Everyone a winner in Sam Doble Memorial match
Birmingham Post

Brian Dick sees the true spirit of rugby alive and well at Billesley Common.

The score? No one really knew, or cared. It was that type of occasion and a pleasant way to end a season even if it paled in comparison to the original Sam Doble Memorial match.

Thirty years and a considerable amount of water under the proverbial bridge have passed since then and no one could argue that the excellence on show on November 27, 1977 was present at Billesley Common on Saturday.

That is not to say this game, held as a fund raiser for Birmingham-based charity Cure Leukaemia, was without drama.

The Air Ambulance is always an unwelcome visitor especially when the cause is an injury to an amateur player - as it was in this case when Jim Murray, a guest in Phil Bennett's International XV, was knocked out half an hour into the match. Murray was concussed but thankfully no worse.

Otherwise this was an encounter between two scratch teams. Moseley's XV contained a few familiar names of recent vintage such as Daren O'Leary, Tom Warren and Manny Samra and one attached to the current set- up - backs coach Don Caskie.

The former Gloucester centre, presumably courting anonymity with the absence of a number on his shirt, ended the match even on the balance sheet. The odd clean break here and couple of assists there demonstrated the old boy still knows the theory but some fumbles and missed tackles suggested the body is some-where behind the mind.

He can at least console himself with the fact he will not be subjected to one of Ian Smith's infamous video feedback sessions.

One youngster who will happily look back at his contribution is winger Nathan Birchall who not only played and scored in the warm-up match before this one but also emerged as the hungriest - in rugby terms at least, player on show.

The sight of the Sutton Coldfield speedster ripping past rotund opponents and down the sideline was a joy to behold. He was well worth his four tries and will certainly have attracted the attention of the Moseley selectors.

But then again one must bear the opposition in mind. The first Doble Memorial was played between Moseley's first team and a Writers Select XV, each of whom was a British Lion. The 1977 Lions pack was decorated by the legendary Edwards-Bennett half back partnership.

That afternoon ten of the Moseley side had represented North Midlands the day before. On Saturday most of the 'International' team looked as though it had played the day before though in truth had not done so for some time.

They were still full of know-how, though. The game kicked off and Darren Garforth's first act was to find an opponent and block his path. The old ones are still the best . . .

Just as the 1977 vintage had started with an error - Martin Cooper's kick-off failed to go ten metres, so too the first exchange produced a knock-on. Overall, however, both sides showed commendable ambition, particularly Bennett's Boys who true to their mentor tried to keep the ball alive at every juncture.

Dan Zaltzman looped around his threequarters as though he'd missed his calling, Tim Stimpson ambled into the line from full back and Paul Grayson can still pass a ball when he needs to.

As the sun shone the tries rained and though it was difficult to evoke memories of the first version it did not matter. The day was about rugby coming together, enjoying a run out and paying its respects to a fallen son. In that respect everyone was a winner.

The score? 53-34 for those who care.

* Preparations are well under way for this year's 2008 Aaron Boyce Memorial Greater Birmingham Sevens tournament.

Moseley's junior partner, Selly Oak RFC, run the event each year to commemorate the loss three years ago of 16-year-old Moseley player Aaron Boyce. Aaron's older brother Ben and father Mark both play for Selly Oak.

Now in its third year, the event is being held on May 17 at Billesley Common rom 10.30am, in memory of Aaron from Kings Norton. Proceeds from the event are this year being split between Guide Dogs and the Rugby Football Union-supported charity, Wooden Spoon.

From modest beginnings, organised by Selly Oak and supported by Moseley as well as Greater Birmingham, it has grown into the largest rugby sevens in the Birmingham area.