Dorking U10s take Jersey by storm on maiden tour
An intrepid touring party of Dorking U10s took Jersey by storm on the last weekend in March.
Organised by Tour-leader ‘Flash’ Gordon Muir, the tour featured 15 or so enthusiastic parents and coaches, and around 25 nine and ten year old players to look after them.
We all looked the part with Jersey Cow-themed shirts designed by fashionista Iain Strudley and a Jersey potato in everyone’s pockets.
The tour began with an impromptu display of exhibition rugby in Gatwick’s North Terminal from our mini stars, whilst most parents sampled the delights of a cooked breakfast and Guinness in spoons.
On arrival at St Helier’s Sheriff Mike Maddick gleefully handed out penalties for late arrivals or missing potatoes, we practiced our tour songs (WACOMB was retired in favour of more kid-friendly renditions of The Macaroni Song, Akalaka, and Sloop Jersey) and did our best to
The next morning we headed to the home of Jersey Reds for some rugby action, organised by Tristan Newton.
Sadly, the French teams we were due to play surrendered before even setting foot on the island, as bad weather held their catamarans in dock.
Undeterred, each of our three teams played three matches against different Jersey sides. An outstanding display of physical rucking, brave tackling and lightening-quick running ensued and saw our teams proudly win nine from nine.
A traditional exchange of club shields then took place, followed by the even more traditional over-sampling of pints resulting in the occasional discreet tactical chunder.
We then cheered on Jersey Reds’ 1st XV as they demolished Oxford, with our players taking to the field at the end with an official announcement.
The afternoon was spent with a dip in the near sub zero waters of the Channel, before warming up again with a visit to St Helier’s finest curry house (‘45 of you? OK, yes, you can come in, but only if you all leave in one hour!’).
That left enough time to drink the hotel bar dry, enjoy some of Pete Fisher’s pirate dancing and for the kids to invade every nook and cranny of the hotel.
The final day involved bowling, arcades, cultural trips for some, and hangovers for others.
Rumours of a tour to Japan next year are now swirling (if only to re-use the shirts), but tour master Gordon will need a month or two to recover from this one.
For now though, thank you to all for a fabulous experience and a tour that played out beautifully, respecting rugby values and doing the club proud.
The sounds of 25 kids yelling ‘Oggie, Oggie, Oggie’ and ‘Who are we…DORKING’ will ring in the ears for weeks, but the memories of our players having the time of their lives will last a lifetime.
