This season the club was aiming to get out a 3rd team for the first time in over 30 years and that has prompted Alec Thomas to look back at the last time the club was able to that.
During the late 70’s Marlborugh RFC had enough interest to put out a 3rd XV.
The team captain at that time was Ian Clements.
He realised that this team could encourage new players in to the club and was also a facility to reward older players who were in their twi-light years .It also enabled young youth players to get used to playing adult rugby.
With the advent of new local clubs and the complete retirement of Ian it finished in the late 70’s.
In the late 80’s Simon Barter (club secretary)and Andy Stone (2nd XV captain ) decided to relaunch a 3rd XV.?
This was quite a time consuming and difficult project .Fixtures were organised on a had-hoc basis).
They would spend a lot of time and effort sorting out a team, and then by the Friday night there would be unavailability in the higher teams, so by Friday the 3rd XV team would be decimated, but they made visits to the the local hostelries to encourage folk to turn out!
Often with great success !
The photograph that was given recently illustrates this scenario ,the team played Wootton Bassett IV team. Our 3rd XV only had 12 players .The home team lent us three players so that the friendly fixture could be completed.
Alan Hogg former player, informed me that we lost by 2 penalties but it was an enjoyable game.
The team that played was:-
Back row.
Alan Hogg, Eddie Edwards, 'Denzil', 'Wally (Pete Olding) Peter Sheppard , Ian Bailey, John Hawken.
Front Row
Dave Faulkner,(A.N Other ), Simon Barter, Mick McCaffrey, Viv Scott, Trevor Burkin.
I also have found a few cuttings from the Marlborough Times and Wiltshire Gazette featuring the 3rd XV success .
“Marlborough 3rds made the most of experienced players and youngsters to beat Suprtmarine 3rds 36-5.”
Swindon College Old Boys 15
Marlborough 3rds. 22
“This was an excellent victory for the Marlborough team with score tries coming from John Bulley 2 and Mark Adams “.
“:Marlborough 3rds 7 Harwell 3rds 7”
“:Marlborough 3rds 12 Abingdon 5 scores Marcus Bray and Mark Adams with one conversion from Phil Davenport”.
At the Captain’s Night to celebrate Simon Barter gave his account of the 3rd XV, as noted in the local Marlborough Times sports page.
