Tribute Devon one

Topsham 87,

Forget about the score. This game was all about guts and determination. This game was about players stepping up to the plate.

This game was about the love of rugby.

What other team would turn up to a game, knowing they had seventeen players and ten of the seventeen playing out of position?

Players like Dave Bradley, Dave Sharam, Dan Greeno, Rob Newman, Dave Gibson, to name but a few.

When Dartmouth's back is against the wall, players like these turn up, take part, play the game and make a massive difference.

Dave Bradley was named man of the match; Brads made every tackle, was first in every ruck, was constantly talking to players, grabbing hold of players to spur them on and was a force to be reckoned with for the full eighty minutes.

Dan Greeno was a close second, making three try-saving tackles and having a couple of runs towards the whitewash.

Dave Sharam started off on the wing then went into the centre and then filled in at flanker.

Rob Newman could only manage ten minutes, Rob picking up an injury in the warm up. All of this and still these players honoured the fixture and never in the eighty minutes ever thought about giving up.

Most teams in the country would love a squad of players like Dartmouth have and they are a joy to be around.

Declan Hammond, Nick Shillabeer, Dave Cudd, Carl Woodgate, Karl Caunter, Adam Sharam, Simon Enwistle, Richard Lobb, John Dingle, Scott Silsbury and Dan Jones, all deserve a mention.

When the going got tough these lads rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in.

Yes, at times, some of the Dartmouth players looked at the ground and then to the sky but they were soon picked up with an encouraging comment from the side-line.

It's not easy taking the knocks, getting injured and being humiliated with scores which Dartmouth have endured over the past couple of weeks but when the going gets tough that's exactly what you have to do. Stick together and tough it out.

Dartmouth's try came from man mountain John Dingle. Dartmouth's unstoppable rolling maul set up by the forwards, pushing Topsham back and Dingle pounced to receive the ball from the back of the maul bashing his way over the line.

Richard Lobb converted to preserve his 100 per cent converting record this year. Dartmouth will be going into Devon Two next season and with less injuries and new coaching staff and players coming back from injury, there is no reason why this tough bunch of Dartmouth rugby players won't bounce straight back up.

Dartmouth are still in a Devon cup or plate semi-final and still have to rely on players coming back from injury and holidays, so Dartmouth aren't dead and buried just yet and there's still something to cheer the lads on.

Dartmouth will be at home again on the 23/03/2013 against Torrington in a league game.