Mark Hunt, a combative flanker, was skipper for the 1994-95 season with Pete Duff once again Club Captain. The fixture card only advertises two teams but, such was the playing strength, The Drifters were able to run again for the first time in a few years. The club were still picking up players from the demise of the Victoria club including no.8 Rob ‘Arnie’ Humphreys who was to make a significant contribution during the season.
After a season out, the club applied to rejoin the Plymouth Combination and at the first general meeting in September were apparently welcomed back with open arms.
With the re-introduction of the newly amalgamated Plympton-Victoria, Devon 2 started off as a 13 team division. Unfortunately DHSOB had to withdraw which made it an even 12. The Chiefs finished 7th with 6 wins and 5 defeats but, in common with most of the division, had points deducted for fielding an unregistered player. With the skipper leading from the front there wre good home wins against YMCA (41-6, Hunt hat-trick) and Plym-Vic (22-5, Hunt sent-off). The Chiefs did struggle a little against the top teams in the division but still ended up 50 points in credit. Winger Phil Morgan dislocated a shoulder at the Cullompton match.
In the national cup, now known as The Pilkington Shield, St Columba were beaten 38-0 in the first round, which included a couple of tries apiece by Terry and Cartwright with full back Steve Tomlinson adding four conversions. In the next round the Chiefs were to face Salcombe – unfortunately the result is unknown as is the scheduled Devon Cup fixture with Axminster.
Si Poole’s Tigers continued with some impressive results. Rejoicing in a name with just a hint of tartan, Ian Robert Bruce ‘Faddy’ McFadzen grabbed both tries in the win over Prince Rock II and a hat-trick in the match against Plymstock II.
The Drifters also took on second team opposition, losing to Plymstock and Tamar Saracens but beating Jesters II 55-5.
The league structure was still having an impact on traditional fixtures with much correspondence relating to cancellation of matches both for and against the club.
Ian Roberts was an industrious fixture secretary planning well ahead for the following season as well as being the club’s resident referee.
OPM and Stonehouse Saints were still operating from the premises but there was less support for the Sunday fixtures. The social side continued to thrive, bolstered by wives and girlfriends and a Charity Match held on Easter Monday was hailed a s a great success raising almost £600 for a Special Care baby Unit.
In April the club had its first tour for some time in what would become a bit of an Easter tradition. A 16 man party visited Gloucester to play matches against Tredworth and Bishopston. Amongst the party was prop Paul Pring, who was to become social secretary the following season and an even more influential role thereafter. The club also won The Alex Dow Plate at The Combination Sevens in May.
At The Devon AGM, Chairman Alan Stevens looked forward to the 1995 World cup in South Africa but with not without some trepidation about the proposal for the game to go professional later that year.
The Dinner and Dance was held at The Strathmore Hotel at which Rob Humphreys picked up both the Captains Trophy and Players Player awards, full-back Steve Tomlinson The Effort award and Martyn Walker The Clubman. A new award of most improved player was presented to prop Barry Scott.
