South West Premier - Week 19 - Prediction League

The decision not to travel genuinely was down to player and supporter safety, Devon is still pretty much suffering especially the rural/farmer community that make up a large part of our squad/club, I know the lads are still dealing with blocked drains, trees blown down and broken fences after storm Dennis but I hear it wasn’t so bad up towards Maidenhead.

Supporters of rugby seem to have forgotten this is a game and the lads play it for enjoyment, travelling 400 miles in Yellow/Amber weather warnings for a level 5 game of rugby while hoping everything is ok back home, or when loved ones are wondering if the traveling players and supporters are ok on the road is no fun, the actual decision came not to travel when the thought of who would actually be held accountable if something were to happen after being warned not to travel, and the blame would have almost certainly been laid at the doorstep of the ORFC management and that is something I am certainly not willing to shoulder for the rest of my life over a game of level 5 rugby especially when the result wasn’t particularly important.

In an email where I replied to accusations of cheating and using the weather as an excuse to cover an injury problem from MRFC, I did state if it meant that much to Maidenhead they were welcome to the points and I meant that.

As to the Delon thing after he offered his services I actually saw that as a golden opportunity for all 30 players on the pitch to be able to experience playing with someone of that calibre, to be able to add that to their rugby playing cv saying I played for or against him, shame my intentions seem to be misconstrued to something of a must win attitude, in my opinion 1 player does not make a team and after some time out the game I doubt he would have made a huge difference but to the players playing with or against him it would have potentially been something to talk about in the bar over a beer for the rest of their lives. On player selection our fullback asked not to play as he was travelling abroad the next day so again it fitted well without upsetting anyone.

We’re actually in the same boat as Maidenhead losing some key players who are not available next weekend, therefore I be happy to change the game to the free weekend in March if that’s what Maidenhead want, we have a few boys away on a stag that weekend but it will give other lads an opportunity to play 1s rugby before next season.

We really do need to get back to putting the enjoyment side of rugby first at this level and get rid of this win at all cost mind game mentality, this isn’t Prem/Champ rugby where livelihoods depend on results, I’m not particularly bothered about what level ORFC play at as long as the boys enjoy what they’re doing, none of the players get paid at ORFC only the coaches, I was taken by surprise when I was told at Barnstaple they couldn’t compete with our player budget, a club that charges £10 to watch level 5 rugby and gets some great crowds!! I’d be very surprised if they couldn’t afford to pay a 2 beer win bonus, but hey that’s what happens when people throw out comments on things they know nothing about!

As supporters of the game please get back to how it used to be, win or lose on the booze, supporting and encouraging all teams and players at this level, it’s a great grass roots level that still doesn’t have to taken too seriously, if that’s not what you want pump a load of money in and go to a level where rugby should be taken more seriously, ORFC are privilege to be playing at this level and while I'm involved enjoyment will always be put first and if safety gets in the way of that I’ll do the same again.