Didn't Ratchford kick to touch regularly at one time & get plenty of yardage ?

Yes, He did but that`s in the past now.

I don`t want him anywhere near our starting 13 next season.

Now that it looks like Dwyer has signed for us after all, I can`t see how we fit Ratchford into our 17 either?

The way I remember it Hesford did this when it was a particularly windy day, not as a matter of course.
David Lyon’s had a howitzer of a kick.
I was always surprised at how far the ball was/is kicked in Union but wonder if it is down to the type of ball. Anyone shed any light on this?

He did. In fact for a period during the Tony Barrow era we had a tactic of returning the kick off on tackle one to try and pin the opposition in their 20, such was the distance he could get.

Pretty innovative for the time.

I recall that tactic getting plenty of groans from the Fletcher St faithful, who seemed to see it as a very negative, Union-esque ploy.

I guess done correctly and combined with a strong defence, unlike what we presently have, it makes some sense.