Tenby United RFC took part in the Caernarfon Golden Oldies 15-a-side rugby tournament last weekend.

It seemed a daunting task, getting enough Tenby rugby (and ex) players together to form a team after the close of the season... to travel all the way to Caernarfon... and play three games of rugby in a day! All this, and they had to be at least 35 years old... should I bother even trying?

Many phone calls, e-mails and much Facebooking later, 'Tenby Vets RFC' were on their way to the inaugural 'All Wales Golden Oldies Rugby Festival', not a full squad, but if official photographer Bodie and sponge man Mike would have a run out... and one or two more could be persuaded to drive up Saturday morning... and if a couple of stragglers could be recruited on the day, who knows, they might stand a chance!

Well, that's exactly what happened! A couple of mercenary Pembroke boys joined us last minute, Mick Jagger (Mathew) grabbed his boots and sprinted down from Hull... and all four players from Bangor Vets (yes, all four) joined us and we were made up! Would Jan and Lorraine have a run out as well?

Training for the weekend started early on Friday morning at the Evergreen, Tenby, and continued throughout the journey. After numerous stops in various lay-bys - for sightseeing purposes only - the minibus arrived early evening, where a head count was carried out.

We were greeted on our arrival by three of the hosts, the front row, Owen (70) and his younger teammates, 65-year-olds Emrys and Jon (who would not be playing this year following his heart attack during last year's festival!). We had suspicions now that we may have a chance.

Meanwhile, Nicky continued his Iron Man training with a swim in the harbour, which inspired Longy to join him (Longy should have checked he could actually get out of the harbour before jumping in!).

After the usual S and S activity, it was decided to carry out some more training in readiness for the next day's rugby, which was done with great enthusiasm.

The following morning, after an early breakfast overlooking Mariah Carey's luxury yacht, and the numbers boosted by the Bangor four, the players and supporters cascaded on to the Caernarfon rugby ground in glorious sunshine.

Having met some of the geriatric rugby players of the home side the evening before, expectations were high, Tenby drew the home side in the second game of the day and were surprised by the turn of speed and athleticism of the over 70s that were in the team. However, Tenby were not to be phased by this and put together some fine interplay that can only be achieved by teams that have never played together!

Special mention must be made of the hard tackling of Jeremy Rossiter whilst still asleep, and the nomadic running of Nicky Rees; he reminded me of an Ever Ready battery - he went on and on and on. Mention also of the leadership qualities of tour organiser Gethin Williams, who reminds me of Winston Churchill - some time after he had died (sorry Geth), and Jason Hyde, who spent a large part of the game searching for his head after it was removed by a Father Christmas look-alike.

The second half saw skipper Jagger use the first of his super subs, Dave 'Bodie' Bolton, who came on for scrum-half Darren Gilbert (Butch), who had a fine stout game, but gave up his position in the name of arthritis research. Bodie went through the whole medley of scrum-half duties and situations, including getting splattered, but unfortunately had to retire after just 10 minutes due to his lungs exploding.

Mike Brace, the oldest member of the Tenby team, took to the field, but unfortunately, due to the selfish greed of both centres, he never received a pass. However, he organised the back line well and will be mentioned in dispatches.

Both travelling fans were also very verbal throughout.

Tenby were eventual winners by four tries to one, after which the team and supporters decided on some light training at the bar between games.

The second game was a different story. Llandudno were obviously there to do a little more than make up numbers. This was a bruising encounter, with one or two players from both sides momentarily forgetting the ethos of 'Golden Oldies'.

But things soon settled down to some flowing rugby, helped by the EGOR (European Golden Oldies Rugby) rules, well enforced by the young referees; we had never played a game where all the players were older than the ref! A narrower victory margin this time of two tries to one. Tenby were the team to beat!

Again mention must be made of players who more than made up the numbers for Tenby, such as touch judge Russell Milne, who played a blinder, and John Lander, who put boots on for the first time in 20 years and played in all games; he also received the vote from both travelling fans for the player of the tournament.

Again it was decided to get more training at the bar.

A longer break to watch a couple of games, and do some more training, and our final game, against 'Dublin Pandas', the guest team from Ireland. The Irish have never been a nation to lie down and even with Duffy piggy-backing the prop 20 meters, we could not stop them scoring more tries than us.

After team photographs, everyone retired to the bar for food, drink and presentations.

The Irish team, who were mostly losers, were crowned tournament winners (work that one out). However, we had the best record of the tournament.

Golden Oldies has no one winning team and the trophy goes to the team voted by a panel to have 'upheld the fun, friendship and fraternity' of Golden Oldies rugby.

Dublin Pandas had bought more beers for the panel and the trophy had slipped our grasp and they duly received the Bob Anderson Trophy, the team managers were presented with mementoes of the weekend, and Gethin Williams presented the home side with a Broadfield Farm sponsored Tenby shirt, while the rest of us retired to the Black Boy to drown our sorrows in a very spirited way.

Tenby had performed well enough to be proud of themselves and to be invited to the Europeans next year in Triest, Italy, as well as being invited to host the 2013 All Wales festival... that'll be another story!

It was a great weekend, with some classic moments, such as Neil Duffy mounting a rather large opposition player and whipping him towards his own try line; the rugby was sometimes not for the faint-hearted, but was played with tremendous spirit. Roll on Italy.

Thank you, Gethin, from all the old men. Special mention must be given to Mark Brace and his family of Broadfield Caravan Park for his fantastic gesture of supplying the whole team with specially printed new rugby jerseys for the occasion.

(Weekend report by

Gethin Williams and

Dave Bolton).