Club Piave	D20-20	Will Randall (2), George Spreckley, Declan Grady
Casale	D10-10	Will Randall, George Evans
Benetton Treviso	D10-10	Harry Sheppard, Arif Dogansoy
Pordenone	W15-0	Fraser Macdonald. James Gaymer, Will Randall

FRIDAY 5TH APRIL v CLUB PIAVE

Lining up against their first opponents the boys were slightly intimidated to see the size of the opposition, all of whom appeared to be at least 12. Two of their players in particular probably wouldn’t have been asked their ages if they went to buy a pint in the local.

The match was watched by around 200 people and was an exhilarating affair, which eventually ended four tries each with the boys inspired by some very vocal touchline support from the tour party.

Four times Dorking took the lead but each time they were pegged back, although each of the opposition tries were scored from long distance by one of their two big lads, our boys not being able to stop them when they  ran at them at pace.

Tour Captain Will Randall had an inspirational match scoring two superb individual tries, with George Spreckley and U10 conscript Declan Grady the other scorers. An excellent performance given the size and age of the opposition and the boys came off elated to thunderous applause from the spectators.

---

SATURDAY 6TH APRIL v CASALE

On Saturday the boys took part in a three team triangular tournament against Benetton Treviso and Casale.

The first match was against Casale and again they faced a bigger team of boys. A tight match eventually finished two tries all with Casale opening the scoring before an equalising try from Will Randall levelled it at half time. Casale scored again but our boys raised their game and deservedly equalised when George Evans went over in the corner taking most of the Casale scrum over with him in the process.  

---

SATURDAY 6TH APRIL v BENETTON TREVISO

Treviso are acknowledged as the best club side in Italy and with rumours flying around beforehand that the team they were putting out was a bit tasty (as well as big) and having watched them easily see off Casale in their previous game, the boys knew that this was going to be as tough as it could get.

Coach Evans pulled off an inspirational masterstroke by getting a watching Michael Lynagh (who was on the touchline with Jason Little) to speak to the boys before the game. Unfortunately the boys mouths were still wide open with awe when the match kicked off and Treviso scored immediately. When they scored again just before half time the omens for the second half did not look good, especially with one Italian father announcing to all within earshot that their boys had never been beaten.

The second half kicked off and again Treviso pressed. However an enormous clearance by Fraser Macdonald was vigorously chased and their full back was collared close to his line. Dorking cleverly won the loose ball, which resulted in another U10 conscript Harry Shepherd going over in the corner.

The team was transformed and stormed forward in search of an equaliser. Some delightful rugby and continuous pressure was finally rewarded when outside centre Arif Dogansoy scored.

The opposition were not used to being pushed back and our boys strived for the winner although unfortunately it was not to be. Momentum was lost when a nasty looking injury to one of our forwards resulted in a one-man pitch invasion from the frantic father who however ran straight past his stricken son to introduce himself to the referee. Apparently the referee could account for both of his parents, denied any allegations of self-abuse and apologised for not having eyes in the back of his head. A truly memorable moment in the history of Dorking Mini Rugby Tours and a truly memorable match.

The boys came off the pitch rightly calling themselves joint Italian National Champions to go with their title of Dutch National Champions from the previous year’s Holland tour!

---

SUNDAY 7TH APRIL v PORDENONE

Three consecutive very late nights in the hotel bar discussing strategy for the next day and putting the world to rights was now beginning to take it’s toll and as fathers and sons trudged into Pordenone for an obscenely early 10.00am kick off, aspirations were not high.

However Dorking parents upheld the true tradition of the club by only swaying slightly during the national anthems and only cringing slightly during an hilarious attempt at translation over a faulty loudspeaker system. This, together with the wonderful welcome bestowed upon us by the local people, meant that by the time the opposition marched on to the pitch the boys were ready for their final match.

Again, given their weight and size advantage, Pordenone pressed right from the start but some resolute Dorking defence kept them out.  Half time arrived with no points scored but with the expectation of some more rearguard action in the second half.

What followed in the second half however was an absolute revelation. Pordenone could not get out of their own half, pushed back by and wave after wave of Dorking attacks and were finally breached when fly-half Fraser Macdonald outsprinted the tiring defence for an excellent try.

Now very pumped up the boys surged forward again. A desperate clearance upfield was caught midway in his own half by full back James Gaymer who then proceeded to treat everyone to his Jason Robinson impersonation by running past the entire opposition for a wonderful solo try in the corner. Magical stuff.

The opposition were stunned and another superb individual try by Will Randall yet again immediately before the final whistle, taking his tour tally to four, sealed a famous win and rounded off one of their best performances ever.

The boys knew that they had played very well and the sight of them jumping for joy, high fiving and hugging each other at the final whistle was a sight that will remain with the watching proud parents for a long time.

To round off the tour we were then all treated to some wonderful Italian hospitality. Once the formalities had been completed and with the airport finally beckoning the Italian mothers formed a guard of honour and clapped and cheered everyone as we left the clubhouse (perhaps they were just glad to be getting rid of us?)

So, all in all, a highly successful tour. Undefeated again for the second overseas tour running. Mainland European Champions, someone suggested.

---

 

U9's - spot Nick in the front before he was 6' 2"

U9's - Rog and Geoff not looking a day younger