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I was offered a choice - play fly half for the Alton Vets (and have a queue of flankers lined up in the County Vets XV, with a wheelchair likely) or referee it. It didn't take long to decide that one !
Wonderful match 19-19 (last minute try and missed conversion kick by Alton's fly half, who is the son of Alton's President who died last year and in whose memory match was played).
Pre-match lunch for 120 (two hours worth of spectator 'warm up') guaranteed much helpful advice from the touchline.
Over £3,000 raised for Parkinson's Society, and Hampshire 'blazers' now talking of other such matches as the players enjoyed it so much. Some current Alton 1st XV players open mouthed at just how good some of the old guys on both sides still are (all over 40 !).
From a referees angle I had to deal with
a) kick off was a punt by Leroy Angel (ex-President of RFU and a retired gentleman who last played in 1970s), from which Hampshire Vets run it back and nearly score.
b) Hampshire Vets skipper (#8) talked all the way through (he is a good friend and we played against each other many times). So did the Alton pack leader (ex-Alton playing colleague & SO19 policeman). The three of us gave a running commentary for the 300 or so spectators throughout - all with smiles and jokes.
c) Alton Vets still don't get that 'tackler away' is first requirement, before I can ping the tackled player for not releasing.
d) also they still don't realise that hands in are allowed at tackle, until the ruck is formed, but not after I call ruck / hands off !
e) one kick through, Alton full back falls on ball, Hampshire wing steps over him and tries to grab ball - loud shout of "he's got to let him up" countered by various Panel / Federation / Society assessors and Hampshire referees on touchline with "oh no he doesn't !"
e) first season post ELRA Society member playing for Alton pinged for side entry at ruck. Damn - his grading is already done.
f) first half scrums very serious with every trick I know going on in FR, plus some I couldn't spot. Quick truce negotiated at half time as someone was going to get hurt.
g) I missed a few offsides, hands in, and sealing - but no one on the pitch minded and just got on with it.
h) very little kicking, and multiple replacments for both sides - but no referee replacement ! Gasping by the end.
i) experienced Society Ref as #1 TJ and Alton Club Ref (ELRA) & Clubs Hon Sec as #2. Great job by both.
Fantastic rugby match, wife of late President really appreciated the whole day, and players hung around for hours afterwards with BBQ and live band, as the evening blurred into a beer enhanced mist.
Rugby as it should be - as was the Hampshire v Middlesex match on Saturday (20-19) for which I was 4th Official. What a weekend.
Wonderful match 19-19 (last minute try and missed conversion kick by Alton's fly half, who is the son of Alton's President who died last year and in whose memory match was played).
Pre-match lunch for 120 (two hours worth of spectator 'warm up') guaranteed much helpful advice from the touchline.
Over £3,000 raised for Parkinson's Society, and Hampshire 'blazers' now talking of other such matches as the players enjoyed it so much. Some current Alton 1st XV players open mouthed at just how good some of the old guys on both sides still are (all over 40 !).
From a referees angle I had to deal with
a) kick off was a punt by Leroy Angel (ex-President of RFU and a retired gentleman who last played in 1970s), from which Hampshire Vets run it back and nearly score.
b) Hampshire Vets skipper (#8) talked all the way through (he is a good friend and we played against each other many times). So did the Alton pack leader (ex-Alton playing colleague & SO19 policeman). The three of us gave a running commentary for the 300 or so spectators throughout - all with smiles and jokes.
c) Alton Vets still don't get that 'tackler away' is first requirement, before I can ping the tackled player for not releasing.
d) also they still don't realise that hands in are allowed at tackle, until the ruck is formed, but not after I call ruck / hands off !
e) one kick through, Alton full back falls on ball, Hampshire wing steps over him and tries to grab ball - loud shout of "he's got to let him up" countered by various Panel / Federation / Society assessors and Hampshire referees on touchline with "oh no he doesn't !"
e) first season post ELRA Society member playing for Alton pinged for side entry at ruck. Damn - his grading is already done.
f) first half scrums very serious with every trick I know going on in FR, plus some I couldn't spot. Quick truce negotiated at half time as someone was going to get hurt.
g) I missed a few offsides, hands in, and sealing - but no one on the pitch minded and just got on with it.
h) very little kicking, and multiple replacments for both sides - but no referee replacement ! Gasping by the end.
i) experienced Society Ref as #1 TJ and Alton Club Ref (ELRA) & Clubs Hon Sec as #2. Great job by both.
Fantastic rugby match, wife of late President really appreciated the whole day, and players hung around for hours afterwards with BBQ and live band, as the evening blurred into a beer enhanced mist.
Rugby as it should be - as was the Hampshire v Middlesex match on Saturday (20-19) for which I was 4th Official. What a weekend.
there !
