Darren Wills, the exuberant and free-scoring centre, was skipper for the 2004-05 season which turned out to be hugely disappointing for the senior side. Argaum drew a blank, with no league victories, finishing bottom of the Devon league structure for the first time; although these days they would have at least finished with a few losing bonus points.
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
