Boxing Day Football Match

By John Canton, Chairman

After an enforced break of 3 years due to Covid the traditional football match between the rowing club and Peterborough Rugby Club was held on Boxing Day. Playing at the rugby club our team triumphed despite being outnumbered due to superior skill with a round ball. No doubt lessons had been learnt from the recent World Cup from stars such as Mbappe and Messi!

The final score was 6-4 to the rowing club whose team was never behind as the scores varied through the match. Major contributions from James and Forbes Plumb (although the latter did help the rugby club by scoring an own-goal!), James Marshall and Tom Calver were ably supported by the whole team.

Post match refreshments were had in the bar renewing old acquaintances at the rugby club and most importantly the crocodile was “stolen” back by Mike King and James Plumb so that it can be returned to its rightful place behind the rowing club bar!

This annual fixture with the rugby club started back in the early 1950’s when both clubs had some mutual members who took part in both sports at different times of the year. The stealing of the crocodile started in the mid 1960’s when rugby club members took a fancy to it when visiting the rowing club! Subsequently it has changed hands many times since.