davies converted and added a penalty 10 minutes later. 

Despite a recurrence of Simon Crane’s knee injury early on, Freemen were not disrupted as replacement Stacey Sheldon caused havoc among the Woking team with a rousing display. Freemen’s other replacements, Steve Beebe and Dave Shires, reflected the strength in depth at the club.  Davies was again influential before half time as he retrieved the ball from a Woking attack. Richard Hill saw the opportunity to kick through into space behind the defence and a lightning run from centre Andy Goodall, playing his final game before returning to Australia, took him past the sluggish defenders to pick up and score a try. Davies converted.

17-0 ahead at half time was medicine for the recuperating Freemen’s Chairman, David Harn, and the Old Boys ensured the victory with an assured all-round performance.      

Freemen will be at home to Mitcham in the Surrey Shield on Sunday (kick-off 2.15 p.m.). 

Back to top

1st  December - Lightwater - WON 17 - 7 by RS

Old Freemen welcomed skipper Richard Butterfield back to their starting line-up after injury and he led them to a workmanlike 17-7 win over Lightwater in Surrey 2. It was a fractious encounter with plenty of thud and blunder and much whistle on a puddled pitch. The game was inevitably dominated by the forwards and there was little in the way of open rugby on show.

Freemen were out of the traps faster than the home side and pressed hard for an early score against a committed defence. After 20 minutes, Jem Davies fed a spritely Malcolm Beech who created space for Chas March on the charge from the 22 metre line. March outwitted the retreating full-back to score under the posts. Davies converted. The Old Boys’ full back Richard Hill was kept busy but untroubled as Lightwater focussed their attacks on kick and chase. Freemen preferred to use their possession to challenge through the pack where Tim Barnett and Rob Tyrell were to the fore. Their continuing pressure was converted into a Davies penalty on 25 minutes, for a 10-0 half time lead.

From the restart, a rampant Butterfield was hauled down just short of the Lightwater line hoping to round off a scintillating break from half way by scrum half Dom Smith. A series of Freemen’s short penalties followed and eventually fly-half Jem Davies ghosted through to score a try which he converted with ease.  Lightwater then threw the kitchen sink at the Freemen’s line and camped in the swampy conditions in the 22. Freemen were unable to wade out of this corner but held fast under some intimidating pressure until just before the final whistle, when the home side  scored a consolation converted try.        

The win keeps Freemen in contention near the top of Surrey 2 and Saturday’s home game against Woking (2.15 p.m. kick-off), also near the top, promises to be another lively encounter for the Ashtead-based club.  In the second round of the Surrey Shield, Freemen will be at home to Mitcham on December 15^th.

Back to top

17th November - London Exiles - LOST 10 - 24 by RS

It was bound to be a full-blooded encounter as Surrey 2’s second and third-placed teams met at Ashtead Park and it did not disappoint. The spoils went to an impressive London Exiles side who turned round a 10 point deficit to emerge as 24-10 winners. 

The crowd who gave up an afternoon in front of the box were treated to a highly-charged and entertaining performance from both sides.

Freemen started at a whirlwind pace, taking on the Exiles through the power of their forwards where the front five were in fiery form. Man of the Match Dave Goode, Jon Stainer and Richard Pepper created the platform for the searching kicks of Andy Holder to pin the Exiles in their own half.

The game was only 5 minutes old when Chas March stormed off the back of the solid first scrum. Carrying defenders with him, he released the speeding Grant Holmes to score the opening try.

10 minutes later, Freemen’s second try was again built on the power of a March break. Scrum-half Dom Smith continued the move with a spectacular dummy and finely timed pass setting-up winger Alex Tribick for the try.

Freemen were disappointed not to have maintained this momentum with further scores during this period. Ross Moreland, Ben Lemon and Simon Crane came close. Despite exerting strong pressure on the Exiles defence, only a handful of penalties came their way in the whole game..

Exiles dug deep and started to produce some impressive running rugby that brought them a converted try on the point of half time.

Freemen’s half-time 10-7 lead was wiped out by an early Exiles penalty, immediately followed by a simple converted try as the Old Boys’ concentration drastically lapsed.

Losing by 10-17 and urged on by the enthusiastic crowd, Jem Davies and Ian Nickoll worked hard in the midfield to get the home side back into the game. The return to the team after injury of skipper Richard Butterfield as a second-half replacement for the busy Tim Barnett nearly had a fairy-tale ending but he was bundled into touch three metres short of the try line.

A number of minor skirmishes were sparked off as both sides battled to gain the upper hand and the referee was hard-pushed to keep order, but the Exiles backs always looked dangerous. It was however a speculative kick 5 minutes from time that bounced loose behind the Freemen defence that led to the final converted try for Exiles.

Old Freemen:  Lemon; Tribick, Nickoll, Holder, Moreland (Shires); Davies, Smith; Goode (Beebe), Stainer, Pepper, Crane, Beech, Barnett (Butterfield), March, Holmes,           

Freemen II demolished Old Suttonians II by 90-5 with Rob Tyrrell scoring 4 tries.

Back to top

3rd November - Raynes Park - LOST 5 - 7 by RS

A break from league action gave Old Freemen the chance to vary their team selection but the changes were not quite enough to overcome a useful Raynes Park team at Ashtead Park on Saturday.   The first half was lively with plenty of commitment but neither side could break down the other’s defence. Kicks at goal were rejected for the chance of making try-scoring opportunities but the scoreline remained at 0-0 at half time. 

Sam Telfer impressed at fly half with some deft touches and Ben Lemon’s display at full back was sound. Centre Richard Hill enjoyed some powerful runs in the open spaces but the support play was never quite there when needed to round off the moves.  In the forwards, Simon Crane was prominent as he tried to find a way to break the deadlock and  Stacy Sheldon made his presence felt against prickly opponents. Tom Innes made a strong first team debut in the second row.

It took a converted try from a quick tap penalty by Raynes Park 10 minutes into the second half to get the scoreboard moving.  Freemen battled to restore parity, but it was not until just before the final whistle that Sheldon won the ball in midfield, releasing Richard Hill to aim a well-judged chip that bounced kindly for the chasing Telfer who scored half way out. The conversion attempt failed and Freemen were left to rue their missed opportunities.

Old Freemen: Lemon; Miers, Hill, Davies, Moreland; Telfer, Dartnell; Beebe, Morrison,  Pepper, Crane, Innes, Barnett, Sheldon, Suttle

Back to top

28th October - Surrey XV - LOST 9 - 41 by RS

Freemen’s unbeaten start to the season ended when they lost their 70^th Anniversary Celebration game against a strong Surrey President’s XV by 9-41 on Sunday. 

All that is good about the ethos of the rugby union game was in evidence at Ashtead Park on a perfect afternoon for players and spectators, many of whom were recovering from the Anniversary Dinner held the previous night.

The ambitious Old Boys club against the power of a County XV, old friendships renewed, a crowd of some 300 former and current players, wives, parents, friends and relatives, topped up by a friendly invasion by a touring Vets team from Paignton RFC who happened to be passing, made for a memorable celebration.

And for a while it looked as if Freemen might cause an upset as they took advantage of the  Surrey players’ unfamiliarity with each other. Constant first half pressure was turned into penalties and a 9-0 half time lead, all scored by fly half Jeremy Davies. Skipper Dominic Smith busily led his team. Ben Lemon, Ian Nickoll and Richard Hill looked sharp and the back-row of Chas March, Tim Barnett and Andy Suttle were at their scavenging best.

Surrey started the second half looking a different team. Swift inter-passing and key replacements added a new dimension to their play. Gaps appeared in the previously solid Freemen’s defence as Surrey created overlaps and played at a pace that had the Old Boys struggling to hang on.

Two beautifully worked tries in the opening 5 minutes of the half by Corey Kennett (Chobham) and Mike Piper (Woking) knocked the steam out of the home side as Surrey’s class began to tell. The entertainment continued with four further tries by Piper (2), Bradley Cribb (Wimbledon),  Lyndon Burrell (Sutton & Epsom), and Chris Whiteley (Richmond) and three conversions by Luke Sayer (Guildford & Godalming).    

Match officials Kevin Stewart, John Vale and Patrick Wilkins were linked by radio and their fine touch made for a fitting celebratory afternoon for all involved.

Old Freemen:  Lemon; Tribick (Alcock), Hill, Nickoll, Moreland (Miers); Davies, Smith; Goode, Stainer (Gummer), Pepper, Crane, Beech (Bower), Barnett (Tremaine), March, Suttle

Back to top

20th October - Teddington - WON 46 - 8 by RS

Freemen notched the sixth success of their unbeaten season with a convincing 46-8 win at Teddington on Saturday. 

The prospect of victory looked slim at half-time as Freemen had literally stumbled to a 10-8 lead. Fly-half Jeremy Davies scored a try, scything through the defence before crawling over under the posts to touch down. He converted, to add to his earlier penalty. A serious injury to a Teddington player, followed by a sin-binning of their scrum half, gave Freemen much-needed breathing space during a frantic first half.

Centre Ian Nickoll and flanker Grant Holmes were in good form but the Old Boys were making hard work of their task.   

Skipper Dominic Smith’s half time team talk inspired his men to produce a second half of 36 unanswered points in a sparkling display of rugby. Davies added a second penalty before converting four of a parade of five tries as Freemen raised their game.  Within minutes of the restart, man of the match Malcolm Beech led the procession, storming in unopposed from 30 metres. Instantly, Graham Alcock’s chip bounced kindly for the lively Andy Goodall who also ran in from 30 metres to stretch the visitors’ lead to 27-8.  Freemen’s forwards struggled to win the lineouts but in the tight scrums they decimated  Teddington, securing their own ball and wrecking the home side’s hopes of creating any meaningful attacks.  Locks Simon Crane and Andy Suttle drove the front row forward, where Jon Stainer, Dave Goode and Richard Pepper were again impressive.

From a tight scrum on half way, Freemen stole the ball and Goodall set up wing Alex Tribick with a scissors move to cruise in for a try. Smith salvaged ball from another lost lineout and darted over from 10 metres. Finally, Chas March rounded off a fine display of support play with a try, before the referee blew a good 5 minutes early. 

Old Freemen:  Alcock; Moreland, Goodall, Nickoll, Tribick; Davies, Smith; Goode, Stainer, Pepper, Crane, Suttle, Holmes (Barnett), Beech, March.

  Back to top

13th October - Wandsworthians - WON 15 - 8 by DH

On Saturday O.F. took the field against one of their oldest rivals in a friendly fixture, resting several players who were nursing bruises from their previous games.

Wandsworthians were as usual a large side, which started the game intent on, keeping the O.F. pack under pressure. The first thirty minutes soon passed with both sides tackling anything which moved and O.F. completely unable to find the rhythm of the previous week.

O.W. set up a good scoring position near the O.F. line and eventually scored wide out following a double switch move, which the all ready stretched O.F. defence could not cover. This was almost immediately followed by the O.F. going offside and the kick was converted giving O.W. an 8-point lead.

The O.F. pack were feeling the pace of the game but March was again making his presence felt all over the park and was able on a number of occasions to obtain early ball following the tackle which allowed O.F. to resist the pressure.

Smith at scrum half leading the side had another fine game and although he was continually snipping away at the O.W. defence was unable to find a clear path to the line.

Just before half time O.F. started an attack in their own half and fed the ball down the line for Nickoll to chip ahead to the O.W. line, Moreland in his first full game for the team this season, following at pace collected the ball and scored wide out

Saturday being one of the hottest October days on record was now beginning to take it’s toll on the players and although both sides were feeling drained O.F. were lasting the pace better. Half way through the second half they started to gain a little momentum and were able to place five or six phases of play together. The O.F. backs were beginning to stretch their legs with Lemon and Goodall having good runs but O.W. managed to contain the attacks with fine tackling.

It was following one of these phases that the ball went down the line and Moreland was tackled short of the line but was able to get to his feet and be ready for the recycled ball to dive over for a fine team try. Davies converted.

The only other score was a penalty by Davies which made the final score 15 – 8.

Next Saturday O.F. resume league duty by travelling to Teddington hoping they can maintain their momentum.  

Back to top

6th October - Haslemere - WON 46 - 5 by RS

Centre Matt Lister produced a virtuoso performance with four tries as Old Freemen confidently romped to a 46-5 victory in Surrey League 2 against Haslemere at Ashtead Park on Saturday.  It was difficult to believe that this was the same side that had scraped home last week by 11-10. The handling was slick, scrums were solid and support play was continuous.   Freemen’s front five created a platform that allowed skipper Dominic Smith to re-cycle possession time and again. Jeremy Davies at fly-half made space for centres Lister and Matt Bennion to totally dominate the midfield as the Old Boys extended their unbeaten run.  The recall of the powerful Simon Crane and the grafting work of James Tremaine stimulated the pack, where front-rowers Dave Goode, Jon Stainer and Richard Pepper were in fine form. 

In the first half, Freemen played uphill into the wind. A crashing try by Tremaine and Lister’s two tries from arcing runs of 30 and 50 metres that tore open the visitors’ defence, took the game out of Haslemere’s reach. Davies converted twice and slotted a penalty to open the scoring with the help of the post.

Lister added to Freemen’s 22-0 half time lead with two more tries in the second half as he again created havoc to cruise in from long distance. Three further Davies penalties and a try by full back Richard Hill fairly reflected Freemen’s superiority. Haslemere scored a consolation try ten minutes from time, when Freemen were reduced to fourteen men with Beech in the sin-bin.  

Freemen hoped for an extended run in the RFU Junior Cup this week but confusion over the registration rules has resulted in their disqualification. Although still an amateur game, players need to be registered. Perversely, the registration rules for the Cup differ from those for the Leagues and Freemen found themselves honest victims of the system. So instead of meeting Burgess Hill in the second round of the RFU Junior Cup, they will now face Old Wandsworthians in a friendly at Ashtead Park on Saturday.  

Old Freemen: Hill, van Dort (Lemon), Lister, Bennion, Tribick, Davies, Smith, Pepper, Stainer, Goode, Crane, Suttle, Holmes, Beech, Tremaine

Back to top

29th September - Chipstead - WON 11 - 10 by RS

In Surrey League 2, Old Freemen salvaged a valuable win by the narrowest of margins as they continued an unbeaten start to the season, emerging winners at Chipstead by 11- 10. 

In a physical encounter in energy-sapping conditions, the effort from both sides was not lacking. However, numerous handling errors and too many stoppages for minor injuries gave the game little continuity. The thunder rolling around the area added to the tension which seemed to affect the skills of the players of both sides.  Chipstead showed strong character as their back-row snuffed out the best efforts of Chas March and Dominic Smith to create openings for the visitors. Their line-out gave Freemen an uncomfortable ride, both sides struggling to find a rhythm in open play.

Freemen were on the defensive from the kick-off. In the fifth minute a well-judged chip landing in-goal bounced cruelly to wrong-foot Freemen’s defence and Chipstead’s centre pounced on the loose ball for a try, which was converted.  Ian Nickoll landed a penalty and came close with a dropped goal but there were few other highlights in a poor first half. Matt Bennion at centre was Freemen’s most effective player with a number of probing runs. He was no less effective later in the game when he moved in to the back-row following enforced replacements.

In tricky conditions, the second half was not much brighter. Chipstead stretched their lead to 10-3 with a penalty.  Freemen were stung into action. Fast-breaking wings Theo van Dort and Alex Tribick found Bennion who put his backs away. The final pass to Matt Lister popping-up on the right wing left him to glide past the cover defence and run in from thirty metres for a fine try.

The second half was twenty minutes old. Andy Suttle and Jon Stainer made key contributions and Freemen were awarded a penalty that Nickoll slotted over to give Freemen the winning lead.  The final quarter was a tense battle of two defences and there were no further scores, before the referee drew a veil over a forgettable game.

On Saturday, Freemen take their unbeaten record into a tough League game against Haslemere at Ashtead Park (kick-off 2.45p.m.), followed next week by a second round RFU Junior Cup second round game at home to Burgess Hill.

Old Freemen:  Goodall, van Dort, Lister, Bennion, Tribick, Nickoll, Smith, Pepper, Stainer, Beebe, Beech, Suttle, Barnett (Lemon), March, Tyrrell (Goode).

Back to top

22nd September - London Media - WON 35 - 17 by RS

Old Freemen started their Surrey 2 League challenge with a resounding win over London Media at Ashtead Park on Saturday.  With skipper Richard Butterfield absent injured, scrum-half Dominic Smith was inspirational in leading the side. The half-back pairing of Smith and fly- half, Ian Nickoll, scored all the points as Freemen built a safe 21-0 lead in a competitive first half against a big pack and lively backs.

Nickoll coolly slotted two dropped goals, a penalty and a conversion to complement Smith’s two tries. The second try was a piece of opportunism as he seized on loose ball  after a sweeping move by backs Richard Hill, Matt Lister and Matt Bennion to score from 10 metres.

It was Smith’s first try that had the spectators gasping in amazement. From half-way the cheeky scrum-half set off on a twinkling run through the Media’s groping defence. His side-stepping progress was checked briefly but the energetic young hooker, Tom Acton, was on hand to work the rugby equivalent of a football one-two to draw the defence and set him back on his way to the try line.  London Media maintained a strong physical challenge but could not finish off several promising moves as Freemen defended tightly. A converted try early in the second half briefly lifted their spirits as Freemen dropped their guard.

The Old Boys picked up the plot as Andy Goodall, Malcolm Beech, Andy Suttle and Richard Pepper came close to scoring. Back row men Chas March and Tim Barnett were again impressive and Beech and Acton shored up the line-out ball against the visitors’ two giants.

In a second half prolonged by injury time, long-range tries by Andy Goodall and Grant Holmes, both converted by Jeremy Davies, were the inevitable result of Freemen’s quick handling and support play. Holmes recovery from a serious leg injury at the end of last season has been remarkable.

Skipper Butterfield was clearly impressed by the performance of his team and looked forward to the next League fixture on Saturday at Chipstead (kick-off 3 p.m.)      

Old Freemen:     Hill; Goodall, Lister, Bennion (Davies), Tribick, Nichol, Smith, Pepper, Acton (Emerton, Beebe), Goode, Beech, Suttle, Barnett, March, Holmes.

Back to top

15th September - Newick (1st Round Cup) - WON 35 - 17 by DH

On Saturday Old Freemen started their season at Ashtead in perfect playing conditions with a National Cup game against Newick who play in the Sussex 2 league.

O.F. had gathered early to discuss and practice their strategy for the game and from the their kick off went straight into the attack. Within the first five minutes Newick were penalised for going over the top and DAVIES converted. The OF scrum with a number of their regular players unavailable due to injury and holiday commitments, were finding Newick a difficult pack to cope with and Newick were able responded to the penalty quickly. They won quick ball from a set scrum and kicked through for their speedy wing to win the race to the line and score.  O.F. realised they needed to raise their work rate and their back row began to create havoc at the break down by achieving good second phase possession for the backs who were looking quite sharp for the first game. The inter passing between the forwards and the backs stretched the Newick defence on a number of occasions. Finally this lead to MARCH taking a crash ball deep into the Newick half where the forwards won quick ball for it to be feed down the line to HILL coming in from the fullback position to draw the defence and release LISTER to dance his way round the covering defence to score wide out.

O.F. were now in full flight and their scrum half SMITH was directing play beautifully sending the backs first one way and then the other leading to desperate defence by Newick. A high tackle by Newick gave an easy kick for DAVIES to convert.  O.F. won a line out following another penalty and LISTER took a long pass from DAVIES and made ground before passing back inside to TYRELL who broke through the defence and race 30 metres to the line and scored with two defenders attempting to stop him. Five minutes before half time the O.F. captain BUTTERFIELD, who had been all over the park leading from the front injured his shoulder and needed to be replaced by HOLMES.

Newick made several attempts at breaking the O.F. defence with their standoff being particularly difficult to stop but it was not to be. From one of their attacks MARCH broke clear and the forwards carried the ball down field passing between themselves before releasing the backs for LISTER score and DAVIES to convert. This made the half time score 25 – 5

O.F. started the second half having to make two changes due to minor injuries, and Newick with the wind at their backs started to pressurise O.F. and following a period of concerted pressure score a try wide out.  Following this initial surge after the break the O.F. were now finding that their opponents were beginning to tire and started to use the ball and bring everyone into play. PEPPER popped up on more than one occasion with the ball forcing his way forward and setting up good ball for his colleagues. From one of these passages of play where the O.F. had retained possession and the ball had passed through many hands eventually SMITH released HOLMES to score in the corner.

From deep in their own half Newick attacked O.F. and attempted to use their winger again by kicking to the corner. The race to the corner was dramatic and although TRIBICK touched down first the referee considered he had obstructed the winger and so awarded a penalty try. O.F. were now put under pressure by Newick but defended their line and slowly forced their way back up field.

Newick were awarded a lineout but were pressurised by the back row again and when the O.F. won the ball they released LISTER who made ground before being  stopped ten metres out on the five metres line. The O.F. won the ruck and SMITH fed the ball to the hooker ACTON who came from deep to run through the forwards to score wide out, making the final score 35 – 17.  

The second XV started their season well beating the Newick second side by 25 – 0 with TELFER in his first game for the Club showing fine style at standoff.  Next week the O.F. start their league programme with a fixture against London Media at Ashtead

Back to top

Pre Season Report

Old Freemen’s RFC celebrate their 70^th Anniversary during the coming season, the highlight being the reunion dinner at the City of London Freemen’s School on Saturday 27^th October, followed by a game on the next day against Surrey XV.

The leadership for the new season has been awarded to Richard Butterfield, as first team captain, with Dominic Smith his vice-captain.  Butterfield inherits a Club enjoying strength both on and off the field. Three teams are currently preparing to turn out on a regular basis, a bustling presence of wives, girlfriends, parents and former players crowds the touchline, and a thriving ‘families welcome’ policy operates in the Clubhouse.  Success in the league is an obvious priority, but Freemen will also be looking for good progress in the Tetley’s Bitter Vase and Surrey Shield competitions.  Newick, from Sussex, will be the visitors on Saturday in the 1^st round of the Vase (kick off 3pm)

Last year’s leaders, Chas March and Matt Bennion, step down having laid the foundations of a successful first team during his three years at the helm.  After gaining promotion from Surrey 3 in his second year in charge and consolidating with a fourth position in Surrey 2 last year, March aims to continue his influence on the playing front as he lends support to his successor. 

First team selection will be based largely on players from last year’s pool. Under Chairman David Harn, Freemen hope to attract back a growing number of recent levers of the City of London Freemen’s School to supplement their playing resources. 

The second team remains under the control of James Tremaine, continuing his successful partnership with Vice-captain Mike von Speyr. Tom Innes continues his sterling work in charge of third team.  

Back To Top

2nd XV Reports

16 March - Shirley Wanderers - Won 27 - 12 - Bob Davies

James Tremaine's final game in charge of the 2nd Xv started off much like the rest of the games, with a shortage in the front row - no props and a mean looking opposition with plenty of subs including two props!!...this time however it was Shirley Wanderers who had turned up short, and with both Harry the b*stard and Paul Coyle donning black shirts the game kicked off.

Shirley Wanderers (SW) had the wind and slope advantage for the first half, and camped in the Freemen's half for most of the first 20 mins. Despite this pressure (and the sticky and muddy conditions) Freemens played some attractive counter attacking rugby, most notably Warwick at fullback taking three or four kicks at full tilt and running back one glorious try from his own half way line. A short while later Freemens rumbled and rolled their way up to the SWs 22, and then after some swift passing from Dartnell, Perry and Davies, Warwick went over in the corner 12 - 0.

The SW young fly half wasn't able to grasp the advantage of the wind and slope until 30 mins into the game when he punted an long cross kick into theFreemen's 22. Warwick still high from his try tried to run it back but was well tackled by three SWs, the ball running lose Bob Davies fly hacked it into touch for a lineout 10 m out. From the lineout, a few rucks and then a try converted to bring the game to 12 - 7. Mike Von Speyr grabbed another try (he rediscovered his running game!!) and a conversion from Warwick and penalty took Freemens into a 22 - 7 lead.

Shortly after half time Freemen's launched a fine series of attacks with quick lineout ball Von Speyr switched with Matt Bennion and ignoring a three man overlap crabbed his way across the pitch past the SW pack and then straightened from 10 ms out and barrelled his way over for a try. 27 - 7 

Bob Davies was replaced by Graham Alcock and Andrew Barnard coming off for Tom Innes, but SWs were struggling, so a man resembling Mike Bailey (although it couldn't be him as he has retired according to his wife) came on at fullback, and Bob Davies move to flanker as a result of the SWs hooker coming off.  Forced to uncontested scrums, the pressure Freemens had begun to tighten was  effectively lost and the game descended into a contest between four Freemens in black vs. the 15 in club colours. It was SWs who scored next after fine work from Paul Coyle, Harry Jenkins and Bob Davies (all for SWs remember) saw a try from 4th phase possession. 27 - 12.

The wet weather, the uncontested scrums and playing against your buddies could of meant a rather disappointing end to the season and to James' career as 2nd XV Captain and Vice Captain, but it was a win and with the 1st XV winning their game to grab the 2nd place in the league table - not a bad weekend for both Mike VS and James to finish on. Final score 27-12.

Scorers Burrows 2T, 2C, 1P, Bennion T, Von Speyr T. 

Team: From 1 to 15 Gummer, Mills, Winch (J), George, Barnard,(rep Innes 50th min) Tremaine (C), Suttle, (1 try but unfairly disallowed) Holmes, Dartnell, Von Speyr, Miers, Perry, Bennion (1 try), Davies (B) (rep Alcock 45th min), Burrows (2 tries, 1 conversion)

MOM Paul Coyle for SW (a big, big game) and Warwick Burrows for OFs 

Champagne Moment of the day - Tom Innes chasing down a Von Speyr punt ahead managed to tackle the SW fleet footed fullback - well done Tom who in his 36th year managed to knock down the Mike Bailey look-a-like in his 44th (ish) year. The swagger from Tom was wonderful - asked after the game why he was pleased Tom relied - 'last game of last season I missed a tackle on that little bugger Malcom Iles and he hasn't let me forget - it will haunt me forever - I didn't want to have Bailey reminding me of the same as well'....

9th March - Mitcham - Lost 10 - 30 - James Tremaine

Freemens suffered from the all too frequent cry offs on Friday and Saturday morning with the result that they started the game with fourteen players. Fortunately, the opposition provided an extra player.

Electing to play with the strong wind, OF's defended poorly and allowed Mitcham to score two early tries through their backs which went unconverted. 

After twenty minutes, Freemens at last played some attacking rugby, principally through Aussie Jamie Perry, and he deservedly scored a try wide out, which went unconverted. Mitcham responded with two further tries, due to poor OF tackling.

On the stroke of half time, centre Danny Killeen looked to have scored in the corner after breaking through two tackles but the referee ruled that he had been tackled through the corner flag. The half time whistle blew with Mitcham leading 20-5.

Andrew Suttle, Matt Forrest and James Tremaine tried to stem the tide with their defensive tackling in the second half but Mitcham scored two further tries to an excellent effort from fly half Mike Von Speyr who dummied his way over to score in the corner.

A few pluses from the game-Steve Jenkins won the hooking battle 3-2 and he came out with the startling comment "they deserved to win because they scored more points". Nigel Miers had another competitive game at flanker although he "never wants to play there again, too much running around" and Andrew Suttle, playing in the second row, covered acres of ground. Finally, it was a welcome return to the seconds after a long while for Mike Bailey and Ali Law.

Team: Winch, Jenkins, Barnard, George, Suttle, Tremaine (capt), Holmes, Miers, Dartnell, Von Speyr, Bailey, Killeen, Perry, Law.

3rd March - Old Tiffinians XV  - WON 31 - 18 - Bob Davies

Having lost an unpleasant game last year to a strong, but lippy and punchy Old Tiffinians 2nd XV, Freemen's started the game looking like they would be on the wrong end of another defeat. Despite a large percentage of possession OTs were unable to turn this into field position enough. In fact Freemens were unlucky not to score first after a sizzling break by Jamie Perry was left uncompleted as the OT's fullback put in a last ditch tackle that dislodged the ball from Jamie's hands as he went over the line.

OTs eventually scored first with a short range effort by their number 8 from the back of a maul. Converted and then followed by a penalty the OTs were 8-0 up at half time.

Freemen's team on paper was strong - despite the absence of the captain and vice captain - but they were not putting much together in attack, and were starting to look fragile in defence. OTs produced strong interplay between forwards and backs starting to create large holes in 2nd, 3rd and 4th phases. Sloppy sets of missed tackles by the Old Freemen's pack allowed OTs to scramble another try to move to 13-0 up.

Neil Morrison exhorted his fellow forwards to get a grip as 'we are better man for man than this lot' (if 10 years older on average) and this seemed to galvanise the whole team.

A well worked try by the backs saw Warwick cross under the posts, but a missed conversion by Dion left the score 13-5.

Old Freemens attacked again and despite a clear knock-on by the OT's centre (goatee beared &%$£"**) a break away followed with the OTs winger almost running in from his own 22. Caught just 10 metres out by Warwick he found his captain in support.

18 - 5 with perhaps 15 minutes to go the OTs were getting more cocky. A try by Dion Hura brought Freemens back into the game with the score to 18-10 with 10 minutes to go.

Despite a semi-pulled hamstring the ageing wing-threequarter Bob Davies took a long flat pass off Jamie Perry with 35 metres to go. With 6 OT's racing across in cover Bob put his head down and ran straight and hard. Surprising himself as much as his team-mates Bob ran past 5 defenders and over the top of the fullback for his first score of 2002. Warwick converted and the score was a nailbiting 18-17.

OTs launched more attacks, but some great running by Grant Holmes and Richard Young saw Freemens camp in OT's 22 for one last effort. A penalty taken quickly by Grant lead to a maul 5 ms out, the ball was recyled and moved to Dion who switched with Jamie Perry sending him over for 24 - 18 lead for Old Freemens with 2 minutes left.

OT's launched their last attack, but Nigel Miers was able to steal possession and he fed Jamie Perry once more who raced in from his own 22 to score under the posts 31 - 18.

OTs were largely good sports, although 5 or 6 could be seen muttering and moaning with one goatee bearded centre stomping off without going through the tunnel. Still his contribution to the game was limited to a deliberate knock-on, a cheap shot at Ronnie Gummer on the ground and a late tackle on Dion Hura - so he had a right to be 'disappointed'.

None of OTs stayed for a beer or even came in the bar - but perhaps this was more to do with the pending England V France game rather than bad sportsmanship. If they were disappointed at their own humbling in Ashtead Park they found little solace at The Stade Francais a few hours later.

Team: Ron, Leaky, Johnie (not Simon) Winch, Raj, Farm, Cod minor (sorry my arm got stuck under your throat), Grant, Miers N (capt) Rich Young, Dion, Darters, Jamie, Benners, Bob Serevi Davies, Warwick.

Points: Perry 2 tries 10  Dion 1 try 5  Warwick 1 try and 3 conversions 11  Davies 1 try 5

MOM Raj and Warwick. (TBC)

23rd February - Merton 2nd XV  - Lost  0 - 20

Old Freemens second team travelled to Morden to play Merton seconds from Surrey Division 1 in a re-arranged fixture. The side was weakened through the withdrawal of a number of players for various reasons and consequently had to reorganise the team-Steve Jenkins moved to hooker, Nigel Miers played at flanker and Karl Langley, from Alex Tribick's pub, came in on the wing for his debut.

In the first half, in appalling weather conditions, OF's played against the gale force wind and restricted Merton to a converted try and a penalty.

Danny Killeen excelled in the centre making a number of big tackles on his large opposition centre and created a try scoring opportunity by carving a gap in the middle but the final pass failed to go to hand.

In the second half, OF's had few clear cut opportunities but nearly scored when skipper, James Tremaine broke down the blind side and passed to scrum  half, Richard Young who gave a final pass to Ross Moreland who was tackled  through the corner flag. Merton then scored a second converted try through a defensive lapse and a further penalty to round off a disappointing day for Freemens.

Gummer, Jenkins, Gummer, Sond, George, Tremaine (capt), Miers, Innes, Young, Von Speyr, Moreland, Killeen, Bennion, Langley, Davies R.

9th February - Old Reigatians B32s  - Lost  23 - 40

2nd February - Chobham 3rd XV - LOST 15 - 29

Old Freemens played a strong and very big Chobham third team at Ashtead Park. The score did not do justice to the home side as some very poor refereeing ultimately flattered Chobham. OF's allowed Chobham two early scores but they hit back with an excellent try from fly half Mike von Speyr who collected his own kick to score under the posts. Winslet converted and added a penalty. Chobham added another score to go further ahead at half time.

In the second half, OF's started strongly and dominated the game for the first quarter. During this period Steve Winslet scored an excellent try but the side was denied two scores, the first when the referee adjudged a forward pass and the second, when Winslet was through on the full back but was brought back by the referee due to an injury to scrum half, Richard Dartnell. To rub salt into the wounds, the Chobham scrum half was awarded a try ten minutes from time after picking the ball from out of the OF's scrum on their line. With time running out, the OF's backs attempted to run the ball from their line. The ball was intercepted and Chobham scored under the posts.

Despite the result, Patrick Miller made an impressive debut at openside flanker, with his close support work and ability to win second phase ball. Matthew Forrest was awarded man of the match for his strong tackling but he did spend ten minutes off the field for indiscrete use of the boot. 

Winch, Morrison, Gummer, George, Crane, Tremaine (capt), Miller, Forrest M., Dartnell, Von Speyr, Miers, Perry, Winslet, Moreland, Burrows. Reps. Lemon, Parrish, Mills, Barnett.

19th January - Old Paulines 3rd XV - WON 30 - 17 by Bob Davies

12th January - Streatham & Croydon 2nd XV - WON 24 - 19 by James Tremaine

Old Freemens made heavy weather in beating a well drilled Streatham and Croydon second team at Thornton Heath. The side saw a number of changes from the last outing with Mark Beebe coming in at scrum half, Dion Hura, making his debut for the seconds at fly half and the Turk brothers, Richard and James playing at flanker and wing respectively.

Streatham took the game to OF's from the kick off, who seemed to be suffering from the journey, and were caught with an early try which was converted. OF's managed to improve their game and won some clean possession, which they drove to the line. Skipper James Tremaine managed to go over with the support of second row, Simon Hall. Dion Hura kicked the conversion.

OF's gifted Streatham and Croydon a second try by trying to run the ball out of their own twenty two. The ball was dropped near the posts and the opposition centre ran in unopposed to make the score fourteen all.

Freemens third try came from a penalty fifteen metres from the Streatham line. Dion Hura took a quick tap and with Grant Holmes going on a dummy run, Mark Beebe managed to go over to the right of the posts. Hura duly converted. With the score at 21-14, OF's lost concentration and through poor defensive tackling allowed Streatham to score a third try which was unconverted.

The away side struggled to win good line out ball, in large part due some poor refereeing but they managed to go further ahead after some excellent running in the backs which was taken on by Grant Holmes and finished off by Richard Turk under the posts. Dion Hura added the conversion.

With two minutes remaining Freemens were awarded a penalty thirty metres out. Dion Hura duly kicked the goal and the side ran out winners, but not without a struggle. 

Team: Coyle, Morrison, Gummer, Crane, Hall, Tremaine, Holmes, Turk R., Beebe, Hura, Moreland, Peskett, Miers, Turk J., Davies R.

29th December - Kingston 2nd XV - WON 48 - 12

The fact that all the tries were scored by the backs tells the story of this entertaining game at Ashtead Park on Saturday, in which a “new look” Freemen’s second team convincingly beat a combative Kingston team by 48-12. The Club’s present is looking pretty good at the moment but if this is a glimpse of the future, then give us more – apart from an appalling ending.

Three tries from the impressive full back Sam Telfer, a pair each from wing Robbie Douglas and centre James Williams plus a wonderful solo effort by fly half Lawrence Penrose, to accompany his four conversions, made the efforts of the pack worthwhile, especially in the first half. Kingston fought back gamely with two tries in the second half, including one from an Old Freeman, James Moody, but with a 29-0 half time lead Freemen were already out of sight.

In the pack, the experience of Paul Coyle, Harry Jenkins, Andrew Barnard, Steve Beebe, Stacey Sheldon, Iain George and Rob Tyrell was complemented by the sheer energy of hooker Jon Bird, prop Richard Slee, and flankers Jon Reece, and Alex Shipp. With skipper Mark Beebe strongly directing operations from scrum-half and creating good quick ball for Penrose, the backs were able to enjoy time and space on the narrow pitch. Jamie Perry continued to impress at centre with a number of telling breaks.

To be churlish, better control from Freemen’s in the passing would have yielded more points, as on several occasions the Old Boys were pulled up for forward passes in try-scoring opportunities. However, it was a great and proud performance from a side still getting to know each other even at the final whistle. This came 5 minutes early after Kingston engaged in some over-zealous rucking of the unfortunate Jon Bird and Freemen’s sought to defend their young colleague. The referee decided to blow early for full-time, prior to reprimanding an angry Freemen’s player - twice!!.

Old Freemen’s II:         Telfer, Tribick, Williams, Perry, Douglas, Penrose, M. Beebe, Coyle (Jenkins), Bird, S. Beebe (Slee), George (Tyrell), Barnard (Aseme), Reece, Shipp (R. Turk), Sheldon.   

N.B. A plea for the New Year with my Club Captain’s hat on – the referees are not paid and deserve our respect, no matter what we really think. Without them, we don’t have a game! So will all players and spectators please ease off on the aggro and let’s get back to some good natured banter, so that everyone can enjoy their association with Old Freemen’s.

Happy New Year to all Old Freemen’s players and followers!! Tradition reigns against Old Reedonians next week in our oldest fixture. Enjoy yourselves, and enjoy your rugby at Old Freemen’s. Well done everybody!!

22nd December - Old Paulines 3rd XV - WON 48 - 0

Old Freemens Junior side had an emphatic win at Thames Ditton against a spirited but ultimately outclassed Old Paulines third fifteen. OF's yet again lost players on the Friday and Saturday morning and were indebted to the "flying Dutchman" Theo van Dort who graciously agreed to provide two of his third team squad members to play for the side-Andrew "I'm not playing for the seconds" Barnard and Ben Lemon. In addition, the team was missing Swiss vice captain and midfield maestro Mike von Speyr and the veteran wing Bob "Serevi" Davies.

The first half produced only the one score, a try from full back Sam Telfer, converted by Steve Winslett. The second half saw OF's produce some sublime rugby and their best display of the season with both the forwards and backs linking to create opportunities. Half backs, Lawrence Penrose and Mike Pudner dictated play allowing Aussie centre Jaimie Perry and Steve Winslett to feed wings Nigel Miers and Ben Lemon. The evergreen man of the match, Tom Innes, started the rout by scoring the first of his two (should have been three) tries wide out. Steve Winslett and the dancing feet of Jaimie Perry twice added further tries, all three of which were converted by Winslett and prop, Paul Coyle, added to his growing list of tries by scoring from a tap penalty.

Steve Winslett completed the match by side stepping the opposition full back to score under the posts. Scorers: Coyle try, Innes 2 tries, Winslett 2 tries, 4 cons, Perry 2 tries, Telfer try.

Team: Winch, Morrison, Coyle, George, Barnard, Tremaine (capt), Shipp, Innes, Penrose, Pudner, Lemon, Winslett, Perry, Miers, Telfer.

15th December - London Welsh XV - LOST 0 - 3 

Having read last week’s web-site match report ramblings of a management consultant on a good lunch, I felt it was time to restore some sense of official journalistic pride and prowess to this area! And boy, did I pick a feast of entertainment to tell you about! Tries galore were conspicuous by their absence in an absorbing and tough challenge with a scoreline that was a real throw-back to the good old days when men were men and sheep were nervous. Oops, better be careful in case the Welsh read this ! 

Those who know me well will know that it grieves me to write that a dubiously-awarded last minute 40 metre penalty by a lovely Welshman was the difference between two evenly matched sides. Until then I was looking to tell you about a 0-0 draw! 

One of London Welsh’s ‘social’ sides stepped in at short notice to avoid disappointment in the absence of Suttonians.  A (posh) wag observed that they have been trying for years to get a fixture at Freemen’s.

Modesty probably keeps skipper James Tremaine from writing about himself most weeks but he had a sterling game leading the team by example as they met a useful and powerful Welsh side full on. Freemen’s had the better scoring opportunities but Lawrence Penrose had left his place kicking boots in the changing room and, despite an inspired running game at fly half, was unable to secure the winning points with penalty attempts.

Freemen’s had the better of the try scoring opportunities. Sam Telfer memorably carved through the defence on a number of occasions and there were inspired breaks by centres James Perry and Chris Peskett. All were one catch or one pass away from greatness as the solid Welsh defence held firm. Nigel Miers came close but the best opportunity to break the deadlock followed a fine line out take by Iain George from 20 metres. His pack drove him at a running pace towards the visitors’ line but the referee was on hand to declare the ball was held up.

In true tradition against the Welsh, there was a fair share of off the ball handbagging but this was a contest that the second team needed to sharpen themselves after a number of easy wins. Andy Suttle, Ronnie Gummer and Stacey Sheldon enjoyed the fray and there was a particularly strong debut performance from Bob’s boss, Jon Tyler. Keep working on the throwing-in though, Jon. He produced a try-saving tackle of explosive proportions to deny the Welsh their best scoring opportunity from an overlap down the left wing. The Clubhouse was at risk as he bundled the winger beyond the ropes.    

Scrum-half Richard Dartnell kept the lippy Welsh scrum-half under pressure, as did Grant Holmes, who was unfortunate to be penalised in the last minute for tackling him at the back of a scrum when he had his hands on the ball for a good three seconds. This produced the match-winning kick which the alert Freemen’s pack so nearly deflected as it crept over the cross-bar.   Roger Seymour

8th December - Woking 2nd XV - WON 55 - 7

Freemen's 2nd XV took on a weakened Woking 2nd XV having to lend both our reserves - Richard Young and Matt Forrest. With uncontested scrums the game was robbed of it's edge which meant a rather lacklustre and dispirited display from the Old Boys. However it was Freemen's who scored first with a penalty and then a converted Peskett try to go into a 10 - nil lead. A moment of sheer idiocy saw Bob Davies (half asleep on the left wing) allow the outside centre to run round him, then through Simon Parish's tackle to make the score 10 - 7.

Davies made up for his howler by finishing off a well worked try by the speedy and industrious midfield of Penrose, Perry and Peskett. A try by the prop Coyle (who rounded a winger) plus sterling effort around the park brought him the Man of the Match award and saw Freemens turn round at half time 22-7 up.

Woking, still confident they could turn this 15 point deficit around then kicked off the second half - the ball taken by Andy Suttle (who had been prominent in attack and defence in the first half) set up a quick ruck, the ball then spinning out wide found the ever keen Rob Tyrrell at outside centre.

Woking's defence parted quicker than a whore's legs and Rob slipped through from the halfway line to score under the posts. Lawrence Penrose converting. Further tries from Jamie Perry, Ian George (from his own 22) and Theo Van Dort saw Freemens pull into a 40+ lead.

The most amusing score came from an appalling kick by Grant Holmes from his own 22, which span in reverse and flew high and wide, but not handsome. Theo Van Dort in a rare moment of co-ordination - not only out-jumped the three Woking defenders, but caught the ball and shipped it in one movement to his fellow wing. With 50 metres to go and three chasing defenders Bob Davies was looking like losing the race even before he got the ball. Fortunately Rob Tyrrell was on his inside, so a looped overhead pass later and Rob scored under the posts and then dropped kick his conversion to seal a 55-7 victory.

The opposition now completely fed up with Rob's storming runs were heard to cry ' the big bugger can even kick!!'.

The Team: 15 Simon Parish (a season's mistakes all in one game - one missed tackle and two dropped kicks) 14 Theo Van Dort 1 try, Dick of Day for two dropped catches and a lot of witless talking, 13 Jamie Perry 1 try, 12 Chris Peskett 1 try (both centres - hard and direct running), 11 Bob Davies 1 try (+ one moment of madness) 10 Lawrence Penrose 1 penalty, 5 conversions (and a lot of silky play) 9 Richard Dartnell (typical scampering from the rat and a hospital pass from his captain) 8 Andrew Suttle (ever present in support & defence - shame he can't catch or pass) 7 Grant Holmes (nice attacking work - must try harder with his kicking though!) 6 James Tremaine (Capt grumpy out cheated by Matt Forrest) 5 Ian George 1 try, 4 Rob Tyrrell 2 tries and 1 conversion, 3 Paul Coyle 1 try and MOM, 2 Neil Morrison (threw the ball in straight, tackled people...) 1 Gary Mills (yawned alot- uncontested scrums not Gary's idea of fun..) Woking: 7 Matt Forrest - no tries but excellent cheating in rucks, 6 Richard Young - no tries but typical bullocking runs and good hits.

17th November - Old Suttonians - WON 90 - 5

In what turned in to a rout of almost grotesque proportions Freemen's Junior team scored 16 tries to 1 and but for a reliable kicker would of passed the century. What was more remarkable was that the Old Suttonians 2nd XV - although short of four of their regulars looked a strong team and despite the haemorrhaging of points played well enough to put Freemens under a good deal of pressure for large parts of both halves.

The scoring open with JOHN Winch barrelling over from 3 metres in the first 5 minutes. (He was inspired by the welcome(?) return of his erstwhile twin Simon to Ashtead park). From the restart Stacey Sheldon launched an attack, which after interpassing through the forwards saw Rob Tyrrell barge his way over the line. 12 nil after 6 minutes. With confidence rising Mike Von Speyr at Fly Half started to run all the possession supplied with centres Richard Young and Simon Fisher cutting holes in the opposition defence by hard straight running. A steady stream of tries followed with Von Speyr, Bob Davies, Rob Tyrell, Simon Fisher and Stacey Sheldon.

The second half saw some devastating counter attacking running by both Bob Davies and Stacey Sheldon which led to further festival style scores. The hard work of the forwards - especially their support play - was paying off with Innes and George working tirelessly at 2nd row and putting themselves around the park.

With only 10 minutes left Suttonian on efforts were finally rewarded with a try in the corner after their centre barged his way over through some limp Freemen's defence. The final score of the game was a late Richard Young try to go with his 3 conversions.

Special mention must go to man of the match Stacey Sheldon and to Neil Morrison - who despite falling on his arse - managed a decent conversion, Simon West who showed himself adept at wing play setting up tries for Davies, Young and Nigel Myers and to Rob Tyrell who put the fear of God into the Suttonians defence and picked up four tries - three of which were long range efforts - (play him in the backs next week!!)

Team: Gummer, Morrison, Winch (Mills 60), George, Innes, Tremaine, Sheldon, Tyrrell, Dartnell, West S, Von Speyr, Fisher, Young, Myers, Davies R

Try scorers: Morrison 1 con, Winch 1 try, Tyrell 4 tries, Sheldon 2 tries and MoM, Von Speyr 2 tries, 1 con, Fisher 2 tries, Davies R 2 tries, Miers 2 tries, Young 1 try, 3 cons.

3rd November - Old Wandsworthians 2nd XV - WON 17 -  10

Old Freemens seconds played an Old Wandworthians vets side, which comprised a number of their second team. Freemens struggled to field a side and arrived at New Malden with only thirteen players, following the loss of three players for various reasons. Wandsworthians offered a player to OF's, so the team started with fourteen players, with Bob Davies acting as a utility wing/flanker.

Wandsworthians created early pressure which resulted in a try wide out. In response, Mike Von Speyr who was in terrific form at fly half and the two centres, Chris Peskett and Richard Bowyer (making his first start for the club) created a number of opportunities. It was from such an chance that Von Speyr created a gap in mid field and scored. 

At half time OF's were still awaiting the arrival of another player. Undeterred, OF's soaked up pressure from Wandsworthians and good set piece work, particularly from Ian George in the line out, allowed them to dominate the game. Mike Von Speyr scored his second try of the game when he picked up a loose ball on half way and ran in under the posts, which he duly converted. Wandworthians rallied and from a period of pressure scored wide out.

OF's had to prevent the large Wandsworthians forwards from driving the ball forward and the tackling from all seven of the OF's forwards, in particular Paul Coyle and James Tremaine, remained strong. With time running out and OF's only two points in the lead, hooker Gary Mills seized on a ball lost at a ruck by Wandsworthians, and ran thirty yards to score a memorable try. The referee blew for full time soon after the restart to give OF's a well deserved win in difficult circumstances.

Team: Coyle, Mills, Jenkins, George, Tremaine (capt), Winch, Barnard, Mann, Von Speyr, Shires, Davies R., Peskett, Bowyer.

20th October - Law Society 2nd XV - LOST  16 -  31

Old Freemens played a very strong Law Society side at Ashtead Park which purported to be their third team but was in fact a combined side as their second team game had been cancelled. This match was a rearranged fixture as yet another Surrey Division 2 side, Teddington, failed to provide second team opposition.

Law Society started the game at frantic pace with their large forwards creating a platform for their backs, in particular the centres, to make in roads into the OF's defence. It was during these early sorties that Law Society scored two tries. OF 's replied almost immediately with an excellently worked try by Mike von Speyr who managed to cut in under the posts after ruck ball was won by the forwards and he took a quick flat pass from Richard Young at scrum half. Steve Winslett, on his return to the side, converted.

The latter stages of the first half were an equal battle with OF's playing some enterprising rugby. This forced Law Society to concede a number of penalties one of which was kicked by Steve Winslett. At half time, Gary Mills came on for Ronnie Gummer and Simon West for Neil Morrison. OF's upped the pace in the second half and started to win good ball at the set piece. Stacey Sheldon made some storming runs down the middle of the field and the home side was unlucky not to score when a well worked move between Simon West and Steve Winslett finished with Winslett being held up over the line. John Winch left the field injured to be replaced by Tom Innes fifteen minutes into the half. Winslett added a second penalty but soon after Law Society scored further tries which took them out of sight. Steve Winslett added a third penalty to take his personal tally to eleven for the match.

Van Dort, Dartnell, Winslett, Davies R., Travis, Von Speyr, Young, Beebe, Morrison, Gummer, Forrest, George, Tremaine (capt.), Winch, Sheldon. Reps. West, Mills, Innes.

5th October - Old Wandsworthians 2nd XV - LOST  25 - 26

Fielding a pack consisting of 6 front row forwards - two of whom were press ganged into playing on the flank - the Old Freemen's 2nd XV played a strong Old Wandsworthians XV comprising of a decent set of backs (nos 12 & 13 were BIG boys) and the normal grizzled, large set of forwards we face most weeks.  Missing the dark, and frankly illegal, workings of a Tremaine or Forrest (M) or indeed the fleet footedness of a Dave Hawes - the back row to a man worked hard and presented some decent 2nd and 3rd phase possession, which the backs used to great effect scoring four well worked and even glorious tries - notched up by Dave Shires, Mike Bailey (2) and Rich Dartnell. The kicking of the Captain Von Speyr left a lot to be desired, missing three conversions, two under the posts and an easy penalty - (how he avoided the d**k of the day award is a scandal for which heads should roll!!!), although he redeemed himself with the final conversion to put us 6 points ahead with 3 mins to go.

The ball and play found itself within a few meters of our line with the Wandworthians scrum half - their man of the match who had already scored one opportunists try when he tapped the ball down between Bill Smith (no8)'s legs from a 5m scrum....any guesses who got d**k of the day?....then managed to seal a Wandsworthians victory when the referee awarded a free kick after Malcolm Iles 'dummied' from the back of a ruck only 5m from our line. A quick tap and he was over, with a kick under the posts converted our hearts sank. They had scored four tries - two from dropped passes by Freemen's and a ropey free kick and a miscommunication between Bill and Richard - we rightly felt hard done by.

Players to mention: Chris Peskett's hard running and even harder tackling, Chris Dane our fullback for the day with some great running also, Paul Coyle, John Winch and Malcolm Iles popping up all over the pitch in support, and a welcome return of Ian George after along lay off and finally Mike (I'm only going to run the touchline) Bailey with two tries and a few choice tackles. 

Report by Bob Davies

29th September - Chipstead - WON 23 - 0

Old Freemens seconds continued their winning way with a convincing win at Ashstead Park against Chipstead by three tries, two penalties and a conversion to nil. OF's were disappointed by the cancellation of the previous week's game against London Media. Chipstead arrived at Ashtead Park with thirteen players and were indebted to the club and in particular, Ronnie Gummer, who graciously agreed to play for the away side in order that the game could be played with competitive scrummages. 

In the early exchanges Chipstead attacked the OF's line and excellent tackling, particularly from Matt Forrest, James Tremaine and Simon Crane prevented the line being breached. OF's weathered the storm and created a platform from a line out which allowed Mike von Speyr to side step his way to the line for a try that was converted by Jem Davies. Soon after, OF's were awarded a penalty for persistent infringement by the Chipstead forwards which was duly converted by Jem Davies. OF's scored a second try just before half time following a miss move in the backs allowing Nigel Miers to stroll in.

In the second half Matt Forrest was replaced by Stacey Sheldon and John Winch came on for Paul Coyle. OF's continued to dominate the game with Simon Crane winning all his line out ball and outstanding in the loose with his driving runs. In the spirit of the game Paul Coyle and Matt Forrest played for the opposition but this did not prevent Dave Shires scoring an excellent try converted by Jem Davies to which he added a further penalty.

Team: Mills, Morrison, Coyle, Smith, Crane, Tremaine (capt), Holmes, Forrest, Dartnell, Von Speyr, Moreland, Davies J., Miers, Shires, Davies R. Rep. Winch, Gummer, Sheldon.

22nd September - London Media unable to raise 2nd XV.

15th September - Newick - WON 25 - 0

Old Freemens seconds started the season at Ashtead Park in fine style with a convincing 25-0 win over Sussex Division 2 side, Newick. The team showed a number of changes from the end of last season with Sam Telfer starting his first game for the club at fly half. The early stages were fairly even with the Newick forwards trying to keep the ball tight and thus frustrating the OF's backs who looked dangerous every time the ball was moved wide.

OF's scored their first try when the forwards won a clean line out through Matt Forrest and the ball was passed out to Dave Shires, on the wing, who scored in the corner. OF's extended their lead with a penalty from Richard Young. The forwards continued to win good ball with Paul Coyle and Richard Young to the fore which allowed Sam Telfer to show his full range of skills at fly half. Both wingers, Dave Shires and Ross Moreland looked dangerous and Shires created a try from half way with a strong run that ended up under the posts. Richard Young converted. Towards the end of the first half Newick came back into the game were unlucky not to score when their prop was tackled just short of the line to be denied a try. 

In the second half OF's regained the momentum and added two further scores. Ben Lemon, on his return to the club, scored in the corner from another adventurous move involving centres Nigel Miers and Chris Peskett and Dave Shires capped a fine game by scoring his third try and the team's fourth. During the second half Simon Winch, playing in an unaccustomed position of second row, left the field injured to be replaced by David Hawes.

Team: Lemon, Shires, Peskett, Miers, Moreland, Telfer, Dartnell, Coyle, Mills, Beebe, Winch, Forrest, Tremaine (capt), Beales, Young. Rep. Hawes Next week the 2nd XV play London Media away at Richmond.

Back To Top

3rd XV Reports

19 January - Old Paulines 4th XV - Lost  37 - 12 by Tom Innes

12 January - Streatham & Croydon - Lost 18 - 20 by Tom Innes

22nd December - Old Paulines - Won 34 - 24 by Theo van Dort

It took work . . . it took a lot of work . . . but on Saturday, Old Freemens 3rd XV turned up at Old Paulines with not just a full side but a reserve as well!  It didn't matter that there was 11 backs and 5 forwards, the team was there and ready to play.  A request email for players to over 130 people, and receiving the massive total of four positive replies (many thanks to Andrew Barnard, Steve Jenkins, Richard Slee and Simon Parish for keeping my faith in humanity) followed by 45+ phone calls on Friday, captain Theo van Dort was about to give up and call the game off.   With only eleven men confirmed it is decided to drown sorrows in the Leg of Mutton (with ex-convict and 1997 student teacher John Corry) when the mobile phone started ringing, Old Freemen returning from Universities all over the UK started walking in and the third team was ready to play. 

I cannot tell you the amount of respect I have for Richard Butterfield & Dominic Smith (who have the pick of the crop), the almost unflappable (only thrown his toys out of the pram once this season) James Tremaine with his Swiss vice-captain Mike "Julie Andrews" von Speyr and the untiring journalist who makes the third team happen several times a season, Tom Innes. I truly don't envy you the task of having to organise every week.

On to the game . . .

The second and third teams meet up at the clubhouse and head towards Thames Ditton to play Old Paulines 3rd XV and 5th XV.  Theo heads off to Squirrel's house in Effingham to borrow a pair of boots for James Williams who has left his at Uni.   OP's 1st XV league game referee doesn't turn up so guess who's referee is suddenly whipped from under them?  OP's have fourteen players and one of them offers to referee so long as we give them a player. Simon Parish willingly volunteers to play for them. Andrew Barnard and Ben Lemon are borrowed (more like "stolen") by James Tremaine and twenty five minutes and very much colder later the game kicks off.

After a brief settling in period of about four minutes, the eleven backs linked well with centre Eddie Kemp finishing off a great move with the first  try of the game. OF's won their share of lineouts with good jumping from 2nd row Philip Cheshire and the still recovering  from pre season injury Simon Hall.  The front row kept up well with what was quite a fast paced game, Harry Jenkins solid as ever, recent leaver John Bird not only throwing in very well but popping up all over the park and good support play by prop Richard Slee. The back row of Bambos Charalambos,  John Reece and my MOM nominee Richard Turk won lots of ball and created a clean platform for the sprightly scrum half Mark "Mini" Beebe who made several strong runs down the blind side of the scrum.  Beebe (usually a hooker) gave only a couple of  hospital passes to Kiwi fly half Dion Hura who fed great ball to centres Eddie Kemp and Theo van Dort.  Winger James Turk had probing runs until he had to leave at half time and full back James Williams was safe under the high ball and fantastic in counter attack out of his own 22.  Other winger Lloyd Edwards finished off a 40 metre run scoring in the corner though someone may want to buy him a copy of the revised rules of the game for Christmas.

It is a hard game to write about with player numbers fluctuating all the time.  Two tries from Theo van Dort, and one each for Lloyd Edwards, Mark Beebe and Eddie Kemp with a Dion Hura conversion made the half time score 27 - 12 with OF's under the dangerous impression that the game was won. 

The loss of James Turk and pack leader Simon Hall at half time gave OP's the opportunity to come back strong using their pack to good advantage scoring twice early in the second half almost levelling the score to 27 - 24.  At one point we were down to 12 vs 13 players.  The second team game finished, and both sides brought on a couple of players to level up the sides.  The welcome addition of Sam Telfer and Lawrence PenNose took OF's back to full strength. Full back Williams caught a very high kick and then proceeded to run half the length of the pitch from inside his 22, before passing to Dion, and several other sets of hands before Eddie Kemp scored his second try.  (Jug avoidance; actually it was his third but an earlier one was disallowed). An injury to an OP saw the referee (who deserved 10 out of 10 for taking on the onerous task) blow the game up 8 minutes early with a final score of 34 - 24.

The Team: 

15 Jim "The Godfather" Williams (safe under high ball except for the two and a half minutes when he was behind a tree throwing up),  - 14 James Turk (good straight running and a cunning disappearance at half time) ,  - 13 Theo van Dort 2 tries (tried hard to teach Lloyd  the rules as we went along),  - 12 Eddie Kemp 2 tries  (magnificent "Lister like" balance and all round rugby expert),  - 11 Lloyd Edwards 1 try (The ref didn't know the rules . . . will anyone forget that drop goal attempt on the half way line?),  - 10 Dion Hura 1 conveision (very strong in the tackle, great hands, accurate pass and won't stay in the threes very long),  - 9 Mark "Mini" Beebe 1 try 1 conversion (a real hero - still celebrating our victory Sunday night/Monday morning curled up with a bottle of Vodka and Eddie Kemp in the Leg car park), 8 Bambos "that must be a stage name" Charalambos - (just made the cut, stole a lot of ball and a welcome back row replacement), 7 John Reece (recent school leaver, solid tackler and a player of the future), 6 Richard Turk (fit as a fiddle, great running and a lovely all in one suit), 5 Simon Hall (a pack leader, great lineout jumper, ball winner and all round champion), 4 Philip Cheshire (Theo's 19 yr old cousin who was less than pleased to be running around in the freezing cold but caught some great lineout ball and took down the big men with the minimum of effort), 3 Richard Slee (a saviour on Friday afternoon when it was about to be called off and solid in the front row all afternoon), 2 John Bird (great throwing in, popped up all over the park in support and another OF of the future), 1 Steve "Harry" Jenkins (a stalwart of OF's - strong, reliable and a great beard). 16 - Bill "The Raven" Smith (what can I say?  Another hero of the OFRFC who would have come on to score a hatrick any time we asked him)

Old Pauline's: 7 Simon Parish  - almost scored the try that would have put us in second place and my favourite moment of the season  - took a quick lineout, threw the ball in to himself with and promptly fell over. If ever a person could be labelled a "club man" it is Simon.  1st Team Captain in 1975 (the year I was born) and still running out several times a season there is only one word for this fine fellow:-  LEGEND.  

Happy Christmas to you all.

15th December - London Welsh XV - Lost 7 - 40 by Tom Innes

27th October - Battersea Ironsides - WON 24 - 21 by Tom Innes

The first outing of the season for the third team 'All Stars' - a team which in fact featured many players with the ability, if not the match fitness, to play at a considerably higher level.

The first shock for many of the side was to arrive and find that the many listed substitutes had evaporated into thin air and Freemen's had exactly 15. This number included a solid pack, albeit somewhat lacking in pace, and an experienced back line piloted by Andy Holder and Steve Winslet, playing together for the first time. The opponents were a Battersea Ironsides XV displaying all the characteristics of that club - large forwards, an enthusiasm for transgressing the laws, and those nice tattoos on their backsides.

Freemen's struck early when the ball was fed left and Dave Shires galloped down the wing to score. After a close shave sparked by outside centre Sam Telfer, Freemen's struck again through a silky Holder break involving a number of slow-motion sidesteps. 12-0. But Battersea had pace in the backs and scored two tries up the slope to restrict Freemen's to a slender 17-14 lead at the break following a third home try - Shires again the scorer.

Other opportunities had gone begging, including from another kick ahead by Telfer when skipper Tom Innes won the ball but gave the 'scoring' pass to an opponent rather than the onrushing Matt Forrest. Defending a slender lead looked a tough task for Freemen's but the pack were committed and held firm in the scrum even though a reshuffle was forced by a back injury to hooker Malcolm Iles, who bravely stayed on the field in the back row. Forrest was in fine form and Paul Coyle and Iain George were especially prominent in loose play. Tackling improved across the field, although the visitors took the lead for the first time with a converted try with 20 minutes to play. 

Freemen's played for some time with 14 men after the withdrawal of Mike Bailey, but spectator Jon Mann acquired some kit and came on for the closing stages and made a crucial interception.

Freemen's still looked capable of scoring, and although the two best chances involving Holder and Nigel Miers were spurned, scrum half Richard Dartnell  naffled the key try from the back of a scrum, and Winslet converted for 24-21.

The final 15 minutes were frenzied and at times passions spilled over. The visitors had the possession to gain a winning score but their ill discipline and mistakes, and the cussedness of a Freemen's XV determined not to lose on the day of their 70th birthday party, ensured the home win.

Old Freemen:  Bailey (Mann), Shires, Telfer, Winslet, Miers, Holder, Dartnell, Forrest, Innes, Barnard, George, Beebe, Jenkins, Iles, Coyle.

Back To Top

Easter Tour 2002 Report

Thursday 20 April 

There was a day. There was no night. 

Lunch in the Woolpack in Sopley with the "Early Bird" Tourists (Gummer's, Smith's, Elburn's, Doherty's, Lelliott's, Wild's, Woodcock's, Jackson's, Tribick's, Tappy's, Morrison's)  followed by a trip to Ringwood Brewery in the Smith family's car.  The Raven "Billy Smith" decided it would be good fun for him and Theo to try to finish the eight pints of Old Thumper he'd just bought, by the time Dawn drove them from Ringwood Brewery to Mudeford.  A supplementary purchase was a nice two litre bottle of scrumpy which they tried to consume as well.  The challenge was not met. There was no way two people could consume eight pints of Thumper and 2 litres of cider in 22 minutes in a moving vehicle. Alright  . . .even in a stationary vehicle it would have been a challenge. Give me a break, it was the first afternoon!  No break ensued.  

Most of the OF's contingency on the campsite appeared in the Smith Family Van for an afternoon of quiet supping and conversation.  The afternoon became the night.  Winchy warned Bill and Theo that five litres of cider between them was unwise and would sneak up on them while "fuddling their brains".  Bill & Theo laugh. Silly Winchy - what does he know? 

More tourists arrive on site in dribs and drabs. Sheldon's, Seymour's, Calvin's, Suttle's, Butler's, Bison's, Lemon's (apologies if I've missed anyone). Beech's finally arrive after tracking down a new car as the one they'd set off in had broken down.

Theo retires for a half hour power kip at 8.30pm awakens at 5.30am.  There was no night.  Missed the Committee meeting and a whole night in the pub.  Damn you Winch for being so right. If only I  would have listened to the bit about "fuddling"...

Good Friday 21 April

Mark "Mini" Beebe and Alex Shipp arrive at van 123 for their 2nd ever Easter Tour. We all (including Bison) pile into Ben Lemon's car and amuse ourselves greatly giving him lots of wrong directions to Ringwood. The RFC meet up in their masses at the Star Pub in Ringwood for the official start to our annual Easter pilgrimage to Dorset. Some ate solid lunch, others ate liquid lunch, some had no lunch.  The Skittle Alley had been carpeted over. Sacrilege. 

2.00pm a semi Exodus to Ellingham RFC in the New Forrest (whose ground was unplayable last year with the risk of Bison catching Foot & Mouth). Once again the team was drawn out of a hat at The Star and looked a little like this.

Team: Ronnie Gummer, Mark Beebe, John Winch, Malcolm Beech, Richard Butterfield, Tom Innes, Rob Tyrrell, Stacey Sheldon, Andrew Suttle, Richard Dartnell, Jeremy Davies, Nigel Miers, Jaimie Taylor, Alex Shipp, D'Alex Tribick, Theo Van Dort, Jim Williams, David "Stella" Goode, Matt Bennion   

It was a very close competition. Elligham only had to win one more game in their league to gain promotion. We won the game 17-15. 

Highlights of the game . . . Butty scoring two tries that could have been three; the random pony that stood and watched for ages; Ronnie Gummer substituted for David "Goodie Juice" Goode who visited Auntie Stella and decided to confront the opposition before they took a penalty in a Kiwi style war dance all on his own.  Our team sending "The Juice" off and Ronnie Gummer being reappointed to the field. Priceless.

Butty 2t, Perry 1t, Davies 1c

Friday evening saw the tourists meet up in the Haven Pub for choir practice and court. Please see the court reports for details of defence and prosecution summaries.

Easter Saturday 22 April

The early birds caught the worm and headed off to Meyrick Park for a warm and sunny sociable game of golf. Here's the report:

Once out on the course the language deteriorated and the players were practising their variations on the reasons for putting their drive into the bushes again.    Everyone made it to the end of the 18 holes and this years champion was Neil Morrison with Mike Bailey as runner-up

Thanks to Mark Stevenson for organising the game and writing the report.
 

We discovered about two weeks before the tour that the annual tournament at Oakmedians had been cancelled due to a great number of teams pulling out.  Although this was a pity as the day is always a great success, a few players were quietly thankful for the rearranged fixture against Oakmedians 2nd XV as it meant 80 minutes of concentrated suffering rather than 15 mins in up to 6 different bouts.  

The setting - Oakmedians magnificent 3 storey clubhouse set in the side of a hill in Meyrick Park, Bournemouth. The weather - sunny intervals but all in all very pleasant for the time of year.  The support - fantastic. Almost everyone made the journey over to support the team and I don't think I'd be exaggerating to say that there were 70+ spectators cheering the boys on. The team - see below.  The score . . .

The game kicked off with a surprisingly fresh looking OF's XV with the welcome addition of on or two faces from nearer to Ashtead who hadn't spent the last 36 hours on the sauce including the Old Midwhitgiftian number 8 "Freedom".  Unfortunately this could not be said for the majority of the team. In typical OF's style it took about 30 minutes to wake up and get into the game and by that time the damage had been done by a fit, sober and "up-for-it" Oakmedians side. The only high point of the first half was a strong run down the left with a many hands move all the way to right wing finding Richard "Bobby" Butterfield. (What he was doing on the wing still remains a mystery . . .)  The half time score was 5 - 19.  The teams switched ends.

What happened in the half time team talk goodness only knows, but the OF's seemed to get it together, for a time at least..  Jeremy "Fagin" Davies his usual pillar of strength at fly half made a fantastic break through a created gap around the half way line and despite having celebrated his 41st birthday, would easily have made it to the line.  Jeremy knew he'd make it"?", everyone on the touch line knew he'd make it, but being the generous and truly unselfish character that he is, decided not to take the glory.  Instead new Australian addition Jaimie Perry was there by his side calling for the ball and Jeremy passed it on to allow Jaimie to side step their full back and score under the posts.  10 - 19. Davies converts 12 - 19.   Then Old Freemens had another lapse allowing in two more tries and a converted penalty.  12 - 32.

Then followed possibly the best 25 minutes of rugby I've watched all season, the old boys in a fantastic turnaround.  The rugby finally started to flow.  Jeremy Davies passes a long ball out to Jimmy Hill "The Chin" Williams in our 22 and Williams goes for a  3/4 length of the field run, supported by Richard "Cheese-String" Turk.  Williams dummies with Turk and scores himself 12 metres in from the wing.  Missed the conversion. 17 - 32. 

Oakmedians are attacking from just outside the 22m when Matthew "Abdelatif" Bennion makes a great interception, goes for an incredible three metre break before passing inside to the lurking Williams who heads straight for the line.  Seeing their winger closing in fast, Williams taunts him by showing him the ball and then changes into another gear to score just right of the uprights. Davies converts. 24 - 32.

The whole team is playing as a unit. Fantastic work from the pack, great interlinking from the backs and then it goes wrong.  We're in out own ten metre. Camped.  Alex Shipp goes into a ruck, comes out the back with the ball.  Its festival rugby so no kicking allowed. Shipp to Dartnell, Dartnell to Davies, Davies to Perry, Perry to Williams who hares down the left wing full pelt with D'Alex Tribick screaming for the ball outside him.  Williams is about to be tackled. Should he pass to Tribick or shouldn't he?  He knows the punishment will be painful if he does break the rule of passing to Tribick.  Williams dummies, steps in, side steps the full back and scores. Hatrick.  29 - 32.

Ref blows for full time. It wasn't enough but having witnessed the marvel that was the last twenty five minutes the spectators are overjoyed, the players are content and everyone is suitably impressed.  Jimmy "The Chin" Williams goes down in the Old Freemen's Annals of Easter Tour History.

Man of the Match: The Chin

Saturday evening in the Haven Pub.  Court Cases (see below) Drinking games and a good old fashioned sing song. 

Butterfield 1T, Perry 1T, Williams 3T, Davies 2C

Easter Sunday 23 April

9.00am  Breakfast all over the camp site.  Free entry to the Smith Family van for breakfast but only after drinking mandatory glass of Pernod or Cider. How wrong...

10.45am Hairy legged, bearded women in dresses spotted lurking round the campsite. 

11.00am Crab Fishing competition on Mudeford Quay. Once again this was the best attended part of the tour with children and adults alike fishing away to their hearts content, pulling the crabs out of the sea.  The bearded hairy legged women, appeared on mass on the quayside, to the delight of many a passer by. It was a great effort by at least 20 grown men in drag. See the photos!

12.00pm Haven Pub opened it's doors and the carnage began. The Drinking Draughts commenced with the first game being chaired by Chris Doherty.  Beer for draughts kindly sponsored by: Ronnie Gummer's P.K. Consultancy & Cabling Services and OFRFC.

About three games of draughts took place.  Most people suffered at Doherty's hand.  Mark Beebe was dishing out medicine to all the tourists and any one else who happened to be watching.  Medicine: 1 litre of neat vodka with 1 large packet of skittles (excluding green ones to stop the drink going a manky colour) left to dissolve for 48 hours.  Most people thought the medicine was quite nice though I'm not sure how many people new exactly what it was . . .

(I'd like someone to write a report of the draughts games and email it to me as I can't remember!)

The annual Easter Egg hunt went down a treat. Many thanks to Irene, Dawn and everyone else involved with supplying and hiding the eggs.  Special thanks to Pat Gibbs for donating the prizes. 

Sherry Party in Captain Darlings van.

In the evening the entire campsite ended up back in the Haven Pub for the last court session and numerous drinking games including  a game of "Formula One" with the Thumb-Meister (last person at the table to notice that everyone else has their left thumb on the table finishes their drink) and The Jive-Meister (last person at the table to notice that everyone else has got up and started dancing finishes their drink).  How Mark "Mini" Beebe managed to be the last at both five times in ten minutes is beyond me.  Not forgetting "Taking The Game" to Cheese-String Turk. Picture 15 guys and girls sitting round a table playing Formula One.  After about twenty minutes Turk can no longer participate as he is feeling quite full of beer. Heads for the toilet announcing his retirement.  Matt Bennion announces "If Mohamed won't come to the Mountain, we'll take the mountain to Mohamed."  All 15 players pick up the table walk through the pub and are on route to the Gents Toilet when the barman says "Where are you going with that table?"  "We're off to the Gents Toilet. One of the players needs to be sick so its better if we're all in the toilet than him being ill on the floor."  Barman: "Absolutely Fine.  Have a good game."  Priceless.

Later on that evening it is decided to do the Roller-Coaster inside the pub.  Then somebody (might have been me, but I'm not admitting anything) suggested that we make a human waltzer outside the pub.   Picture twenty blokes linked arm in arm spinning round and round until somebody weakens and lets go. Bodies everywhere.  Much hilarity. Lets do it again.  And again.  Simple things . . . !  

The pub shuts. The Gummers have an impromptu party. Yet more over indulgence. And what happened next . . . ? Anybody's guess.

Bank Holiday Monday 24 April

Many a sore head saying "Please no more" and a mass exodus of OF's back to Surrey.

Quite a few people stayed down for the week and enjoyed some glorious weather.

The Conclusion

We came, we saw, we played, we laughed, we laughed some more and no doubt we'll do it all over again next year.

A brilliant time was had by everyone that spent the bank holiday weekend in Dorset.  The Easter tour remains one of the highlights of the year.  It has everything: rugby, socialising, singing, port, the odd beer and enough laughter to make anyone's belly hurt.  So much so that over 25 vans have already been booked for next Easter. 

A big thank you to Ronnie & Irene, Bill & Dawn, Roger Seymour, Mike Bailey and everyone else involved in the organisation and smooth running of the weekend. See you in September!

Theo

I'd like to expand this a little bit more, so if you want to take a paragraph above copy it to your word processor, make any changes you want and then email it back to me I'd be very grateful!  For some strange reason my memory of certain parts of tour are a little hazy!

Back To Top