Dartmouth hosted Broad Plain RFC ( Bristol) who were formed in 1909. The Bristol club have a good set up, with at least 3 senior sides, colts right down to mini rugby.
They travelled to Dartmouth with a youthful side containing a lot of last year's successful colts side.

The kick off was delayed by 15 minutes due to heavy traffic on the M5 motorway.

Right from the start, this was a game of running rugby, with end to end excitment for the bumper crowd. The visitors were prepared to run the ball from anywhere on the field.
The majority of visiting sides tire against Dartmouth's type of play, but Broad Plain were totally 80 minute rugby.

There is only one other team who have scored more than 20 points over Dartmouth this season and it showed what an attacking team the visitors were.

After all the heavy rain, the sun came out and Norton Field was in perfect condition.
The crowd saw Darts running the ball at Broad Plain from the kick off, with Myles Churchill making early breaks up field.

On 10 minutes a break by 2nd Row Brogan Taylor resulted in a penalty for Dartmouth and Number 10 Sam Churchill kicked the points from 15 mtrs out.
3-0.
7 minutes later Darts full back Richard Lobb caught a catch in his own half and set off down the touchline with defenders chasing him. He got as far as the visitors 22 mtrs line, then he put in an intelligent cross kick and the ball rolled over the line near the posts. Scrum half Billy Colthart beat the opposition to the touch down. Sam Churchill conversion. 10-0.
Sam Churchill controlled the game with his long range touch line kicks and the Dartmouth forwards won quality ball from the resulting lineouts.

On 22 minutes and after a high tackle on a Dartmouth player, Sam Churchill added a further 3 points. 13-0
The visitors started making a game of it and any ball they won was spun out to their young three quarter line.
On 35 & 37 minutes, lively Broad Plain Centre Thomas Woodward scored two well taken tries, taking the score to 13-12.
Darts came straight back and with quality ball won at a lineout, Billy Colthart broke and threw out a long pass, missing his centre and he found Myles Churchill out in midfield who battled over for a corner try. Churchill conversion.
Half time 20-12.

2 minutes into the second half, back row Lewis Sharam made a break from the lineout and he made ground. He was well supported by Hooker Tom Clark who took Sharam's pass at speed and broke clear to sprint off to score under the posts. Sam Churchill conversion. 27-12.

The end to end rugby continued and it was Broad Plain's turn to attack the Dartmouth line, but the home defence held firm.
Captain Karl Caunter led his team by example and put in some battering runs up field. One such run resulted in the Captain just being tackled 2 mtrs from the visitors try line but again, support was there in the form of centre Jake Bridgwood. He took the movement forward and twisted and turned himself over the line for a Dartmouth try. Sam Churchill conversion 34-12.

With 20 minutes to go, the visitors were still playing the running game and from a scrum, the ball was fed out to their Captain Samba Ceesay on the wing who crossed for a corner try. 34-17
With 15 minutes left on the clock, Broad Plain thought they could score tries and only the tackling of the home sides defence , especially centre Matt Ford saved the day.
Both teams emptied their benches and brought on fresh legs. The visitors were attacking Dartmouth and 2nd row Callum Handley went over for a converted try.
34-24.
The last 5 minutes of the game saw the Darts forwards raise their game and a move by Myles Churchill saw him break tackles and crash over the visitors try line for Dartmouth's last score. 39-24.
In last minute of the game, super fit Broad Plain put pressure on the Darts pack and 2nd row Xavier Kelly crossed the line for the final score of this entertaining game 39-29.

Dartmouth march on into the semi finals of the national cup and also recorded their 30th consecutive win of the season.

Dartmouth Team Manager Andrew Tomkinson said after the game.
" This was a proper quarter final and an exciting game for the crowd. Broad Plain were a very good team. They used their backs well and their passing through their hands was impressive at times. They just couldn't match our physicality up front. I think, we were the better team on the day, even though our penalty count was far to high and that is something we will work on before Saturday's semi final.
There were some great performances on the field today. Tom Clark putting in a massive shift. Myles Churchill was such a handful for the visitors all day. Lewis Sharam was all over the pitch. His work rate was phenomenal. "

Man of the match awarded by Broad Plain RFC was Dartmouth 2nd row Myles Churchill. ( Sponsored by Jabs Bookkeeping Services)
The coaches man of the match was Dartmouth's back row Lewis Sharam.
( Sponsored by Freddy's Barbers)

A big thank you goes out Mikey Gulley of MG Biomass plumbing & Heating or sponsoring this game.

Dartmouth RFC squad against Broad Plain RFC.
Ryan Burrows. Tom Clark. Matt Meacock. Arran Watkins. Brogan Taylor.
Myles Churchill. Lewis Sharam. Carl Caunter ( Capt) Billy Colthart.
Sam Churchill. Piers Benjamin. Jake Bridgwood. Jack Gordon.
Richard Lobb. Lian Hitchcock. Luke Bonstow. Kyle McGhee.
John Dingle. Luke Bridgwood. Josh Squires. Jaime Kearney.

Next Saturday, 4th May 2024 Dartmouth host Old Elthamians RFC who beat Old Hamptonians 23-18.

This is the semi finals of the Papa Johns Counties 3 Championship cup and will be held on Norton Field with a 3.00 kick off.
The visitors will make the long journey from Chiselhurst on the Kent/ London borders.
The Club were formed in 1911 and at one stage played in National League 1 the 3rd tier of English Club rugby. Due to financial problems, they withdrew from the League in 2021.
They are a strong club side and like Dartmouth are undefeated this season.
Their club motif in Latin is " Gloria filiorum Patres" translated means,
The Glory of sons is their father.

Dartmouth RFC will need all the support they can get on Saturday if they are to reach the final in Twickenham. Dartmouth Town , please get behind your local club for this game and raise the roof of the shed on Norton Field.

Photographs courtesy of Freya Bradley.

Press release.

Dick Evans
Press Officer
Dartmouth Rugby Football Club.

Mob 07847 141 240.