Teignmouth 60 Old Merchant Taylors (Herts) 5

Easter Saturday saw a long standing rugby tradition continue with the visit of Old Merchant Taylors to Bitton Park. OMTs have been touring at Easter for over 100 years having first visited the West Country in 1898, and if last Saturday is anything to go by, the visits will continue long into the future.

Back in 1898 the first two fixtures were against Torquay Athletic and Devonport Albion. Over the years the fixtures changed and in 1928 the tour HQ moved from Okehampton to Teignmouth. It was not until 1950 that Teignmouth Rugby Club became an fixture to make up the triumvirate with Plymouth Albion and Bath, which lasted until 1975.

The current tour takes in Paignton on Maundy Thursday evening under lights and then Teignmouth Seconds on Good Friday, and the Firsts on Easter Saturday. After staying in Torquay for several years, the OMTs now find themselves based on the sea front in Teignmouth from where they are best able to enjoy the hospitality of the Club and the town.

The tour started off well with a victory on Thursday evening at Paignton, but perhaps the celebrations lasted a little too long. Friday saw Teignmouth’s reserve team beat their touring compatriots with something to spare, but the visitors were determined not to suffer the same humiliation they suffered last Easter Saturday when the First Team fell just short of a 100 point victory.

So it was that the touring party were reinforced on Saturday morning by several First Teamers, allowing those who had played two games in less than 24 hours the chance to don fancy dress and empty their wallets at the bar.

However, Teignmouth are currently one level above OMTs in the League Pyramid Structure, and a mixture of first and second teamers, along with the odd guest, proved far too strong for the visitors.

The highlight of the game was a hat-trick of tries for flanker-turned-winger-cum-fullback Adam Dowsing, as the home side ran in ten tries to the visitors’ one. But the result was of little importance as the social links between the two clubs were cemented in the bar after the game. This was symbolised by a presentation made to the OMTs touch judge who had played in his first tour game at Teignmouth 50 years ago in 1963.

This week the Teigns return to league duty with a visit to Falmouth. Two wins from the last three games will ensure the league title coming to Bitton Park.