After a satisfactory first season in Surrey Division One, Old Freemen's RFC embark on their traditional Easter tour to the Bournemouth area, looking forward to matches against old foes Ellingham & Ringwood and Old Porcastrians. Over 150 tourists, consisting of players and families, will honour the rugby traditions and also play some golf, whilst paying tribute to those members who are no longer around, having passed away.

The most recent demise occurred only last week. Ian 'Curly' Squires, an Old Freemen's legend, was responsible for many years for their annual tours, not only to Bournemouth but also to Jersey. He passed away after a long battle against cancer.

Curly will be revered on the founder of Freemen's tours, notable for events such as the Captain's Sherry Party, the 'real' boat race and the draughts board, which was co-created with James Wild.

His funeral at Randall's Park last Monday was attended by a large gathering including many Old Freemen's, some of whom had travelled great distances to join in the celebration of a great rugby character. Tributes to Curly will be plentiful during Freemen's Easter Tour 2003, and it is appropriate that the tour is the next date in the Freemen's rugby calendar.

Freemen's ended their regular season last Saturday with a 34-12 defeat at the hands of Esher 4^th team at Hersham. Alex Tribick and Gary Mills scored well-worked tries and Jeremy Davies converted one.

At their recent annual general meeting, Richard Butterfield was re-elected as 1st 1XV captain for season 2003-2004. Andrew Barnard was elected to make a welcome return captain.

5 April - Dorking 2 - Won 27 - 24 by Roger Seymour

On Saturday at the Big Field, former regular rivals Old Freemen’s and Dorking renewed an on-field relationship that had been dormant for several years. It was appropriate that the referee was the double of Chris Reynolds!!

Freemen’s first team just managed to resist a spirited late challenge by Dorking seconds who had been trailing by 27-12 into the final quarter. The second of two late Dorking tries put them within reach of the Old Boys, tiring badly by this stage, but the final whistle saved Freemen’s.

It might have been only a friendly match played on a rock-hard surface on a glorious sunny afternoon, but the commitment by both sides was high-level. Fast pace and fierce challenges in the early plays set the scene for an entertaining match.

Freemen’s broke the stalemate after fifteen minutes with a Richard Butterfield try, converted by Jem Davies. Dorking levelled immediately before Davies grabbed a try for himself that he also converted. A crashing Rob Tyrrell try stretched the lead to 19-7 before half time.

Tom Fair was again an impressive all-rounder for Freemen’s with strong breaks from number 8 and some powerful set-piece work that made him the Freemen’s man of the match.

Early in the second half, a quick free-kick earned from a disrupted scrum led to a second try for Tyrrell and gave Freemen’s a seemingly unassailable 24-7 lead. Dorking replied with a try before Davies landed the penalty that ultimately proved to be the crucial difference between the teams.

Dorking stormed into the final quarter with two tries against the flagging visitors, but they just failed to snatch the vital score.

Freemen’s: Burrows; Miers, Peskett, Brown, Van Dort; Davies, Mackie; Coyle, Morrison, Gummer, Beech, Tyrrell, Forrest, Fair, Butterfield (captain).

Freemen’s II lost 10-19 at home to Bevonians in John Winch’s last game at the helm.

29 March - Old Rutlishians - Lost 6 - 30 by Roger Seymour

The spirit was willing but the spark was missing as Freemen's brought down the curtain on a satisfactory first season in Surrey 1, defeated by 6-30 at Old Rutlishians on Saturday. A final league position in mid-table exceeded their pre-season target and put them in fine spirits as they now look forward to a couple of friendly games and a mass migration on their traditional Easter tour to the Bournemouth area.

On a steamy day with the ground rock hard, the players gave their all in the early encounters and two penalties from the dependable Jem Davies put Freemen's into a deserved lead for half an hour. Rutlishians were powerful opponents and eventually proved to be better drilled on the day.

Freemen's efforts to hold them back took a toll on their energy reserves. Richard Dartnell and Davies were in the front-line, notching high tackle-counts, supported as usual by the skipper Richard Butterfield and Mat Forrest.

Ruts took a 6-10 lead just before half time despite several Freemen's efforts being held short of the final pass. Tom Fair at number 8 was impressive with some storming breaks and Chris Peskett made the most of some difficult ball to keep Freemen's in the contest.

In the second half, Ruts pack lasted the pace better and their sound line-out ball was crucial to getting their lively fly-half into the action. Freemen's found it more and more difficult to break out of their own half as Ruts turned the screw with a dropped goal and a trio of well-worked tries.

The game was high in entertainment and effort but for Freemen's, it was very much an end-of season performance.

Freemen's: Burrows; Addington-Smith, McCreery, Peskett, Brown (Mackie); Davies, Dartnell; Plumpton, Morrison, Mills, Gummer (Sheldon), Tyrrell, Forrest, Fair, Butterfield (captain).

22 March - K.C.S. - Lost 10 - 15 by David Harn

Surrey Division 1 champions KCS Old Boys snatched a place in the semi-finals of the Surrey Shield with a match-winning try in the last minute of normal time against Old Freemen’s on Saturday at Ashtead Park, just as the spectators were expecting the tie to go into extra time.

Having learnt their lesson over the previous couple of weeks, Freemen’s started the game in top gear and soon had KCS under considerable pressure, which resulted in a penalty being kicked by fly-half Steve Winslet after five minutes. Several Freemen’s opportunities to score were not taken, which on many Saturdays would have been taken.

Freemen’s pressure continued with Rob McCreery again causing problems for the KCS back line, three incisive breaks ending just short of the try line. KCS tried to break out of their half but found the home side’s defence matched their own. One trip deep into their opponents half produced a yellow-card for Freemen’s going over the top, and resulted in a converted penalty. The 3-3 half-time score-line was a fair reflection of a tight but entertaining half.

The second half started with roles reversed and KCS putting the pressure on Freemen’s. KCS were similarly guilty of missed opportunities until they eventually worked a miss-move and scored a try under the posts, easily converted.

This score raised the tempo of both teams and Freemen’s scrum, with skipper Richard Butterfield, Jon Stainer, Malcolm Beech and Tom Fair well to the fore, gave good possession to scrum-half Richard Dartnell, with another sound performance.

The game flowed from end to end with both sides committed to powerful open rugby. KCS attempted to bury Freemen’s and Freemen’s attempted to catch-up KCS with another score.

A run of penalties to Freemen’s in open play gave Winslet the opportunity for a quick tap and he put Butterfield over in the corner. He then converted from the touchline.

With the scores level at 10-10 and little time left, extra time was on the cards, but

KCS staged a grand finale, driving deep into Freemen’s half and one missed tackle let them in under the posts, which they failed to convert.

At the final whistle both teams, battered and bruised, congratulated each other on a great game and will hold each other in high mutual regard in the future fixtures.

Freemen's: Gummer (Plumpton), Stainer, Goode, Tyrrell, Beech, March, Fair, Butterfield, Dartnell, Winslet, Peskett, McCreery, Addington-Smith, Haywood (van Dort), Burrows

15 March - Merton - Won 39 - 12 by Roger Seymour

Freemen's backs cut loose with six tries and scored all of their 39 points against foot-of-the-table Merton in a Surrey 1 win on Saturday at Ashtead Park.

Steve Winslet at fly-half created copious running opportunities for his line, where centre Rob McCreery was in stunning form. McCreery notched a brace of tries and was virtually untouchable with the ball in hand, once Freemen's had seen off a fierce early challenge from the visitors. Merton were desperate to register their second League win of the season and from the whistle stormed into twelve-point lead within ten minutes with two sharply taken tries that caught Freemen's defence napping.

For half an hour, the League positions seemed reversed as the Old Boys struggled to gain some clean possession. The turn-around came with the sin-binning of Merton's centre. It initially seemed a harsh decision for what appeared to be severe over-reaction to a decision, but it transpired that he was lucky only to be yellow-carded as he had allegedly pushed the referee.

With the numerical advantage, Freemen's forwards ground down the powerful Merton pack and made a supply-line for the backs where Winslet, soundly served by the buzzing Richard Dartnell, was inspirational. Three strikes against the head by the front-row helped their cause, with some massive hits by Rob Tyrrell, Malcolm Beech and Chris Peskett.

Three tries and a Jeff Haywood penalty in the ten minutes up to half-time snuffed-out Merton's challenge and launched Freemen's into an 18-12 lead.

Silver service by the elusive Jimmy Williams from a floated Winslet miss-move left the free-running James Addington-Smith with an easy trot for the first try. McCreery ran-in from half way thanks to quick-thinking by Winslet and Dartnell, and then Winslet took one for himself with a similar opportunist effort, again from half-way.

In the second half, Freemen's confidence overflowed, matched by some champagne rugby. Addington-Smith, Jon Stainer and Tyrrell were held short of the line. Haywood did well to take a looping Winslet pass going over his head, release McCreery deep into Merton territory, and then be on hand to take the return pass and touch down. The roles were reversed five minutes later when Haywood returned a scoring pass to McCreery. Winslet converted both tries.

No Merton side has ever rolled-over and the current team were no exception, but they could not match Freemen's vitality, shown by McCreery's earth-trembling tackle on Merton's massive replacement prop.

In the closing minutes, McCreery rounded off a stunning individual performance with a fly-hack through which he collected, before putting Addington-Smith over for his second try. Haywood converted.

Freemen's backs took the glory but the forwards, led from the front by skipper Richard Butterfield, were crucial in victory and veteran prop Ronnie Gummer was a pillar of strength through the whole game.

Freemen's: Williams (Burrows), Haywood, Peskett, McCreery, Addington-Smith; Winslet, Dartnell; Gummer, Stainer Goode, Beech, Tyrrell, Forest, Butterfield, Barnett (Coyle).

Freemen's II lost 31-20 at Ashtead in a close-fought game against Reigatians in the Merit Table Cup. Tries by Nigel Miers, Mike Von Speyr, Duncan Emerton and Ian Nickoll were countered by five tries from the visitors.

On Saturday, Freemen's expect to host KCS Old Boys at Ashtead Park in the quarter final of the Tetley Bitter Surrey Shield. KCS were due to play Alleynians to decide Freemen's opponents, but Alleynians have reached the Junior Vase Final at Twickenham on April 5^th and have indicated that they will now scratch from the County Cup (tbc).- who can blame them??!!

8 March - Old Reigatians - Won 15 - 10 by Roger Seymour

for fuelling the substantial crowd of OFs and parents and guests from Old Reigatians ahead and after this fantastic game. The food was fantastic!!

1st XV captain, Richard Butterfield, and the Committee want also to thank all spectators who made the effort and helped the team to a famous victory. Did we hear singing in the Clubhouse after the game!! Easter is approaching fast. Sing up now! Finally, what a brilliant job by Lawrie Gummer in running the line and saving the legs of those less willing/able. See y'all on Saturday???!!

Older Freemen's and relatives wined and dined at a splendid reunion lunch on Saturday in the Memorial Clubhouse in Ashtead Park, after which their team displayed great character to win a memorable match for the home side.

Freemen's reached the quarter-finals of the Surrey Shield, beating Surrey 1 promotion-chasers Old Reigatians by 15-10.

From the kick-off, Freemen's had to dig deep against a powerful Reigatians' team who started strongly with the elements in their favour and took a 0-3 lead.

Freemen's kept in touch led by the huge efforts of flanker Tim Barnett, in storming form for the home side and grafting everywhere to cement the defence and to create attacks, alongside the patrolling Chas March. Reigatians pressed hard to stretch their lead.

Despite being under some early pressure in the tight scrums, Freemen's had done enough as they approached half time to hold a 6-3 lead. Two superb penalties by full-back Steve Winslet, into the wind and rain from thirty metres, capitalised on Freemen's efforts. However, a well-worked Reigatians' try in first-half injury-time grabbed back the lead, 6-10 at half-time.

Freemen's used the elements to their advantage in the second half with half-backs Richard Dartnell and Jem Davies creating sound field positions. Key line-out takes by Malcolm Beech, driven on by his fellow forwards, caused havoc in Reigatians' defence and, from the pressure, three penalties by the unflappable Davies gave Freemen's a well-earned victory.

After the previous week when Freemen's, shorn of a number of regulars, slipped to a huge defeat against Tiffinians, there was much to celebrate in this reversal in fortune. Freemen's are hoping for a chance to entertain Tiffs in the next round!

Freemen's: Winslet, Haywood (Brown), Peskett, McCreery, Van Dort; Davies, Dartnell; Gummer (Winch), Stainer Goode, Beech, Tyrrell, Tremaine (Butterfield), March, Barnett.

On Saturday, in Surrey 1 action Freemen's will entertain Merton, who are struggling to avoid the drop to Surrey 2, in what is sure to be a fiery contest.

1 March - Old Tiffinians - Lost 16 - 71 by David Harn

Having their request for a postponement of this fixture refused by the rugby authorities, Old Freemen's duly fielded their total playing strength for this week of seventeen players against Old Tiffinians, who are riding high Surrey 1. The scarcity of resources was due to a combination of a Club wedding and a mounting injury list.

There is nothing so tiring in rugby as always chasing the ball, and in the first half, the Freemen's were doing just that. Both sets of forwards battled for supremacy but Tiffinians' control outside the scrum became increasingly obvious. Their well- worked moves controlled by the stand-off were stretching Freemen's defence, which did well to only concede four tries before half time.

In the second half, Tiffinians' realised where their strength lay and started to play some fluent open rugby. In spite of Freemen's brave efforts, they ran in six break- away tries when the visitors were either pressing home an attack or had kicked ahead.

James Tremaine scored a try after a concentrated period of pressure by the forwards, which Jeremy Davies converted along with three penalties.

The final score was 71 - 16, but without the 17 players being prepared to honour the fixture the Club would have been deducted two points in their final league position.

On Saturday, Freemen's are at home to Old Reigatians in the next round of the Surrey Cup. Kick-off 2.30 p.m., preceded by a supporters and former players' lunch at 12.30p.m.

22 February - Old Cranleighans - Won 14 -11 by Roger Seymour

against struggling Old Cranleighans. For the second game running, Freemen’s first -half was disjointed, but a stiff half-time team-talk woke them up and produced a match-winning performance.

Belying their lowly League position, Cranleighans started strongly and Freemen’s were rarely out of their own half. Their defence held firm, conceding only two successful penalty kicks at goal, until just before half-time when OC’s centre ghosted past some frail tackling to score near the posts.

Apart from the tight scrums, where Freemen’s were dominant through the front-row of John Plumpton, Jon Stainer and Dave Goode, the other aspects of Freemen’s game were missing in the first half. The line-out was unusually shambolic.

Freemen’s soon made inroads into the 0-11 half-time deficit. Camped in the visitors’ 22 from the restart, the pack set the platform for a number of near-misses. After ten minutes, another huge surge at a scrum disrupted OC’s. Amid the chaos, Chas March drove from number 8 and was held over the try-line but the referee had spotted an infringement and awarded the home side a penalty try. Jem Davies converted to make it 7-11.

March commanded Freemen’s response and with Rob Tyrrell’s storming runs helping Neil Mackie at scrum-half to grow in confidence, Freemen’s began to find some shape. As the second half developed, Freemen’s pressed hard to gain the lead. Mackie, Tyrrell, Steve Winslet, Chris Peskett and March all came desperately close to scoring but were unable to breach the final couple of metres.

As the clock moved into injury time with Freemen’s on the attack, Tyrrell fed March who found a crucial gap in the defence and plunged over for the score that put Freemen’s in front. Davies again converted and Freemen’s celebrated as Cranleighans sadly stared the prospect of relegation in the face.

Freemen’s: Haywood, Addington-Smith; Peskett, Winslet, Van Dort; Davies, Mackie; Plumpton, Stainer; Goode (Mills), Beech (capt), Tyrrell, Tremaine, March, Barnett.

On Saturday, Freemen’s are due to travel to table-topping Tiffinians. The 8^th March sees a former players’ reunion preceding their Surrey Shield fixture against Old Reigatians at Ashtead Park. (Lunch 12.30; Kick-off 2.30).

15 February - Old Cranleighans - Frozen Ground - Roger Seymour

Old Freemen's Surrey 1 game against Old Cranleighans was postponed last Saturday and will now by played this Saturday (22nd) at Ashtead Park. Kick off 2 p.m.

With Malcolm Beech standing-in as captain in place of the injured Richard Butterfield and Dominic Smith, Freemen's will be looking for their seventh League win on their thirteenth outing. They currently lie tenth in the seventeen team Surrey Division 1, with games in hand. However, Old Cranleighans are currently one place off the bottom, in sixteenth place, and therefore desperate for a win in what is sure to be a lively encounter.

Freemen's II were also cancelled last Saturday and captain John Winch and vice-captain Ronnie Gummer are looking forward to leading their team to Old Emanuel on Saturday.

8 February - Warlingham - Won 19 - 13 by Roger Seymour

N.B. The players want to thank all those who responded to the call and enjoyed themselves on the touchline at the Park on Saturday. Great turn-out, and it so nearly worked for both sides!!

More of the same on Saturday?? - and watch the international in the Clubhouse afterwards. What could be better?!

One cautionary note from a self-confessed major offender, PLEASE be respectful to the referee. On Saturday, touchline abuse apparently nearly cost us the game. I'm sorry!!

Old Freemen's massed an inspired second-half recovery to get back to winning ways against Warlingham in Surrey 1 at Ashtead Park on Saturday.

Trailing 3-13 just before half-time and under substantial pressure, the Old Boys responded to the encouragement from the touchline and their Volkspeed sponsor and scored 16 points to nil against opposition who defied their lowly League position.

Without a win since November, Freemen's were motivated but victory looked unlikely as the visitors built through the pack for a 10-0 lead after half an hour.

A Jem Davies penalty and a dropped goal from the versatile Ian Nickoll kept Freemen's in touch at the end of the first half and the 6-13 deficit was well in their sights as they started the second-half.

Hooker Gary Mills had a storming game for the Old Boys. The back-row of Tim Barnett, Chas March and Jon Stainer led the recovery, competing for every loose ball. Jeff Haywood and Neil Mackie worked hard to get Freemen's on to the front foot.

An injury to prop John Winch gave Dave Goode a chance to demonstrate his skills and Malcolm Beech commanded his team calmly in an increasingly sparky contest.

Early in the second half, a rolling forward drive led by John Plumpton, Goode, Stainer and March, received Rob Tyrrell's added power-steering to drive Barnett over for a try. Davies coolly converted to level the scores at 13-all.

Freemen's grew in confidence, full-back Steve Winslet's assured boot easing the pressure at crucial times with soaring touch-finders that lifted his team. They turned the screw and Warlingham conceded penalties, two of which were successfully converted by Davies to create the lead.

Warlingham fought hard to try to regain the lead but with centre Chris Peskett continuing to tackle as though his life depended on it, typified by a blanket match-saving effort five minutes from time to take out a lightning break by Warlingham's left wing, Freemen's held on for a well-earned victory by 19-13.

Freemen's: Winslett; Haywood, Peskett, Nickoll, Miers; Davies J, Mackie; Plumpton, Mills, Winch (Goode), Beech (capt), Tyrrell, Stainer, March, Barnett.

Freemen's II also put in an outstanding second-half performance, nearly overcoming a 0-25 half-time deficit with 19 unanswered points. Tries from Ali Law, Simon Gibbs and Andy Suttle added to Dion Hura's two conversions in a spirited reply.

On Saturday, Freemen's have a morning Surrey 1 game at home against Old Cranleighans.(11.30 a.m. kick-off).

1 February - Old Paulines - Lost 3 - 38 by Roger Seymour

- please get up to OFs on Saturday to support the boys. We need to help get them back on the winning trail against Surrey 1 table-propping Warlingham (Who'd have thought it?!!)- Luv from Seymour!

Old Freemen’s found Surrey 1 opponents Old Paulines on top of their game and, despite a spirited performance, slipped to a 38-3 defeat at Thames Ditton on Saturday. Paulines challenge at the top of the League continues while Freemen’s need at least one more win to secure their Surrey 1 future.

Paulines opened the scoring with a try after five minutes, which launched Freemen’s into counter-action. Promising attacks with Chris Peskett, Jeff Haywood, Warwick Burrows and the pack to the fore, filled the next twenty minutes as they fought back, but then Paulines slammed in three tries in ten minutes to give a 24-0 half time lead.

Freemen’s pack remained solid against shrewd opponents. Rob Tyrrell and Tim Barnett were willing assistants to the hard graft of John Plumpton, Paul Coyle and Malcolm Beech. The enforced selection of hooker Jon Stainer at scrum-half gave Freemen’s a robust presence at the close encounters and Neil Morrison was typically competitive, but Paulines were in better shape than their Ashtead-based opponents. Stainer was the tenth half-back partner for fly-half Jeremy Davies this season.

For the second week running, Freemen’s dominated the opening of the second-half, and with centre Chris Peskett in creative mode, Paulines needed to be alert. However, late in the game the home side stole a fifth try from an interception on their own 22, which snuffed out Freemen’s recovery hopes. A final converted try by Paulines made it 38-0, leaving time only for flanker Stacey Sheldon to astonish all present with a grand finale of a dropped goal slotted from 30 metres.

Freemen’s: Burrows (Miers); Haywood, Peskett, Brown, Moreland; Davies J, Stainer; Plumpton, Morrison, Coyle (Mills), Barnard, Tyrrell, Sheldon, Beech (capt.), Barnett. Sub. von Speyr.

Freemen’s II’s were flooded out of their home game against Streatham-Croydon.

On Saturday, Freemen’s entertain Warlingham in Surrey 1 action at Ashtead Park (2.30 p.m. kick-off).

25 January - London Exiles - Lost 19 - 31 by Roger Seymour

Old Freemen’s were shorn of a number of regulars for their visit to Surrey 1 front-runners, London Exiles, on Saturday and were on the wrong end of a 31-19 scoreline at muddy and unmarked Barn Elms.

A spirited finale by the Old Boys set the home side’s nerves on edge and made a significant dent in the Exiles’ 31-point lead, scored in the middle of the match, but their efforts were too late to change the final result. Freemen’s responded with 19 points in the final quarter.

Trailing into the final quarter, Jon Stainer, back from injury, opened the visitors’ account with a try from his first touch as replacement, supplied by Neil Mackie and skipper Malcolm Beech. Dependable fly-half Jeremy Davies slotted the conversion and added a second when school-master Nick Brown was on hand to complete an inspired length of pitch move he had started in his own 22, after a raking run from wing Matt Bennion.

Matt Forest and Jeff Haywood grafted well for the Old Boys and prop Ronnie Gummer was a reassuring presence in a steady performance by Freemen’s pack, but the Exiles’ inside centre had produced a first-half of creative flair that Freemen’s could not counter. Chris Peskett and Warwick Burrows showed glimpses of class.

Freemen’s added a final score with a quickly-thought try from a line-out, engineered in training. Rob Tyrrell latched on to Neil Morrison’s sharp throw and crashed over for the try, but there was no time for Freemen’s to make further inroads.

Freemen’s: Burrows; Haywood (Moreland), Peskett, Bennion, Brown; Davies J, Mackie; Coyle, Morrison, Gummer (Winch), Beech (captain), Tyrrell, Barnett, Forest, Tremaine (Stainer).

Freemen’s II’s game with Cranleighans was regrettably cancelled due to unavailabilities.

On Saturday, Freemen’s will visit Old Paulines in Surrey 1 action. Their postponed League game at home to Old Cranleighans will now be played on 15^th February, and the Surrey Shield tie against Old Reigatians has been rearranged for 8^th March 2003.

18 January - London Cornish - Lost 12 - 27 by Roger Seymour

Old Freemen's first action of the New Year ended with a 12-27 pasting from their London Cornish visitors in a friendly at Ashtead Park on Saturday.

A heavy southern hemisphere influence ran through the Cornish ranks, and they gave their hosts from the higher League a master-class in opportunism. A high standard of flowing rugby, aided by some poor Freemen's defence that was rusty enough to have come straight from a tin mine near Land's End, entertained the spectators.

For the home side, Warwick Burrows emerged creditably with some silky running from full-back and winger Ben Lemon's first game at scrum-half showed promise, but Freemen's lacked their usual fire. The forwards shaded their opponents but the strong-running of the Cornish backs led by their fly-half exposed Freemen's lack of match practice.

Two Cornish tries against the run of play in the first quarter were countered by a solo try on the half hour by the robust Tim Barnett, grafting hard with fellow back-rowers James Tremaine and skipper Richard Butterfield. Jeremy Davies converted, but a storming Cornish try from half-way stretched their half-time lead to 7-15.

Freemen's found a problem keeping a full team on the pitch as first Malcolm Beech, and then Barnett consecutively saw yellow for innocuous offences.

Playing against the wind and up the slope in the second half, Freemen's shipped two more high quality tries, before responding with a strong finish to give some glimmer of hope that a lengthy losing run will soon end. Pausing on their way to the showers from their efforts for the second team, impressive replacements Jimmy Williams and Nigel Miers combined to create space for Miers to cruise in for a consolation try just before the final whistle.

Freemen's: Burrows; Haywood, Peskett, Proctor (Miers), As; Davies J, Lemon; Coyle, Morrison, Plumpton, Beech, Tyrrell, Barnett, Butterfield (capt) (Williams), Tremaine. Subs. Not used: Davies,R., Stainer

21 December - Hammersmith & Fulham - Lost 7 - 10 by Roger Seymour

Freemen’s dreams of taking a place in the last sixteen nationally of the Powergen Junior Vase were dashed in a tight contest at Hammersmith & Fulham on Saturday.

Two evenly-matched sides produced an entertaining game but Freemen’s will wonder how they failed to put the game out of sight in the first half, before falling victims to a sucker-punch in the closing minutes of the second-half. Having fought against the Christmas shopping crowds on the way into south-west London, the Old Boys gave away a well-earned but inadequate lead.

The game started brightly enough on a gloomy day with Freemen’s claiming the territory and playing some attractive rugby. Chris Peskett and Nick Proctor made telling runs and Warwick Burrows at full-back had his best game yet for the Old Boys, with many stylish counter-attacks.

Chas March rampaged around the field and was held up short of the line after several powerful build-ups involving the forwards. Hammersmith held firm until the twentieth minute, when the scoreboard clicked into action. With a classy touch, scrum-half Nick Brown created space to allow March to ghost in untouched for a try from the back of a scrum. Proctor converted.

As Freemen’s tried to impose their control on the game, prop Gary Mills drove well with the ball in hand and wing Alex Tribick hunted for work.

Hammersmith came back strongly, a penalty bringing them to 7-3. On the point of half time Freemen’s felt unlucky to be denied a try by wing Ben Lemon, adjudged to have knocked on whilst lying on the ball touching the try line.

In the second half, Freemen’s conceded numerous unnecessary penalties in the middle of the pitch and their turn-over rate became disappointingly high. Skipper Richard Butterfield tried to channel the team’s efforts but the their lack of training took its toll. Concentration lapsed with only five minutes remaining. A poorly- struck Hammersmith penalty rebounded from a post and fell to their alert chasing forwards who crashed over the try line. Although Freemen’s bodies were under the ball, the referee had awarded the try prematurely. The conversion was a formality and only three minutes remained for Freemen’s to recover.

An equalising penalty attempt failed and the frustration felt by a large group of travelling supporters seeped on to the field, culminating in a yellow card for the usually exemplary Malcolm Beech.

Freemen’s: Burrows; Lemon, Proctor, Peskett, Tribick; Davies, Brown; Mills (Coyle), Beebe, Plumpton, Beech, Tyrrell (Fair), Barnett (Moreland), March, Butterfield (captain). Sub. Haywood

14 December - K C S - Lost 11 - 23 by Dominic Smith

A strong KCS teamed came to Ashtead Park and take the points in a well-fought game. KCS showed their class and the difference between the two sides was most apparent in the back lines.

KCS started the stronger, gaining yardage and putting Freemen's under extreme pressure and were very close to scoring an early try. They were rewarded with a penalty under the posts and an early kick to take the first points, 0-3 KCS.

KCS put some high kicks up to test Freemen's but Burrows brilliantly caught everything in sight to keep the home team secure at the back.

Freemen's tackled well but could not gain any momentum and it was KCS who were playing the rugby and worked a good try down the middle of the park and convert an easy kick and make the score 0-10.

Freemen's started to raise their game and moved the play into the KCS half to win a penalty and convert it to score their first points, 3-10 KCS.

An altercation between Sheldon and the KCS no.5 caused the referee to produce two yellow cards and make the match fourteen verses fourteen for ten minutes.

Freemen's started the second half showing the character needed to turn the game around. Three
powerful phases gave Nickoll the time and space to kick a drop-goal and close the gap to four points.
(6-10 KCS)

That kicked KCS into life and their backs started to show good angles or running and pace on to the ball to cause Freemen's some defensive problems. Further possession gave KCS an easy kicking chance to make the difference between the two sides seven points again.

The next five minutes saw KCS play some good rugby and score a well worked try in the corning and take KCS in to a comfortable lead of 6-18.

It was now Freemen's turn to show they were not out the game, March leading the way and raising the
commitment and level of play from the pack. Fair powered over to score a deserved try, 11-18 KCS.

KCS came back again in the last five minutes and secure the win for them in a good game at Ashtead Park.

Team: Plumpton, Morrison, Beebe, Tyrrell, Fair, March (capt), Barnett, Sheldon, Taylor, Davies, Tribick, Nickoll, Peskett, Haywood, Burrows. Subs:- Mills, Moreland

7 December - Law Society - Lost 5 - 38 by Roger Seymour

The sorry sight of a tractor stranded axle-deep in the mud on the adjacent pitch was an ill-omen for Freemen's, who sank to only their third defeat of the season against Law Society in Surrey 1 on Saturday.

The December gloom and muddy conditions were challenging to open rugby but Law Society attacked Freemen's on all fronts and were the better side allround.

Freemen's pack was under pressure in the tight scrums for the first time this season. The situation was exacerbated by an early injury to prop Richard Pepper, followed by hooker Jon Stainer. Freemen's reorganised with John Winch and Chas March moving into the front-row, but a rampant Law Society could not be tamed. Alex Tribick filled in bravely at flanker in the second half, his versatile skills transferring well from the wing, and Mike Taylor on debut at scrum-half scrapped well in the mud but with his scrum retreating and a slippery ball it was an uphill struggle.

The Old Boys held the score to 12-0 at half time, but the floodgates opened in the second half. Four well-worked tries scored as Freemen's spirits dropped were fair reward for some stylish rugby by Law Society in the dreadful conditions.

Freemen's one bright spot came late on. Taylor gave Jem Davies space to free-up Nick Proctor who skated through the centre before finding wing Ben Lemon at pace on the wing to go over for a consolation try. Proctor's spirited resistance was one of the few highlights from a day Freemen's became case history.

Freemen's: Burrows; Lemon, Proctor, Peskett, Haywood (Van Dort); Davies, Taylor; Pepper (Winch), Stainer (Tribick), Plumpton, Beech, Tyrrell, Hawes, March (captain), Sheldon.

This reverse came at the end of a week when Freemen's were awarded a place in the 5^th Round of the Powergen Vase after their drawn 4^th Round tie against London Tribes. The RFU decided in their favour on the grounds that the home side had failed to properly organise a timely kick-off to allow extra time to be played. They will be away at Hammersmith & Fulham on December 21^st.

30 November - London Tribes - Drew 16 - 16 by Roger Seymour

In the shadow of the London Scottish grandstand, Freemen's band of loyal supporters witnessed a shambolic end to a game we should have put away in the first half. We hope that the end-result of the negotiations will ultimately give Butty a wedding present of a place in the last 32 - NATIONALLY!!

Freemen's progress in the Powergen Vase was checked temporarily by a 16-all draw at London Tribes on Saturday. The game ended in chaos after 80 minutes with intense on-field discussions between players and officials (including Brian Clear with his best UN hat on, David Harn showing that the FBU could still use his negotiating skills and Mark Stevenson adding gravitas!) about the competition rules and the dangers of playing extra time in the gathering gloom. No-one seemed sure of the rules covering the failure to complete a game that started late. (Well done to Chas for sticking to his guns ' there was no way that another 20 minutes could be played! )

The result now hangs on the decision of the Competition Committee. Freemen's hold the moral high ground (of course!!) as they were ready for a 2 p.m. kick-off, in accordance with competition rules, even though the referee and the home side were working on 2.30.

With two tries apiece, as the away side Freemen's should get the nod, but the whole farcical situation hinged on an astounding decision by the referee just before half time. He over-ruled both touch judges (one of whom was Dave Goode who subsequently gave up in disgust, - and without 6 pints of Stella!) to award Tribes a successful long-range penalty when it was clear to all present that the ball had fallen short of the bar. It was actually caught by a Freemen's player standing under the bar on the try line so it would have been impossible for the ball to have cleared the bar. To say Freemen's were unhappy is an understatement!

As for the game, Tribes were no match in the set scrums for Freemen's power but the talented Old Boys' back line remained largely redundant as Tribes snuffed out the ball at source. Nick Proctor made some speedy raids from full-back but Tribes, from Herts/Middx 3, raised their game against a higher 'placed side and refused to roll over. Indeed, the referee's early Christmas present gave them an 8-11 half time lead.

Our pack continue to impress. Paul Coyle and Neil Morrison stepped up to maintain the standard well, and Beechy and Bison are awesome (allegedly!). Neil was in a typically sparky mood, probably caused by his opposite number accusing him of having senile dementia! To be fair to the appalling ref, he did give us a penalty for this, but he later accused Chas of shouting at him rather than talking to him. I think a good smacking was in order, personally!

Chas March was again in rampant form, leading Freemen's with a try after five minutes to which Jem Davies added a penalty. Davies put the scores level early in the second half, before Rob Tyrrell collected from March and Davies on the burst and crashed over in the corner for a try.

This sparked Tribes to finish strongly and, with time and daylight running out, they followed a length of field break with some superb cross-field passing to score in the right hand corner. Freemen's held their breath as the conversion missed but were always aware that the referee might have had a different view!

Freemen's returned confused to the distant dressing room to collect their belongings from their car boots (well done Mr Harn for the advice) and to find that the football team in the next dressing room had had their clothes nicked! Tough, eh!

Again thanks to all those who made the effort to find the pitch. Sorry that Grant Calvin had to leave at half time to go to his other club just down the road! It made for a quiet second half! Special thanks to John Mason (our President) for his regular visits to keep an eye on his club ' it's all a part of what is making this place a bit special at the moment. Hope you enjoyed your honeymoon, Rich.

Freemen's: Proctor; Lemon, Nickoll, Peskett, Burrows; Davies, Dartnell; Coyle; Morrison, Plumpton, Beech, Tyrrell (Sheldon), Hawes, March (captain), Miller. Subs. Van Dort, Goode.

Freemen's II did not start as Kingston failed to show. On Saturday Freemen's are at Law Society in a Surrey Division 1 fixture.

24 November - Mitcham - Won 23 - 10 by Roger Seymour

N.B. Thanks to all those relatives and friends who braved the atrocious conditions to support the boys. Brian Clear and Sam Cameron especially. Aren't we doing well.? More of the same on Saturday if you can, please - it's only at Richmond and a win will put us in the Regional 1/4 Finals!! Heady stuff.

Good Luck to Sam and Butty next Saturday at their wedding. Hope it's sunny for you!

Old Freemen’s emerged victorious from the gloom and mud of a sodden afternoon on Sunday at Mitcham having secured a place in the second round of the Surrey Shield.

Mitcham put up a typically strong challenge and scored two good tries but they were always trying to catch-up Freemen’s early lead and the Old Boys did enough to ensure the win.

Successfully exploiting the fine line defining off-side, Mitcham put pressure on Freemen’s half-backs Richard Dartnell and Jem Davies, but their team –mates responded with some sound support play. Malcolm Beech was in fine form at the end of Jon Stainer’s line-out throws and Warwick Burrows attacked well from full-back. Wings Theo van Dort and Ben Lemon tackled hard and defended bravely on the wide extremities when required.

Freemen’s established the early territory and points advantage and two Davies penalties created daylight between the teams. Dartnell and flanker David Hawes worked united to harass Mitcham’s possession and skipper Chas March led his team forward in true character. March’s interception and drive from five metres brought the first try after half an hour. Davies converted.

Leading 13-0 and waiting for the half-time whistle, Hawes disputed a Mitcham penalty, giving away ten metres and as Freemen’s failed to reorganise, Mitcham rumbled over from the line-out for a try.

Hawes made up for his lip twenty minutes into the second half, creating the attacking position that started Freemen’s best backs’ move of the season. Driving from the base of a ruck, he released the backs where Pat Miller’s outstanding one-handed catch behind his head gave centre Chris Peskett the space to put Burrows over for a try.

Mitcham made it 18-10 with their second try from their impressive number 8. As time was running out, Mitcham seemed to relax when Hawes stormed 15 metres off the back of another powerful Freemen’s scrum for the final score.

It was not a convincing display by Freemen’s against a side from a lower division but it was enough to ensure a place in the second round draw.

Freemen’s: Burrows; Lemon, Miller, Peskett, van Dort (Rae); Davies, Dartnell; Beebe, Stainer, Plumpton, Beech, Barnard, Hawes, March (captain), Tyrrell (Sheldon).

On Saturday, Freemen’s seek to extend their Cup trail at London Tribes in the fourth round of the Powergen Junior Vase. Skipper Richard Butterfield excuses himself due to his wedding.

16 November - Kingston - Won 18 - 3 by Dominic Smith

It was the fifth league win in a row for Freemen’s but not one that will live long in the memory as the damp conditions contributed towards a scrappy game. Kingston started the game the stronger playing down the slope and turned early pressure into points to kick a penalty and take the lead. (0-3)

Neither team could get their game plan going with too many turnovers and therefore no continuity. Freemen’s made ground and won a penalty within kicking range that was converted by Proctor to even the game at 3-3.

Kingston used the slope and camped down the in Freemen’s 22 piling on the pressure. They had a great opportunity and to score, creating a three man overlap only to drop the ball.

It was Freemen’s opportunity to use the slope and Davies played the percentage game keeping Kingston in their own half. Freemen’s were the side moving forward and winning penalties which resulted in two long range kicking chances within a few minutes of each other but Proctor could not capitalise.

The breakthrough came to Freemen’s as Lemon broke down the wing and off-loaded to Proctor who scored the first try of the game. The kick was missed but Freemen’s had a valuable lead of 8-3. Cod was shown the yellow card for some innocuous footwork so Freemen’s were down to fourteen players and had to dig deep, work hard and make every tackle count.

Proctor had two further difficult kicking chances and slotted one through the uprights to extend the lead to 11-3. Freemen’s needed one last effort but Kingston kept fighting and a skilful break by their scrum half could have scored to make a nail-biting last five minutes.

The win was secured for Freemen’s when some good play down the left flank put Barnett in the corner for a certain try and an illegal tackle gave Freemen’s a penalty-try and therefore an easy kick to make the final score 18-3 to Freemen’s.

Freemen’s; Plumpton, Stainer, pepper, Beech, Tyrrell, Forrest, Barnett, Butterfield (capt), Dartnell, Davies, Van Dort, Burrows, Proctor, Haywood, Lemon. Subs; Coyle, Shires, Sheldon

Next weekend Old Freemen's travel to Mitcham to compete in the first round of the Surrey Shield and on 30th November they are again away for their fourth round Powergen Junior Vase clash versus London Tribes.

9 November - Lytchett Minster - Won 23 - 3 by Roger Seymour

Old Freemen’s enjoyed their trip to the country on Saturday, cruising comfortably into the fourth round of the Powergen Vase with a 23-3 win at Lytchett Minster in Dorset.

Several team changes had been enforced but all acquitted themselves well. Skipper Richard Butterfield had a change of scene at scrum half. He brought back the dive pass with good effect, using the quality possession of his pack where Andrew Barnard and Neil Morrison showed that experience lasts forever on their return to the first team.

From the start, Freemen’s did not take long to ease the coach journey out of their system and were quickly camped in home side’s 22, where they stayed for much of the first half of the game. On a rare trip into Freemen’s half and against the run of play Lytchett did take the lead on ten minutes with a penalty. Freemen’s struck back immediately with a try by Richard Butterfield from a five metre scrum, after Stacey Sheldon had controlled Jon Stainer’s rapid strike at hooker.

Freemen’s backs saw more of the ball than of late and Ben Lemon and Theo van Dort had their chances, but the wide expanses of a huge pitch were generally unexplored. The pack was again dominant and effective with props Richard Pepper and Steve Beebe giving Jon Stainer sound support. Rob Tyrrell, Barnard and Sheldon ensured that lineout ball was secured and well-delivered to their captain.

The pressure by the forwards took one maul over the Lytchett try line and Chas March emerged from the heap of bodies to claim another try after half an hour. A finely struck dropped goal by centre Ian Nickoll gave the Old Boys a 13-3 half time lead.

Lytchett came back in the third quarter but were unable to break down Freemen’s defence. Any doubts that the visitors may have had about victory were removed after twenty-five minutes of the half when Tyrrell from ten metres bounced through two defenders for Freemen’s third try. Jem Davies converted and added a penalty before the final whistle, which signalled a long night’s celebration on the trip back to Ashtead. Any port in a storm!

Freemen’s: Burrows; Lemon, Nickoll, Haywood, van Dort; Davies, Butterfield (captain); Beebe, Stainer, Pepper, Tyrrell, Barnard, Morrison, March, Sheldon.

On Saturday, Freemen’s are at home to Kingston in a Surrey League Division 1 game.

2 November - Old Caterhamians - Won 10 - 5 by Roger Seymour

Old Freemen’s secured a narrow Surrey 1 win at Caterhamians in dreadful conditions on Saturday and the result was in doubt right up until the final whistle.

The floodlights along one side of the pitch brightened the gloom as incessant rain and wind made it a great day to be a forward, although backs Jem Davies and Ian Nickoll worked hard to create good positions with Warwick Burrows sound at full-back.

Freemen’s started confidently and after ten minutes took the lead through a typical Chas March try, exploding off the back of a five metre scrum. Davies converted and then held his footing for a well-struck penalty.

That was the end of the scoring for the first half as the players from both sides struggled to hang on to the greasy ball. Admirably, Cats kept the ball moving through the backs, doubtless trying to avoid the powerful Freemen’s pack, again well-led by skipper Richard Butterfield.

Freemen’s set scrums were impressive with the power of John Plumpton and Rob Tyrrell on the left being matched by Richard Pepper and Malcolm Beech on the right. The back row snapped at the Cats half backs at every opportunity. Tim Barnett was a constant nuisance and March was rampant from number 8. Hooker Jon Stainer dominated the front-row battle, much to the annoyance of his opposite number.

Inevitably on such a day, the referee had a hard job to keep control and a number of nasty incidents culminated in a sending off early in the second half. The culprit was the home side’s number 8 who walked for stamping on a Freemen’s head.

Freemen’s have often slept through the third quarter of their games this season and it was again the case on Saturday. Coinciding with being reduced to 14 men, it inspired Cats to improve and they launched several swift attacks through the backs that had Freemen’s scurrying. From one sweeping move along the backs they scored a deserved try in the left hand corner as Freemen’s defence for once failed.

Freemen’s came back in the final quarter but could not break through some dogged defending.

Freemen’s: Burrows; Tribick (Haywood), Bennion, Nickoll, van Dort; Davies, Brown (Hill); Plumpton, Stainer, Pepper (Beebe), Tyrrell, Beech, Butterfield (capt), March, Barnett.

A David Rae try and Steve Winslet conversion gave Freemen’s II a 7-7 draw at Warlingham in a merit table match.

On Saturday, Freemen’s go to Lytchett Minster in the 3rd round of the Powergen Junior Vase.

26 October - Reeds Weybridge - Won 35 - 6 by Roger Seymour

Freemen’s made it three Surrey One wins from five by beating Reeds 35 –6 at Ashtead Park on Saturday. In front of a good crowd including eight of their former captains, they gave one of their best-ever performances against their oldest rivals.

This included a grandstand finish as first Chas March and then Rob Tyrrell blasted over from close range for tries in the final five minutes. By that stage, Freemen’s had repelled anything thrown at them, kept their composure as Reeds self-destructed by conceding numerous penalties, and then built a lead, largely through the unerring boot of the ageless Jem Davies. Davies tallied five penalties, a conversion and a dropped goal.

The strong wind eased before kick-off to give another perfect stage for a rugby match, but the early exchanges saw the tacklers to the fore. Reeds were in their own half for much of the half as Freemen’s searched hard for any opening. Centres Pat Miller and Ian Nickoll linked well with the back-row support led by a storming Richard Butterfield. Freemen’s forwards looked a well-knit unit and Jon Stainer, John Plumpton and Matt Forrest were in the thick of the action.

Davies’ boot gave the Old Boys a 12-3 half time lead, after which they started to turn the screw. At full-back, Jeff Haywood was having a promising League debut.

Theo van Dort and Alex Tribick on the wings were patient, but vital. The lead stretched to 15-6 but then Reeds attempts to stop the rot went badly wrong. Trying to run from within their own narrow dead-ball area, the ball reached the wing but they had still not crossed the line as Freemen’s flooded forward. When the final pass was spilled, Miller’s hand was first on the ball for a try that Davies converted.

The result was now beyond doubt and the big boys then took over for the crowd-pleasing finish.

Freemen’s: Haywood; Tribick, Miller, Nickoll, van Dort; Davies, Brown; Plumpton, Stainer, Pepper, Tyrrell, Forrest, Butterfield (capt), March, Barnett.

This is a short hop compared their draw in the third round of the Powergen Junior Vase (London section!) on 9^th November, when they will visit Lytchett Minster near Poole. Who wants to watch England play the All Blacks anyway?!

Freemen’s love affair with the Bournemouth area is largely Spring –based, as they have annually Easter-toured there for some 40 years. This Autumnal visit will be a new and undoubtedly committed experience. Get out the headache pills!

19 October - St Francis - Won 25 - 0 by Roger Seymour

Freemen’s progressed to the third round of the Powergen Vase with a comfortable 25-0 victory over Sussex 2 side St Francis at Ashtead Park on Saturday.

The game failed to match the superb conditions and seemed to last forever. A lengthy string of injuries and two yellow cards left the visitors depleted and defeated as they mounted a robust challenge. Freemen’s also suffered with centre Ian Nickoll’s return being shortened by a trip to hospital after a blow to the chin.

Nick Proctor led the way for Freemen’s, controlling the backs and working well with Richard Hill and Jem Davies. Two Proctor penalties settled the home side, before Rob Tyrrell launched himself over the try line on the half hour to round-off the direct approach work of Richard Butterfield and man of the match, Jon Stainer. Proctor converted.

Leading 13-0 at half time, Freemen’s used their numerical advantage to attack through the middle. Hill combined with Tim Barnett and Chas March to create the breaks and Malcolm Beech was busy in the underworld. The highlight came 10 minutes into the half and belonged to the impressive Tyrrell. Hacking a stray St Francis pass downfield, he sped past the confused defenders, collected the bounce and steamed half the length of the pitch for his second try.

Victory was sealed by Butterfield’s sniping try five minutes from time which Proctor converted and Freemen’s were into the third round draw.

Freemen’s: Bennion; Tribick, Proctor, Nickoll (Shires), van Dort; Davies, Hill; Plumpton, Stainer, Pepper, Tyrrell, Beech, Butterfield (capt), March (Sheldon), Barnett. Sub not used: Beebe.

On Saturday the Freemen’s Clubhouse in Ashtead Park will be buzzing as former players gather at midday for a reunion lunch, followed by Freemen’s and Reeds battling out the oldest fixture on both clubs’ fixture lists.

Continuity has suffered in recent seasons due to weather, League commitments, etc, but the match is now restored, thanks to Freemen’s joining Reeds in Surrey 1 this season. At stake, then, will be tradition, League points and the Gibbs Shield. Kick-off 3 p.m. To round off a veritable feast of good rugby moments, Freemen’s 2^nd XV will also be at home in the Merit Table against Old Tiffinians (2.45 kick-off).

12 October - Battersea Ironsides - Won 29 - 24 by Dominic Smith

A superb captain’s performance by Butterfield scoring 2 tries secured the second win on the bounce for Old Freemen's.

An electrifying start by the Old Freemen's who scored one of the quickest tries in rugby history and had 7 points on the board within the first 30 seconds due to a Miller try under the posts (0-7).

Battersea came back with two quick penalties and a high class shimmy by their number 13 to produce a 7 point maximum under the posts (7-7). At this early stage of the game it was obvious that this was going to be an evenly fought contest.

Battersea piled on the pressure with four or five phases but could not capitalise. Butterfield broke and showed his open-play skills with a 25 yard break up the middle of the park to set up second phase play and unleash Proctor down the right flank but Old Freemen’s handling let them down and they missed a certain try.

Battersea regained possession and kicked a high ball to Van Dort who was high tackled resulting in a kicking opportunity for Proctor that unfortunately fell short. Battersea attacked again in this see-saw game but desperate defending kept them out. Bennion caught a high kick and attacked skinning two players and off-loading to Butterfield who scored a good try. Proctor converted to make the score 7-14 to Freemen’s at half time.

Battersea came at the Old Freemen’s strongly in the second half but a monster tackle by Stainer turned over possession to ease the initial pressure. Freemen’s made ground using ‘tiny’ Tyrrell to batter his way up the middle creating an over-lap for Burrows to score in the corner (7-19).

Battersea showed great team spirit and came straight back into the game to turn pressure into points to score a deserved try (14-19). Battersea’s belief grew and they started to put consecutive phases together to score again and even the match at 19-19.

It was time for Freemen’s to show their potential and Tyrrell was used again to punch a hole and off-load to Butterfield who powered over to score his second try of the game (19-26).

Battersea’s heads would not go down as they camped on the Old Freemen’s line looking to steal the game in the last five minutes. Desperate defending was not enough and Battersea went over to make it 24-26 with a kick to make it all square and take a deserved point from the game. The kick went wide and Freemen’s held their 2 point advantage.

One last effort was needed by Freemen’s and they then showed their character in the dying minutes. Strong play won Freemen’s a penalty which was converted to make the final score 24-29 to Old Freemen’s.

Team: Plumpton, Stainer, Beebe, Tyrrell, Beech, Miller, Barnett, Butterfield, Dartnell, Davies, Burrows, Bennion, Proctor, Van Dort, Hill.

Next Weekend Old Freemen's entertain Sussex based St .Francis at Ashtead in the second round of the Powergen Junior Vase kicking off at 3pm.

5 October - Old Wellingtonians - Won 35 - 32 by Roger Seymour

(Firstly, a "professional" tribute to Lisa's brilliant spiel last week about the 2nd XV victory against Mitcham - sheer entertainment in her words! - may I commend her work to you if you haven't read it yet)

A twenty-two point haul by centre Nick Proctor gave Old Freemen’s their first Surrey Division 1 win in a points bonanza at home to Wellingtonians on Saturday. The lead changed hands eight times in the course of a superbly fought contest, where refreshingly only one replacement was used.

Freemen’s celebrated the attendance of Godfrey Phillips, captain in 1940, with a gritty display. Proctor’s class finished off fine work by his forwards, impressive against talented opposition. Richard Hill was sharp as Freemen’s scrum-half, working with props Jon Plumpton and Steve Beebe in helping hooker Jon Stainer to win the front-row battle.

Wellingtonians were dangerous through the backs and two clinical first half tries from the wings served warning that, despite a 24-12 half-time lead, Freemen’s could not afford to relax.

Proctor had opened the scoring with a penalty, answered by a Wellingtonians’ try where the touch-down was in doubt. Rob Tyrrell’s bullocking try after 15 minutes, converted by Proctor, gave back the lead to Freemen’s, stretched when Proctor strode in to finish off the scavenging of Chas March and Chris Peskett.

Having landed the conversion, Proctor then produced a stunning individual try on the point of half time. From a long pass by Jeremy Davies on the OW’s 22-metre line, he ploughed some 20 metres infield before confusing the defence with a sidestep to glide under the posts for the touch-down, which he converted.

Sitting on a 24-12 lead, Freemen’s started the second half slowly and OW’s clawed-back two penalties and a converted try to regain a one-point lead.

Into the final quarter with nothing between the teams, March latched on to Malcolm Beech’s elegant line-out catch from Stainer and was driven over for an unconverted try; 29-25. Wellington swept back into attack and from a lucky bounce jumped back into a 29-32 lead.

Proctor’s penalty with 10 minutes remaining brought the scores level and the young centre showed enormous composure to land the crucial, match-winning penalty just before the final whistle.

Freemen’s: Burrows; Tribick, Peskett, Proctor, Oliver; Davies, Hill; Plumpton, Stainer, Beebe, Tyrrell, Beech, Butterfield (capt), March, Barnett. Subs (not used). Van Dort, George, Coyle.

In the Second XV Merit Table, Jeffrey Haywood scored all Freemen’s points as they lost at home to Old Paulines by 8 –25.

28 September - Old Reigatians - Lost 13 - 20 by Roger Seymour

Old Freemen’s gave undefeated Reigatians a good run for their money in the heat at Reigate on Saturday. For the first half especially, the hard graft of the pack was inspired, but the home side changed gear in the second half as Freemen’s flagged, securing a 20-13 victory.

The only score in an injury-strewn first half was a penalty by Freemen’s Nick Proctor. Reigatians handling was poor and Freemen’s showed a marked improvement from the previous week, driving deep into the opposition half mainly through the forwards. One notable tight scrum before half-time had the home side in disarray.

Chas March and John Plumpton led the charges with Rob Tyrrell and Jon Stainer always close by. Iain George’s lineout work was sound and Matt Forrest made his presence felt as the visitors responded well against robust opponents.

Despite the strong showing up front, Reigatians’ offensive pressure stopped Freemen’s releasing their backs. Forced to kick away hard-won possession, a try nearly resulted for Proctor but, once Reigatians had drawn level 3-3 early in the second half, they proceeded to split open Freemen’s defence with powerful returns of the aimless clearances.

In a lively spell, when decisions started going Freemen’s way, they came close to crossing the line, but three well-worked tries in the third quarter, answered only by a thumping 45 metre Proctor penalty, took the steam out of the tiring visitors.

Freemen’s forwards rallied at the close and drove skipper March over for a try, converted by Proctor, but it was only a consolation as time ran out on the attempts to bridge the seven point gap.

Freemen’s: Hill, Tribick, Bennion, Proctor, Oliver (Burrows), Davies, Brown; Plumpton, Stainer, Pepper, George, Tyrrell (Sheldon), Forrest, March (capt), Barnett.

On Saturday, Freemen’s search for their first League points, welcoming Wellingtonians to Ashtead Park, kick-off 3p.m.

21 September - Norfolk Arms - Won 22 - 6 by Roger Seymour

They coached in, got a warm welcome from their Sussex Division 2 pub-based hosts, snatched a 22-6 win and rode out with the prize of a place in the second round of the Powergen Junior Vase.

The margin of victory masked a close contest, the home side asking all the questions and dominating the territory, but Freemen’s just having sufficient answers.

Jem Davies paused from tackling to open the scoring after 20 minutes and a penalty apiece was a fair reflection of the first half hour’s struggle. Two equal sides battling for a breakthrough, despite frequent whistle. Flanker Tim Barnett led the visitors’ tackle-count as Norfolk Arms pressed forward.

Freemen’s regained the lead just before half time. A quickly taken free kick from a rare trip into Norfolk’s 22 was grabbed by skipper Richard Butterfield. He was blocked but found the attentive Steve Beebe at his side crashing over for a try in the right-hand corner. Davies launched a huge conversion.

Norfolk’s efforts to recycle ball were rewarded with a penalty as they ended the half strongly, but trailing by 10-6.

A 10 minute rest in the sin-bin early in the second half for the lively Barnett was followed by Freemen’s best moment of the match. In heavy traffic, centre Richard Hill found daylight from 30 metres out and darted along the right-hand touchline to score a fine solo try.

With the pressure now eased, the Old Boys played more freely and put the tie beyond doubt with 10 minutes left. The try based on Rob Tyrrell’s line-out catch and drive still has Barnett and hooker Jon Stainer debating which of them finally touched down! Davies landed another monster conversion.

The final whistle and 22-6 scoreline was greeted with relief by Freemen’s, counting themselves somewhat fortunate to be in the second round draw after a below-par display.

Freemen’s also took a second team down to Steyning. John Winch’s team turned a 12-14 half time deficit into a convincing 43-14 victory, making for a happy coach journey home for the numerous Freemen’s day-trippers.

14 September - Old Whitgiftians - Lost 8 - 25 by Roger Seymour

Old Freemen’s gave a good account of themselves at Ashtead Park in their first game in Surrey Division 1 but eventually lost 8-25 against crafty opponents. They only gave ground in the last quarter as Whitgiftians scored three cracking tries in fifteen minutes, just when it appeared that Freemen’s might take control.

There was much good rugby and outstanding defence on display from the start as both sides probed to make the first score. Playing downhill, OW’s made better use of the kicking opportunities and turned round with a 6-0 half-time lead.

Freemen’s had been disrupted by an injury that removed influential scrum half, Dom Smith, after 25 minutes but allowed Nick Brown to move from centre and show his versatility. Patrick Miller was a lively replacement and, on his first appearance, prop John Plumpton was strong and rapid.

The pack fared well in the tight challenges. Richard Pepper, Jon Stainer, Plumpton and, later, Steve Beebe in the front row, supported by locks Malcolm Beech and Tom Fair, created a solid base for the back-row attacks by Chas March, Tim Barnett and skipper Richard Butterfield.

Penetration by the backs proved tough and Freemen’s only try came from Butterfield, fed by March, half way through the second half. Jem Davies had earlier landed a penalty. Debutants Warwick Burrows and Michael Ruddick showed great promise at this level, working well with Richard Hill, but Freemen’s will need to be less lateral in the coming games.

Andrew Barnard pleased the home supporters with his appearance as replacement for the impressive Fair, and Alex Tribick was robust.

OW’s late tries came from quick thinking by the half-backs, drawing Freemen’s from one side of the pitch to the other before securing the points. The visitors’ invention caught the home side napping and it is clear that Freemen’s will need to up the concentration levels in order to maintain a challenge at this level.

Old Freemen’s: Burrows, Tribick, Hill, Brown, Ruddick; Davies, Smith (Miller); Plumpton, Stainer, Pepper (Beebe), Beech, Fair (Barnard), Butterfield (capt), March, Barnett.

Freemen’s II beat OW’s 31-22 with tries by Theo van Dort (2), Jon Reece, Ross Moreland and Mike von Speyr. Conversions by John Hobbs (2) and von Speyr.

On Saturday, Freemen’s hit the cup trail to the Norfolk Arms RFC, Steyning, Sussex, in the 1st round of the Powergen Junior Vase.

The leadership for the 2003 season has remained with Richard Butterfield, as first team captain, with Dominic Smith his vice-captain. Butterfield leads a newly promoted 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 Surrey 1 is an obvious priority, but Freemen will also be looking for good progress in the Tetley’s Bitter Vase and Surrey Shield competitions. The first league game takes place on Saturday 14th September against Old Whitgiftians at Ashtead, followed by the first round of the Powergen Junior Vase away to Norfolk Arms on Saturday 21 September.

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.

Second team control is handed down to the very capable hands of John Winch and Ronnie Gummer, seeing the captain and vice of the last three years James Tremaine and Mike von Speyr looking forward to turning up and playing on a Saturday without having to spend hours on the phone before hand!

Tom Innes has once again taken the bull by the horns and offered to recruit the Third XV whenever there are enough bodies willing to play and is looking very much forward to a new and rejuvenated year of feeble excuses for non attendance!

The club is growing from strength to strength and thank you to all those who are involved on every single level.

28 December - Old Hamptonians - Lost 12 - 40

Freemen's seconds took the limelight on Saturday as the first team had a week off from League and Cup pressures. Former regular opponents Hamptonians visited Ashtead Park and reminded those watching of their strength with a 12-40 win.

Freemen's drew on the services of four of their first team regulars to get a team on the park and it later transpired that Hampton had brought eleven first teamers, so on balance it was really quite a good result for the home side.

Both sides were prepared to play open rugby and it made for an entertaining spectacle on a rare dry December afternoon. The prospect of seeing the Davies brothers reunited on a rugby field and the reunion of two of the Law brothers on the touchline were added sideshows.

For twenty minutes Freemen's held an early lead with a driving try from Tom Fair after his forwards made good use of Ian George's continued safe line-out work. The work of the forwards was impressive against powerful opponents and George secured plenty of good ball, which allowed half-backs Mackie and Davies some scope to run.

This first score inspired Hamptonians to keep the ball away from their forwards and use their backs whenever possible. Spectacular handling and strong running, linked with Freemen's open-door tackling policy, led to three long-range tries in the next fifteen minutes, all converted by their competent kicker.

Freemen's then clawed back a try in an exact re-run of their earlier effort, except flanker Reynolds was the scorer. (Don't worry, it was Rob and not Chris Reynolds!!) Jem Davies converted. A fourth Hampton try on half-time gave them a 12-28 lead.

Several Freemen's players were playing in unfamiliar positions and with new team-mates but there were a few smiles on the pitch as a reminder that they were meant to be enjoying themselves. Alex Tribick, who ran well and saw more ball on the wing than he had seen all season, wasn't smiling though, after he was neatly 'clothes-lined' whilst on a steaming run for the try line, created by another Fair break. A desperate Hamptonians' tackle grabbing at his shirt-collar as he hared for the line saw a grand imitation of a rag-doll, his legs swung high above his head, before crashing into Sleeping Beauty pose, and then limping off with a badly swollen knee to sympathetic applause, - but big marks for artistic impression!

Hampton managed only two further tries in the second half as Freemen's tightened their defensive effort and drove through the forwards. The untiring efforts of stalwarts Richard Butterfield and Malcolm Beech, linking well with the impressive Fair and Neil Mackie at scrum-half. Skipper Ronnie Gummer led his pack well and Paul Coyle and Harry Jenkins reminded of the importance of experience to front-row play.

Freemen's: Brown; Tribick (George), Moreland, Davies R, Rae; Davies, J, Mackie; Mills, Jenkins, Gummer (Coyle), George (Gummer), Fair, Butterfield, Beech, Reynolds.

21 December - Effingham - Lost 0 - 26

Freemens travelled to Effingham with another much changed side and it was only through the efforts of Theo van Dort that the team arrived with a full side (and two replacements). Effingham fielded a team from players not included in the first team squad that was playing at Worthing and so were always going to be difficult opponents.

The Effingham front five forwards caused all sorts of problems for the Freemens pack, disrupting each scrummage so that the away side spent much of the time going backwards. Alex Shipp and Neil Mackie at scrum half tried to salvage any half decent ball but OF's were always on the back foot. OF's defended well and the only scoring chance for Freemens in the half fell to Steve Winslett, who put a penalty kick wide of the posts. Effingham finished the first half leading 12-0.

Freemens improved their play in the second half with Alex Shipp in the forwards and Mike Von Speyr and Steve Winslett in the backs particularly prominent. OFs should have opened their account-Mike Von Speyr nearly scored under the posts after a darting run in the centres, hooker come prop Steve Jenkins dropped the ball over the line in the act of scoring and James Tremaine was held up on the line.

Effingham scored a converted try mid way through the second half and it was not until the last minute of the game that their fly half went through three tackles to score under the posts. Final score 26-0.

Sayce, Bird, Jenkins, George, Forrest, Tremaine (capt), Shipp, Reynolds, Mackie, Von Speyr, Miers, Winslett, Turk, Bailey, Van Dort. Reps. Dartnell, Robinson

23 November - Old Suttonians - Won 25 - 7 by Dave Rae

As some of the Freemens players finally finished their Friday night out, dawn broke and it continued to rain in almost biblical proportions. Add to that an early kick off and the fixture against Old Suttonians at Ashtead Park had all the hallmarks of a scrappy game in difficult conditions. By the time kick off came, the clouds had parted and bright shafts of sunlight illuminated the magnificent Freemens team! (easy, Ed)

Starting the first half, playing up the hill and into the wind, the Freemens team was still able to pressurise the opposition. The home team's pack was dominating the lineouts and scrums, but the tricky conditions were making it difficult to turn this pressure into points. Finally, Freemens were awarded a penalty and Duncan Emerton secured the three points.

Straight from the restart, Freemens were caught flat footed and a hurried clearance following the long kick off gave Suttonians possession deep in the Freemens half. They made this first foray count with a converted try, which ran against the passage of play. Just before half-time the dominance of the Freemens forwards showed and James Tremaine went over to reclaim the lead 8-7.

With the wind at their backs and the slope to run down, Freemens began to turn the screws in the second half. The front row helped to dominate the scrums and the lineouts became almost a formality with great lineout jumping. Freemens, playing a clever tight game, made this forward superiority pay with Stacey Sheldon crossing the line twice to push Freemens into a commanding 18-7 lead. The two tries also earned him the man of the match award.

The team showed its versatility with a number of players playing out of position, Neil Morrison displaying his deft skills at scrum half and Duncan Emerton in the second row maintained the Freemens advantage. As the game neared its conclusion, it looked like the conditions and determined Suttonians defence was going to prevent the home side adding to the points tally. In a sublime moment, however, Freemens opened up the defence like a tin of sardines. Great rucking in the centre of the park produced quick ball to the Freemens backs, through the hands of Ali Law to the man flying down the touchline .................... Paul Coyle showed us backs how it is done and scored in the corner. Mike Von Speyr secured a further 2 points with the long conversion and the final whistle blew, with Freemens running out the winners 25-7.

16 November - Old Paulines: Won 6 - 5 by James Tremaine

This was a typical Saturday morning game. Freemens were missing three players at the kick of time of 11am. Mike Pudner was "having a personal training session", Nigel Miers "had to go to work" and Steve Winslett was "struggling from the night before". Mike Pudner turned up with phone in hand and Mike Bailey started the game on the wing, so the away side were only one player short.

The Old Paulines XV, purporting to be their fourth team, contained some players that could play at a higher level including their Maori wing. Freemens were certainly able to match them with Neil Morrison, playing in the back row, looking very lively and Iain George winning his normal share of line out ball.

In the first half, Freemens eventually put together a passage of play that took them into the opposition half. Paulines were penalised at a ruck and Mike Pudner kicked the penalty from 25 metres out. Half backs, Pudner and Mike Von Speyr, tried to release the backs with Steve Winslett and Chris
Peskett prominant. However, despite opportunities, they were unable to cross the line and the only other reward was a penalty kicked by Winslett. Half time, 6-0.

At half time, skipper John Winch, exalted his team to keep the ball tight for a couple of plays and then release quick ball to the backs. Unfortunately, this seemed to half the opposite effect with Paulines camped in the Freemens half. From a set scrum, the Paulines number eight picked up and drove over for a try wide out. The try went unconverted. Both sides, particularly the forwards, spent most of the rest of the half disagreeing and arguing with the referee. In the end, he blew for full time, a few minutes early.

Team: Law, Bailey (Miers), Winslett, Peskett, Turk, Von Speyr, Pudner, Winch, Mills, Goode, Gummer, Barnard, George, Morrison, Emerton

16 November - Old Paulines: Won 6 - 5 by John Winch

An unpopular morning kick-off & another close contest for Freemen who started slowly with key players turning-up late & eventually taking the field with a full compliment some 15 minutes into the game.

The front five of Goode, Mills, Winch, Barnard & Gummer were never troubled in the tight although our lineout work was limited to targeting our key jumper, Ian George showing his versatility by playing at No.8 this week & jumping at 4. Also playing out of position were Messrs Morrison & Emerton who ably settled in the back row.

The combination of Pudner & Von Speyr at half back positions was solid & dependable with some good control at the base of the scrum from George. The centre combination of Winslet & Peskett produced some wonderful angles of attack at pace although the defence from Paulines was sound. Wingers Turk & Miers/Bailey did not see much ball this week but were solid in defence & Turk took a blow to his nose for his trouble. Much claret flowed although it was noted back at the club that this did nothing to ruin his good looks & next week perhaps he could introduce his stunning female companion to the rest of the team.

A come-back performance from Ali Law was also noted at his familiar full back position. Law was tested on several occasions & took all the opposition could throw at him with relish. There is no substitute for experience!!

Half of Freemen’s points came from the golden boot of Winslet whose kicking not only won us the game but kept us out of trouble on a number of occasions. Two penalties in the first half were awarded & the points duly collected by Winslet and Pudner.

Paulines caught Freemen’s napping early in the second half & managed to break thru the pack to score a try that was thankfully unconverted. The score remained at 6 – 5 for a valuable away win to Freemen’s.

On a sour note, the referee had an awful game & several players took exception to a number of clearly poor decisions. Referees will make mistakes & often do but once a decision has been made I have never known a ref to change his decision. He may apologise after the game but Freemen’s discipline must improve in this area. It very nearly cost us the game this week where several players threw all their toys out of their prams. Neil Morrison in particular left his toys scattered all over the pitch & having questioned the Ref's fatherhood on more than one occasion then kicked his Captain in the eye during a first half ruck. Make no mistake, he will be reminded of this particular performance for the rest of the season.

Team: Goode, Mills, Winch, Gummer, Barnard, Morrison, Emerton, George, Pudner, Von Speyr, Bailey (Miers), Winslet, Peskett, Turk & Law.

2 November - Warlingham: Drew 7 - 7 by John Winch

A score line that reflected the appalling weather. Strong winds & driving rain influenced the pattern of the game with plenty of handling errors from both sides although Freemen took the initiative from the kick-off with a well worked move combining backs & forwards resulting in a try under the posts for Dave Rae duly converted by veteran full-back Steve Winslett. This was the first attempt at a pre-planned move where Winch won the toss & elected to receive the opposition kick instructing his team to take the ball on in the forwards, Rhino twice & then release the backs. The move worked to perfection with excellent distribution from Dartnell & Von Speyr with Winslett breaking thru the line at pace releasing Rae to score under the posts. A score within 30 seconds almost mesmerised the opposition who were caught flat footed & possibly asleep!

It should be noted that scoring this early in a game is to be avoided at all costs in the future. This must have flicked a switch in the Freemen's team to the off position. Collectively, everyone thought this was going to be a try-fest & instead of building on playing as a team everyone started playing individually gifting a comeback to Warlingham who had woken-up & were clearly very angry.

Play for the remainder of the first half was uneventful with both sides making the worst of the conditions although Freemen's had plenty of opportunity with the aid of a strengthened scrum & a stunning display of line-out work from Morrison & George ably supported by Barnard, Winch & Sheldon (the heavy brigade). The front row of Mills, Morrison Coyle were staunch in defence against a big opposition where Mills had to take a short break from play with a blow to the nose. Thankfully, the ever present Harry Jenkins was able to take the field while Mills blew his nose!

Tremaine, playing on the open side flank was everywhere, although he was clearly missing his more mobile back row with Winch filling-in on the blind side & the human brick wall, Sheldon at No.8. Not the fastest back row this season but devastating on the hoof!!

With the wind & rain strengthening throughout the second half it was inevitable that one of the sides was going to score thru a handling error & even with some heroic tackling from Turk, Mooreland & Miers, Warlingham took advantage of the conditions & scored under our posts. Their try was duly converted.

One last ditch attempt at snatching the game resulted in a penalty being awarded to Freemen some 35 yards out & to the right of the posts. Winch, whilst tempted to go for the corner placement, elected to bring forward the trusty boot of Winslett. The conditions were fierce but the kick was true only falling 5 yards short with a cruel gust of wind at just the wrong moment. Bugger!

The game ended shortly afterwards with Freemen's clinging onto share the points & remain just above mid-table in the 2^nd team Merit League.

2 November - Warlingham: Drew 7 - 7 by Dave Rae

When John Winch was a lad, he was a boy scout and very good at it too! I, on the other hand, got thrown out at a very tender age (but that's a different story)! What does this have to do with Old Freemen's draw with Warlingham?

Well it goes someway to explaining why most of the team arrived in Warlingham 2 or 3 days before kick off, "Be prepared", and I arrived at 2pm. The team had plenty of time to watch the rain fall on a wet and miserable November afternoon, certain in the knowledge that there were going to be tough conditions for the silky ball handlers in this Merit table clash!

The captain's ESP came in handy from the kick off. In an unusual move, the team decided to follow his orders from the outset. Receiving the kick, the forwards caught the opposition napping as they rhinoed up the centre of the park. Quick ball from the back of the ruck through the hands of Nigel Miers set Steve Winslett on a charge down the left hand touchline. With 10 yards to go, he generously passed the ball back to David Rae to score under the posts. Steve Winslett converted and it was 7-0 in a matter of seconds.

At some point in the first half, Freemen's suffered a lack of concentration and the opposition ran through to score a try. I can't tell you how they managed it, I was lying on the floor trying to disguise the fact that I'd missed a tackle - not unlike most of the rest of the team. Warlingham converted and the score was seven all.

With the wind and rain at their backs, Freemen's failed to capitalise on some sustained bouts of pressure through out the rest of the first half and were camped in the opposition half when the ref blew his whistle for half time.

The second half was pointless - if only John Winch had told us the outcome there and then! Both teams threatened for long periods, but couldn't break through the solid defence to add to the points tally. For the third game in a row, Freemen's dominated the lineout and the scrum - there was plenty of practice, given the number of dropped passes - but were unable to convert this to points on the board. Steve Winslett missed the long range penalty kick as the opposition were reduced to 14 men. However, Freemen's couldn't make this numerical advantage count and still there was no change in the score line.

Final score was 7-7, adding two more points to Old Freemen's merit table tally, bringing the total to nine points from 4 games (I think)!

Assuming this week's stitch up worked, John Winch was awarded Man Of the Match, but he knew that already.

26 October - Old Tiffinians: Lost 5 - 26 by James Tremaine with the help of Irene Gummer

The home side were rock solid in the set piece with Dave Goode, Neil Morrison and skipper John Winch creating all sorts of problems. In the line out Stacey Sheldon and Andy Suttle took all their own ball plus most of the oppositions'.

However, playing against a side with strong and dangerous backs, Freemen's decided to gift Tiffs two early tries. Against the run of play the opposition scored their first try with a move in the centre and the quick ball to the wing. The second came from a ruck in midfield from which they created a four on two overlap. Half time arrived with Freemen's somehow losing 12-0.

In the second half Freemen's dominance up front continued and Tiffinians lost a prop through injury. Funnily enough, it had been mentioned at the start that their prop might have to go off at sometime. Uncontested scrums were then the order of the day which negated the home sides advantage. Dave Hawes managed to reduce the deficit with a ball off the back of a line out which he took from the twenty two metre line to score. Fly half Mike von Speyr missed the conversion and then decided to play "ping pong" with his opposite number for a good five minutes and it eventually took a front row forward to put the ball into touch!

The Tiffs three quarters managed to create two further tries from breakaways which sealed the result. Both were converted. Although there some good passages of play by Old Freemen's the final pass or kick always seemed to go astray and pressure was rarely turned into points. As usual Dave Hawes and Andy Suttle gave their all and Suttle received man of the match for his efforts. The one bright spot was that the referee confirmed that Freemen's would receive two Merit Table points as the prop retired injured within sixty minutes of the start of the game.

Team: Goode, Morrison, Winch, Gummer, Suttle, Tremaine, Hawes, Sheldon, Dartnell, Von Speyr, Miers, Davies R., Rae, Turk, Linsell. Reps. Jenkins, Pudner, Bailey.

19 October - London Exiles 3: Lost 0 - 36 by Cathy Bristow-Mackie

Kick off was due at 1.30 but was delayed as the Exiles’ kit was missing. Just as the whistle was about to blow a silver, kit mobile, came hurtling up the road carrying their shirts. Shame really, I thought the multicoloured look made them good contenders for a dulux paint chart, (meow! meow!). It also made Old Freeman’s look very smart (that’s not easy!).

On the subject of fashion, the ref Alex Tribick had a rather fetching pair of luminous green cycling shorts. Mmm.

Immediately the Exiles, which it has to be said, were mainly from the famous springboks land, showed a staggering turn of pace.

Within minutes of kick off, like a knife though butter, Duncan made a dash up field but unfortunately smacked into the Exiles formidable defence but Old Freemen's made some silky smooth passes which unfortunately failed to penetrate their defence.

A kick by Morrison, would have been worthy of great note, but unfortunately there was no ball on the end of his boot! A try was scored by the Exiles and this was not converted. 5 minutes later they did it again and this was converted.

At the start of the second half, Exiles scored another try, after a sprint which would have left road runner open mouthed! Again they converted it. Innes subbed for Emerton who had to leave injured after the tackle of the season. Ouuuuuuuccccccccchhhhhhhh!

Mackie chased a ball into touch and aggressively shoved his reporter wife out of the way, but he did have the grace to apologise….. He wouldn’t have dared do this at home!

Throughout there was some good solid throwing into the lineout by the marauding Morrison. Some fatherly advice shouted at Old Freemen's by Messrs. Gummer (on the pitch) and Winch (on the touch line) was heard resounding around leafy Ashtead. Another try by Exiles not converted.

Old man Parish did some great defending as full back “Methuselah reigns OK?” (Look it up!)

Final whistle blown amidst a little argy bargy! Bad luck Freemen's. Do not be disheartened……… Confucius say …………

“If sometime you don’t succeed,

Don’t despair or cry,

Its only one game after all

And next time score many many try”.

PS The players voted Mackie man of the match, he downed his pint with a struggle and five minutes later, resurfaced the car park with it!

PPS Please don’t take offence at this light hearted report, But if I have offended you…………………………………………………………tough! Cathy x

Team: Goode, Jenkins, Coyle, Gummer, George, Hawes, Forrest, Morrison, Mackie, Von Speyr, Turk, Rae, Davies, Shires, Emerton, Innes, Parish.

12 October - Mitcham - Won 30 - 6 by Cathy Bristow-Mackie

An air of anticipation hung over the clubhouse (anticipation was not the only thing hung over! those who spent the previous night drinking pints of red wine were certainly not looking in tip top form!) as the team waited for the stragglers to arrive for a 1pm departure. Drawn against a club whose 3^rd team were trounced 2 weeks previously it was expected that Mitcham would be ready for revenge and that they could be “well ‘ard!”. A convoy set off on an overcast afternoon from leafy Ashtead to the middle of “bandit country” known as Mitcham.

The convoy arrived early and had an hour to lounge around the clubhouse, before eagerly(?) setting out towards the pitch for some warm up and last minute tactics. The pitch and sideline were covered in doggie doos (yuck), the ball had to be cleaned off several times! John Winch and Nick Warren-Evans (who had been asked to play at 10 o’clock on the eve of the game) saw an old rival Nick Gordon that I’m sure fired them up more. John was running the sideline due to a back injury, but the whistle blew and off they went. Enthusiasm and a sense of hunger took Old Freemen's into a very competitive first quarter, but Mitcham were awarded a penalty kick and scored. But Old Freemen's getting more and more fired up surged toward their try line and with a momentous effort George scored the first magnificent try for Old Freemen's. Haywood narrowly missed converting it.

Old Freemen's attacked again and although the try line eluded them, they were awarded a penalty which Haywood scored with his usual flair! Another try was then scored by Emerton after a fantastic team effort. I did not note whether this was converted, as I was distracted by wiping dog poo off my daughter’s shoes (needs must, sorry!). Mitcham were by now getting more and more stroppy and there were some very fiery tempers and some dangerously high tackling by Mitcham. A last surge just before half time by a buoyant Old Freemen's, who were unlucky not to score another try. Nick Warren-Evans was carried off the pitch with an aggravated old knee injury and John Winch was pulled from the sideline to play.

In the second half Old Freemen's started with a flourish and were rewarded after a huge team effort drove Winch over the line to score a try. But Duncan despite valiant effort failed, with flair, to convert it. George then scored a thunderous try with the opposition surrounding him. Duncan came up trumps and kicked the ball through the middle of the posts, brilliant conversion. I suppose it ought to be mentioned here that Mitcham then scored a penalty kick. Effervescent scrum half, Mackie, made a blistering break on the blind side showing impressive pace for a man of advancing years! And a lofted pass was all that was need to put in supporting hooker Morrison. Unfortunately Mackie’s standards are higher than his ability to achieve them and the pass flew high over Morrison’s head. More scrappy, violent play by Mitcham was matched by Old Freemen's determination to ignore it under the guidance of “father Gummer”. A linesman, from Mitcham, then got involved in a fracas and George ended up being sin binned with a bloody nose, courtesy of the said linesman. Duncan, just before the final whistle, was awarded a penalty kick, which he took and scored with aplomb.

Man of the match was awarded to Stacey Sheldon, who throughout the match orchestrated most of the attacking play.

Final score a deserved win for Old Freemen's 30 – 6.

Team. Gummer, Winch, Morrison, Mackie, George, Haywood, Warren-Evans, Emerton, Goode, Coyle, Sheldon, Hawes, Turk, Rae, Von-Speyr, Davies.

5 October - Old Paulines - Lost 8 - 25

28 September - Mitcham 3 - Won 76 - 0 by Lisa Henderson

A great game on Saturday with Old Freemen's proving their dominance on the pitch. The small group of spectators were in for a treat - The sun was shining, all were in good spirits, the lads were fired up and ready to rumble. Mitcham turned up with only twelve men so the old boys sacrificed David Rae to the opposition and looked ready for a good game of fourteen on thirteen rugby.

The first try came within 5 minutes of the kick off following an impressive run by Nigel Miers who missed Bailey to put Theo Van Dort over in the corner. The difficult conversion was narrowly missed by new fly half Jeffery Haywood who was cajoled into playing on Friday night in a local hostelry in true OF's style. After 20 minutes the second try of the game was created by John Winch punching a hole in the defence to allow Andrew Suttle a 25 yard run through to score. The conversion was cleanly kicked by Haywood. Ronnie Gummer caught the ball from the restart and went for a powerful run culminating three minutes later with Van Dort dancing through the defence (Salsa styley) to score his second. The conversion was again slotted by a confident Haywood.

Simon Parish was secure on the pitch, policing the full back line with the stealth and guile of a panther - if a little out of breath at times. Neil Morrison looked aggressive on the back row slotting in well at scrum half when Neil Mackie was having fun with the forwards and Winch was controlled in his leadership of the team hoping to make it three out of three for the season.

The rampage through Mitcham's defence continued with Captain Winch barraging round the open side of the pack to dive over and score a spectacular try. Haywood again converted. Less than three minutes ticks by and David Hawes burst through to score at the posts. Another conversion by Haywood. The ref blew up for half time and the Old Boys turned around 33 - 0 up.

Old Freemen's started the second half with confidence but Mitcham were beginning to add pressure to their game. It was only a matter of minutes before Mike Bailey cut inside three of Mitcham's players and realising he may be running out of steam, decided to ship a clean pass to Innes who was clear and away to score his first of the season. Haywood converted.

From the restart Old Freemen's worked their way back into Mitcham's twenty two and after a great passage of "Rhinoing" by the forwards, Winch broke down the blind side and a gazelle like jump from Van Dort captured the rather lofty Winch pass to speedily claim his hat trick of tries for the afternoon. An awkward conversion got the better of Haywood.

Only six minutes later, Van Dort is at it again. He breaks down the left to be caught by the omnipresent Dave Rae (who's tackling all afternoon was superb), ships the ball to the supporting Neil Mackie who is then caught, releasing the ball back out to Van Dort who sacheted through the last line of defence to score under the uprights. Try number four for the Dancing Dutchman - Can anyone stop him? Haywood narrowly misses.

Debut scrum half Mackie is the next to find a hole in the pack and went steaming for the line. A triumphant try with an ecstatic wife on the side line. Haywood was back on form - the conversion slotted to make six out of nine. Seven minutes later Hawes scores with a great 'mazy' run through plenty of opposition to score his second top quality try. Conversion missed.

Six minutes pass and Harry Jenkins makes a great break through the defence giving new back row Rob Reynolds the opportunity to score his first for the Old Boys - clear thinking and youthful fitness from Reynolds gave him this try! Haywood follows his seventh conversion of the match with a stunning break through the Mitcham defence throwing a swift inside pass to Reynolds who scores his second with ease. Haywood converts to take his tally to eight. Not bad for a debut in anyone's eyes!

The final whistle blows, so do the players and a fine score of 76 - 0 is marked on the score card. A pure feast of tries with impressive play from Old Freemen's 2nd XV. Captain Winch is happy with three out of three and the team look confidently forward to their first Merit Table game next Saturday 5th October versus Old Pauline's at Ashtead . The supporters "man of the match" was Van Dort with his four try special.

Team: Winch, Jenkins, Gummer, Innes, Suttle, Hawes, Reynolds, Morrison, Mackie, Haywood, Van Dort, Bailey, Miers, Parish.

21 September - Norfolk Arms - Won 43 - 14

14 September - Old Whitgiftians - Won 31 - 22 by Jon Hobbs

The OF 2nd XV started the season in pleasing form with a win against Old Whitgiftians. The encounter didn't start too well with Freemen's conceding an early converted try after a short bout of pressure from OW's. This didn't hamper the morale of the team and although running up the hill, some dominant forward play coupled with direct bursts from the inside backs, brought Freemen's right back into the match. However through a couple of continuity errors from the home side, OW's were allowed back into our half and managed to kick three points from a needless penalty given for an infringement.

With the first half dragging on and most of the play occurring around the half-way line, it looked as if Freemen's might have to come from behind in the second half. That was until the backs realised that playing 15 men against 14 meant there might be a little room on the blind side from a scrum. Von Speyr kept the opposition occupied on the open side while Dartnell fed Hobbs on the blind who sent Moreland on his way from outside the 22 metre line. With three men coming across, OW's looked to have it covered but with a sneaky turn of pace Moreland sped to the line to put Freemen's on the board.

For the rest of the half OW's never looked like scoring and after a deft switch between Von Speyr and Rae OW's were struggling to get a defensive line organised. After some quick recycling from the pack a 3 on 2 developed and Moreland, having the option of sending a miss pass to Bailey or popping to Van Dort, drew the defence and sent Van Dort crashing through for a try. Von Speyr converted to make the half time score 12-10. The only sour point of the first half was a sin-binning for each team. The referee mentioned something about tantrums and handbags.

The second half began as the first half ended - total domination from Freemen's. The most inspirational passage of play occurring when Morrison broke from a maul to run from inside his own half to the opposition twenty-two only to be held up by the OW full back with the rest of the Freemen's side standing thirty metres back admiring the pace of the hooker.

The first of three Freemen to cross the line in the second half was Von Speyr, who, although taking a few knocks in the first half and relinquishing kicking duties, managed to spot a gap on the blind side of a scrum and dart over for the try. It should be noted that throughout the match, the set plays from the pack had a Leicester Tigers-esque reliability with every scrum being won easily and numerous line-outs against the head, often when Freemen's were camped in their own half. The tight five combination of Captain Winch, Morrison, Gummer, Farm, George, and later Mills easily overcame their counterparts. Equally, the back row including Man of the Match "Reece", Forrest, Osama Sin-Binned-Tremaine and Bird were always at the breakdown or grabbing loose lineout ball.

The only slightly worrying mistake came about when Jon Bird tried to call a mark from an OW restart. It was noted later that this rule had in fact been changed before he was born.

Freemen's looked to be running away with the match as Reece went over, after managing to catch up with a trademark mazy run from Van Dort. The pass from Van Dort to Reece was only a couple of metres forward and Reece had done so well to catch up that the Ref let it go. Hobbs slotted over the conversion.

Van Dort then scored himself after a neat little step inside to fool the OW back line. It might have been the fact that the OW backs were scared of the daunting frame of Van Dort who, standing at a proud 5ft 9" was by far the tallest of the Freemen's backs or the fact that as he was running he was heard to say "Don't touch my face, I'm on the telly later". Either way he darted through the defence to score his second. Hobbs made the conversion to take the score to 31-10.

Whether the free-scoring had gone to our heads or the lack of fitness began to tell, Freemen's began to let OW's back into the match. They scored two tries late on (including one by Paul "Traitor" Coyle who opted to play for the oppo from the off) and converted one to take the final match score to 31-22. But after all, a win's a win and it was a positive performance to build on for the rest of the season.

Team: Winch (Mills), Morrison, Gummer, Barnard, George, Tremaine (Bird), Hobbs, Forrest, Dartnell, Von Speyr, Hobbs, Rae, Moreland, Bailey, Van Dort

Tries: Moreland, Von Speyr, Reece, Van Dort (2) Conversions: Von Speyr, Hobbs (2)

The club is growing from strength to strength and thank you to all those who are involved on every single level.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody that came on tour for making it such a good one. We laughed, we laughed some more and we finished it off with a nice bit of laughter. Easter Tour to me is what a rugby club like ours is all about. Friends, families, fun and great camaraderie.

I thought our three "Tour Virgins" - John "Spike" Hobbs, Rob "Music Man" Reynolds and John "Birdy" Bird - excelled themselves, proving perfect gentlemen, rising admirably to every challenge thrown at them (though whether they could 'rise' after not one but two dips in the sea is dubious) and generally providing fantastic entertainment to anyone in their company. I'd also like say how well their Tour Mum "Mark Baby Nurse Beebe" looked after his offspring considering their Tour Dad decided to be a complete and utter blow out, staying in Bristol.

Thanks also to all the Tour Veterans for making the weekend a success, there are too many of you to name individually but you know who you are. Well done to the guys who played rugby. Bad luck on Friday but Saturday more than made up for it!

I came home on the Monday with great thoughts and memories of all the lovely people I've met and all the fun I've had through the RFC over the years. Long may it last and here's to many more successful tours.

I'd like to say a really big "Thank You" to Roger Seymour, for providing me with the match reports every week with thanks also going to David Harn and John Winch for their contributions.

The family Seymour are going to take over the running of the Cricket Club pages in the next couple of weeks so do keep checking in to the website.

I will hopefully see lots of you at the Dinner Dance on 17th May. If you haven't booked a table yet please get in touch with Pippa ASAP.

Easter Tour Report 2003 - by Roger Seymour

Barbie at The Star and share hangover stories, then up to Picket Post for the Beer and Rugby Festival. Glorious sunshine, hoards of people including many older Freemen's, marquees, bouncy castles, barbecues, our own inflatable Saddam (cause of some of the biggest laughs on Tour), and a beer festival. Memories of the horizontal hail of recent years evaporate instantly. We could be in Spain!

Wonderful setting, but through the hangovers, Freemen's did unusually lose to a much-improved Ellingham & Ringwood team. No-one was unduly worried as the Tour 2003 was by now well under way with the traditional Sunday skinny-dipping having been previewed on Thursday night by tour icons, Messrs. Beech, Van Dort, and Tyrrell.

Rob Tyrrell set the tone for the rugby of the weekend after ten minutes with a crashing try, converted by Jem Davies. A free-flowing 'festival type' game was aspired to by both sides on the rock-hard ground, although the strong mistral wind meant that just one kick would take play back downfield.

Ellingham equalised after 20 minutes before Davies shimmied through for a fine try that he converted. Ellingham fought back with two tries and hit the half time break with a 14-17 lead.

For the second half, Freemen's made wholesale team changes to give all their tourists a game but it was still entertaining stuff. Jem Davies was delighted to see his brother Bob appear as replacement scrum-half! Birdy gave an early glimpse of his forthcoming Sunday performance when he staggered, dazed in a tackle.

Ellingham stretched their lead to 25-14 with a dropped goal and a try. Tour virgins Jon Bird, Rob Reynolds and Jon Hobbs added pace and style to the Freemen's performance. Another tour virgin, Neil Mackie, was doing fine until he saw Saddam on top of Kathy!

Freemen's launched a fierce rear-guard action with Alex Tribick crossing for a try, converted by Davies, but the final whistle came too soon as the Old Boys were poised to notch a decisive score. And then came the ladies match - our boys were glad they were only playing against Ellingham's males!

Freemen's: Hobbs, Gibbs, Van Dort (Moreland), Beebe M, Miers (Tribick), Davies J, Mackie (Davies R), Goode, Morrison, Gummer, Tyrrell (Innes), Beech (Barnard), Sheldon (capt) (Reynolds), Butterfield, Bird (Stainer), Saddam.

OLD PORTCASTRIANS 10 OLD FREEMEN'S 67

Played at Christchurch on Saturday 19^th April 2003.

This was what makes a tour. After the golf (won by David Richardson off 28!!!), there was a friendly welcome from our new opponents (but long-time friends), the Chairman and other Old Freemen's members dropping in on day-trips, an extremely demonstrative referee and a bar open all game! Oh, and a 67-10 winning score line helped too!

Details of the game are too hazy but Freemen's played some brilliant 'one-touch' rugby against a competent host side, who also showed touches of class - and pink shorts! Gary Mills led the team almost Johnson-like, and Jon Stainer got his Easter egg a day early! Well, what tour would be complete without at least one trip to A&E?

And well-done Butty for keeping a finger on the pulse in the playing area.

Theo Van Dort scored four sumptuous tries and really could have had more. How does he do it after two nights on the sauce? As Cliff Morgan would say, "Brilliant!" Rob Tyrrell roamed like his Bison nick-name and scored three atomic tries, including one involving a length of field gallop that even had the home side applauding - and diving for cover! I think the other try scorers were Jon Bird, Freedom, Neil Brent and Mini Beebe. Spike Hobbs landed six conversions.

A most enjoyable day, continued into the Clubhouse with some friendly chat, the odd beer, Bison drinking, and Bison's Dad joining in, after failing to coerce the Club Captain into stitching-up his four-try hero (for that day, anyway), Theo.

******

Club Captain's Summary:

Well done, and thanks to all involved. It just gets better each year. The Gummers arrangements were magnificent, the assembly of Old Freemen's members was heart-warming (the Butlers all the way from Aberdeen!), and we found time to raise a glass to Matt Gardiner (thanks, Sue) and to Curly Squires as the sun shone on the Freemen's draughts board again! I have never laughed so much. Thank you all, too numerous to pick individuals.

The only rain over the weekend clashed with the terrace Champagne Party but, if wet, let's see how many we can get into Joy's brand-new wider caravan! (about 60, I reckon). And the memories go on - the port, the Brewery trip, the port, Saddam, the port.......

Remembered quotes of the week:

Birdy : "I'm never sick on tour", before throwing up at draughts!

Birdy : "University has nothing on an Old Freemen's tour". (Thanks Jon, and you and the other lads were great and willing debutants.) Nice guitar, Rob!

Club Captain "Has anyone seen my fridge?". (Yes, Nogs and Doherty were there too!)

The Deflowering of a (Tour) Virgin - by John Hobbs & Rob Reynolds

At first there was nervousness, trepidation, a certain fear of the unknown. The task was so momentous; would it be painful, exciting or plain disgraceful? The prospect of things to come had been described to me by a confidante known as tour nurse, who himself had been deflowered not too long prior. He confided that the initial discomfort would fade and make way for feelings of pure pleasure. Here follows the events that made the whole experience so memorable:

Upon arrival on Thursday we (the virgins) were invited to the Gummers’ van to begin the party, which wouldn’t end until the early hours of Monday morning. It became clear that we were a few drinks behind so Mrs. Gummer took it upon herself to kill us with kindness, providing “fortified” beer and Smirnoff ice along with communion of here prized “Mahon Gin”. As one of the virgins remarked: “If that’s the blood of Christ he must have been pissed 24/7!”

A few sips later we were introduced to a wondrous place that would become a surrogate home – The Haven. I must confess, after a few more pints the evening became a blur – there was probably singing and laughter until the early hours – and no doubt some weaseling. In fact, forgive me if some of the details here completely miss the mark, the whole event became a bit hazy, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Good Friday 18 April

Friday morning arrived and, as promised by the itinerary, “hangover no.1”. Theo “tour doctor” Van Dort woke us up by the means of a smoke bomb. Birdy and Mini Beebe came streaking out of their room to a chorus of “we weren’t scared”. I also recall a comment along the lines of “I got a great view of your arse.”

We were then introduced to another great facet of the tour; play your cards right and you’ll get free meals any time of day. Beebe had told us to hotfoot it over to Billy Smith’s van where sausages, eggs and toast were bestowed upon us. Having reluctantly accompanied the meal with a Stella, it was time for a first dip in the sea to sober up.

It was then off to wait for a minibus…………..and wait we did. The phrase “piss up in a brewery” springs to mind to describe the organisational skills of Prosecutor Tribick and Tour Doctor. A little harsh perhaps, considering that was the only faux pas in an otherwise impeccable tour. Having stopped off at the Star Inn it was on to Ellingham RFC. On the way, a virgin who shall remain nameless, remarked that he hadn’t had time for a shower. He was dutifully soaked with water only to retort, “this tour is a farce, I’m here for the rugby”. He assures us this was spoken in jest but we knew from then on that there would be a fair amount of fines coming his way.

The match was fairly uneventful, I heard the fullback had a blinder and Goody was touched by his pint of Stella on a silver platter. After the match, some oxen took the field and chased an egg round the pitch. Inflatable games, a hog roast and some ale were all enjoyed then it was back to the caravan for some rest you’d expect? Not likely.

The virgins decided to stop scrounging and get their own supplies (which were hardly touched), then some vin rouge was consumed and it all goes blurry again. I may recall a port party and some fines at the Haven.

Saturday 19 April

Onto Saturday, another hangover, another rugby match. This time the team came together like a drunken old freeman and a promiscuous local but without any of the unsavoury consequences. Some great tries were scored by the lamby haired Van Dort and Bison “the snake” Tyrell. The only incident happening when a collision occurred between Jon “marshmallow-head” Stainer and Jon “didn’t-feel-a-thing-you-big-girl” Hobbs – we all know who came off worse. On the plus side, Stainer can now act in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” without those arduous make-up sessions.

Saturday night became vodka night when the ever hospitable Law family provided pints of the stuff mixed with orange. Prosecutor Tribick had invited us over for a small pre-pub gathering so we trundled over there to be confronted with half-yards of ale and shots of absinthe. Tour virgin Rob was then abducted and prostituted as a one man band whilst drinking games followed, then the Haven called again. After an eventful evening of thievery and songs, two-thirds of the virgins ended up in the Van Dort van, one in a cot in reception. Someone had lost the keys.

Sunday 20 April

Sunday morning was greeted with sore heads, a curry for breakfast and the start of the fun proper. We quickly donned our complementing Nolan sister night dresses (a steal at 4.99 from QS – we now have a loyalty card there) and joined the already assembled throng down by the seaside. Slightly perturbed by the fact that our nightie buttons did up the wrong way, we bowed to defeat in the fashion parade, determined to improve our efforts next year.

The next delight was drinking drafts. Somewhat hampered by our forth tour virgin team member’s disregard for Mr. D’s rules, we felt we performed well against the more experienced Medical team consisting of the Van Dort double team, flanked by SARS and Mini Beebe. Sadly, although we didn’t disgrace ourselves as much as the medics, the game was the start of the downfall off Master Bird. After being force fed mollusks, including Oysters and the rather too chewy to be healthy Whelks, we got changed out of our smocks into our evening wear and returned to the Gummer van to be thrust into an ocean in our birthday suits, on what was not a kind day. The phrase “bloody cold” springs to mind. After a walk of shame in front of many poor picnickers we reclaimed out clothes and a margin of dignity.

Drinking continued, most notably for a Mr Bird who foolishly failed to find a gag reflex and steadily became more comatose. The Haven was the next stop with more weaseling, singing and drinking games. The love struck Bird slowly became too drunk on leaving the arena of play and insisted on downing many more pints. His night was cut short after a safety failure on the human waltzer (damn Carnies). The party continued at the Gummer and Van Dort van where we imbibed the 14 yr old drinkers drink of choice, Slushed White Lightning. Cue a less than salubrious hangover the next morning and a comedy stop at a service station with a still plastered Bird.

All that remains is for us to thank everyone who provided the meals, drinks and fun. We are very grateful to have been introduced to such a sociable bunch of people.

All in all any pain in our deflowering was numbed by the alcohol and we had an amazing time. Here’s to next year, when I believe the tour comes round a week earlier… one less week to wait!

To Conclude . . .

Same destination, same campsite, more people and more hilarity. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Here's to Easter Tour 2004.

Date

L/F/C

Arranged Fixture

Fixture Played

Ground

W/L/D

For

Against

Won

Drawn

Lost

For

Against

Points Difference

2002/2003

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Sep 14

L

Old Whitgiftians

Old Whitgiftians

H

L

8

25

0

0

1

8

25

-17

Sep 21

Vase

Old Oundelians

Norfolk Arms (vase)

A

W

22

6

1

0

1

30

31

-1

Sep 28

L

Old Reigatians

Old Reigatians

A

L

13

20

1

0

2

43

51

-8

Oct 5

L

Old Wellingtonians

Old Wellingtonians

H

W

35

32

2

0