A year ago, Old Dunstonian rugby was at a pretty low ebb. Having started the 2016/17 season with a 15 point penalty from the RFU following a ‘mea culpa’ confession about player irregularities, the old boys club went into the Christmas break having won just four games out of twelve and sitting uncomfortably second to bottom in the league with a paltry 12 points to show for their efforts. Firmly rooted in the relegation zone, the implications weighed heavily on players, administrators and supporters alike who feared major repercussions should the club drop down a league.
Like Lazarus, some believed the club to be already dead and buried, but determination, hard work and a belief in the long established Old Dunstonian ethos that success is built both on and off the field saw a dramatic turnaround that propelled the side to a miraculous sixth place in the league and secure London SE3 rugby for another season.
By any yardstick, this was an achievement beyond expectation but the club had to learn some hard lessons that sat behind the statistics. OD’s had failed to beat any of the top five sides, either home or away, points against were the third worst in the league and the consistent selection of two senior sides hung on a thread, with availability and injuries constantly compromising the ability to field full strength teams – the dream of reviving the Extra A’s seemed a long way away. So, the questions remained: could the 1st XV consolidate, let alone improve, its league ranking? Could success on the pitch translate into regular home support and a more vibrant club atmosphere? Could the club attract a bigger playing membership and establish a squad culture which would provide the buffer against injuries and unavailability?
As the club moves into 2018, the answer to all three has been a resounding ‘yes, it can’. OD’s, currently, sit third in the league table with eight wins from twelve games, including two top of the table scalps in Lewes and league leaders Aylesford Bulls. Home matches now attract regular touchline support and the clubhouse resonates with friendship and rugby chat long after the final whistle. With a significant ongoing recruitment drive, the club has embraced a 3 team structure which, if not yet embedded, has already given selection a more competitive edge, borne out by the success of the A team, who head their league at the halfway stage. Player resources definitely warrant the ambition and perseverance to establish a regular third team which will change the whole dynamic around senior team identities and objectives.
The 1st XV, led by Peter Jefferys for a second season, has made real progress to force its way into the top echelon of the league with already 40 points in the bag. Always a potent try scoring side, individual brilliance has been absorbed into a more structured and controlled 15 man game. Ball retention and field position is the new mantra, made possible by a mobile, tenacious back row and a front five that is holding its own in the scrum and dominating the line out. In open play, carriers are getting beyond the gain line, therefore transforming the options for Mike Ubee and his three-quarter line. If fitness and concentration at times give the opposition a counter attacking opportunity, set piece defence and organisation at the breakdown have really been the hallmarks this season. If we are still waiting for the complete 80 minute performance, there is a new resilience and confidence about a side that believes in its ability to control a game and, quite simply, score more tries than the opposition. Langley Park is becoming a difficult venue for visiting sides, with Dunstonians unbeaten in the league at home since the first fixture in September, and then only by 3 points. Consistency will be key for the remainder of the season with OD’s undoubtedly now a target for league rivals – there is no room for complacency for a side that is often guilty of taking unnecessary high-risk options, making too many unforced errors and missing important tackles. A high penalty count makes it difficult for the side to settle and surrenders the hard won initiative.
Off the field as well requires a sustained, progressive approach to improve both the player and supporter experience. Slowly, the club is adding value to its membership offer, not least with the quality of training and the match day package of camaraderie and winning rugby. New team kit, better organised pre-match protocols, high quality physio provision and injury clinic are all steps in the right direction, whilst for supporters, the home fixtures are generating anticipation and atmosphere, often precipitated by an increasingly well-attended lunch.
A year on, by any stretch of the imagination, the club is in a much better place, wherein lies the paradox. Because of these achievements, the club stands at a crossroads in 2018, with choices and decisions to be made. The opportunity is to reinforce success, build on the foundations that have now been laid with the continuing development of players and facilities that will secure the club for the long term. The threat is that this is an unsustainable spike that will lose momentum if the club fails to set realistic goals and common objectives, if it lacks the commitment and a willingness to explore every avenue of development and regeneration. Competition for people’s time and enthusiasm is increasingly intense and, when it comes to south east London rugby, too close for comfort. At the moment, the club is operating on a wave of emotional energy which, however positive, has to convert into more substantial benefits if it is to grow and prosper.
If we can get it right, we can look forward to a club that views success in the broadest context. Inclusive of all playing abilities and welcoming to all comers. A modern, family club that offers great facilities for playing sport and social interaction. Most of all it will be genuinely open and collaborative, demonstrating that unity of spirit and shared values are the essence of a rugby club and its unique quality above all other sports. It will be a club that holds its traditions dear whilst forging new ways of working fit for a 21st century amateur sports club. It will be a club that never again allows itself to pander to egos but a club in which everyone plays a part and in which everyone holds a stake. And above all it will be a happy place where people come to enjoy themselves, engage with others and be with friends.
Happy New Year
Colin.

Dates for the diary:
Saturday 13th January 1st XV Home Fixture vs Folkestone KO 2.00pm
Buffet lunch

Saturday 3rd February 1st XV Home Fixture vs Crawley KO 2.30pm
League Lunch

Saturday 17th March

The Pink Elephant Ball
Saturday 24th March 1st XV Home Fixture vs Bromley KO 3.00pm
Vice Presidents’ Lunch

For more details on all the above events please contact the club secretary Fred Platford on 07887 615488 or email secretary @odfrc.co.uk