By Rob Trewhella
January 30 2012

Rob, View From The Hill’s ‘Places I’ve been’ is the fifth in a series of stories sent in by Pirates Supporters and contributors to the board.......  In coming weeks look out for more stories and hopefully yours.

‘Places I’ve been’

Rob Trewhella

I suppose I could bring back memories of some of the grounds I have played on and visited.

My all time favourite is of course the Mennaye.  In my day the grass was long, and in front of the grandstand we had terrible problems with drainage, so little grass, a sea of mud in the winter, and concrete at the start and end of the season. 

I remember playing at Falmouth on a pitch that was devoid of grass and as it was a balmy Easter period was like concrete.  Not quite the lush Mennaye and what a credit to the volunteers it is now.  

I liked playing at Redruth, imagining that I was playing for the county and 12,000 were cheering me on scoring the winning try in Hellfire Corner.  Alas it never happened for me, but in my dreams.  

I did play for Cornwall Colts at Polson Bridge, a cold wet windy day, my boots came undone and I was clagged in mud, freezing cold fingers, so they stayed undone.  Mind you in those days it was common for the game to stay in the forwards and scrum half, and sometimes the fly half.  The rest of us fairies were just left to run on the spot to keep warm. 

I spent a bit of my career at Hayle.  Nice ground and a friendly club.  I see that the ground has turned around now due to the retail developments nearby.  One night, after a game, and a few sherbets in the bar, a few of us decided to “streak” around the pitch. 

It was a chilly night so there were no bragging rights, off we went, car headlights illuminating our way, unfortunately I forgot about the low wire fence that went around the pitch, tripped over and sprawled in the mud!  The frivolity of youth!  I remember playing against St Ives, these were hard local derbies, the Corin brothers, Peter Hendy and company.  

Barry Corin broke from the back of the scrum, down the blindside towards me, the last line of defence.  He was all arms and legs charging at me.  I shut my eyes, grabbed a leg and brought him down.  I think we still lost. 

Redruth Albany.  That was an experience, sloping pitch from left to right, horrible changing rooms, cold showers, ugly locals playing taking no prisoners, but a nice clubhouse.  Never enjoyed going there, but afterwards was fun, and if you didn`t care what time you got home, off to the Penventon for some entertainment! 

In those days, Penryn were probably the star team in Cornwall.  I remember they drew London Welsh in the John Player cup (I think).  Now this was in the days when the Taffs could boast several full internationals and they put Penryn to the sword, but not without a fight thanks to the likes of Graham Bate.  

There is a funny a story about a young man being offered a job in Penryn.  He refused saying that it was full of tarts and rugby players.  His boss said that his wife was from Penryn, the young man asked which position she played!! 

The most picturesque pitch was Millbrook RFC.  They only lasted a couple of seasons, but their ground was on Maker Heights, views across Plymouth Breakwater, and down to Kingsand and Cawsand and Rame Head. 

I was not in the twilight of my career when I played there I was in the deep gloom.  Plodding at fly half would you believe!  I enjoyed the views.

 When I moved “up country” I was close to Reading.  Richmond were playing at the Madjeski then, but unfortunately folded as a professional outfit before I got to see them.  I went to see Reading FC play Southampton FC in a pre season friendly, not impressed, but was delighted when London Irish took up the franchise. 

I bought a season ticket, my seat allowed me to put my pint of Guinness on the away sides dugout roof.  I met many players and before we won the World Cup they were happy to sign programmes, Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson, Kieran Bracken, and many others.  I met Peter Wheeler, Sean Edwards, Ian Botham, Kenny Lynch, one of the female Gladiators (she was married to Chris Sheasby), Richard Dunwoody, Wayne Shelford.

 The ground on rugby day is great and being close to the action you felt all the hits and wondered how no one was killed.  I stayed for about four seasons, but when the Irish signed Mike Catt, I thought that the time was right to look elsewhere for my rugby, so I pitched up at Monks Lane, Newbury. 

Newbury had it all.  A nice ground, good players a friendly club.  I had some great days there, especially when the Pirates pitched up to play and of course win.  It was surreal when Northampton played there, Carlos Spencer at 10 for the Saints, David Rees at 11 for Newbury, a young Chris Ashton at 14 for the Saints and Bruce Riehana captain.  

Newbury are now in freefall, bottom of National League 3 South West and no sign of recovery yet.  A great shame, but not the first and not the last. 

I think I played on most grounds in Cornwall, St Just, Camborne, St Ives, Wadebridge, Liskeard, Bodmin St Austell both old and new, and many others.  I played at the old Beacon Park, Teignmouth, Barnstaple and others in Devon.  

Blackwood in South Wales was an experience, it seemed to be cut out of a slag heap.  Dark.  But it all boils down to the same thing a patch of grass with posts at each end, a ball and 30 lunatics knocking lumps out of one and other.  

And a beer at the end of the game and life long friendships made.  What more could you want.