On 28th March 40 of the Dorking under 12s left the Big Field for a tour of the West Country. Our theme was Roman Britain. After a vigorous bus journey, and after arriving at our luxurious Travelodge in Bath, our boys were taught off the field tour techniques and customs by their fathers (and in many cases mothers.)
Saturday dawned bright for a joint training session and mini tournament with Bath Juniors. Red and white triumphed in four matches, lost one, and drew one, so a resounding victory overall. Hamish Muir declared himself Semper Victrix having donned a Bath Shirt for the one match Bath won. The others called him traitor.
Steve Borthwick, whose son was playing for Bath, had a chat to the lads and was very complimentary about the quality of our rugby.
After lunch we went to the Rec where Harlequins were put to the sword by Bath Seniors. If Quins had tackled like Euan Thomas and Tom Lewis, and scrummaged like Leo Collins and Gabe Kunasimgam, Finn Russell’s amazing display may have come to naught. While the boys watched the match, the mums and accompanying persons (including a new Mum called Jimima) led by Catherine Bond Muir, showed their capacity was at least equal to that of the men in an extended lunch.
After the Premiership match the boys got to experience a traditional tour curry as well as a kangaroo court. Some parents enjoyed modelling budgie smugglers and women’s clothing – all very educational for the years to come. Ollie Newton won the boys’ award for funniest junior, which must be a great source of future anxiety for Tristan and Andrea.
On Sunday we dragged ourselves out of bed for the Chippenham Festival. We fielded two mixed teams and each team won every match in their pool and semi-final. As the two finalists we called it a draw.
Each of our mixed teams triumphed against the Somerset Champions as well as a number of big local clubs. Improvement among the Dorking boys was amazing and a few can be named but all can be very proud. Henry Filkin was our top try scorer, and Max Thompson, with direct runs and kamikaze tackles, was as usual our most injured play,er but always went straight back to the fray.
Most improved player of the tour was almost impossible to judge, but Monty Ashton-Upton went up several levels. George Richardson was hardest working player, which should partially redeem his family honour. All the boys deserve praise. None shirked, and none looked like anything but first team players.
The bus home was full of bruised and tired, but very happy, boys.
We were all a little uncertain how our standard would compare against West Country teams, many of whom were much bigger (and their clubs more famous) than our lads. But a magnificent effort shows that for the Dorking U12s, the future’s bright.
The future’s WACOMB!
