Before a ball had been kicked in anger in the 1989-90 season the rugby authorities reversed their previous decision regarding league structure and Argaum were reinstated to Devon 1. It was therefore with renewed optimism that scrum half Dave Johnson took on the skipper role with long-serving player and school teacher Howell Phillips filling the much-needed coaching role.
The positive attitude continued into a season which saw The Chiefs in the black again with 20 wins and 3 draws from their 34 matches. Although the league position saw only 4 points being garnered from the 10 fixtures, it was in the cup competitions where the side flourished. After beating OPOs (revenge for the previous season) in the Lockie Cup first round and then St Columba in the quarter final The Chiefs couldn’t quite overcome Jesters in the semi final. It was a similar story in the Devon Junior Cup where Argaum also bowed out at the semi final stage after beating local rivals Price Rock in the first round. Elsewhere there were some good wins over St Austell II (Hall hat-trick), Brixham II and Salcombe (full-back Hayfield grabbing 21 of the Chiefs 33 points). Unusally there was a scoreless draw at home to South Molton in the league. Winger Ken Ord was top try scorer with 15 and Hayfield most points with 131.
The Wanderers also had a cup adventure although it very nearly stalled at the first hurdle, when after a victory against their Devonport Services namesakes in The Ellis Trophy , failure to provide a match card resulted in the side (almost) being eliminated. As it was a first offence The Cup Committee relented and Argaum went on to beat Plymouth Poly II in the semi final to set up a final at Beacon Park against Saltash II. Twenty years after Argaum had helped to kick-start The Ashes inaugural season, it was Bill Ryan’s charges who took the Trophy, presented of course by ex-Argaum coach and player Roy Ellis.
The junior section progressed under Roger Arthur to the point where a consideration was made about entering a colts side the following season. Ron Boyd was to offer assistance with the side the following season.
Off the field the club was still engaged in a number of disputes (the changing nature of the game?) which were gradually resolved. There were also challenges in keeping local officials happy with the standard of the pitch markings and straightness (or otherwise) of the posts – perennial problems for a club on the edge of Dartmoor!
Sponsorship was coming into the club from the likes of Plymouth Citybus – the club usually roped into the annual bus-pull event in return! OPM were still tenants and it was agreed to hold a joint club supper at the club. In other news (and almost from another age) a report in The Irish Times (2nd April) suggested that Argaum’s planned tour to Tipperary had to be cancelled as 6 serviceman in the party had been refused permission to enter the country.
At the AGM it was decided to enter the new Provincial Cup Competition, a national cup with a Twickenham final. It was also agreed to acquire a ‘Peter Green Trophy’ to be presented annually, possibly to the Young Player Of The Year. Mike Pike, who had taken over as chairman from Bill Hitchins at the last AGM, was to continue in the post for the following season. Finally, after missing out a season, awards were once again made, this time to Ken Ord (Captains Trophy) Tommy Cooper (Players Player) Dennis Littlejohn (Effort) and Pete Gamblen (Clubman).
