In addition there are wonderful insights about the way both the club and rugby in the region operated. Argaum was going through a very good period during the mid 1960s and this particular season saw arguably the club’s greatest victory, a defeat of Camborne, away, with 14 men! Bill, like many others at Argaum, was a product of St Boniface School and played for a number of seasons during the 1960s with appearances restricted by periods away from the area including Dublin and Twickenham. Returning to the area for a teaching post at Saltash High School, he was later instrumental in the formation of Saltash RFC in 1969 and its continued development till the present day, where he is Club President. Nevertheless Bill still finds time to pop into the reunions and is always interested to hear about the club’s progress.

A Captain’s Year is presented here for your enjoyment, its a great read!

The post Bill Ryan – A Captain’s Year 1966-67 first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.

Since the first colts side was established in the late 1950s, Plymouth Argaum have had many good teams and a reputation for bringing players through into senior rugby. This of course is as true with the present day squad as it was then. From the earliest days the section proved so popular that from 1961-62, the club’s 75th anniversary, two colts sides (‘A’ and ‘B’) were fielded. So by 1964-65, under the tutelage of club stalwart Bill Farren, the colts were well established and were about to embark on a remarkable season. The facts and figures for the A side read as follows:

Played 31 Won 28 Lost 3 Points For 945 Points Against 98

One has to remember that these were the days of 3 points for a try so at a conservative estimate this would be over 1300 points in today’s value. The side proved so strong that as the season progressed they played some matches against senior (adult) opposition, hard to imagine happening these days.

One of the few defeats was at the hands of an adult Combination side, Old Suttonians. The press report reads “Old Suttonians were surprised to find themselves facing the A Colts side instead of the Extra A, but they never had a chance to judge the difference because they were hurried from pillar to post by the younger lighter team. Heavily outweighed and manoeuvred in the pack, the Colts took every advantage in the line out and went into the lead when Burgom crossed – much to the delight of their supporters. Oliver, who with Lavis, was outstanding in the pack, scored a brilliant try to give the visitors a 6 point lead at the interval. The Old Boys came crashing back in the second half, tries by Crowden and Burns levelling and David Johns conversion winning this very exciting game.”

There was much disappointment at the club when having sent 8 players to the Devon county trial, none progressed further than that stage. Writing in that season’s report to the AGM, David Dobell, reported that two props that attended the trial were actually played in the second row. Other players were openly told by selectors that they wouldn’t have a chance of selection whilst playing for an ‘unfashionable’ club like Argaum.

Nevertheless the club was to benefit hugely as the colts progressed through to the senior team during one of the most successful periods that the club had experienced. As David Dobell says in the Centenary History; ‘It is perhaps worth recording the names of the lads who participated in this remarkable record, the majority of whom continued with the Club after reaching 18. J Perring, P Picken, M Allen, P Sargeant, J Oliver, C Pascoe, B Hambly, D Martin, F Rogers, P Burgom, C Cooms, P Clarke, E Hill, R Bowden, F Lavis (Capt.), C Tucker, I Kirkpatrick and K Renshaw.

The post The Colts of 1964-65 first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.

Arthur Wellesey, who had arrived in India as a Lieutenant-Colenel in 1797, had now become Major-General Wellesey and he was to experience two of his most fiercely contested battles during this period, first at Assaye and then at Argaum. The Maratha troops, led by Daulat Rao Sindia and the Raja of Berar, showed their strength in their high level of infantry and artillery capability, but lacked the officer corps and subsequent deployment of troops that would have made the most of these abilities.

Assaye
On 23rd September, with a force of 4500, the British swept a total victory in Assaye over the 10,500 Maratha forces, led by Sindia. The British suffered 1566 killed and wounded and the Marathas approximately 6000. Wellesley encountered some criticism for dividing his forces which was viewed as a contributing factor to his high number of casualties. After some delay Wellesley did conclude a suspension of arms with Sindia on 22 November, which did not include the Raja of Berar.

On 21st October, the British accepted the surrender of the fortress at Asirgarh. This implied that Sindia had lost his last possession in the Deccan region. However the Marathas still had 40,000 troops and their leaders decided to try again to defeat Wellesey and the East India Company.

Argaum
On 29th November, the combatants met again on the plains near Argaum (known in India as Argaon), a village 50 miles south east of Burhanpur. The Maratha line was five miles in length and consisted of 38 guns artillery and massed ranks of infantry and cavalry. The British forces formed in two lines and included the cavalry of the Mysore tribe. Their infantry, probably suffering from battle fatigue after Assaye, intially retrested under heavy fire from the Maratha artillery.

However, Wellesey rallied his troops, who supported by light artillery of their own, regained control and eventually won the battle, capturing 38 cannons in the process. The Maratha casualties numbered approximately 5000 whilst the British forces suffered a total of 360 casualties in all. The Mysore cavalry along with East India company forces pursued the defeated Marathas for two days and ‘captured their baggage’.

After The Battle
The victories at Assaye and Argaum, followed by the storming of the hill fort at Gawilgarh, eventually led to a successful peace with Sindia on 30th December 1803, with the signing of the treaty of Surji-Anjangaon.

Wellesley rose to prominence as a general during the Peninsular campaign of the Napoleonic Wars, and was promoted to the rank of field marshal after leading the allied forces to victory against the French at the Battle of Vitoria in 1813. He later became the 1st Duke of Wellington, defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo and even had two spells as Prime Minister.

It wasn’t until 1851, a year before his death, that the Army of India medal was created commemorating 3 prominent battles, including Argaum. This meant that many who had taken part in the campaign were no longer around to receive the medal.

Around this time, streets in Stoke and Devonport were being named after famous battles, with one such being Argaum Villas, where this rugby club gets its distinctive name.

As for the Marathas, they remained the pre-eminent power in India until they were defeated by the British colonists in the 3rd Maratha War.

The Maratha Light Infantry however, has endured as the one of oldest regiments in the Indian Army, being formed as the 103rd Maharattas in 1768. They distinguished themselves in both first and second world wars, with two of their members receiving the Victoria Cross in the latter campaign.

Sharpe’s Fortress
The Battle of Argaum is captured in fiction in the form of Sharpe’s Fortress; a book by Bernard Cromwell featuring the inimitable Richard Sharpe. It follows Sharpe, newly made an officer, during the battle of Argaum and the following siege of the Fortress of Gawilghur in 1803.

The post The Battle of Argaum first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.

By the mid 1960s Plymouth Argaum had established themselves as one of the leading junior sides in the region, regularly running 3 Senior Saturday sides, 2 colts sides and even a Wednesday team, The Barbarians. This was a time long before leagues and therefore fixtures were arranged against traditional opponents based on whether clubs were deemed to have ‘senior’ or ‘junior’ status. Despite Argaum’s success during this period the fixture secretary were frustrated with not being able to obtain fixtures against some of the better teams in Devon. This grew to such an extent that the club even applied to join the Cornwall RFU where it was perceived that fixtures were drawn up more on merit and results rather than tradition.

The application was turned down however, before the start of the 1966-67 season, which saw Argaum continue their good from by winning the first 8 matches of the season. Bill Ryan, who went on to establish the club at Saltash, of which he is now President, was 1st XV captain, whilst Rip Kirby returned from a brief spell at Plymouth Albion to operate at scrum-half. John Ellis and Tony Blonden were other prominent members of the backs behind a pack that contained Barry Rees, Peter Green and a prolific back row of John Price, Fred Rogers and Frank Lavis.

By the time they travelled to The Recreation Ground at the end of January they had a record of 16 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats which included victories over the likes of Brixham and Launceston. Camborne have always been one of Cornwall’s leading clubs with numerous players representing the county over the years whilst their ground regularly staged important representative matches. Indeed 3 weeks before Argaum’s visit, the touring Australians had played a Cornwall & Devon side, running out 11-6 winners.

To the match in question then and Camborne missed an early penalty opportunity through Tonkin, after which Argaum’s backs showed promise through good handling with Ryan and Blonden both prominent. Camborne pressured the Argaum defence through their pack with Terry Mankee, held up over the line after an excellent effort to score in the corner. Argaum defended stoutly but eventually pressure told as Carter sent Rockett over for an unconverted try to give the Cherry & Whites a 3-nil half time lead. Argaum’s prospects look bleaker at the start of the second half when Dave Martin, who had played much of the season on the wing, but was occupying the fly-half berth on this occasion, was badly injured with a suspected broken ankle. This was in the days before replacements were allowed in rugby, the laws were not changed until the 1968-69 season, therefore Argaum were down to 14 men. This appeared to galvanise Argaum’s efforts and the back row in particular, with tries coming through Fred Rogers and the previous season’s captain, John Price. A conversion was added by the prolific Kirby to give Argaum a famous 8-3 victory.

The outcome was viewed differently on opposite sides of the Tamar, with Argaum seeing the result as proof that they could live with a higher standard of opposition, whilst for Camborne it was viewed as something of a disaster losing to a junior club such as Argaum. The Cornish Press whilst launching a scathing attack on the Cherry & Whites did acknowledge however that Argaum were ‘a competent side who would not be disgraced in the senior ranks’. The season never quite hit the same heights for Argaum, who had a bit of a mixed bag of results thereafter. Camborne recovered and the following season secured the first victory over Ebbw Vale, who regularly toured Cornwall during Easter. They went on to become the premier side in the County during the 1970s and 1980s and when League Rugby arrived in 1987 where placed in the National Leagues. 

The post Classic Matches: 28th Jan 1967 – Camborne 3 Argaum 8 first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.

For the Chiefs there was certainly an improvement from the previous season’s whitewash although the position was only improved by one to 9th; North Tawton propping everyone up this time. It was the two Saracens, Tamar and Exeter, who topped the Devon 2 Table in a division that was more competitive than the previous term.

At the behest of Argaum’s senior players, the ‘no-nonsense’ Steve Sayles was once again drafted in to sort out the two most pressing problems, defence and fitness. The results were evident as The Chiefs conceded less than half the previous season’s total and only once conceded more than 50, at Exeter Saracens. Elsewhere they were reasonably competitive, without winning many matches. Tries from impressive centre Ben Davenport, Matt Blakeston and Darren Wills eased the Chiefs to a 20-6 win over St Columba Torpoint at the end of September, but it was to be almost Christmas by the time the second league win was notched up, 12-3 win at North Tawton. Whilst the defence was shored up, scoring was still a problem, but the boot of winger/full back Jamie Stormont kept the scoreboard ticking over as Chiefs chose to take kick-able penalties when available.

After Christmas, a new coach, Naval Officer Mark Sullivan, came in to build on Sayles’ foundations with a more analytical approach that brought the best out of the squad. Old Techs were held to a single score in February, old-boy’s Paul Tottman the visitors scorer in a line-up which included future Argaum players Jamie Venner and Gareth Chilcott (Tottman had also scored in the first match back in October). Tries from Quarterman, Brewer and Stormont saw the double completed over Torpoint and the following week Topsham were also held to a single score (14-21) at Bickleigh Down. The marked improvement continued as the champions Tamar Saracens had to work very hard for their 11-0 win at Parkway and therefore the visit of North Tawton for the final fixture should have been a way to finish off the season with a flourish. However, with a mini-festival featuring junior tourists Dings Crusaders and a pitch-side marquee and gazebo in place, the opponents rang up late to say they wouldn’t be coming. The walkover was little consolation for a club that prided itself on fulfilling fixtures no matter how hard the situation is; incidentally Chiefs had made the trip to Taw meadow twice that season as the first league fixture was abandoned due to an injured ref.

A pragmatic decision was made to take advantage of The Combination’s rule dispensation and enter The Chiefs into The Ellis Cup. Tamar Saracens prevailed (28-7) and so the club ‘progressed’ into the Pedrick Cup. The nature of the competition, and its reliance on the main cup, means that there is sometimes a late flurry of activity to get the ties completed in time, however this season’s events took that to a new level. The exact circumstances are unclear but somehow Argaum had a home semi-final tie with OPM to be played on the Tuesday, the night before the final! Due to travel concerns and the kick-off time the tie was played at OPM’s ground Elburton and on a damp spring evening finished with the scores tied at 18 apiece. Without a rule-book to hand, frantic phone calls were made by the coaches and referee through to the Combination Executive to see what should happen next and whether extra time should be played. The answer came back which was the away side progresses which was in this case OPM, even though they were playing at home! The Jesters had enough energy the following night to prevail (5-3) in the final against OPO II at The Rectory.

The Boxing Day match against OPM was also a draw (24-24) whilst the senior tour involved a revisit to Gloucester.

It was another busy season on the junior front with regular teams operating at six age-groups. One surprise was the emergence of an Under 15s side in the Autumn when an influx of players from Combe Dean School made the age-group viable. It was a talented bunch of players who also had their own fledgling rock group, Boomslang, who played (rather loudly) at the club presentation evening.

The outstanding age-group were the Under 13s, with Phil Johns and Dave Sansom as coaches, who went on a superb run of results. This included a home win over the much-vaunted Ivybridge side, featuring one Henry Slade, which alongside increased representation at West Devon U13s and U14s, started to put the club firmly on the map.

The promising Under 14s were knocked out of the Devon Cup at the quarter final stage but the Under 13s progressed to the semi final to play Exmouth, unbeaten for a couple of seasons. The tie was played at Bickleigh Down on the first team pitch, whilst on the adjoining pitch the Under 15s entertained Okehampton in the Plate Semi-final. Neither side were able to progress to the final stage but it was testament to how far the section had come in a short time. The Under 13s finished the season with the section’s first junior tour, to Bude.

Unfortunately, there is (currently) no record of the awards made at the club end of season Dinner and Dance, but it is known that Matt Blakeston was nominated as skipper for 2006-07.

The post The 2005-06 Season first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.

Prince Rock Woodland Fort were champions losing only one match with Civil Service, the side with whom they would later merge, as runners up. The Chiefs were finding that most weeks they were coming up against fitter and better organised sides although with a bit of luck and application there could have been a couple of ‘W’s at least. Tries from Paul Venkort and Matt Blakestone put Argaum 10-5 up at home to Exeter Saracens in October but two late scores from the visitors meant they went home with the spoils. Later in the month the ball was dropped after the whitewash was crossed in an 8-3 defeat at Plym Vic. In February, the still-powerful Argaum scrum pushed promotion hopefuls Old Techs around the Weston Mill pitch in a 10 point defeat. The following week the Chiefs, after tries from Phil Morgan, Quarterman and Louise, somehow squandered a 19-5 lead to lose 24-22 at home to St Columba! The team kept going right up until the final week when they had their chances in a 13-8 reverse at North Tawton.

Elsewhere there were some heavy defeats in the league and in the cups with OPM II seeing off the Lockie Cup chances and DHSOB the same in the Devon Junior Cup. Displaying admirable fortitude and spirit, the only fixture the club did pull out of all season was a Powergen Vase tie against two-leagues-higher Tavistock.

It was a season of change as there was an influx of new, although perhaps inexperienced, players replacing some club stalwarts. Long serving (and perhaps suffering) full-back Steve Tomlinson hung up his boots this season due to injury whilst even longer-serving scrum half Pete Duff played his last match after 23 years service for the club in the Boxing Day match with OPM.

The re-badged Wanderers didn’t operate but a Club XV was put out to give additional players a game and Wills led from the front grabbing two tries in a win against OPM III. The returning Mike Townsend scored 4 tries on his return in a free-scoring match against DHSOB Warlocks at Stonehouse Creek. At the end of the season the club went on a short tour to Penzance and played St Just where the skipper, perhaps in frustration with the season, received his marching orders.

Meanwhile the Argaum Tigers junior section went from strength to strength with sides running from Under 8s to Under 13s. Some age-groups had to combine to make up full teams but the result was that Bickleigh Down was a very busy place most Sunday mornings. Funding was received from Plymouth Combination for new training equipment and this was celebrated with a couple of guest sessions from Plymouth Albion and ex-Pontypool fly-half Andy Egford. Paul Elms was doing a roaring trade with club merchandise sporting the new, slightly aggressive, Argaum Tiger logo.

The section fostered good links with other clubs such that a combined Argaum/Stonehouse team was entered into the Under 10 festival under the moniker The Tiger Sharks. A similar arrangement saw an Under 13 side fielded into the county festival at Devonport. The section’s first representative honour went to Dale Thompson, who turned out for West Devon Under 13s. The Under 12s visited the late Life President’s ‘alma mater’, West Buckland School, in the inaugural Tom Hitchins Memorial match.

A hugely successful Plymouth Argaum Schools Tag Festival was organised by the club and run up on the football pitches on a scorching day in June with 10 teams from 7 primary schools taking part. Langley Lions were overall winners with Plymouth Albion’s Samoan international Alfie Tooala on hand to award them their trophy and participation medals. At the presentation, it was remarked that the second team pitch, unused all season and resembling a meadow, would be back in action the following season for rugby. At the end of season Junior AGM, Schools Liaison Officer Dave Sansom became chairman of the section.

The club dinner and dance took place at the Sergeants Mess, Stonehouse, where the following awards were made.

Captain’s Trophy: Steve Howard
Player’s Player: Stuart Quarterman
Effort Award: Phil Morgan
Clubman: Paul Elms
Jenny Daniels Award: Darren Wills
Most Improved Player: Richard Brown
Teddy Thrower: Darren Wills
Tom Hitchins (Best Newcomer): Andy Jones

The post The 2004-05 Season first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.

For the second successive season the Chiefs finished one off the bottom in the revamped 10-team Division 2, won comfortably by Buckfastleigh. There was almost a mini-league amongst the bottom four with Argaum beating the other 3 once and also gaining a draw at St Columba Torpoint. Once again there was a 2 point deduction when severe availability problems meant that Argaum failed to travel to Dartmouth on the Saturday before Christmas. This was an extremely rare occurrence for a side that prided itself on fulfilling fixtures and they made up for it by travelling to Dartmouth early in the New Year to play as friendly at BRNC. Dartmouth, grateful for the money behind the bar were effusive in their praise for the club. Despite the position, Argaum did get close to a couple more wins with very narrow defeats at PRWF (11-14) and North Tawton (5-6). The latter were victims of Argaum’s best league performance of the season (43-15) at Bickleigh Down, flanker Matt Blakestone running in for a couple of tries. This followed on from a decent performance at Beacon Down where Civil Service were made to work hard for a 12-0 win. Coach Steve Sayles, who had taken over in the middle of the season had improved the defence and fitness in the latter half of the season.

The Old Techs match in October was held as a League/Lockie Cup double with Techs running out 20-5 winners and Torpoint finally got the better of The Chiefs at the third attempt, in the RNEC Cup Semi-final. In the Devon Junior Cup there was a terrible mismatch when Honiton visited Bickleigh Down in October and registered a 3 figure score against a scratch side (a record defeat for the Chiefs).

The Tigers, led by scrum-half Jason Burdett (the elected skipper Will Moulder was called up to the Chiefs on many occasions), went one better and reached the final of The Pedrick Cup, played at The Rectory. Saltash, who would have also been the Chiefs RNEC opponents if they had made it, were too strong on the night but the evening was good reward for the efforts put in by the second team. There were a some decent wins including a 36-17 win over Totnes II in March, the skipper touching down twice, Paul Venkort doing the same with other tries from the increasingly impressive Matt Blakeston and Welsh winger Mike Townsend, shortly bound for New Zealand. Another player departing was Tommy Cooper who had a special ‘testimonial match’ in January to mark his retirement from the game. The Newport based Whitehead side were hosted at Easter, whilst Argaum visited Bournemouth on their tour.

In April the club learned of the passing of Life President Tom Hitchins, aged 88. Tom had been an inspirational figure for the club as a player in the 1930s and as the driving forced behind the club’s post-war resurgence. In a fitting tribute, an Argaum Club XV produced some great running rugby in a 45-0 win over a Totnes XV on the Saturday following. A large number of current and former Argaum players were present at the funeral in nearby Bickleigh the following week.

Before his death, Tom was made aware of the club’s new junior section which had finally got under way in October 2003. Designed to capitalise on the 2003 World Cup in Australia, the section was initially aimed at Under 9, 10 and 11s. Such was the demand for junior rugby in Plymouth at the time (Stonehouse Sharks also started this year) that by the end of the season Argaum had fielded sides at Under 9, 10, 11 and 12 and even fielded an Under 15 side in the County Seven-a-side tournament. The Under 10s entered the tournament at Exmouth (winning their only match) whilst the Under 9s played at the festival in Paignton. The Under 11s played in a special tournament at Plymouth Albion, to co-incide with the display of The William Webb Ellis Trophy at Brickfields. They also entertained a touring side, Brockworth, from Gloucester.

During the season, ex-Argaum colt and former Albion player Nick Leonard was a guest coach and as the inventor of tag rugby was ideally placed to pass on some coaching tips. Sponsorship for the juniors poured in with a set of shirts bought by Andy Wheeler of Crownhill Taxis. Marketing of the new venture was important and the section was given permission to use The ‘Tigers’ moniker, with the senior second team reverting to The Wanderers. The rapid development of the section in such a short time necessitated the forming of a new Junior Committee.

The Argaum End of Season Dinner & Dance was held at The Cooperage on 22nd May at which the following awards were made:

Captain’s Trophy: Chris Curnow
Player’s Player: Phil Hall
Effort Award: Mike Townsend
Clubman: Richard Belli
Jenny Daniels Award: Alan Eskriett
Most Improved Player: Stuart Quarterman
2nd XV Player of The Year: Chris Sillitoe Jnr
Teddy Thrower: Mike Louise
Tom Hitchins (Best Newcomer): Matt Blakeston

The post The 2003-04 Season first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.

There was a feeling of optimism at the start of the season after the club secured a £5k ‘Awards For All’ Grant. This was use to buy a new scrum machine, purpose-built by local firm APS Metalwork. The money would also go towards clubhouse improvements. There was also a new club sponsor, in the shape of Town & Country Lettings (the start of a long relationship with the club) whose name adorned a brand new set of 1st XV shirts.

The club entered the Angus Colville Tavistock Tens on August Bank Holiday weekend which was a good runabout for some. Prior to that the cobwebs were blown out with a pre-season friendly with Plymouth Police, perhaps the last time this traditional fixture was played. There was further encouragement when The Chiefs beat a strong Saltash II side 19-5 aided by two tries from Phil Hall. The match counted towards the inaugural Plymouth Combination Merit Table, a competition organised by The Ashes’ President Bill Ryan in an effort to stem the tide of cancelled friendly fixtures.

The good form continued into the opening competitive matches with a 52-35 win over Plym Vic in the Powergen Vase followed by a hard-fought 21-12 home league victory over Buckfastleigh. A further 18-3 win over St Columba Torpoint in October, took Argaum joint top, however this was to be short-lived. The match had been abandoned after 62 minutes due to an injury to the referee; Torpoint appealed and the match, to everyone’s surprise and despite protestation from the club, was ordered to be replayed. To add insult to injury, a much stronger Torpoint side visited in November and ran out comfortable winners. After OPOs racked up a big score in the second round of The Powergen Vase, the season started to lose momentum.

The Chiefs ultimately finished 5th in the 6 team Devon 3 which now included Civil Service, although it was a resurgent Salcombe who claimed the title. The double was completed over Buckfastleigh, but the only other league win came against Plym Vic away, the return surprisingly lost at home in March. Inconsistency in selection was a big factor for a side who had plenty of talent. This was illustrated when Darren Wills, playing on the left wing and enjoying quick ball, ran in 4 tries for Plymouth Combination against Plymouth Command at the Rectory as they cruised to a 49-16 win. Wills was the club’s top scorer with 103 points (8 tries, 7 penalties and 21 conversions).

The Tigers, with Toby Liberson as skipper, had some difficult afternoons with one or two mis-matched fixtures early in the season. There was a decent win over Ivybridge III (34-7) with Liberson himself touching down. Ellis Cup fortunes were terminated by OPO II but there ware some closer matches in the latter half of the season. A sign of the changing times was that none of the 6 scheduled Sunday fixtures came to pass, due to availability on both sides.

The annual Easter Tour was to Worcester and featured old boy Chris Henderson and his friends from Arbroath, a regular fixture on tours for many years following.

After an absence of a few seasons, the club entered a rather scratch side into the Combination Sevens at the Rectory, featuring 3 props! Despite being beaten by eventual winners Devonport Services the side performed well and won a few friends.

There was sad news via the website message forum when it was learned that Kev Wilton, who played for the club in the late 1970s and 80s, had died of a heart attack in Sweden.

Momentum was building towards finally getting a junior section off the ground with club members taking advantage of the growing number of coaching courses available in the region. At the AGM Louise Critchley stood down from Bar Chairwoman to be replaced by Alan Eskriett, in the male equivalent of the role at least. Paul Venkort became Chairman taking over from Simon Robertson. The club also learned that the following season Devon 2 and 3 would merge.

An excellent Dinner and Dance was held at The Sergeant’s Mess, Stonehouse Barracks at which the following awards were made:

Captain’s Trophy: Paul Tottman
Player’s Player: Phil Morgan
Effort Award: Mike Louise
Clubman: Phil Morgan
Jenny Daniels Award: Toby Liberson
Most Improved Player: Jason Burdett
2nd XV Player of The Year: Dave Burt
Teddy Thrower: Darren Wills

The post The 2002-03 Season first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.

After the turmoil of relegation the previous season, a divisional reshuffle meant that North Tawton and Prince Rock joined the Chiefs in what was proposed to be an 8-team division. However, Bovey Tracey folded and Plymouth University became OPM Academicals (4th team). With a 6-team division the league fixtures were, therefore, somewhat sparsely scattered across the season.

Prince Rock, now merged with Woodland Fort and coached by ex-Argaum colt Mark Busfield, were the outstanding team of the season with a perfect 10 victories whereas the rest of the Division could all beat each other on their day. The Chiefs, with new Coach Simon Roberston, were disappointed to finish 3rd in the end, with two defeats against Salcombe proving fatal to any promotion chances. In a season where nothing came easy, the Chiefs came back from 15-3 down at home to Buckfastleigh in October to win by 17-15, tries from Ben Lanigan and Des Higgins, Steve Tomlinson converting. However, the victory came at a cost with Phil Morgan breaking an arm and therefore passing skipper duties to Andy Critchley for the remainder of the season. Prop Richard Belli also suffered a broken leg after Christmas in a friendly against OPM which curtailed his season (probably against current guidelines he was carried down to the clubhouse by 6 burly forwards so that the match could resume!).

Saltash, a couple of divisions up the league structure, convincingly ended Argaum’s Tetley Bitter ambitions in September, only after a minute’s silence for the 9/11 terrorist attack was held. The Lockie cup match with Tavistock was closer as the teams shared over 80 points in an entertaining match but The Moorlanders came away with the victory.

The Tigers, under Andy Rees, himself hampered by work unavailability, battled well throughout the season to fulfil their fixtures but wins were extremely hard to come by. A defeat by OPO II in the Ellis Cup saw a Pedrick Cup Semi Final defeat by St Columba Torpoint who were fielding their 1st and only team at the time. Sunday matches featured new opponents Buckland Monochorum.

There was also another successful Easter Tour, this time to Dublin. Argaum’s second visit in four years to the Emerald Isle had been eagerly anticipated and was widely regarded as being the best tour yet. It even had the added bonus of the home side failing to show for the planned 2nd match which gave the lads extra time in which to soak up the cultural experience that is the Irish Capital.

RFU Community officer Alan Black visited the club as part of a tour of grassroots rugby and was surprised to see Louise Needham, Argaum’s 2nd Lady Chairman, climbing off the mower after cutting the pitches. This was rather symbolic of how the club was being run by a very small number of people with ‘all hands to the pump’. Black was accompanied by Plymouth Combination’s Pete Rendle and Sam Smale, who enjoyed the club’s hospitality so much that they couldn’t remember getting home! The Plymouth Combination celebrated their centenary at the end of the season and in a special match against a Devon President XV, the club were represented well by centre Phil Hall and front rower Darren Truscott. Combination chairman Pete Rendle later commented that the Argaum pair didn’t look out of place in the representative match and were a credit to the club and Devon 3. (Interesting to see in the Under 8s match, one Ieuan Tucker and Ellery Jones playing in the same side).

Perhaps the most bizarre episode was the new year visit of 3 female students from Basel Switzerland, Katja, Michelle and Natalie were studying rugby in Plymouth and chose Argaum as their subject. They researched the club’s history, interviewed Life President Tom Hitchins, watched Argaum play Brixham and even turned up to two training sessions. Their interest was likely attracted by the club’s burgeoning online presence which belied the status of the club at the time. In the spring, the club website won the monthly award by the magazine Rugby News for its ‘scattergun and sometimes scatological’ approach. Incidentally, the message forum at the time still survives at http://www.argaum125.argaum.org.uk/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=148

Social Secretary Stuart Quarterman was a busy man organising several club events featuring ‘Who Wants To Be a Millionaire’ and Pub Olympics. At the end of the season there was a reunion for the old Victoria rugby club at the clubhouse organised by ‘Whisky’ Walker.

The club were taking a number of steps to get organised off the pitch with development plans for facilities, junior rugby and continuing links with Lipson Community College. The club also took part in The Rugby Forum – a new initiative fronted by Plymouth Albion’s coach Graham Dawe.

At the AGM there was much change with long serving Bar Chairwoman Joan Hills finally stepping down to be replaced by current Lady Chairman Louise Needham. In turn, her place at the helm was taken by Simon Robertson as Chairman whilst Steve Barnes was elected President after Ceri Critten stepped down. Over the summer the new President held an ‘Oggy and Scrumpy Night’ at the club to mark the occasion.

At the Dinner and Dance, held at The New Continental (the Hon Secretary’s departure was assisted by front row for a second time this season!) the following awards were made:

Captain’s Trophy: Mark Foster
Player’s Player: Phil Hall
Effort Award: Lee Mcdowell
Clubman: Andy Critchley
Jenny Daniels Award: Phil Morgan
Most Improved Player: Lloyd Gould
2nd XV Player of The Year: Paul Pring/Chris Sillitoe/Mick Organ
Teddy Thrower: Steve Tomlinson

The post The 2001-02 Season first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.

League matches continued to be competitive with narrow defeats to city rivals OPOs and DHSOB (a colour clash saw Argaum playing in borrowed YMCA kit!) however it wasn’t until November that the first league win came with a gutsy 13-10 win at North Tawton. A solitary try from Paul Collins with the rest coming from the boot of Darren Wills. The form continued that same month with a victory over Buckfastleigh at Bickleigh Down, Argaum coming back from a half-time deficit against the league’s bottom club to prevail 32-25.

In what can only be described as an administrative cock-up Argaum somehow contrived to be docked two points for failing to play Marjons in a pre-Christmas league tie (in the club’s defence matches against the student side were often re-scheduled to accommodate term times). To rub salt into wounds the fixture was played after Christmas anyway with a second heavy defeat to the College side that season, Marjons being the one side in the division with which Argaum were not at all competitive.

A poor start to 2001 saw three consecutive league defeats including a 3rd narrow defeat to Prince Rock (15-21) followed by another very close match with the runaway league leaders DHSOB. After a few years in the doldrums they were themselves now resurgent since merging with Plymouth YMCA, but Argaum held them to within 10 points. Fears of the trap-door to Devon 3 seemed to be allayed a little in February when the side showed what they were capable of when completing the double over North Tawton. Paul Collins and Danny Morgan with a brace of tries apiece in a 44-0 demolition at Bickleigh Down.

Just when the side seemed to be getting together external events intervened in the shape of the Foot and Mouth crisis. This of course had a huge impact on the wider farming community with restrictions on travel and movement of cattle but in rugby terms it also meant that pitches in rural areas were ruled out of bounds. Bickleigh Down was one of those affected and with the team unable to utilise the pitches, improvised training nights were held at Woolwell Community Centre, whilst both Central Park and Elburton were utilised for a couple of home matches. The crisis even extended to the 2001 Six Nations championship which had to be completed in the Autumn due to restrictions on travel in Ireland. On a local level it was decided that the season was to be extended and that fixtures would try to be completed utilising any available venue.

It was in such circumstances therefore that Argaum played their ‘away’ fixture against Buckfastleigh at Elburton with all to play for. Playing so close to home ought to have worked in the Chiefs favour but with key players missing they were unable to take advantage and despite outscoring their opponents by 3 tries to 2, they went down 20-15. This ultimately put paid to Argaum’s hopes of staying up as, with the Foot & Mouth crisis worsening, the league season was curtailed with points eventually being awarded on a pro-rata basis. The Chiefs’ final Devon 2 appearance for a couple of seasons saw them go down by a 20 point margin at Totnes despite themselves scoring 30 plus points!

There was brighter news in the RNEC Cup as Argaum reached the Final at the Rectory. After finally eclipsing Prince Rock (13-11, McDowell and Wills the scorers) at the 4th time of asking in the semi finals at Elburton they produced a performance to be proud of against Devonport Services in the final. In a display which left many present scratching their heads as to how this team had been relegated, Argaum led by 6 points to 3 going into the last quarter before Services Fijian substitutes proved the difference with a couple of late tries to take the cup by 15 points to 6.
The Chiefs record: P17 W4 L13 D0 F247 A433

The Tigers, ably led by fixture secretary and fly-half Andy Rees, had some notable victories including four over old adversaries OPMs who provided regular opposition for the club. There were a couple of decent home wins over South-East Cornish opponents Liskeard (12-5) and Saltash (19-8) the latter included a debut try for Chris ‘Jock’ Henderson aided by touchdowns from Stuart Quarterman and Tommy Cooper, Andy Rees providing the extras. Notably Argaum were still fielding their second string against Devon 3 sides such as Plympton Victoria and St Columba Torpoint; something that would not be repeated for a number of seasons. Incidentally the early season Plym Vic encounter saw Darren Truscott becoming the first Argaum player to receive a yellow card following the introduction of the ‘sin bin’ at the start of the season. After reaching the Pedrick Cup Final the previous season, hopes of a double cup final appearance were dashed when Prince Rock II won their Pedrick Cup semi-final (11-0) on an Elburton pitch adjacent to that where the first team’s RNEC semi-final was being played.
The Tigers record: P21 W7 L14 D0 F287 A635

The Club XV matches included pre-season and midweek friendlies as well as touring matches. A heavy defeat by a powerful St Boniface Old Boys XV early in the season was lightened somewhat by the fact that former captain and coach Howell Phillips appeared for the invitational side; probably his last appearance at Bickleigh Down in a playing capacity. The match was one of three Sunday fixtures during the season with matches also played at Buckland Monachorum (7-34) and Milton Combe (46-27). OPMs were beaten 19-17 at Bickleigh Down in the traditional Boxing Day fixture, tries by the returning Paul Critchley, Phil Morgan and Paul Venkort and conversions by Andy Rees and Steve Tomlinson gave Argaum a much-needed Christmas boost. True to the club’s idiosynchratic form throughout the season, the end of season tour to the East Midlands produced a close encounter with Nottingham Moderns followed by a rare tour win at Derbyshire opponents Bakewell the following day!
Club XV record: P11 W3 L8 D0 F163 A356

There was time for a bit of inter-club rivalry on May Bank Holiday weekend when the Under 35s overcame the Over 35s (60-55!).

During the season the club’s Online presence developed, with Argaum ranked alongside the top clubs in the world on The RugbyLegends platform. It was proving so popular that a domain name www.argaum.org.uk was registered in the New Year which is, perhaps uniquely amongst any sporting organisation, still in use 20 years later. There were stirrings on the junior front with approaches made to South Hams in relation to staging a youth festival.

At the end of season AGM Paul Pring stepped down as chairman due to work commitments having giving sterling service to the club. In his closing speech he warned that the club was in danger of going in to free fall if the levels of commitment on and off the field weren’t improved; a speech that received rapturous applause and similar comments from others. A number of changes were made with Louise Needham (later to become Mrs Critchley) voted in as Argaum’s second Lady Chairman, Simon Robertson becoming Junior Rep, whilst Joan and Terry Hills, who had both worked tirelessly as club stewards for several years, stood down. Life President Tom Hitchins closed the meeting, remarking that he hoped the club’s position would improve next season and he wished everyone well for the future.

Captain’s Trophy: Phil Morgan
Player’s Player: Phil Morgan
Effort Award: Andy Rees
Clubman: Richard Belli
Jenny Daniels Award: Richard Belli
Most Improved Player: Darren Truscott
2nd XV Player of The Year: Stuart Quarterman
Teddy Thrower: Lee McDowell

The post The 2000-01 Season first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.