DINGS CRUSADERS RFC A CLUB WITH ITS HEART IN

Cover Photograph by John White Media

DINGS CRUSADERS v RFC Saturday 29th February 2020

NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO SOUTH OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME www.dingscrusaders.co.uk Welcome

Welcome all

Today we welcome Bournemouth to Shaftesbury Park for their first ever visit, and I do wonder if they prefer the old place? Bournemouth travel to Bristol not having the best of seasons so far, but I read they are in no way taking anything for granted and will hope today could be the start of their rise from the dead, so to speak. But, nevertheless, I welcome all supporters whether home and or way. Looking at their results shows they’ve been unlucky on a number of occasions when the game could have gone either way. Let’s hope the weather stays fine and we put the past couple of weeks of disruptive conditions behind us.

The past two weeks have been and gone, with the eagerly anticipated clash with our local rivals falling foul to the weather at exactly nine-minutes before kick off. Now I’m not one to moan, but I cannot fathom how the predicted weather forecast changed from 1.00pm to just before kick-off. It did what it said on the tin and rained incessantly, so why it was not called off beforehand is beyond me, and all those who had made the intrepid journey into deepest South Bristol would have been disappointed as we were due to field a strong side and were keen to play. Anyway a provisional date has been set, but in truth with Reds calling off again last weeks game, we’ll need confirmation of when we are due to get the replay sorted. It now looks as though our rearranged game with Reds will take place near the business end of the season.

Locally, the mighty turds played Bristol Saracens 2nds last weekend and ran out comfortable Beautiful new Redrow winners. I suspect they too were only too glad to get a game under their belts as the weather has wreaked havoc with the local sporting fraternity looking forward it. homes in the South West The last home match against Sutton & Epsom was a good game with Sutton providing the stiff opposition I warned about pre game. But in the end the boys pulled away, making the old claim that on their day every team is capable of pulling off an upset, so today we must ensure that Bournemouth do not come close. Our previous fixture with Bournemouth in November seems an age ago, and just showed how dangerous they can be if you let them back into the Building stunning new homes game. Dings raced into a strong lead only to be pegged back by a resurgent performance in Bristol, , from the hosts. But a last minute try from whippet Tom Knight right under the sticks secured Calne, Stoke Gi ord, Stonehouse, the late bonus-point victory. And for those who a can remember Bournemouth’s last visit to two seasons ago on a wet and wild day will recall the Dings boys played the Shurdington, Swindon conditions superbly that day to take the win, and the title was secured with and Warminster. eight-weeks of the season still to play. So let’s hope we can repeat that strong performance today but I’m sure the opposition will have something to say about that! Visit your nearest development Todays match officials contain a couple of new faces and a very old familiar one. Neil today and discover how you Sweeney, my spies tell me, was once a professional championship player who has great feel could own a new Redrow home. for the game, so let’s respect the officials please as we always do, after all its their Saturday afternoon as well. So go well you Dings boys and chase the points to ensure no end of season Images are indicative only. wobbles. Details correct at time of going to press.

C`mon you Dings boys. Steve Lloyd Visit: redrow.co.uk/southwest 2 DINGS CRUSADERS RFC A CLUB WITH ITS HEART IN BRISTOL 3 Beautiful new Redrow homes in the South West

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Images are indicative only. Details correct at time of going to press.

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A CLUB WITH ITS HEART IN BRISTOL 3 Welcome to Bournemouth RFC We extend a warm welcome this draw from twenty two starts and we afternoon to our visitors Bournemouth wish them well in a difficult uphill task and hope that all players, officials and to avoid the drop, their two wins came supporters enjoy their first visit to our at home to Westcliff 39-12 and Old Reds Shaftesbury Park ground. 24-23 with the draw at Westcliff 20-20 last week in January. Founded in 1893 Bournemouth reached their highest level in the leagues when League results between us and promoted to National League Two South Bournemouth are just about honors in season 2011-12 where they spent even with Dings having the upper hand two seasons before being relegated more recently, twice in the year we were in season 2013-14. They then spent a promoted from South West Premier and further five seasons at level five before again earlier this season 33-26 back in being promoted back to National Two November. as champions last season with an impressive twenty five wins from twenty Good luck to both sides may the best six starts. team win and all spectators committed or neutral enjoy entertaining afternoon’s Current form sees Bournemouth bottom rugby. of the league with just two wins and a

NATION LEAGUE TWO SOUTH MATCH DAY SPONSORS P W D L Pts Henley 23 18 1 4 90 Tonbridge Juddians 23 19 0 4 89 Taunton 22 17 0 5 86 Redruth 22 17 1 4 82 Clifton 23 15 0 8 77 Leicester Lions 22 15 0 7 72 Esher 22 13 1 8 70 Bury St Edmunds 22 13 0 9 68 Old Albanian 23 9 0 14 56 Worthing 23 10 0 13 55 Dings Crusaders 22 8 0 14 45 Barnes 22 7 0 15 41 Westcliff 23 5 1 17 34 Sutton & Epsom 23 4 1 18 26 Old Redcliffians 21 3 2 16 21 Bournemouth 22 2 1 19 17

4 DINGS CRUSADERS RFC DINGS CRUSADERS BOURNEMOUTH RFC

BLUE & BLACK HOOPS BLACK AND GOLD

15 Luke Arscott Full Back Alexander Sutherland 15 Schnieder Electric 14 Jordan Grattan Wing Frederick Gleadowe 14 Quicklane 13 Matt Smith Centre Andrew Kingswell 13 Hills Electrical 12 Marcus Brooker Centre Scott Chislett 12 Stan Thatcher 11 Brad Doggett Wing Adam Higgins 11 Dave Wakefield Carpentry 10 Steve Plummer (capt) Stand Off Mike Pope 10 Executive Jet Support 9 Tom Knight Scrum Half Sam Hardcastle 9 UK Asset Solutions 1 Liam Appleton Prop Michael Davies 1 WHY Recruitment 2 Tom Anderson Hooker Alan Manning 2 Biltong 3 Josh Lloyd Prop Gianluca Firetto 3 Haywards Chauffeurs 4 Alex Bilton Lock Ben Roberts 4 Bybrook Community Concierge 5 Gavin Curry Look Sam Knott 5 Alpine Villa Care Home 6 Anton Welling Flanker Ken Sasu 6 Caribbean Croft 7 Will Bryan Flanker Toby Kenneally 7 ARJ Fire Safety Ltd 8 Jake Holcombe No 8 James Griffin 8 The Crown 16 Tom Richardson Replacement Ryan Hughes 16 - 17 Duncan Ferguson Replacement Robbie Johnson 17 Granger Reis 18 Billy Roberts Replacement Jack Palmer 18 - 19 Waylon Gasson Replacement Josh Pidgley 19 - 20 Tom Hargan Replacement Carlos Snell 20 -

Referee – Neil Sweeney Touch Judge – Dave Philpot Touch Judge – Fred Spong A Picture From The Past

Dings Crusaders Vikings, 1988-1989. From 3rds. The opening match resulted in a 38-0 left to right, back row: Brian Bush, Pat Clark, home win against Bath Harlequins, whilst at John Whittaker, Geoff Darby, John Knight, the other end of the scoring scale the away Bob Beynon, John Philips. Front row: Dave game versus St Mary’s Old Boys 4ths ended Skuse, Stan Thatcher, Chris Butcher, Geoff in a 0-0 draw. Mason, David Lloyd (captain), Colin Lewis, Mike Sanigar, Ramin Perzad. Photographed Top try scorer, with eigth touchdowns, was at Dings’ Landseer Avenue ground, captain David Lloyd making him the top Lockleaze with houses of Hogarth Walk in points scorer with 30 points. Goal kicking the background. appears to have been somewhat challenging for the team as from the 68 tries scored only The 1988-1989 season was a reasonably twenty-five were converted to provide the successful for Dings Crusaders Vikings as in extra points. Jim Challenger was the most a 24 match campaign 14 games were won, 4 successful with 5 conversions followed by drawn and 6 resulted in defeat for the team Sam Stride with 4. The club records don’t made up of what might be described as indicate how many penalties were awarded “senior” players. 334 points were amassed to Dings Crusaders but only two penalty kicks with 181 points scored against the royal blue were succussful all season, both kicked by and blacks. Pat Hennessy. Chris Butcher appeared in all 24 games. A wide-ranging array of opponents were played that season with fixtures against, Between them, the 15 players in the team amongst others; Clifton Rats, Pilning 1sts, picture amassed over four thousand four Thornbury Vandals, Leyhill, Windsorians hundred appearances and scored some 3rds (away), Frampton Cotterell 4ths, 5,000 points for Dings Crusaders, with Midosmer Norton 5ths and Chipping Sodbury eleven individuals awarded club caps.

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DINGS CRUSADERS RFC 7 Meet The Squad

8 DINGS CRUSADERS RFC Meet The Squad

DINGS CRUSADERS RFC 9 Meet The Squad

10 DINGS CRUSADERS RFC Oracle for Bournemouth RFC

After a restful couple of weeks we are back For those of you who trawl the websites of in action here at The Park, and we welcome other clubs in our league, you would have seen our friends from the balmy south coast, the very favourable comments from the chair Bournemouth for their first visit to . of Sutton & Epsom further to their visit to us. Several of the fixtures in our league have A great bunch of supporters who never gave up suffered manly due to those two tough encouraging their team from start to finish. opponents Ciara and Dennis. The girls under-18’s have done the club proud What a few weeks it has been. A return to the 6 this week. 22 players representing a variety of Nations has seen some interesting games and counties - that must be some sort of record. some appalling behaviour. Firstly our erstwhile Well done to the team and all who facilitate comrades across La Manche gave us a lesson their activities. in taking chances. Then we travelled to the frozen north to receive the most unsporting The league programme enters a critical of responses to ’s goal kicking. That period now. There are four sides battling it famous son of Caledonia, Peter Brown was out desperately for the automatic promotion scathing of his countryman’s behaviour in a and the play-off spots, although realistically letter to the Times (no less) where he stated that perhaps only three. We have to play three of ‘hate is for terrorists, not Rugby.’ I was always them so we can have a big say in the outcome. taught that soccer was a game for gentlemen As none of them will wish to play us in that played by hooligans whereas rugby was a scenario because they all know that when we game for hooligans played by gentlemen. Then put it together they won’t get a free ride. at last something positive - a good England performance to put away Ireland. There were Last week I took a trip to Lockleaze Sports 81,000 spectators at that game, the sale of Centre for the Keynsham vs Chew local derby, tickets would have grossed a fortune, add to moved there due to the weather. I freely admit that the advertising rolling round the ground to the odd tear in my eye as I gazed on our and then the TV rights. Throw into the equation former bastion Fortress Landseer, now a posh the current negotiations to sell off some of the housing development. When you ask the new benefits netting an even bigger windfall. So how residents if they have dug up anything unusual does that fit with slashing the funding to level or sinister, there is a funny look on their face as two clubs and the meagre contribution to levels they head for the shed and their shovel! three and four? We receive a pittance against an outlay of £8K for travelling halfway around Today is the old players reunion. I hope there the South and Midlands. It is from ourselves will be some amongst you who have not been to and those clubs below us that tomorrows Shaftesbury Park before but we hope you come Internationals start their journey. Destroy our again. For me, and many other members every ability to survive and the International team will week is an old players reunion! falter. Even worse, the game we all love will be denied to the tens of thousands of youngsters Anyway back to today. Bournemouth will be who wish to play it under properly organised seeking to get a win, and will not be here for and controlled conditions. At least it’s taken the day out. They pushed us to the final whistle the limelight away from the proposed freezing down at their ground so we need to be on our of the Premiership for a while. mettle - both players and spectators.

So come on lads, shove ‘em up the M32.

DINGS CRUSADERS RFC 11 Dings Programme 1.pdf 1 09/09/2019 13:24

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