Sidcup Vets in Cyprus

The Vets have recently returned from a very successful and enjoyable tour to Northern Cyprus. Sidcup Vets were the first touring side ever to visit the north of the island. The game there is in its infancy, a stark contrast to the tourists who are very much not in their infancy, certainly not physically anyway.

The game was much tougher than the tourists expected with the young, athletic and enthusiastic Cypriot team lacking only a few technical skills that would have allowed them to overcome the old, fat and somewhat hungover tourists. In the end the tourist ran out 27-0 winners and it was the ability to form and drive the trusty rolling maul that was the difference between the two sides.

Undoubted stars for the tourists were the powerful second row combination of Marmite and Mark Ayton ably supplemented by the searing pace and astute tactical awareness of Greg 'I've retired' McManus. However good this trio though, the champagne moment of the match goes to Harvey Stephens who recorded his first try for the club after only 50 appearances on the wing.