Old Freemen's Rugby Football Club Archive September 2002 - May 2003

 
Surrey 1 at the end of season May 2003
1 K.C.S. Old Boys 27
2 Old Paulines 25
3 Old Reigatian 25
4 Old Tiffinians 25
5 Old Whitgiftians 23
6 London Exiles 1st XV 22
7 Law Society 18
8 Old Wellingtonians 18
9 Old Rutlishians 18
10 Old Freemens 16
11 Reeds Weybridge 15
12 Battersea Ironsides 12
13 Old Caterhamians 10
14 Old Cranleighans 6
15 Warlingham 6
16 Kingston 4
17 Merton 2

1st XV Results

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
2
78
83
-5
Oct 12
L
Battersea Ironsides
Battersea Ironsides
A
W
29
24
3
0
2
107
107
0
Oct 19
Vase
Old Hurstjohnians
St Francis (vase)
H
W
25
0
4
0
2
132
107
25
Oct 26
L
Old Reedonians
Old Reedonians
H
W
35
6
5
0
2
167
113
54
Nov 2
L
Old Caterhamians
Old Caterhamians
A
W
10
5
6
0
2
177
118
59
Nov 9
Vase
Lytchett Minster
Lytchett Minster
A
W
23
3
7
0
2
200
121
79
Nov 16
-
Club XV
Kingston
H
W
18
3
8
0
2
218
124
94
Nov 23
-
Club XV
Mitcham (Surrey Cup)
A
W
23
10
9
0
2
241
134
107
Nov 30
L
Kingston
London Tribes (Vase Rd 4)
H
D
16
16
9
1
2
257
140
107
Dec 7
L
Law Society
Law Society
A
L
5
38
9
1
3
262
178
84
Dec 14
L
K.C.S Old Boys
K.C.S Old Boys
H
L
11
23
9
1
4
273
201
72
Dec 21
F
Old Alleynians
Hammersmith & Fulham (Vase Rd 5)
A
L
7
10
9
1
5
280
211
69
Dec 28
F
Old Hamptonians
No fixture
-
-
-
-
9
1
5
280
211
69
Jan 4
L
London Exiles
Unplayable Ground
A
-
-
-
9
1
5
280
211
69
Jan 11
L
Old Cranleighans
Unplayable Ground
H
-
-
-
9
1
5
280
211
69
Jan 18
-
London Cornish
London Cornish
H
L
12
27
9
1
6
292
238
54
Jan 25
-
T.B.A.
London Exiles
A
L
19
31
9
1
7
311
269
42
Feb 1
L
Old Paulines
Old Paulines
A
L
3
38
9
1
8
314
307
7
Feb 8
L
Warlingham
Warlingham
H
W
19
13
10
1
8
333
320
13
Feb 15
F
Old Cranleighans
Unplayable Ground
H
-
-
-
10
1
8
333
320
13
Feb 22
F
Old Emmanuel
Old Cranleighans
H
W
14
11
11
1
8
347
331
16
Mar 1
L
Old Tiffinians
Old Tiffinians
A
L
16
71
11
1
9
363
402
-39
Mar 8
C
Club XV
Old Reigatians
H
W
15
10
12
1
9
378
412
-34
Mar 15
L
Merton
Merton
H
W
39
12
13
1
9
417
424
-7
Mar 22
-
Club XV
KCS (Cup qtr final)
H
L
10
15
13
1
10
427
439
-12
Mar 29
-
Club XV
Old Rutlishians
A
L
6
30
13
1
11
433
469
-36
Apr 5
-
T.B.A.
Dorking 2
A
W
27
24
14
1
11
460
493
-33
Apr 12
L
Old Rutlishians
Esher 4
A
L
12
34
14
1
12
472
527
-55
Apr 19
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Apr 26
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

2nd XV Results

The 2XV will be playing fixtures at the end of the season, but the County has decided to pool all the results prior to Christmas and then arrange playoffs between the clubs according to their previous results.

Date
M/F
Arranged Fixture
Fixture Played
Ground
W/L/D 
For
Against
Won
Drawn
 Lost 
For 
 Against
Points Difference
2002/2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Sep 14
F
Old Whitgiftians
Old Whitgiftians
H
W
31
22
1
0
0
31
22
9
Sep 21
F
T.B.A.
Norfolk Arms
A
W
43
14
2
0
0
74
36
38
Sep 28
F
T.B.A.
Mitcham 3
H
W
76
0
3
0
0
150
36
114
Oct 5
M
Old Paulines
Old Paulines
H
L
8
25
3
0
1
158
61
97
Oct 12
M
Mitcham
Mitcham
A
W
30
6
4
0
1
188
67
121
Oct 19
F
T.B.A.
London Exiles 3
H
L
0
36
4
0
2
188
103
85
Oct 26
M
Old Tiffinians
Old Tiffinians
H
L
5
19
4
0
3
193
122
71
Nov 2
M
Warlingham
Warlingham
A
D
7
7
4
1
3
200
129
71
Nov 9
F
K.C.S. Old Boys
no game
-
-
-
-
4
1
3
200
129
71
Nov 16
F
Old Paulines 4
Old Paulines 4
A
W
6
5
5
1
3
206
134
72
Nov 23
F
Old Suttonians 1
Old Suttonians
H
W
25
7
6
1
3
231
141
90
Nov 30
M
Kingston
Oppo no show
H
-
-
-
6
1
3
231
141
90
Dec 7
M
Old Whitgiftians
Old Whitgiftians
A
L
0
39
6
1
4
231
180
51
Dec 14
M
Old Alleynians
no game
H
-
-
-
6
1
4
231
180
51
Dec 21
 
T.B.A.
Effingham
A
L
0
28
6
1
5
231
208
23
Dec 28
F
Old Hamptonians
No fixture
H
-
-
-
6
1
5
231
208
23
Jan 4
M
Old Reedonians
Old Reedonians
A
-
25
17
7
1
5
256
225
31
Jan 11
M
Streatham Croydon
-
H
-
-
-
7
1
5
256
225
31
Jan 18
M
Battersea Ironsides
Battersea Ironsides
A
L
15
35
7
1
6
271
260
11
Jan 25
F
Old Cranleighans
Cancelled
A
-
-
-
7
1
6
271
260
11
Feb 1
 
Streatham & Croydon
Water Logged
-
-
-
-
7
1
6
271
260
11
Feb 8
 
T.B.A.
Streatham & Croydon
H
L
19
25
7
1
7
290
285
5
Feb 15
F
Old Walcountians
Cancelled
A
-
-
-
7
1
7
290
285
5
Feb 22
F
Old Emmanuel
KCS 3rd XV
H
L
14
67
7
1
8
304
352
(48)
Mar 1
-
-
Cancelled
-
-
-
-
7
1
8
304
352
(48)
Mar 8
-
-
Cancelled
-
-
-
-
7
1
8
304
352
(48)
Mar 15
-
-
Old Reigatians 2
H
L
20
31
8
1
8
324
383
(59)
Mar 22
-
-
Old Alleynian's
H
W
34
17
9
1
8
358
400
(42)
Mar 29
-
-
No fixture
-
-
-
-
9
1
8
358
400
(42)
Apr 5
-
-
Bec Old Boys 2
H
L
10
19
9
1
9
368
419
(51)

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1st XV Match Reports

Pre Season Report

12 April  - Esher 4 - Lost 12 - 34 by Roger Seymour

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 4th 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 br