Old Freemen's Rugby Football Club Archive September 2006 - May 2007

• Surrey 2 RFU Final League Table Page
• 1st XV Results
• 2nd XV Results
• 3rd XV Results
• Gentlemen's XV Results
• 1st XV Match Reports
• 2nd XV Match Reports
• 3rd XV Match Reports

1st XV Results

2nd XV Results

3rd XV Results

Gentlemen's XV Results

Back To Top

1st XV Match Reports

End-of-season Report 2006-07

by James Hutchison

Old Freemen’s RFC have secured promotion back to Surrey 1 after another strong season.  Confirmation came after an outstanding win over old adversaries Old Haileyburians, and the result of the final match with Old Walcountians at the weekend was unimportant given that promotion is guaranteed. 

Losing captain Jon Stainer to a knee injury, as well as the likes of James Hutchison and Chas March, put the team on the back foot, but up stepped Jon Bower to take on the captain’s mantle.  He has galvanised a strong team spirit and gleaned some incredible performances from many of the players. 

Early victories in the league against old rivals Chipstead and Old Whitgiftians put Freemen’s immediately at the right end of the table.  Scrum-half Sam Tomkins continued in the rich vein of form in which he finished last season, as did Richard Butterfield who has shown his versatility in the back row and is leading the charge for back to back player of the season awards. 

One setback against Bec Old Boys in the league spurred them on to even greater things as this was followed by seven consecutive victories.   The form continued into early 2007, with further notable wins against Old Rutlishians and Old Blues, and after a slight wobble with two losses in a row, Freemen’s pulled out the stoppers to beat Haileyburians.   

The forwards have consistently been able to provide a powerful platform, cleverly combining the brute force of Malcolm Beech and Rob Tyrrell with the guile of Tim Barnett and Tom Fair.  In the backs, fly-half Steve Winslet has marshaled the line expertly in his swansong season, with fine support from an array of quality players including Marcus Hodges, Jon Hobbs, Anthony Rouse and Tom Haywood. 

There has also been unerring support off the pitch, from James Tremaine as the 1st XV manager to Irene Gummer for her never fading joy at cooking for up to 60 players week in week out. 

The 2nd and 3rd XVs have been going from strength to strength this year as well, with important contributions from Richard Turk and Alex Tribick.  They have created a close-knit community and a hotbed of young talent, with players such as Tom Acton and Lee Walstow performing well and knocking on the 1st team door. 

Over 150 people from the club descended on Mudeford in Bournemouth at Easter weekend for the annual Easter Tour, where the successes of the season were celebrated in style.  This has been the third season in a row where the club has had much to enjoy, after the two Tetley’s Bitter Surrey Shield victories in the previous two seasons.  The player numbers continue to grow, but with a tough season ahead next year, an active recruitment campaign will be employed over the summer months.  New players are always welcome – please feel free to turn up to training in Ashtead and join in.  Visit the website for more details at www.oldfreemens.co.uk.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OFRFC v Old Walcountians (League) - 14 April 2007

by Tom Innes

Old Walcountians    27     Old Freemen's  14

Racked by injuries, char-broiled by the extreme heat, satiated by the
attainment of promotion and pickled by the excesses of Easter Tour: the
excuses were many and varied for Old Freemen's lacklustre finish to the
season.

Travelling to Old Walcountians for the final day of the season in Surrey
Division Two, Freemen's were outplayed by a home team keen to finish
their season on a high note in front of a large gathering of their
clubmates.

One could describe it as a game of three thirds. Freemen's were caught
napping early on and conceded two tries to leave the score at 12-0, with
only some desperate defence and good fortune stopping further scores.
There was a period either side of half-time when Old Frees rallied. A
penalty from Jeff Haywood and a Tom Fair try reduced the deficit to 12-8
at the break, and two more penalties from Haywood gave the visitors a
surprise lead after 50 minutes.

However the hosts then rallied from their mid-game slump, retook the
lead with a penalty on the hour mark and then scored two tries as
Freemen's wilted.

Poor defence, a high error count and the lack of attacking sharpness all
played their part in the defeat, and the team missed the reassuring
tactical kicking of fly half Steve Winslet. Having earmarked the game as
his final outing before retirement, Winslet was forced to call a halt to
his playing days a month early after an off-piste skiing accident.
Although there had been a chance of taking the Surrey Division Two title
prior to the game, league leaders Old Whitgiftians won 18-17 against Old
Rutlishians, so even a win for Freemen's would not have been enough to
take top spot.

It is to be hoped that Saturday's display was a one-off, end-of-season
affair, as Freemen's prospects of competing effectively in Surrey One
next season depend on them achieving higher standards.
Players and supporters are invited to a social afternoon at the Memorial
Clubhouse in Ashtead Park this Saturday (April 21) and other dates for
the diary include the AGM on May 3 and the Dinner Dance at the Queen's
Stand, Epsom on May 12.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

OFRFC v Old Haileyburians (League) - 31 March 2007

by John Winch / Malcolm Beech

Old Freemen's     30      Old Haileyburians