RUGBY MIDGETS 3 P 8, W 8, L 0 Was this the perfect season? Eight played, eight won. 189 points for, 81 against in regular play. Additionally, M3 beat Cheltenham M2 by 40 points; conclusive. As in past years, it was always going to be about the Harrow game. St Paul’s was a gritty encounter and M3 were shattered at the end, but a win was secured thanks to committed play from Olly Skelly up front and match-winning runs from Alex Martin. Eton are a bench mark and M3 came through with real plaudits. When the Rhinos beat a classy Tonbridge side RDW whispered to the Chaplain that the unbeaten season was on the cards. The dons didn’t tell the boys, but knew some sensed what they were quietly thinking. Tonbridge were an excellent schoolboy side with a tenacious pack and welldrilled backs. They were used to winning and had already put big scores on well-known rugby playing schools. Theo Metcalfe was a bull up front and battered the opposition in the loose. His performance in this match caught the eye of M1 where he ultimately secured a place. Archie George played with rare ferocity and extraordinary will and scored the last try to tie the match. Bertie Southgate then had the daunting task of kicking to win from the side line. DW and RDW had rigged a late kick-off on Jackdaw to ensure returning crowds would stop to watch the final minutes on the way back from more distant matches. So, in front of a now sizeable and rumbustious crowd, headed up by the Warden, Southgate stood and delivered – over the top of the sticks. The final whistle blew and the back-slapping began; a historic and vital win.
Coaches: D Wilson, RD Woodling Captain: EBA Pascall
the last few yards. Dom Woolf flanked gallantly and Harry Salter, in the engine room, was a candidate for player of the season. Salter produced commanding performances, match in, match out. Jamie Walker, also at lock, was 13 going on 25. His muscular athleticism and power in the loose and in the scrummage wore down oppositions. John Peers knew no fear and is one of the Club’s best tacklers; Gus Cayzer was a rock up front; George Batty brought athleticism and strength to the wing forwards and Will Dunhill-Turner scored the decisive try with a classic number 8 pick-up to defeat Harrow. M3 is often about screw turning up front, but this year M3 were blessed with skill and power in the backs to complement a dominant pack. Scrum halves Will Duncan and Toby Crawford brought cheek and flair to a central position and their confidence won us close encounters. Hugo Carr was too good to be in M3; his savage runs from centre and fullback and lengthy boot had the score board running overtime.
The Harrow match was a classic. Mr. Greed had provided M3 with a Society Ref for the second weekend in a row, such was the importance of this match to the Club. Mr. Greed gave a pre-match team talk to M3 over at Kennington II and all the lads understood the significance of winning. Experienced pros arrived from Harrow and barked instructions from the side lines. The Warden watched the entire match and contributed pithy words to RDW and a nervous Chaplain.
Baz Butterwick and Felix Reynish were late signings but proved vital to the ultimate success of this celebrated team. Milo Brett, at outside centre, was a determined tackler with a rangy running style that brought us valuable points. Zac Peskin always made ground on the wing: with no reverse gear he tackled head on and carried the ball prodigiously well for a more nimble lad. Archie Gill was the finest tackler in M3 and could be relied upon to put his man down either from fullback or from the wing. On several occasions this proved quite crucial. Archie also scored repeatedly and his superior speed and determination was too much for his opposite numbers.
There were congratulations from Harrow and from the Warden and a place in immortality in Radley Rugby. Very few sides go unbeaten and this talented and determined team of lads will soar as they rise up through years and the ranks. I hugely look forward to following the progress of these stellar players and fully expect to see several representing Bigside in years to come.
It was an old-school encounter with ramraiding from the forwards and simple play from the backs. The backs were especially nervous and it took singleminded play from Robson up front and Walker in support to lead the way. Ed Pascal’s try to break the 5-5 deadlock with a swashbuckling run made the difference. There was an extraordinary urgency to matters thereafter and when the final whistle sounded the exhaustion and sheer relief was enormous.
RDW, DW
Fresh from this match and pumped with confidence, the Rhinos ran rampant to leave away with Captain Ed Pascall marshalling a focused and professional band of boys. An extraordinary team of lads rode roughshod. Felix Giliat-Smith galloped in repeatedly; Will Robson savaged the opposition up front and Nico Reid Scott was irresistible over
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