The Newquay RNLI rugby team
deservedly retained the prestigious ‘Mangled Prop’ trophy at the
weekend. , The side have held the trophy since 2002. The RNLI lead
the series against a local police side by 5 wins to 4 with one match
being drawn in 2003.
The final score on Sunday was
29 - 22, and. £144.30 was raised for the charity with an after match
raffle and collection.
The 'Martin Edwards Memorial
Award' for the man of the match went to the classy and skilful police
full back Julian Morris, who was quite clearly a cut above most of the
other players.
This was the tenth year this
match has been played, after the idea was originally conceived during
the 1996/7 season, over a pint in a bar after a crew meeting. The
first rugby match was a one off for fun and fund raising, held without
a trophy. During the following 12 months the Newquay RNLI D Class
inshore lifeboat ‘mangled’ its propeller whilst on an inspector’s
exercise – this was then used as a trophy for both the rugby and the
rowing, moving to the winners after each event. Five years ago, the
Atlantic lifeboat suffered a similar fate. This propeller was also
made into a trophy and is currently used for the rugby matches, the
D-Class prop remaining with the gig race winners.
Players’
eligibility for both sides has in the past been questioned. All those
who played for the police have had first hand experience of being in a
custody centre. Everyone who played for the RNLI has at the very least
put a shilling in the collection box down the years.
This years match finished in
true RNLI style;, the lad’s had just bought their pints when the
lifeboat pagers went off!. Those not injured and still capable of
moving at a reasonable speed abandoned their pints on the bar and
ran.……
Ian Pengelly, volunteer RNLI
crew member, police officer and event organiser says:
“Thank you to the people who donated - to Newquay Hornets and the
Sports Centre for free use of the equipment and facilities; to the
Police for providing the shirts and Paul Stevenson for getting
together such a competitive team of lawmen; and finally to all those
who donated to the draw, and sold the tickets, especially Sue”
Full Match report as written by Ian Pengelly,
Newquay RNLI Crew man, Police Officer & Match Organiser.
It was an excellent game in perfect conditions played
in good spirit by both sides, and refereed by Austin Chapman in true
festival rugby style - hardly ever blow the whistle and let the players
run, and run, and run, and run. Both sides combined their mixture of
youth and veteran experience to provide the large crowd with a very
entertaining match.
Jason Caruana scored two early tries for the Police
and went on to convert them both himself to take a 14 point lead. The
lifeboat men clawed their way back in to the game putting pressure on
the Police line, coming close to scoring when the young Simon Bennetts
went on a breathtaking run over 5 yards, tip toeing his way to within
inches of the try line. Sadly this was Simon's last involvement in the
match, as he walked off the pitch completely shattered and had to be
replaced in the second row by the veteran Andy Burbidge.
The RNLI managed to level the scores by half time
with tries by the ever industrious hooker, Phil Cornes and talented
young full back Fraser Kellythorne. Both were converted by Lee Pascoe,
who played all but the first five minutes of the match with a broken
hand and finger!! (Fraser's eligibility for the RNLI comes about as a
result of his mother Fiona arranging the use of school changing rooms
for this match two years ago whilst the sports centre was being
redeveloped.)
Early in the second half both teams exchanged
penalties by Caruana for the Police and the reply for the RNLI coming
from the lively and ever threatening Aaron Pearson. (Aaron qualified for
the team by virtue of being a mate of Fraser Kellythorne.)
End to end rugby continued to be played, the next
score eventually going to the Police mid way through the half with an
unconverted try by Dan Massey.
The game continued in its relentless fashion, played
with great intensity as the RNLI tried to gain the upper hand. The
Police came close to extending their lead with a chip and chase in to
the in goal area where the ball bounced and bobbled around before being
safely grounded by the defending side.
Desperate times call for desperate measures - Paul
Trebilcock having given his all for the RNLI was replaced by Andrew
Trebilcock. Andrew was playing his first game of rugby and late in the
game made a crunching tackle on Police fullback Julian Morris. The last
roll of the dice was the RNLI team’s elder statesman, Ian Pengelly
entered the fray with ten minutes remaining, replacing 17 year old Dan
Gilbert who had suffered a cut to his eye. Despite all the panting and
blowing Ian must have contributed something as the game was completely
turned on its head in the latter stages.
With only three minutes remaining the RNLI were
rewarded for their relentless pressure when inspirational captain,
Ashley Mann, carved something out of nothing. He danced over in the
corner for an unconverted try to bring the scores level. Not satisfied
with this the RNLI continued to press and with the last move of the game
they took the lead for the first time. Lee Pascoe, heroically playing
through the pain barrier, crashed over next to the posts for the winning
try, which he converted himself.
There were several contenders for man of the match
from both sides. Paul Stevenson and Sam Sargent in the pack made
significant contributions for the Police, as did fly half Jason Caruana
Jason was denied consideration for the individual award as he wore pink
socks throughout the match. Lee Dickinson had his first run out for a
while and unpredictably repeatedly utilised the crash ball tactic from
anywhere on the park. Richard McSweeney stretched his legs on the wing
for the first time in a season or three, and Jim Pearce showed he had
lost none of his old magic during his cameo appearance towards the end
of the match. For the RNLI 17 year old Aaron Trebilcock impressed at
flanker initially and then prop in the second half when the grafting
Derek Johns was rested. Number 8, Carl Thompson worked and ran himself
in to the ground, always seeming to be there when the big tackle was
needed. Rouge Martin was a pine tree in the line outs and a good source
of quick possession from this phase of play. Matt Robins deserves a
mention for starting the game with a fractured cheek bone when he came
on to replace injured winger Mark Morris. Matt was unable to start the
match having to wait for Simon Bennetts to come off first, as they had
to share the one pair of size 12 boots. The two Ben's, Glossop and
Eglington, at winger and flanker respectively, never put a foot wrong
during the game. But despite these and all others who have already
earned themselves a mention.
