Warlingham’s Mark Bright, who has been diagnosed with incurable cancer, scored the winning try for his club’s 2nd XV after the Surrey Baa-Baas – selected from clubs across east Surrey – answered the call to take part in a special match to honour him.
The home team were made up of a solid band of Warlingham warriors, one of whom drove up from Cornwall to play. They took on a group of players from nearby clubs – Old Cats, Chipstead, Purley John Fisher, Trinity and Old Whits – who put aside local rivalries to send Brighty off in style.
Brighty, who has a young family, still coaches the U8s from his chair, and has two children in the Warlingham set up. And his rationale for holding the match now was simple. “January is a crap month and everyone gets paid this week so I thought this would be the day,” he said.
Before the game, Brighty addressed both sides and the message was clear, run everything … which was not what they wanted to hear. They attempted it and a special group of people aged from 18 to 59 all gave their best.
Three interception tries from the Baa-Baas team led by Trinity captain Mark Macaskill – the highlight being the only try Chipstead prop Chey Dupe has ever scored – secured a half-time lead but a determined Warlingham edged the score to 24-24 until the final substitution. Brighty was brought on at No.13 and he and his motor scooter powered over for the winning score.
After the match, an emotional Brighty, below, could only say that he felt he had been overlooked by England.
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