Carling is officially a Vet!

 The England RFU announcement of their new head Coach is undermined by Carlings try!

I knew that it would be different and felt a bit uncomfortable when I saw Neaths kit, in comparison to Barton’s bright and multi- coloured garish shirts covered in the names of generous sponsors, Neath wore black, with only the Celtic cross and a reminder as to who they were on their left breast. Their simple no frills appearance matched their style of play, what you see is what you get, raw talent and a display of basic skillful flowing rugby. Whilst Barton elected to place pretty boys Jon Todd and Simon Archer in the centre, Neath chose to put a man built of 30 years of rugby brawn with no neck and cauliflower ears, in my dads day he would have been a prop!

It was a perfect day for rugby, the sun was shining, the pitch in excellent condition and a rugby crowd keen to see an exciting game, and they were not to be disappointed.

The visitors started off where they finished by putting players into rucks with the ferocity of a charging bull and their off loading of the ball throughout the game was a pleasure to watch and a massive lesson for the many of the Barton youngsters watching on the sidelines.

Within the first five minutes Neath’s winger ran in their first try following slick passing after a strong scrum in Barton’s 20metres. Then as Barton were realising that their warm up hadn’t quite sufficiently prepared their bodies for such strong opposition, they were cruelly punished again when stand in scrum half Richard Grant had his clearance kick charged down for a converted try. It was relentless, Neath piled on the pressure not giving an inch and clearly enjoying being reunited on the pitch after 10 years of standing together in the Neath terraces watching their sons play instead of doing it themselves.

A crash ball from a penalty took Neath’s score to 22 – 0,but by now Barton were beginning to realise that that so much ball was being lost from scrums or penalties committed around the scrum. A tactical move to bring on front row powerhouse Paul Phillips paid dividends although this was almost counter balanced by the loss of scrum half Kevin Denver through injury. Richard Grant filled his boots with quiet efficiency and after half time Barton began to not only compete but also gain territory. 

The confidence began to show and Jon Todd, threw back his hair and sidestepped his way under the posts to make it 22-7. The game then became more equally balanced even though Neath continued to pile on the pressure through that fantastic display of support and off loading. Former Welsh international Martyn Morris who by now was playing out of position at centre, became the crash victim of Barton’s winger Richard Bevan who brought him down with a classic crunching tackle only for Morris to offload as he hit the floor to their winger who ran it in for yet another try. The Barton players could only admire the spectacle and to their credit persevered right up until the final whistle, the final score being 42- 7 to the visitors.

As everyone knows, rugby doesn’t finish on the pitch and Neath continued to perform well with a spine tingling rendition of ‘Bread of heaven’ at the beginning of that afternoons televised Wales Five nations game. However Barton were never going to be out done and brought on three blondes to serve up a tantalising dish of Chilli. Neath let themselves down by choosing to drink lager and cider even when visiting two of Burtons real ale pubs. They were then pleasantly surprised by the vocal talents of Barton’s players and supporters in a 'sing off' competition resulting in Barton gaining the upper hand and bringing the days score to level.

A return match in South Wales is on the cards for next season even though I may be injured on that particular day!

“Isn’t rugby brilliant!!”

Days like this epitomise why so many players want to play rugby when they should be sitting in font of the television dreaming about renovating that house on the Goldcoast of Australia, which they have just purchased with the profits from selling their business back in the wet and miserable UK.

The day did start however in typical rugby fashion with last minute reports of players reporting sick and injured leaving the poor selection team with a minor panic as to playing complacent rustic old gentlemen out of position when for years they had been playing in that one position with a confident certainty.

Then whilst the mist from the liniment was floating around the changing rooms, in walks players from the past, carrying boots which haven’t seen the light of day for eighteen years asking if they could have a run out. Moments like that are a selectors dream and on this occasion cemented the final Barton Veterans team into Burton rugby club Folklore.

The first thirty minutes of the game was a close run contest, Burtons tactics were to soak in the Barton forwards into their heavy and powerful pack and then to release their talented backs at speed. The tactic did work well and rewarded them with an early try, however Barton responded by keeping the hosts in their own twenty two and causing them to give away penalties which were duly converted by the ever reliable Dave Valentine. After thirty minutes the score was four penalties to Burton, and none to Barton, a very respectable score.

You will note that at this stage the author is getting a mental block as to how the game progressed, as its difficult to think up a match report whilst playing the game. I do however recall hearing two Burton players whilst on the pitch, discussing how they were taught by Barton’s second row forward Evan Bloxham twenty years ago! Now the two Burton players themselves were by no means spring chickens, how strange that must have felt and how impressed they must have been to see that miserable old Physics teacher who spent years shouting at them, still running around a rugby pitch for eighty minutes. I did wonder whether they had a private moment and gave Evan a little dig in the ribs when they were getting up off the floor after having been tackled by him, maybe pay back time or just rewards for all that extra homework? Somehow I doubt it, Isn’t rugby brilliant!

As the game progressed Burton began to rotate their players, this was not a tactic to wear down the opposition but more of an attempt to satisfy the thirty four players who wanted to celebrate with and play for their 60year old captain. It did however create a bit of a mockery of the score line, as the new players, some of whom hadn’t played since appearing for Wasps in the Lawrence Dallaglio era, had the fresh legs! It didn’t however deter Barton from taking them on and to their credit, despite a lot of weary bodies, were able to push their scrums back and create some lovely driving mauls. It was after one such scrum, when Barton's front row consisting of Dean Palphreyman, Andy Angelides and John Allan turned the screw and panicked the hosts into collapsing it. Barton’s number eight captain Andy Gilett, with no hesitation, picked the ball up from the rear of the scrum and rushed towards the try line, the ball being carried under his right arm whilst his left was used to great effect by handing off the Burton defenders. However that didn’t actually happen because as he was about to do so, the ref awarded a penalty try. Sorry Andy, isn't rugby a bitch!

Gillet wasn’t the only one having a dream moment, the immaculately groomed Paul Terry spent much of the game with his centre partner Jon Todd waiting patiently for the ball to be released from the greedy packs. Eventually he was rewarded when he skillfully intercepted a stray ball and sprinted one hundred and seventy five yards precisely into the right hand corner of Burtons try line. Now the significance of this was that although he wasn’t running as fast he did twenty five years ago, this try was a replay of the one that he scored for Staffordshire schoolboys all those years ago, on the very same pitch and in the very same corner. Isn’t rugby brilliant!

Last week whilst I was sitting in the Twickenham’s North stand I heard a group of gentlemen singing the national anthem in the most awful dulcet tones, made even worse by their black country accents! I didn’t however hold it against them but took the moment to recruit one of them into Barton’s veteran’s team. Mark Robinson turned up at Burtons Peel Croft having never played rugby in his life. It had always been his dream to do so, but always felt that at this mature age the moment had past him by. Mark represented Barton on the wing, kindly shadowed by Barton’s Mini Junior coach Dave Titley who shouted instructions from the sideline. It was quite obvious by the manner in which he sunk his celebratory pint of Pedigree after the game how much he enjoyed that moment and how much he is looking forward to the next opportunity, proving the myth that it’s never too late! Isn’t rugby brilliant!

On the other wing Barton were represented by Marcus Friend, who as one of the founder members of the team was welcomed back with open arms and many pats on the back after eighteen years absence.

You will note that there has been no mention of the score line, as it really didn’t reflect the effort and competence of the Barton team who were totally outnumbered and made to play against an ever changing and refreshed Burton side. However and to their credit that it was as they expected and didn’t use it an excuse to capitulate.

This was a day of celebration, the birthday of Dave Brown the Burton captain who as a hooker, and at the ripe old age of sixty, was still hanging on the necks of two props in a huge and heavy pack of forwards. In true rugby style both teams cheered him on to the pitch to the sound of  the Stranglers “Golden Brown’, and then in true rugby style spent the next eighty minutes knocking seven bells out of each other. Then in true rugby style after the final whistle was blown, both teams shook hands, patted each other on the back, thanked their opposite number for giving them a black eye and then shared a jug of Marston’s Pedigree in the bar. It was at this stage that the author had his moment when he won the raw egg eating competition.

Isn’t rugby brilliant!

 

Mighty Oaks news:

Barton RFC Veterans "Mighty Old Oaks" kindly sponsored by the Independent group Ltd, Chem-dry, and Stokey Plant Hire.

Gentlemen,

I am pleased to announce that the Barton RFC "Mighty Old Oaks" veterans team have got two more fixtures and your attendance is very much needed either as player or supporter. As usual we will make these a special day, with pre-match drinks, wine and cheese in our luxurious executive box's during half time as well as joining in the crowd participation in avoiding the falling roof tiles. Not forgetting of course the post match Chilli. As for the players, well they can look forward to wearing the newly sponsored red and white quarters which are not tight fitted and do not have flowers on! They could even change in the centrally heated modern changing rooms and refresh their battered bodies in those warm power showers! What more could you ask for?

There is never a dull moment on the Barton touchline and these two games promise to be great days out!

Saturday 4th February - Home against Vesyans Veterans. Kick off 2.30pm.

Vesyans RFC kindly entertained us towards the end of last season and were great hosts  even though they beat us. They did however field their colts team and on this occasion have promised to put out a genuine Veterans team. This will be a very sociable occasion so please make sure that you don't have to rush away after the game, it is also planned to be a warm up game towards our fixture on the 10th march which everyone must attend.

Saturday 10th March - Home against Neath RFC Veterans. 12noon Kick off.

We are very pleased to welcome Neath RFC Veterans, all of whom I have been assured will be over 40years of age and amongst them will not have in excess of 50 international caps for Wales. I can assure you however that they are no longer quick and able, and I will be lowering the Barton Vets minimum age level down to 34yrs of age thereby giving us a bit of an advantage! Our tactics will be of course be to get the ball out to the wing and no other tactics will be considered. Neath will be travelling down that morning, so they will be extremely tired and this game will be an early kick off which means that they will have to leave even earlier, this will enable us all to watch the Six Nations game after. It also means that we will therefore have a distinct advantage and  if we give them the changing rooms in the cricket score box they will definitely be there for the taking!

For your information, Wales will be playing Italy at 2.30pm and Ireland v Scotland at 5.00pm. For those who are capable we will be escorting our guests into town to sample some real ale later that evening.

I hope that you are able to join us on these dates and I look forward to enjoying the games and joviality with you all.

Yours in rugby,

Dick.

 

Barton Mighty Old Oaks 7 - Burton Vets 27 : 19th November 2011

What a start to the new team with a new kit, a new look and some very old faces.

Barton RFC "Mighty Oaks" Veterans team (sponsored by Chem-Dry and Stokey Plant Hire) enjoyed their first game of the season in a close game against a sturdy squad of veterans from Burton Rfc. Burtons experience and strength showed throughout and provided an ideal test for the Oaks who refused to sit back. A lack of options around the line out meant that Burton dominated in that area, although on occasions allowed Barton to pressure them into making untidy errors allowing for the ball to be turned over. The Oaks did well to restrict Burtons attempts to feed the ball out to their fast wingers, Elliot's tackles in the first quarter knocked the stuffing out of a number of dangerous attacks and subsequent turn over balls were tidied up by Todd and Senior who brought play back into Barton's hands. The evergreen Rigby cleared the lines with perfection bringing back memories of the eighties when this squad first donned their red and white quarters. The beauty of veterans rugby Is the reluctance of the old heads to allow minor errors to distract them, and the pairing at scrum and fly half proved to be a match made in heaven despite both players playing out of position. Valentine and Grant enjoyed the partnership and worked hard to pull the team back into shape when tiredness was taking over. Despite Burton scoring two tries early in the game, the Oaks took the decision to keep the ball in hand despite having penalty options to kick for goal to reduce the deficit and were rewarded when full back Shum took the ball from his own half and powered down the left wing, handing off three attempts to tackle him and placing the ball neatly under the posts. Grants conversion made it a more respectable score and just rewards for an excellent effort. Gillett and Bloxham's fitness and strength around the scrum was admirable but a special mention must go to new signings Allen and Angelides who bravely returned from rugby retirement to provide a stern opposition to the usual powerful Burton scrum. Their contribution resulted in no lost scrums for the Oaks, a fantastic achievement against an exceptionally strong pack. As the showers and luxurious changing facilities beckoned, Burton took advantage of Barton's tired bodies and added points to the board. All in all a great day out for Barton, providing a perfect foundation for improvement and opportunities for players past and present.

Photos to follow.

 

 

30th October 2011

Dick Titley held a Veterans awareness evening at the Bass Museum of Brewing on Saturday 29th October to encourage current and former players to swell the ranks of the Veterans squad for the forthcoming season. The Cloth and little Dave provided music, Niall must have provided the pies and Dick provided a heartfelt plea for players;

Good Morning Ladies and Gents
 
For those of you who do not know me, I am a long suffering member of Barton RFC who has ben absent for the last three years or so due to work commitments, I am however now back with a vengeance and offering to take on organising the veterans team for this season. I do have previous experience with having managed a Burton RFC Junior side from under 6 to Colts so I am well aware of issues that may arise but also have sufficient contacts around the region, I hope, to make this work.  
 
The club committee have kindly allowed me to take on this role and arrange Vets games as and when the second team are not playing. Previous attempts at turning out three teams have failed and based on last Saturdays performance I cannot see this changing in the immediate future.
 
We are however planning to make our veteran days very special in many ways and full details will be announced in due course. I have a team of advisors within the club who, when lubricated, are full of ideas to make these games special. The aim will be to make these into family days when there will be entertainment and food laid on during and after the games. We are also ordering a special new 'one off' veterans kit which will not have flowers on.
 
The success of this team will of course require your support and I need to know how many of you would be willing to commit to playing for the Vets? The minimum age is for our team is 34 and we do appreciate that as individuals we will not be able to commit to all games but I am confident in saying that once you have tasted our company that you will want to join in again.
 
So please let me know straight away so that I can plan ahead and decide whether I need to go further afield to find players. I would also appreciate it if you could forward on this appeal to friends and relatives who may be tempted to play, you will appreciate that the more volunteers we have then the more fun will be had especially those who may only want to make a brief appearance. 
 
Our first game is on Saturday 19th November at home against Burton Vets, kick off at 1400hrs.
 
Once we have sufficient numbers, we will arrange a couple of training sessions to wet your appetite so please get back to me straight away. These sessions are not compulsory but an opportunity for you to get dirty.
 
We look forward to your company.
 
"Come on the Moo's!" 
 
Yours in rugby
 
Dick Titley.

26th March 2011

Veseyans lots - Barton not many

In an attempt to rebuild the 2001 team, we pulled together a variety of bodies from all over the globe to go down to Veseyans to play their Vets. Coach Kev told me the Veseyans would be kind to such old men as us and that we would have a great time. Kev even offered to play full back but at 11:00 on Saturday morning his back mysteriously gave out and he was unable to join us......mmm. But he was right, we did have a great time, they did look after us and we are looking forward to our next game in ten years time. The score was not in our favour, and thanks to Albert for reffing his first game, and to Howard for pulling together the opposition.

The warmups started well ; Rigby showed us his arse and Alan Hiden told me I wasn't to start a fight again because he wouldn't be there to help me (he wasn't there the last time either !).

These are Steve Tolley's photos but there will be more from Bill (Bailey) Scroggs later in the week.

Having gained a captaincy but lost my reporting role to FYT, I thought I'd try and swap back and so have adopted the Sunday Telegraph style of match reporting, so let me know what you think. Steve Tolley gave everyone 8 out of ten but I've made some amendments. Here goes :

 1. Gary Mooole (supported by Colin Thorne)

 2. Fran Johnson (supported by Daughter Chloe)

 3. Russ Fellows (supported by the lovely Elaine)

 4. Dick Titley (supported by Lloyd & Sue)

 5. Evan Bloxham (supported by Jane #1)

 6. Tony Haywood (supported by Alan Hiden)

 7. Andy Betteridge (supported by Burton Rugby)

 8. Mike Woolley (supported by the lovely Sue)

 9. Daz Senior (supported by Henderson's relish)

 10. Nick Rigby (supported by Jane #2)

 11. Paul Betts (supported by the mini/juniors)

 12. Jon Todd (supported by the lovely Sally)

 13. Gareth Roberts (supported by tubigrip and gallons of Deep Heat)

 14. Richard Bevan (supported by the Three Horseshoes)

 15. Richard Grant (supported by the lovely Lorraine)

16. Dean Fradgley (supported by Steve Tolley)

17. Malcolm Gale (supported by the lovely Linda)

Home | News | First Team | Second Team | Legends | Mini & Juniors | Socials | Tours

This site was last updated 08/19/12