Bridgnorth 18 - 31 Maidstone

What a day. To see the club I played for for many years and the team I played for in the 1980s and 90s lift the RFU National Intermediate Cup at Twickenham. Not that I was a regular in the 1st XV but I played a good number of games over the season, appeared in the match day programme, club 1st XV photographs and in local newspapers, but a long time ago now.

The game is in a different league nowadays to how we used to play. Much more intense, faster, greater strength and size, different tactics and above all you had to jump in the lineout rather than be hoisted towards the heavens by your colleagues.

It was a strage coincidence that Maidstone should be playing Bridgnorth as Bridgnorth come from my home county of Shropshire. As a callow youth I played against Bridgnorth for Wellington Hornets in the Shropshire Cup, not that I can remember the score. Those were the days when I was at school and later at college and there was no age limitation on playing adult rugby. I remember playing against Whictchurch when I was only 15.

It was a festival of rugby at Twickenham yesterday. You could watch 4 games if you had the time and stamina, the National Junior and Senior Vases, the Intermediate Cup and the County U20s final too. Only part of the West Stand was used, we had a seat just above the tunnel below the presentation area - as you can see in this shot.

It was a case of third time lucky for Maidstone, in the previous two years the club had lost in the semi-finals. This year, no mistake although it was a little nerve wracking towards the end. Maidstone scored early on without Bridgnorth touching the ball and rattled up two further tries to end the half at 3 - 24. As is often the case the team seemed to ease off and despite scoring another try to go 6 - 31 up Bridgnorth came back with two tries to make the final result not quite a certainty. The final whistle was the signal for scenes of wild jubilation as Maidstone lifted the Cup, well deserved and great to see.