DINGS CRUSADERS v OLD REDCLIFFIANS Saturday 23rd March 2019 NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO SOUTH OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME DINGS www.dingscrusaders.co.uk CRUSADERS RFC A CLUB WITH ITS HEART IN BRISTOL 1 Welcome Today we extend a warm welcome to our old foes from across the city - Old Redcliffians, who will be keen to avenge the defeat earlier in the season at Scotland Lane. Reds arrive as the form team and have gained a point over us in the league table. I’m sure they will want to have a massive say in how today’s game turns out, in what will be their first official fixture at Shaftesbury Park. I guess we are lucky in that this season we have had a number of true local derbies and not only does it stunt the amount of travelling we’re expected to do, but it also bring together players old and new who have enjoyed some pretty hard and tough games over the years. Hopefully, though, all of those games were played in the right spirit between the two respected clubs. While our minds think of those games over the years, there have been some comical incidents and some a little less humorous. From the time the fabled ‘Tootsie’ Warren was shunted off the ball in a last minute scrum for us to win the game, to the huge right hander that was launched into Dave Skuse’s face that provoked the fury of Janet, and then to the time Jake Lloyd won the first of his many Oscars in the performance when his namesake Gareth Lloyd was sent from the field. How video officiating has progressed - in those days we relied on the all seeing and all knowing Kevin Spencer to advise the referees of what occurred. It was also a normal thing for players move between clubs, with Chris Turner and Mark and Alfie Cannock proving that the swap could be carried over with little or no fuss. Great days of long past memories but sadly some of those players no longer with us. Our last game away at Tonbridge was a strange affair. The home team, who I thought were one of the better teams in the league, took the lead in the first-minute and then the Dings defence kicked in. A heroic performance meant that Juddians had to wait until the hour-mark before they breached our defence again - while we were down to 12 players, I might add - and had the referee been on the ball a bit n more and knew the law regarding the offside-line, then who knows what the final score may have been. But I have to say it was great game played in pretty good spirit. But we’re unlikely to win those games if we keep get yellow cards and swimming against the tide against very good sides. Elsewhere the rugby seems to have taken a bit of a break. Cinderford crying off last week meant the mighty Poos went without a game for the umpteenth time this season. I am informed by the powers that be, though, that there are plans for some form of short competition for the last five weeks of the season so watch this space. So back to todays crucial game for both teams as they attempt to put some more space between themselves and the bottom three-teams, Let’s hope it’s a good game and a home win! So C’mon on you Dings boys… Steve Lloyd 2 DINGS CRUSADERS RFC Beautiful new Redrow homes in the South West Building stunning new homes in Bristol, Cheltenham, Calne, Stoke Gi ord, Stonehouse, Shurdington, Swindon and Warminster. Visit your nearest development today and discover how you could own a new Redrow home. Images are indicative only. Details correct at time of going to press. Visit: redrow.co.uk/southwest A CLUB WITH ITS HEART IN BRISTOL 3 Welcome to Old Redcliffians RFC We extend a warm welcome this afternoon to our visitors Old Redcliffians and hope that all players, officials and supporters enjoy their visit to our Shaftesbury Park ground. Founded in 1918 Reds were promoted to National Two South 2016-17 and in their first season last term they finished twelfth with nine wins and fifty eight points including a fabulous final game of the season home win 34-12 over Redruth when the pressure was really on in a relegation battle, brilliant. With just five games to go this season Reds sit one point above us with both sides probably needing a couple more wins to stave off the in-form Birmingham for the last relegation spot so today’s victors will take a huge step towards safety. Recent results have seen Reds win just one in their last five games with the win 23-15 at home to Barnes and losses away at Bury St Edmonds 7-57, at Rams 15-31 and at Guernsey 17-24 and at home to Tonbridge 24-40. Reds currently have the ascendency over Dings in recent league encounters with all four meetings in South West Premier going to our visitors including two when they won the league in 2016-17 and we were runners up. However we did win earlier this season 32-13 in a fiercely fought contest at Scotland Lane. Good luck to both sides may the best team win and all spectators committed or neutral enjoy entertaining afternoon’s rugby. DINGS Sponsorship benefits us all! CRUSADERS RFC If you are interested in sponsorship or Tel: 07971 690071 supporting the club in any other way please [email protected] contact Tim Gear-Evans for further information NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO SOUTH MATCH DAY SPONSORS P W D L Pts Rams 25 23 0 2 114 Canterbury 25 20 0 5 102 Henley 25 20 0 5 98 Tonbridge Juddians 25 20 1 4 95 Taunton 25 17 0 8 88 Redruth 25 12 1 12 62 Old Albanian 25 11 1 13 59 Bury St Edmunds 25 10 2 13 59 Clifton 25 9 1 15 57 Barnes 25 9 1 15 51 Worthing 25 8 2 15 51 Old Redcliffians 25 8 0 17 48 Dings Crusaders 25 9 0 16 47 Birmingham & Solihull 25 8 1 16 38 Guernsey 25 5 0 20 33 PROUD TO BE SPONSORING DINGS RFC London Irish Wild Geese 25 6 0 19 32 4 DINGS CRUSADERS RFC DINGS CRUSADERS v OLD REDCLIFFIANS BLUE & BLACK HOOPS RED & BLACK 15 Jordan Grattan Full Back Craig Owen 15 Quick Lane Tyres 14 Josh Trinham Wing Henry Bird 14 Mike Phillips 13 Matt Smith Centre Jermaine Jones 13 Hills Electrical South West Ltd 12 Marcus Brooker Centre Christian Gervais 12 Stan Thatcher 11 Harry Tovey Wing James Clements 11 First Steps Soccer 10 Luke Arscott Stand Off Kieran Hill 10 Schneider Electric 9 Steve Plummer Scrum Half Kiyan Wiltshire 9 Dave Baker 1 Ray Chase Prop Alex Harvey 1 Steve Weymouth Carpentry 2 Joe Hawkesby Hooker Kieran Ward 2 CDE Services 3 Ash Challenger Prop Jake Caulfield 3 Ink’d Kreations 4 Olly Bilton Lock Chris Pursall 4 5 Gavin Curry Lock Corey Talbot 5 Alpine Care Homes 6 Michele Canulli Flanker Scott Parsons 6 Peter Williams 7 Stean Williams Flanker Scott Coster 7 UKS 8 Jake Holcombe No 8 Dan Fry 8 The Crown 16 James Hall Replacement Ellis Joseph 16 Trojan Fitness 17 Tom Anderson Replacement George Kloska 17 The Gloucester Biltong Company Ltd 18 Tom Knight Replacement Harley Foley 18 Igloo Developments 19 Connor Swan Replacement Ash Groves 19 20 Ian Clark Replacement Aaron Rice 20 Premier Groundwork Solutions Referee – Richard Houghton / Touch Judge – Michael Malroy / Touch Judge – Mark Doran A CLUB WITH ITS HEART IN BRISTOL 5 A Picture From The Past Six minutes into injury time at the end of the 1974 Old Redcliffi ans, meanwhile, were in fi ne form Bristol Combination Knock-out Cup fi nal at the in their semi-fi nal and had a 25 points lead at Memorial Ground, fl y-half Gerald Williams kicked a half-time against Saracens, but could score three match-winning conversion to give Dings Crusaders points after the interval, as they won 28-5. Steve a 15 points to 13 victory over long-standing rivals Lancastle (2), Mike Lawrence and Keith Warren Old Redcliffi ans, to win the “Combination Cup” for scored tries for Old Reds, and captain Norman the fi rst time in their history. This photograph from Ridgeway kicked two penalty goals and converted the game includes; Alan Ferris, Sam Stride, John three tries. Thorne, Richard Hook, Rich Grant, Paul Lloyd and The tense fi nal, played in front of a 2,000 crowd, Pete Mitchell. developed into a real thriller in the second half. Dings route to the fi nal began with a 2nd round At the interval it was 6pts-6pts courtesy of two 25-13 away victory over Bishopston, who were at penalties for Gerald Williams for Dings and two the time of the match leaders of the Green ‘Un from Norman Ridgeway. Keith Warren scored Merit Table. North Bristol were beaten in the next a second-half try, then Ridgeway kicked a third round by 26 points to 9, whilst Ashley Down were penalty to push Old Reds lead to 13pts-6 in the despatched 42-6 in the quarter-fi nal at Lockleaze. 57th minute. Gerald Williams notched a penalty The semi-fi nal against Keynsham proved to be a for Dings, and following a heel against the head sterner test for the blue and blacks, but according by Steve Butcher, back-row forward John Thorne to Charlie Murphy, in his Evening Post report, crashed over for a last gasp try to level the scores.