Tribute Devon One

Totnes 73,

Forget the score line, Dartmouth gave Totnes a good game, with the forwards dominating the scrums, line-outs and mauls, writes Jeff Hunt.

It was Adam Sharam who scored his first try for Dartmouth, a very proud moment for Adam and his family.

The try was scored from a rolling maul, with Dartmouth pushing Totnes back a full ten metres before Adam plucked the ball from the rolling maul and dived over for a well-worked try.

Declan Hammond and Will Lockerbie ran some superb lines, all to no avail, but Dartmouth can feel a sense of relief that this season is over.

From the very start of this season Dartmouth have had nothing but bad luck. If there is any justice in the rugby world, Dartmouth will come back next season and dominate Devon Two.

Dartmouth have missed players like Charlie Watson, Tom Jones, Luke Bridgwood, Harry Moores, Luke Bonstow, Chris Payne, Freddie Prettyjohns, Jai Prettyjohns, Sam Churchill and Aaron Hunt.

Any club losing quality players like these would suffer and for a small team like Dartmouth it made it difficult to perform to their full potential.

All of these players are a vital part of the team and with not having a second team to call on, this season was always going to be an uphill struggle for coaches Steve Atkins, Lee Chase and Chris Chater.

Take nothing away from the players that turned up every Thursday night and Saturday for training and for the league and cup games, they can feel proud of themselves.

Players like Adam Sharam, who has improved immensely and can stand tall with the knowledge that players like him are going to part of a younger, fitter side next season.

Karl Caunter has put everything into the games that he's played, Carl Woodgate is an immensely talented mobile prop, Will Lockerbie has the rugby brain of a fifty-year-old and can play in the three-quarters and in the pack.

John Dingle is playing at least three leagues below his potential, Nick Shillabeer has played at a much higher level, not as good as his dad Malcolm, but a talented hooker nonetheless.

Richard Lobb has been playing out of position at ten, Declan Hammond has played his heart out this season and has given it his all.

Luke Clement is another player playing a couple of divisions below his very high standards, then there is Andy Williams, who keeps saying that this season could be his last, but they don't call him evergreen for nothing.

Ian Watton will, if he wants, make the Dartmouth squad more mobile as a pack, Luke Chase, one of the new signings this season, has had a good, yet frustrating, season but will only improve with matches.

All of these players and more will bring Dartmouth back as a team that other teams would fear, home and away.

Of course, Dartmouth wouldn't be the team they are without players like skipper Reg Varney, who will be top scorer this season, Dave Cudd, Martin Sharam, Colin Wilson, Jerry Whiltshire, Dan Greeno, Dave Gibson, Al Hassard, Dave Sharam, Scott Silsbury, Glenn Allison, Simon Entwistle, Dave Bradley and Steve Hall, all of whom played their part. Without players like that Dartmouth couldn't have put a team out week after week.

Dartmouth are looking for a new coach or coaches next season as Steve Atkins is stepping down, but he will take an advisory role if the new coach or coaches want his invaluable help.

Lee Chase will no longer be part of the coaching team but will be staying on as a committee member for Dartmouth RFC.

The coaches and the team would like to take this opportunity to thank all the supporters that have stuck with Dartmouth RFC through thick and thin, the sponsors and special thanks to Ken Raison for running the line home and away.

Thanks also to Barry French for doing the half-time French Collection and the General aka Rick Bonstow.

All of you have and will continue to make a big difference to DRFC next season.

Dartmouth will start playing some touch rugby down at Coronation Park in May, so if anyone would like to get fit and have a little fun, touch rugby will start at 6.30pm.

Dartmouth would also like to wish Dartmouth hockey girls all the best with their cup game this Sunday.

Dartmouth Hockey club take on Kingsbridge Cougars at Marjons College, in Plymouth at 12.15pm.