RETIRING Rams legend Robbie Stapley is looking forward to watching the Sonning side keep moving forward after his swansong ended in a dramatic 49-40 home win against Rosslyn Park.
In a National One cracker under the Old Bath Road sunshine, James McRae scored a brilliant hat-trick, Dan Swain a double and Tomek Pozniak and Mikey Duda one apiece as Fraser Honey’s perfect record from the tee added 14 more points to secure the victory.
And on his 245th appearance, the club’s record-breaking first-team try-scorer revealed: “I’d played it out in my head how I’d like it to go, but you never know on the day if it will happen so it was nice to get the win.
“I’ve come across so many different people during my time and made some great friendships, and it’s been special to see youngsters coming in. I’ve enjoyed it, but now it’s time to watch.”
On a memorable afternoon, Stapley was given a guard of honour before the game as he brought his children Eden and Arlo onto the pitch, while his brother Connor returned from his horrific opening-day injury to partner the former skipper in the engine room.
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And Stapley – who played all his career at No. 8 until the second half of this season – admitted: “When he walked next to me for the first scrum I thought ‘this must be the first time we’ve ever packed down together in the second row, and it’s in my last game’.
“It was great to have him back and credit to him because he pushed himself hard. It was nice.”
The absolute fairytale finish was marginally missed as a minute after his substitution, replacement Swain racing down the right touchline to cross in Clubhouse Corner, leaving the departing icon to joke: “I would have scored the same try, but I was tired, so had to let Dan have it!”
“Fair play to Rosslyn Park as well – they were very good. We knew from the tempo they put in at their place what we’d be up against, so we had to be on the money in defence, alert to any tap-and-goes or sneaky bits of play.”
And saving his final thoughts for how far Rams has progressed since he arrived at Level Five in 2009, he ended: “Everything about the club has changed since I started, but there are some familiar faces who’ve run the place, and they’ve made it into what it is.
“The club has evolved, and I look forward to watching it carry on.”
Rams have a weekend off before visiting Darlington Mowden Park for their final game on Saturday, April 26.
