Why do I love Rugby
Why do I get so excited by the thought of another season standing on the side lines in all weathers, trying to get the best view, wondering what on earth the ref is seeing, getting in the stand quick when the rain comes in, wondering where on earth my son has run off to this time, distracting me from the game and why oh why can't Barum win every game and stop me going home on Saturday night in a bad mood.
I blame Jonathan Hunt, if you are out there anywhere, mate it is all your fault, 10 years old and following your mate down to rugby on Sunday morning and coming under the watchful gaze of the local legend Chris Drayton. 7 years I played under his coaching, captain for about 4 of those, going from a season where we didn't win a game to U-16s winning the Devon championship against Newton Abbot who had been our fiercest rivals for years, and to be honest we gave them a lesson in running rugby. ( I still have the Journal Cutting )
Unfortunately I will always blame my injury prone body on having my attention turned by wine women and song at 18, and not returning to my first love until I was 25. I never developed the sheer strength and bulk that playing continously gives you.
My major ambition was always to play 1st team rugby for Barnstaple, because when I was junior it always seemed such an impossible task. I trained like crazy for a year, always there on tuesday and thursday and going to the gym for the other nights. Playing second team rugby starting on the wing, feeling as green as green, first senior game away at Exeter University, Jim Hudson shouting at half time there a bunch of kids we should be beating them, which we did eventually when Gammo stole my try.
That 2nd team was bloody impressive that year, Steve Southworth captaining when he wasn't being dragged back up to the 1st team, Chuggy pulling the strings in midfield, Andy Gubb and Mike Sloman regularly guesting. Under the watchful eye of Max Faulkner and the Peter 'imagine a happy place' Wright, we recorded famous wins away at Launceston against there second string, well famous for the mass pile involving subs, spectators and the Ref abandoning the game, only to be convinced by Steve to come back out and my match winning try, big thanks to Rusty for smashing there centre so hard the ball squirted out and I made it to the corner just in time!
TBC, if anybody is interested!
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