In the second of a four-part series reflecting on the best part of a decade at Old Bath Road, the former teacher looks back on the first year in National One and subsequent agonising near promotion misses.
“It was testament to the club to install the new gym, and we (then Head of S&C Joe Southwell and I) knew it was a fantastic facility which was only going to take us further.
“I was only in my second year in rugby, but knew it was going to be a big step up – whenever you go up a league you’re going to come across players who are bigger, stronger and fitter.
“But the whole club wasn’t phased by it, because we knew we’d already been sharpening those tools.
“We were going into games knowing if nothing else we had one thing – ‘we will be there at the end’. There were no doubts about it.
“There were so many things we were doing in the last 10 minutes which other teams just couldn’t, and it paid off.
“Looking back, I don’t think any of us were surprised by it, because everyone had worked so hard.”
Incredible debut National One campaign
A sensational campaign began with Rams winning their opening four games – Cambridge (a), Birmingham Moseley (h), Darlington Mowden Park (a) and Chinnor (h) – and they ended with 19 wins from 25 outings before the country went into lockdown.
Time after time the Berkshire boys won games at the death – 21-17 at Chinnor in the first Friday Night Lights, two penalty tries in the closing three minutes versus Rosslyn Park at home, a final-play triumph at Moseley.
And Daryl beamed as he recalled some of the best bits, saying: “Chinnor away was fantastic with Ollie Taylor at the end, Drew Humberstone with the last kick at Moseley.
“That one was particularly sweet as they always have a hostile crowd, and I’m pretty sure towards the end we were camped on their five-metre line scrummaging for about 15 minutes.
“I was doing a warm-up behind the posts, and you just saw Jack Steadman, Ben Henderson and the rest saying, ‘can we just get on with this’ because there were some shenanigans.
‘We’re here to fight’
“My first season was a real learning as I saw rugby is a fantastic sport with a load of fantastic people, the second was a question of just ‘give it a go as a bunch of underdogs’.
“But we were (metaphorically) punching people in the mouths and saying ‘no, we’re here to fight’.”
Rams finished sixth when rugby resumed, but then recorded two more back-to-back runners-up efforts as Cambridge – in an extraordinary campaign where they drew one more game – and Chinnor the following year, took the title.
The departing Daryl continued: “By this point I was fully invested in rugby, and having two seasons where we barely lost a game but didn’t get over the line, was tough.
“The backroom staff work incredibly hard, and it’s probably something which isn’t highlighted enough.
“All the coaches are analysing things all the time, they get up Sunday morning, do their personal stuff and then immediately they’re watching our game and the next opposition. It’s incredible.
“So, while it’s a huge achievement to get a second place, there’s still a part of me which is sad we couldn’t have got much closer – despite everyone giving absolutely everything.”
‘No-one could have given any more’
He continued: “I genuinely believe in those two seasons there was nothing more anyone could have done to get us over the line.
“The players were also incredible – I never witnessed anyone kicking up a stink, and while it was difficult not to get promoted, those years still had some magical moments.
“And the Birdy try at Cambridge will always be my very favourite memory, mainly because I remember thinking early on it could be over the wrong way.
“But all of a sudden we bounced back, Will Partington’s chip I’m thinking ‘what on earth are you doing’ before he scores, and then Birdy had his magical moment.”
To read the first part of Daryl’s memories, click here
Rams return to National One action at home to Sale FC on Saturday, January 10 (3pm). Book tickets here
