Barry Vets

by Paul Haley

FOLLOWING a fine Welsh Grand Slam victory win over France which signalled a weekend of celebration, Barry Rugby Club Veterans Team played host to old friends from Beauvais, Les Independentes.

Led by Monsieur Le Presidente Patrick Dorchy, a record number of over 40 visitors were welcomed to Barry for the bi-annual home fixture.

Some visitors have been travelling to Barry since the 1970s and expressed their sorrow that the Fantasia is no longer a disco!

Prior to the game, there was a minute's silence for Nick Jones, a former Barry player who tragically died last summer.

In his honour, his son signalled the start of the game by taking the kick-off.

The rules of the game were amended, with kicks outside the 22 metre line not allowed, and scrums being unopposed. This was designed to help older players, and produced Champagne running rugby that left spectators, and particularly the Veterans, breathless!

Regular Veterans players, who travel to France each May for an annual Veterans Tournoi, took to the field as first selection: Richie Davies, Ian Stavros Davies, Lee David, Clive Thomas, Paul Delaney, Charlie Chucas, Paul Haley, Joffrey Williams, Jimmy Lye, Mark Baker, Andy Moffat.

They were joined by other golden oldies, such as Mike Prosser (now back in the firsts!), Rhydian Scott, Andrew Prosser, Gripper Dai Griffiths, Darren Gibbon, Gerwyn Pugh, John Dimond, Graham Matthews, Mark Davies, Ed Svendson, Jason Evans and probably a few more that I can't remember - sorry boys!

The game was played at quite an incredible pace on a very soggy pitch, which seemed to keep the injuries down to just youngster Jason Evans!

All bets on whether Jimmy Lye, Mark Baker, or Paul Haley would get past the first five minutes were null and void.

Against the run of play, Beauvais took the lead with an interception try almost the length of the pitch.

But Barry fought back through its never-ending substitutions policy and quality of ball-carriers.

It was probably about seven tries to two in favour of Barry, who ran away with the game in the second half, but who was counting!

This game epitomises Barry Rugby Club Veterans' rugby which is always about long-standing friendships.

A further try for Barry was disallowed due to Micky Mepham calling a touch-line decision against Barry, after having defected and become a Frenchman for the day.

Mickey also played at prop, second row, flanker and any position that Beauvais would let him.

The spectators, comprising of many older generation Veteran stalwarts of the Club, were treated to several memorable moments, such as the Stavros mis-move shout "my ball!" designed to effectively fool everyone into thinking he was planning to catch a high ball.

Clive Thomas, fresh from playing number seven for Wales, ran for the try line and tripped up cruelly short. However, the Referee blew his whistle to award a try.

As Beauvais stopped playing, Clive recovered from his trip, got up out of the mud and ran a further five yards to score again!!

But by then, the referee was bored and instead awarded a scrum to a surprised Beauvais.

The ball-carrying and passing were excellent for a team that came together on the day, without any training.

In fact, it was agreed by all that perhaps Barry Veterans are better without training, which just seems to cause injuries.

The day was marred by some local idiots breaking into the coach of our other French guests from the village of Arras in the night and damaging the lights. So, Arras had to leave early morning to get home in the daylight.

The legendary French cuisine that is a speciality of Arras departed as well.

Barry Rugby Club Veterans wish to express their apologies to Arras about the mindless behaviour of a small minority of local people, and hope that Arras will travel to Barry again in the future.

A big thank you also to Barry Rugby Club and Claire and her team who stepped in and put together food for our guests at very short notice.

Nick Jones' family presented a shield, which will be regularly played for between the two teams.

The trophy was presented to Barry Rugby Club Veterans captain, Paul Delaney, selected as the oldest Veteran to lead the boys to this historic victory.

Paul gave a speech thanking Beauvais for a wonderful weekend of friendship, entente cordiale, and champagne rugby, and looking forward to Barry Veterans visiting Beauvais in May.

A few more players have signed up already to travel to Beauvais in May for the fantastic Tournoi - which will feature ten teams this year.

Any player interested must ensure they register with the Club as soon as possible.

Barry Rugby Club Veterans would like to thank everyone who hosted our guests for the weekend, and Dai James and Barry Rugby Club for their excellent support.

The Veterans would especially like to thank Micky Mepham for his outstanding organisation of the whole weekend. Well done Mickey.

7:50am Thursday 20th March 2008

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