Tynedale veterans entertained a Wharfedale touring side at Corbridge on Saturday and produced what was undoubtedly one of the most entertaining games of rugby to be seen for many a year. Including former Sale professional Charlie Vivian, brother of Saracens captain and England international Hugh, and Phillip Peel, current first team squad member and brother of Newcastle Falcon Ian, the Wharfedale team was packed with former first team players visiting the valley to celebrate a 40th birthday. With an early kick-off scheduled to avoid a clash with Tynedale's first team the players were lifted by a touchline full of supporters from both sides and they were able to witness a game of rugby full of commitment, passion, pace and skill.
The game started with Tynedale playing into the wind. The kick-off was taken by Graham Yates who was re-acquainted with his old sparring partner Vivian about a second later with a bone crunching tackle. This was to be the first of many re-unions between these two with neither gaining the upper hand. The ball was laid back for Clayton-Hibbott who fed Richard Cramb to release his backs and good interplay between centres Scott Ferguson and Gary Taylor and winger Craig Johnson saw play move into the Wharfedale half. The set piece was always going to be the toughest test for Tynedale and the first scrum saw one eyed hooker Andy Purvis stuck between props Marcus Davison and new man Sean McCready, who commented during the warm up that he needed to practise his lineout lifting as the last time he played it wasn't allowed. There were a few faint hearts when the ball was put in but to their credit the scrum remained solid for most of the game. Play was taken close to the Wharfedale line but a good clearance saw the game move into Tynedales half. From here the visitors ran a series of well-rehearsed moves using their big crash centre to suck in Yates' back row colleagues Ian Charlton and Colin MacDonald. With the defence stretched Wharfedale found a gap and scored their only try after 20 minutes. From the re-start the visitors put the ball back down into the Tyne half and following an infringement in a ruck took the score to 8-0. The veterans came back strongly and moved the ball wide at every opportunity, Richard Cramb spotting a gap to break through before a well timed run by full back Rod Wallace took the ball further up-field where he released winger Graeme Dodds who had a 60 metre marathon to run to score Tyne's first try.
With wind advantage in the second half and real focus from the half time team talk Tynedale put the ball deep inside the visitors half but despite battering runs from Fergus Mitchell, Neil McPherson and Davison Wharfedale held firm up front. The visitors then attacked using their back line but Tyne's rush defence saw the visitors spill the ball and substitute John Eustace hacked the ball downfield for Richard Cramb to outpace the defence to score the veterans second try to take the score to 10-8. Wharfedale again upped the pace from the re-start and were quicker to the breakdown than Tynedale. This led to an infringement, which the visitors converted to take a one point lead going into the last ten minutes. A back line shake-up saw Phil Oakenfold replace Wallace and Ian Lewis replace Taylor with Hibbott, having finally worn down his 63 year old opposite number, moving to full back. Jonny Mainwaring, builder, sponsor and back row player replaced McCready at prop. Almost immediately Oakenfold showed his famous pace and led a series of breaks up-field building a platform for the forwards. With building momentum the pressure was applied, even Cramb was seen in the rucks, briefly, and the ball spun quickly wide to the waiting cycloptic hooker Purvis, who had reverted to his more familiar role of winger whilst catching his breath. Off he set but with cover in place there was little option but to kick it. A deft chip through the defence and speedy follow up saw an unopposed dive into the corner. The celebrations were cut short however as referee Martin Hastie (yes, that man) called the ball dead and gave a 22 dropout. Five minutes later and without further score the game was over and the scoreline stood at 11-10 to the visitors. However the post-match analysis started soon after with Mr Hastie saying his vision of the try had been obscured (by the beer and wine supplied at the lunch prior to kick-off most likely) and if he had given it Andy Purvis would never have shut up. Fair point. After several more hours of analysis the Wharfedale full back appeared and quietly declared that in his opinion the try was good. Mr Hastie took this as final opinion, along with another pint of analysis, and declared himself unfit to comment further as by this time both teams were full of analysis. A great day for players, spectators and rugby in general. Final final score 15-11, honest.