Tamworth Vets finally had a fixture after a month long lay-off due to the Christmas period and late opposition cry-offs, as they made the short trip to face Ashby 2nds. Ashby’s first team are in the same league tier as Tamworth’s first team, so Ashby’s 2nd XV would be a challenging fixture for the Veteran Town players.
The game started in much the way Ashby would have expected. The younger home side dictating the tempo in the early phases of play, and with bordering subzero temperatures, the aging Tamworth limbs were not yet warm enough to be functioning smoothly. The start was frantic, and error ridden, as cold hands and fingers snatched at passes, meaning the ball security was woeful.
As with many Vets games, the turning point came from the set piece. A scrum down for the latest knock on, gave Tamworth the chance to lay a platform and find their way into the game. Despite their being little between the sides in terms of physical size, Tamworth did have an edge in terms of physicality and technique, giving them the advantage in the scrum and also the contact areas. When Ashby’s younger dynamic ball carriers went into contact, Tamworth’s grizzled veterans were able to either disrupt speed of the ball, or even steal possession altogether. The scrum was not proving a good source of possession for the home side as they were marched back at a rate of knots, often resorting to instead asking for a lineout when the option arose, but over time even this proved an unreliable source of ball.
The conditions weren’t conducive to expansive running rugby, and the backline were in the large reduced to a supporting role, as the pack’s bruising forward runners became the weapon of choice on the day. Michael Clark and Leon Milligan were directing traffic with a calm authority at half back, whilst Aaron Andrews, partnered by guest appearance/new signing Chris Sheldon, were proving a sound midfield pairing, solid in defence, with two huge educated boots to fall back on. Wingers Tim Whittington and Scott Tamplin didn’t see as much attacking ball as they would like, but were largely left to police the open spaces, mopping up loose Ashby kicks, and defensively forcing the wider runners back infield towards Tamworth’s strength, a task they performed with aplomb, marshalled well by the returning Steve Lapham at fullback.
The Wigginton Park outfit were finding success with the forwards carrying game, Tamworth mixing up the options well. Tom Franks, Graham Hakes and Richard Spencer were sniping round the fringes, stealing yards with some close quarter pick and drive play, which also worked to keep the defence close to the breakdown, allowing Stuart Burrows, Rich Randolph and Paul Stewart greater space to attack in the wider channels. Flanker, John Smith, back in Tamworth colours, was proving highly effective roving as an extra link man.
One such foray into Ashby’s half led to the opening score. The pack trundled ominously forward, slowly but irresistibly, before Clarke set Smith away down the blind side channel, drawing the first defender, he popped the ball to Burrows just outside the 22. The skipper showed he is now starting to find his form again after a serious knee injury wiped out the last two seasons, bowling through three would be defenders one after another, before crashing over for the opening try of the game. Andrews was cruelly unlucky with his touchline conversion, hitting the upright and the crossbar, before agonisingly dropping the wrong side of the bar. 5-0 up, and the marker had been laid down.
Tamworth were now asserting their authority upfront. From a lineout just inside the Ashby half, they drove with ruthless efficiency a full 30 metres up field, before Ashby were finally forced to infringe to halt the progress. With a penalty on offer, Burrows called for the scrum option, confident in the packs ability. The guesting Phil Brookes, in at loose head, teamed up with Franks and Burrows to apply the pressure power through the Ashby eight. The drive was straight and good, but unfortunately, as is the way with a rugby ball, it doesn’t bounce straight like a football, and with the ground cutting up, it squirmed out from under Randolph’s control, leaving Tamworth’s tight five, and to be fair Ashby’s too, looking up in disbelief as Ashby’s outside backs hacked and chased the loose ball all the way up to half way. A huge let off for the home side.
Half time came, with the visitors remaining 5-0 up, definitely in control, but not far enough ahead to take their foot off the gas. Randolph and Spencer took a breather, replaced by Tom Collins and, a late acquisition on loan from 1st team management duties, Grayson Marks. Both players made a telling impact, Collins with sheer nuisance factor around the breakdown, and Marks adding instant energy with his carrying in the loose. The half started with the same intensity as the previous half had ended, the enthusiastic young players of the Ashby side taking the game to Tamworth to try and run the legs from under their older counterparts and gain a foothold, but met by the stubborn resistance of the wily Town side. Clarke added another solid ten minutes of control, before making way for Rob Cash to inject some fresh legs.
The Vets scrum was still proving to have the upper hand, and Marks introduction to the lineout had turned the tide there also, as he started picking off opposition throws with regularity. Without a solid supply of ball, Ashby were slowly being driven deeper into their own half, penned in. The only respite would come with occasional turnovers or knock on’s, allowing them to try and move the ball quickly and exploit their greater athleticism out wide, but Tamworth were working well as a unit to scramble and close the runners down, there were last ditch tackles aplenty, hunting in pairs when needed, forcing Ashby to cough up possession and then drive them back into their own half again.
They were still proving a danger to Tamworth, as time after time they refused to give up and asked questions of the Town defence, but time and again Tamworth had the answers to shut the door on them. Tamplin was withdrawn, and Andy Smith bought his vast experience to the midfield, the level of control was aimed at suffocating Ashby out of the game. Phase after phase, Town inched forward, before Ashby managed to win a quick turnover, but in their haste to, admirably, try and play their way out of defence by going wide as fast as possible, Tamworth defenders forced a knock on. Scrum down, ten metres out, Tamworth put in. The Town eight lurched forward with only one thing in mind, a pushover try. Ashby buckled under the pressure, causing the scrum to collapse, and the referee instantly awarded a penalty try. Andrews converted to put the Wiggington Park men 12-0 up with ten minutes to play.
Spencer and Randolph returned to the action, rested and ready to go, Smith and Hakes taking a well-earned rest after a solid 70 minute’s graft. Ashby ramped up the pressure, as they chased a pride restoring score their efforts deserved. Burrows, Collins and Marks were proving effective at stealing the ball in contact, robbing Ashby of consistency of possession. Ashby were now taking the initiative, and hammering at Tamworth’s brick wall defence, there appeared a stalemate 5 metres out from Tamworth’s line as neither side relented, but after Burrows had managed to steal the ball in contact, the resulting clearance kick was loose, and allowed Ashby to execute a 3 on 2 out wide, the home side’s centre sliding over to grab a consolation score. The ref signalled there would be enough time to restart, but that it would be the last play of the game, which was played out with the minimum of fuss, 12-5 the final score.
A thoroughly enjoyable game to play in, and no doubt watch, as both sides played with full intensity for the full 80 minutes. Ashby won’t lose many games this year playing with that level of enthusiasm and commitment, but Tamworth raised their game when needed to put in one of their better overall team performances this season to grab the win. The Vets return to home soil this week, with a game against Stafford 3rds, 2.15 kick off for anyone wishing to come and watch.

Team – P Brookes, T Franks, S Burrows (c), G Hakes, R Spencer (G Marks), J Smith, P Stewart, R Randolph (T Collins), M Clarke (R Cash), L Milligan, T Whittington, C Sheldon, A Andrews, S Tamplin (A Smith), S Lapham.

Man of the match – Leon Milligan. Bundle of energy at fly half, always a threat going forward, and defensively must have led the individual tackle count.