Totnes Vets
Totnes veteran’s team was re-formed in 2002 by Mike Edmonds and we have continued with a team since then. I (Alan Tate, pictured) took over organising the team last season. We have approximately eight games a season, usually one a month, culminating in the Exmouth Vets Tournament held on Good Friday every year.
It’s not an easy job getting lots of old bones of various ages out of bed on Sundays but when we manage to get everyone together we have quite a strong side.
We play or have played Paignton, Ivybridge, Moretonhampstead, OPO’s and occasionally a touring side.
At Exmouth Tournament this year there were seven teams playing games in two pools of 15 minutes a half culminating in the final which is extended to 20 minutes a half. Last year only five clubs attended and we all played each other. We went with a tight team of sixteen players this year but thanks to the generosity and spirit of the tournament we borrowed a scrum half from Withycombe.
This enabled us to play Rod Gorman at ten and move Andy Rive out to inside centre. We had some new vets this year in Chris Life and Lex Keen plus a converted footballer in Nigel Jarvis. We beat Ivybridge in the first game and then Newton Abbot in the second.
Unfortunately we lost Rod to groin strain so had to borrow a ten from Newton for our third game against Ivybridge which was the decider to get to the final.
Unfortunately Ivy had come mob handed and had a few fresh legs which was our downfall being by one try. But every year we improve and if we can get there with a squad of at least twenty there’s no reason why we can’t get to the final next year.
We have entered Exmouth Vets this year so if you are over 35 and fancy a great day out on Good Friday contact me Alan ‘Tatey’ Tate on 07957 810940 or email: alan@greyassociates.co.uk
As the saying goes ‘there’s no substitute for age and treachery’
