Peter Dawson - a rugby nobody knows sidesteps as wellAbsolutely riveting information about Peter Dawson and the rugby sidestep.Hello!I'm Peter Dawson. This
is
me recently, thinking about the opposition! Photo
by JuliaI'm not an international rugby player. I've never been an international rugby player. I'm not an international rugby coach. I've never been an international rugby coach I've never been coached in rugby. We just "went training". By these standards I'm a rugby nobody! But there are other standards....very high standards... So take everything with a grain of salt! Just like everything else on the Internet! But that doesn't mean you should not pay attention Because there's something I know. Something very special - the ins and outs of the rugby sidestep. When you look around the site and see video clips of me taken recently, please use a bit of I-M-A-G-I-N-ATION!  This may be a useful guide... ...when the legs were sidestepping for real... ......this is what the head looked like. Peter Dawson a long long long long long time ago Aim of the siteI feel safe in saying sidesteps mean huge amounts of enjoyment for players and spectators.My aim is to create a buzz, knowledge and sidestep ability so that we see more and more. I'm Peter Dawson the nobody - so I need your help!Talk to your friends. Ask old codgers about the good old days. Use blogs to spread the word and forums to find out more. Look for old video clips.More sidesteps = exciting rugby! Instead of a team with one Phil Bennett look-a-like I see teams with 6 or 7, may be even 10 or 12! No point in holding back now - I see FIFTEEN! All players are expected to tackle - sidestep as well! I knew nothing about the sidestepI played rugby at school. I was quite good at gymnastics and basketball but was only OK at rugby, playing for 4ths and 3rds at Leeds Grammar School.Out of school I was interested in rock climbing. I remember being on a climbing holiday in Scotland with school friends. One was fullback for the First XV (are you still there John?) and he challenged me to get past him. I faked one side then the other then ran straight into him. I hadn't a clue! Peter Dawson sees first sidestepSeveral years later I remember going to watch Leeds RLFC vs Salford at Headingly. Salford had their new player David Watkins, the former Welsh Rugby Union player.He did something that day that was fantastic! He beat a Leeds player with something magical. I didn't know how he'd done it, but I left Headingly inspired, with this fantastic picture in my brain, determined to be able to do it as well. Amazingly that was the only time I ever saw David play. I've seen him relatively recently on film/video and read about him too. I wish I'd seen more of him at the time. With some experienceWhen I was younger I was impressed by Cossack dancers. So much that I taught myself to do it.I once saw someone lying on his back, flip up onto his feet with just a flick of his body. I got to work. Grabbing the arm of the sofa for the first few weeks, practicing and practicing till I could do it. I had an old Ford Anglia with a dud battery. Many times I had to push it backwards uphill in the morning so I could bump start it downhill. That gave me great leg strength. It came in useful These are a couple of examples from a number of totally useless things I was able to do, just things that took my fancy! It was all learning and all valuable experience. So, with gymnastics and some unusual additions, I had some experience and skills for extending my repetoire. I got one of my ownWhat I saw David Watkins do was from a standing start. Over a couple of years, working out how he did it and just playing about, I found I'd developed a range of evasion techniques that were useful in many situations on the rugby field.I practiced everywhere, just because I loved doing it. I used to sidestep everything. Lamp posts, telegraph poles and shoppers leaving it as late as possible without braining myself. To me it was a sport in itself! I never shared it with anyone. Not because I didn't want to - I just didn't think of it and nobody asked. Then one thing led to anotherI played for the Old Leos thirds, then later for Yarnbury, a small local club.My rugby improved. After one game a huge bloke came up to me in the car park and said "Have you ever thought of playing rugby league?" I hadn't! He told me he was the chief scout from the Warrington Football Club. You could have knocked me down with a feather. Warrington interested in Peter Dawson! You might not be impressed, but I was! Not least because he was from the other side of the country. Open mouthed, I dropped my washbag on the ground and had to scrabble around at his feet trying to pick it up. And anotherSome years later I went to live in Portsmouth and played for Portsmouth Polytechnic. We made it to the Southern Rugby League Cup Final (Dave Davies from Wales, where are you?)One of the people there that day was a scout for Keighley. I went for a trial, but they didn't want me because I was too small! I'm sure they were right in my case. I learnt much later that the Peter Dawson of that time was almost exactly the same size and weight as David Watkins who went on to captain the British Lions at both Rugby Union and Rugby League. What an achievement!! So, learn to sidestepbecause it's great, you'll love it!Some say it's a gift.....it's not... Nobody is born with a sidestep!!!!!! Those who say "I've always had one" just don't know how they learned. Either that or they aren't telling! Like learning all rugby skills, it's easier if... ... there is someone to show the way FInd someone good who can help you - (pick me!, pick me! he says) I'm certain you'll enjoy yourself... work hard... ...and you just might go a side step further than Peter Dawson and - be a rugby somebody! Return from Peter Dawson to Home
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