Depleted Wanderers Second Best

Forward power but we still need backs.

Argaum started the day with their numbers decimated by injury, unavailability and 1st team call up. One was even lost due to the fact that he was refereeing the game. Players were drafted in and even the water-boy got kitted up with a broken thumb. Salcombe also lent a player so that the numbers were more even, and finally the 13 of Argaum and 14 of Salcombe kicked off.

With only two recognised backs in the line-up it wasn’t long before the visitors put the first points on the board. Unsurprisingly, the forwards were dominant, and from a scrum near the half way line, they set up a great platform for scrum half Haydn Baugh, once again showing that he should quit football in order to play the gentleman’s game, to attack the blindside, and after leaving the full back sprawled on the floor, he scored under the posts with the extras coming from Rob. The forward power was shown yet again, when Argaum opted to scrum with only 5, and they still pushed the opposition 8 backwards.

Rucks and mauls were also dominated by the Argaum pack, bolstered by the forwards in the backs, with notable rucking from Dave Rawles, Joe and Steve Brown. It was from a series of rucks and mauls that veteran player James Humphries dived over the white line to score another 5 points, yet again converted by Rob.

Half time saw the arrival of Andrew Critchley, who after tell Mrs C that he was only coming to watch, slotted into his familiar 10 role. He was also found out, and will no longer be applying to spy school.

Argaums 3rd try came from the Salcombe duo of James and Schull (???), the former powering up the pitch with the later in support and on hand for the offload from a last gasp tackle. The ball was dotted down between the posts and he elected to take the conversion himself. Unfortunately the kick sailed so wide that the players could have been forgiven for thinking that he was aiming for the posts on the bottom pitch.

With 5 minutes remaining, Mark Churchill arrived at Bickleigh Down, donned the shirt, and entered the fray. He joined the defensive line and then gave away a penalty for a high tackle. Not much later the full time whistle was blown, well worth the journey.

Man of the match was Steve Brown for an outstanding performance both at flank, and later at full back, centre and winger.