THE Plymouth rugby community again turned out in force for the annual Paul Lethbridge Memorial Day.
This year’s event took place at Tamar Saracens’ Parkway ground on Sunday and spectators were treated to glorious weather and an entertaining game of rugby, which was refereed by former Premiership official David Rose.
The day is now in its seventh year and is held in memory of former Tamar Saracens, Old Techs and DHSOB player and youth coach Paul Lethbridge, who sadly died in 2013.
A Saracens XV played an Old Techs XV, with both clubs starting off with veteran players before bringing on younger guns later on.
Most Plymouth Combination clubs were represented on the day, with the Sarries XV winning 24-17.
New Tamar Saracens signing Sini Manu, the former Ivybridge centre, showed his strength and pace to score two tries in the first half as the hosts led 12-7. Techs’ first half points came courtesy of a penalty try.
After the interval Chey Bryce scored from a catch-and-drive move to put Sarries 19-7 ahead before Techs’ Matt Simmonds powered over in the left corner to narrow the gap.
Prop James MacFarlane, who has just signed for Plymstock Albion Oaks, then put the Sarries XV 24-12 in front before Techs’ Billy Evans had the last word with a try from a tap penalty.
But it was the day – remember Paul Lethbridge and raising money for charity – that meant more than the score.
“It’s great to see all these people here for Paul,” said his brother and current Tamar Saracens head coach Pete Lethbridge.
“It was a cracking day again – a great turnout – and I thought it was a great game of rugby. Hopefully we will make a decent amount for charity.”
This year’s chosen charity was ‘Talk Outside of the Scrum’, also known as Toots, which is a new mental health rugby charity.