Learning From Adversity

It was a beautiful crisp autumn day, the sun was shining, the surrounding trees full of autumn colour as we arrived at Richmond RFC, The Athletic Ground, Old Deer Park. We had been invited to play Richmond RFC 4TH team it was a fixture the first team could not make. We were to play the game, have a meal and then watch Richmond play Cambridge in a National 1 fixture, with a few beers chucked in what more could you ask for.

Problems started for both teams before we even got changed. As we were going to sink a few beers many of the lads wanted to get the train up. Unfortunately a problem with the railway meant Richmond station was closed so the lads had to go to Victoria station and travel back to Kew or Sheen then walk a few miles. Our hosts had the same problem so kick off was delayed by 15 minutes.

Our host placed us into what can be best described as a broom cupboard with benches, coordinated bending down was required when getting changed, maximum 6 at a time only, Forest loved the intimacy, coughing was not allowed as it would mean the beginning of some very special relationships!!

We had 15 players, one player on the way and a prop lost in London somewhere. As we warmed up the familiar colours of Richmond appeared on some very fit looking massive young players. What we thought were second rows were actually centre’s and there blond prop was mistaken for a chieftain tank, he would make Chey look slim.

A bit of good news for us but not for our hosts was that their other prop was not playing as he had been knocked off his bike. Uncontested scrums for the whole game, which for the forwards was probably a good thing as it would have been a hell of a hard day at the coal face. For our backs it meant a lot of hard work and commitment would be needed.

The game can only be described as a miss match and in truth we should not have played this game, it could have had a really negative impact on the Chipstead team. The game was played in a very competitive, committed and respectful manor. Richmond were playing to a structure and did not hold back, they were playing for places in higher teams.

Chipstead had its normal blend of 17-51 year old players, some players with injuries and only one sub. The lads got battered for 80 minutes, what a baptism for our new players Chris fresh out of university and only Jamie’s second game of rugby ever. But for 70 of those minutes the players fought for their lives, putting their bodies on the line even though they knew there was no chance of winning. Young and old battled their hearts out, Connie and Forest motivating their team every time they went under our posts.

As I marched up and down the line running touch a sole individual came up to me (their second team coach) and said how it was going I said to him it’s a lot to you and only 3 to us. He said well I am not surprised we have a very good team out there. That 3 is just coming back from injury he has been playing for London Scottish in the Championship, and so he went on listing a group of very accomplished players.

The last 10 minutes was tough the lads were just knackered but fought in the trenches to the very end. Massive respect and praise to one and all.

So what do you get from a game like that, not a lot you may think? Well in this case I think Chipstead can be proud at how they stood up to an impossible task, one thing is for sure is I do not think any of this Chipstead team will play a better opposition for the rest of their career, if they can stand up to a team such as this then they will fear no team in their league this year. The team bonded because it had to and that is a very valuable lesson.

Fitness let us down in the last 10 minutes please get to training as Connie requested.

Many thanks to the Richmond team that played the game in a great spirit and showed no arrogance with their superiority, thanks go to the Richmond RFC club for feeding us with an excellent dinner, allowing us to use facilities and watch the first team play Cambridge with a 30-10 point win. We send our best wished to your prop and hope he recovers soon. He could always make his way back to fitness whilst playing for Chipstead!

Bring on Weybridge Vandals next week