IS THERE A BAR

TUPTON RUFC 17 NORTH HYKEHAM 12
MIDLANDS 4 EAST NORTH DIVISION @ THE RECREATION GROUND
8 FEBRUARY 2020 --- 2.15PM

TUPTON RUFC V NORTH HYKEHAM

The regular gravitation towards the bar seems a contant occurrence in both codes of this game and I guess all around the sporting scene but the answer here today was yes a mini beer festival, VP and sponsors day and the England International RUFC to follow on the big screen.  It was probably summed up by an associated post I saw from somebody connected to the club that read 'Weekend forecast rugby with a chance of drinking'.

TOP OF THE TABLE NEW TUPTON FISH BAR

About three years ago I paid the club a visit for a game versus Skegness when their new clubhouse was in the final stages of being built so it was time to revisit but I have to be honest it came about by default.  Waiting for an Alfreton bound bus, any of three would have done, non showed and it appeared their start point of Chesterfield was gridlocked and as time drifted away I was left with just a couple of options and I grabbed the bull by the horns and decided to do the return trip to rugby union.  The other code I cover in the summer but I have to say I struggle with union but its all about educating yourself and I probably need to do some intensive studying of the fine game.

A CROSS COUNTRY SERVICE SPEEDS NORTHBOUND

So a brief walk through Tupton a village around 4 miles south of Chesterfield shows up a functional community with a couple of shops, café, church and pubs but undoubtedly its star attraction is New Tupton Fish Bar.  The blog nearly always features pre/post match food and I don't think its introduced this eatery which is always right at the top of the fish and chips league and remains so today after a mini fish special for just over £4 it would be rude not to try one.  The village was the birthplace of darts player John Lowe, former MP Dennis Skinner went to school here and ex England cricketer Cliff Gladwin resided here in his retirement.  The former roman road Ryknield Street runs through the village adjacent to the A61, the village now stages a regular carnival, Christmas celebration and is the hosts of a collection of community groups as it expands in size.

SOME EARLY LINE OUT ACTION

Walking down to the 'rec' you notice that Tupton RUFC now have their own brown tourist directional sign for motor travellers but for foot passengers a walkway between St Johns Church and the 'club' will take you over North Side to the theatre of dreams.  The clubhouse is a wonderful asset to the club and hospitality for its VP and sponsors was in full swing with a well stocked bar and snack hatch area they cater for most things on a match day and the whole area was very busy pre match today.

SAM CURRY ONE CONVERSION TODAY

A quick tour of the pitch showed lots of sand and soil trying to cover the muddy experience this was going to be for the players most football clubs probably would not be playing for another year on this but rugby lads are made of harder stuff of course.  A cricket square, additional rugby pitch and football pitch are all overseen by The Avenue Washlands Nature Reserve and the nearby running mainline train line into Chesterfield alongside this the village of Grassmoor sits on the hill to the east and the encroaching new builds of Adlingtons estate approach the recreation ground.  The club have also added some additional floodlights for training down one side of the pitch as they look to drive their facilities forward.  Slightly to the west of the site is a field which has been reclaimed by New Tupton Ivanhoe who are looking to bring their Hope Valley League side back into the village as soon as possible.

JAMES BLAKEY SECURES THE FIRST OF HIS TWO TRIES

The game then and before the forecast stormy weather we had a nice bright afternoon which saw the home side going down the slight slope.  Sam Curry saw his penalty kick float just wide in the strong breeze and then on nine minutes Cain Holmes got through down the left to open the scoring.
Three minutes before the half hour mark James Blakey just short of the line spun and forced the ball over the whitewash to make it 10-0.  Tupton went in 17-0 to the good when eight minutes before the break Blakey got his second try forcing the ball over after a close in scrum had got the home side close to the line this time Curry did convert in the testing conditions.

OBLIGATORY SCRUM PICTURE

A more than fair reflection on the proceedings but the proverbial football 'game of two halves' came to the fore when North Hykeham pulled back a try on 68 minutes and right on time a further try and conversion reduced the arrears to just five points leaving for a nervous couple of minutes.  The referees whistle came as a fair reflection for Tupton but both sides deserve tremendous credit for a full hearted game of rugby in very heavy conditions, free flowing it wasn't but determination with these lads you can never doubt.

GO ON THEN ANOTHER LINE OUT PICTURE

Everybody was off to the bar, being teetotal, I made my way back to base there was a moments thought of a chippy re visit but I opted for the obligatory hoppers pop and chocolate bar for the short walk.  Not the afternoon I had expected but thankfully Tupton RUFC saved this Saturday from being devoid of any live sport, maybe I should do this more often.