
What started as a veterans game quickly turned into one of the great sporting spectacles Bishop Auckland has ever witnessed.
A huge turnout, a cracking crowd, plenty of old faces, loads of laughs, and somehow a game of rugby broke out in the middle of it all.
Both sides gave it everything, with Taff’s Reds bringing style, composure and raw athletic excellence, while Dave’s Blues brought experience, effort and the general appearance of men trying to remember where they’d left their hamstrings.
But let’s not dance around the main talking point.
The one key moment in the match, the crowd were treated to a piece of individual brilliance that will be spoken about at the club for years to come. Picking the ball up deep, Taff set off on a devastating run that cut through the heart of Dave’s Blues like a hot knife through Deep Heat. One by one, defenders fell away. Some were stepped. Some were brushed aside. Some simply made a business decision. Somewhere in the middle of it all, Dave Bartle himself was beaten too, left as just another name on the long list of would-be tacklers who came close to witnessing greatness but couldn’t quite lay a hand on Taff.
Depending on who you ask, it was somewhere between eight and nine defenders beaten on the way to the line. The exact number is still being verified by independent witnesses, historians, and possibly the Guinness Book of Records.
It was, without question, the try of the day. Possibly the try of the season. Potentially the greatest score ever recorded in veterans rugby, if not world sport.
Unsurprisingly, Taff was also named Man of the Match, a decision described by experts as “obvious,” “correct,” and “the only fair outcome after what everyone had just seen.”
In truth, the day was a massive success from start to finish. It was brilliant to see so many lads pull the boots back on, fantastic to see such a big turnout, and a proper reminder of what rugby clubs are all about, good mates, good stories, and one or two moments of total nonsense that somehow become legend.
A huge thanks to everyone who played, supported, organised and came down to enjoy it.
But let’s be honest. Yesterday will mainly be remembered for Taff’s try.