LAST year Okehampton Rugby Club hosted a Christmas Rugby match in memory of North Tawton Rugby Club and Okehampton Rugby Club’s dear friend Gary Sizmur.

Some of the crowd watching the game
Some of the crowd watching the game (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

This year the match was held at North Tawton Rugby Club on Saturday, December 28 and it also remembered two other people recently lost, Andrew Fishleigh and Liam Shears.

North Tawton RFC's Simon Quick with the ball
North Tawton RFC's Simon Quick with the ball (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Before kick off the players from North Tawton Rugby Club, Okehampton Rugby Club and Bridestowe Cricket Club led a minutes' applause in memory of all three.

During the minutes' applause in memory of Gary Sizmur, Andrew Fishleigh and Liam Shears
During the minutes' applause in memory of Gary Sizmur, Andrew Fishleigh and Liam Shears (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

The crowd of about 200 people also took part in the applause.

A scrum during the memorial game
A scrum during the memorial game (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

The mixed teams played a 15-a-side game and were afforded a very entertaining game.

During the minutes' applause in memory of Gary Sizmur, Andrew Fishleigh and Liam Shears
During the minutes' applause in memory of Gary Sizmur, Andrew Fishleigh and Liam Shears (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

The home side won by 22 to the visitors 15.

During a line-out
During a line-out (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Following the match there was live music from Vicious Kitten from 6pm to 9pm.

Donations and a raffle raised several hundreds of pounds for The Wellbeing Cafe in Okehampton.