Montestruc France May 2007
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Page 1 france_tour_2007 150+ photos
Page 2 France tour 2007b 100+ more
Please email any photos to biggy.rugby@ntlworld.com
| Welcome to MAY 2007 Newsletter |
| NEWSLETTERS ARCHIVE | ||||||||
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The AGM of the Association will be held on Thursday 17th May 2007 at 8pm in the Clubroom. Click for Agenda |
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From now on all reports will be posted on THIS PAGE - the Newsletter page.
This will include Senior, Youth, Mini and Committee news and reports. Please send reports to biggy.rugby@ntlworld.com for inclusion.
The newsletter page is updated Monthly with the previous months saved and available from the menu on the top right.
Reports will be placed in date order, with the newest at the top.
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Ladies Night 14th of July - Book Tickets
ASAP to confirm your place Tickets £27.50 including a three course dinner and band. Black tie of lounge suits. Tickets from Tony Munns 01767 691055. Maximum table of 10 but any number can be catered for! This event is supported by Wells & Young. |
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Montestruc France May 2007
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| BRUFC Working Party | |
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We plan to start work on
Sheepwalk on Sunday 3rd June at 10am
and the following Sunday's in
June.
The Sheepwalk pitches are
essential if we are to fulfil the fixtures for next season and help from the
Youth & Senior section would be appreciated.
Please bring bucket, trowel, etc
we will concentrate on the "road" pitch to start with, given a couple of dozen
people for two hours, we will make a huge difference!
In following weeks we will look
to filling some holes on Pitch Three
Please pass this on to those who
could help, including players!
Thanks
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| Update of the proposed summer fitness training at Biggy. | |
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Happy to confirm that Louise from Sandy
Sports Centre gym is going to take four circuit training sessions for
the seniors/U17-U21s on a Thursday starting 28th June.
Good news re Sandy Sports as we are used their
facilities last winter (U16s) and have attracted new players from there, they
are very keep to work with us and will shortly come up with a club deal for
use of the facility.
For the U13 to U16s waiting for news on another
fitness coach that Sean Taylor knows who is able to come in on other days.
Senior Team Training. Training will begin for all Senior and U17/Colt players on Thursday 21st June at 7pm
More to follow when details are known.
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| May Newsletter | |
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Senior Team
Training. Training will begin for all Senior and U17/Colt players on
Thursday 21st June at 7pm. The website will carry more updates nearer the
time!
The Mini & Youth training schedule
to be posted on the website by age group coaches.
Carnival!
The club has entered
a float in the Biggleswade Carnival on Saturday 30th June, Thanks to Michelle
Albone for arranging this, and Andersons from Moggerhanger for the loan of a
lorry. The Mini section and some Youth teams are already committed to be on
the float.
The theme is "50 years", our float
will have an England Rugby World Champions theme, players are asked
to come in Biggy or England shirts and the RFU have provided plenty of
giveaways the promote the club. If you have any flags, bunting and things to
decorate the float and would be willing to help build the float please contact
Michelle via email
willardslimited@aol.com
BigglesFM 87.9are
back on air from 4th June, for the Carnival fortnight . As always, BigglesFM
have been great supporters of Biggy Rugby. We will be featured on the
Sports Talk Show on Saturday 16th June at 6pm.
Sheepwalk Pitches and
other work. Work will start on stone-picking the Sheepwalk pitches on
Sunday 3rd June at 10am and for the next three Sundays in June.
Without both Sheepwalk
pitches playable, games will be cancelled, this will disrupt some Youth
matches in particular.
Please could everyone make
an effort to come to some on Sunday 3rd June, and bring a bucket, trowel, fork
etc. Work will also include filling some of the holes on the Minis pitches,
with topsoil already delivered to the club, for this, please bring a spade,
and barrow if you can! More info will follow via email and on the website.
Biggleswade RUFC Ladies
Night. Saturday 14th July Tickets £27.50 including a three course
dinner and band. Black tie of lounge suits. Tickets from Tony Munns 01767
691055. Maximum table of 10 but any number can be catered for! This event is
supported by Wells & Young.
Work around the club.
The pitches have been worked on over that last few weeks and it is
important to rest them completely. The work has been carried out in accordance
to advice from the RFU ground care and others. Thanks to Richard Kendall for
this, and mowing the Sheepwalk pitches.
Thanks go to Michael Adams for his
continuing work around the club, including plumbing, and refurbishing the
ladies loos.
Biggy Boys Charity Bike
Ride. On Sunday 17th June, Ross Taylor, Pete Bierniss, Iain Jones,
Darryl Rogers, Russ German and others will complete the London to Brighton
bike ride in aid of the British Heart Foundation. It is a 54 mile ride and the
boys would welcome any sponsorship, contact Ross on
ross_m_taylor@hotmail.com
Beds & Luton Youth Games.
Once again we will be coaching the Mid Beds tag rugby team for the Youth
Games. Neil Gregory and Brett Orrow have been coaching the new players on a
Monday evening at the club, ready for the tournament on 17th June at Sandy
Upper School. Good luck to those new players taking part!
Summer Training Camps.
There are a number of summer rugby camps being held this year, here is a
selection of some that are happening .
East Midlands Summer
Schools. Held at Stowe School near Buckingham, there are three
categories U9/U10 on August 13&14 followed by U11/U12 on August 13 to15 and
U13/U16 on August 20 to 22. Each are residential and cost vary. Details from
Helen at EMRU 01933 222218.
O2 Premiership
Rugby Academy. Courses held at Franklins Gardens and St Ives RFC
for 7 to 16 year olds and a five day residential course at Bassingbourn
Barracks for 14 to 18 year olds. Details on
www.premiershiprugbyacademy.com.
Martin Johnson
Rugby Camps, supported by England Rugby. Nearest is Ealing
Trailfinders RFC in London. Johnson and other internationals will coach on
each course. Seems good value at £150 for three days, non residential. Details
on www.rfu.com
Association Meeting.
the first of the new season Association meetings will be held on Tuesday 26th
June at 8pm when the accounts presented at the AGM will be consolidated and
re-presented to the members.
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| Sheepwalk. | |
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Next season will
hopefully see the second
Sheepwalk pitch
in action. Without
it, we will have serious pitch congestion, which will have consequences for
the number of home fixtures we can host.
On Sunday 3rd June we will be having the first of four Sunday morning sessions to stone-pick both pitches and prepare them for the season. Please try and help by coming along at 10am and bringing bucket, trowel, etc. Also during these sessions, we will be working on pitch three and the Minis pitches as well, to make them better for the next season. This will involve filling in some of the holes with topsoil. During one of the later sessions we are going to organise a free barbecue for those helping. |
| Bedfordshire and Luton Youth Games 2007 | |
 The
17th June 2007 sees the return of the Bedfordshire and Luton Youth Games.
Formerly known as the ‘Heart of the East’, this year the games are being held
at Sandy Sports and Community Centre. The games involve the four local
authorities, Bedford Borough, Luton, South Beds and Mid Beds and include age
ranges from year 3 up to year 9.Once again, Biggleswade RUFC have been chosen to coach the Tag rugby teams. Neil Gregory and Brett Orrow are coaching the players, made up from non rugby players on a Monday evening at the club. past seasons, Biggy have coached the winning team and also picked up some useful new players as well. |
| Biggleswade Rugby Club under 13 Dinner and Awards | |||||||
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The Indian Chef in Shefford was the popular
venue for the annual end of season awards for Biggleswade Rugby Club under 13
on Sunday. In a season where there had been a number of deserved causes, three
players were chosen to receive individual awards.
Thanks to the staff of the Indian Chef for
laying on a superb buffet which was thoroughly enjoyed by both the Head coach Gerallt Hughes praised the efforts of a number of players and encouraged the squad to maintain fitness over the summer. Next season the team, playing at U14s will contest the Herts and Middlesex league which is promised to be a tough ask.
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| U16s Awards Evening - 11/05/07 | ||||||||
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Over seventy players, family and supporters
packed the U16s Awards Evening at Biggleswade Rugby Club on Friday.
Guests included chairman John Thoday, referee
Peter Biernis, club captain Iain Jones and the coaching team of Paul Downie
and Richard Kendall.
Stan Matthews introduced guest speaker was Paul
Rait, who gave a motivational speech, urging the players to develop their
strengths and train hard if they are to succeed in their chosen sport. Paul is
part of the London Welsh RFC coaching team and gave an insight into the perils
of playing for London Welsh, as all Welsh opposition hate you because you are
English and the English clubs do likewise because you are Welsh! Paul is to
help with coaching at Biggleswade next season.
The East Midlands Champions trophy stood proudly
on the top table as evidence that this team had again won important
silverware. Stan praised the players and backroom staff, with special
reference to manager Richard Phipps who had worked incredibly hard to make the
season a success.
Being crowned East Midlands Champions was
especially rewarding for Biggleswade, as they had been runners up in the
previous two years. Tribute was paid to all of the squad, from seasoned 'old
boys' to the newcomers who had fitted so well into this squad, many of whom
started at U7 level!
Next season will be very different, as the boys
will now train with the senior squads, and for some, will play for the senior
teams as well.
The 2006/7 Biggleswade U16s awards are
as follows.
Most Improved Player. Gavin
Taylor.
Player of the Year. William
Roake
Parents Player. Ryan Shepherd
Players Player. Ashley Dunn
The John Jordan Memorial Trophy.
Dean Bartlett
Following the presentations, entertainment was
provided by"Alcove"
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| Biggleswade RUFC 2006/2007 Season honours. | |
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Bedfordshire County Rugby.
U14s
Michael Kendall.
U15s
Lawrence Hutchinson, Glyn Hughes, Sam Weller,
Sasha Heath, Ben Cox, Michael Hall,
Michael Trigg, Nathan Jackson, Bob Davey, Tom Warboys, Tom Cusak.
Hutchinson and Hughes both represented
East Midlands.
U16s
Dean Bartlett, Stuart Phipps, Michael Haddow,
Gary Athow, Ryan Shepherd, Charlie Darlow, George Matthews, Domonic Nott.
Seniors.
Peter Shea (England Deaf Rugby), Stubby Applegate (England Fire
Service)
Playing achievements of
former Biggleswade players.
Charlie Beech: Northampton Saints & England 20s Simon Pitfield: England 19s & Loughborough University Joe Raitt: Newport Gwent Dragons and London Welsh RFC Andrew Savage: Nottingham Rugby Duncan Couchman: Loughborough University Steven Elms: Gateshead Thunder Rugby League |
| Players Dinner and Awards Night and other News | |
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Players enjoyed a boisterous club
dinner on Friday evening, when the following honours were awarded.
Outgoing club captain Mark
Rastrick paid tribute to the hard work that Senior players had put in last
season and looked forward to new beginnings with incoming coach Stan Matthews
and club captain Iain Jones.
Colts.
Players Player: Tom Saunders
Most Improved Colt: Tom Farren
Colt of the Year: Leo Churms
Seniors
Most Improved Player of the Year:
Tom Griffiths
3rd XV Players Player: Adam (Scad)
Wuestner
2nd XV Players Player : Jim
Young
!st XV Players Player: Mark (Potton)
Peace
Un-sung Hero Award: Graham
Place, whose excellent web site is a credit to the club.
Clubman of the Year: Warren
Churms for building a fantastic spirit within the Colts team
The Malcolm Carlisle Trophy for
Mini/Youth Coaches: Darin Cleverly, U9s coach whose team won two
important Minis festivals during the season.
Honours Tie, chosen by honours tie
committee. One of the highest honours the club can award went to John
Thoday, who has made a huge contribution to BRUFC through his time as a
Minis, Youth coach and latterly as Chairman.
Biggy U15s
Following on from their successful
Newcastle tour the U15s played Old Northamptonians for the EMRU Championship
last night (Friday 4th), loosing 22 - 0 against the top side in East
Mids. Although on top for all of the first half, and with the score at 0 - 0,
Biggleswade were dealt a blow when influential No10 Glyn Hughes broke his
collarbone in the second half.
Best wishes to Glyn and hoping you
make a quick recovery.
BRUFC Association A.G.M.
The Association AGM is on Thursday
17th May at 8pm . The Association is responsible for the upkeep and
running of the clubhouse, pitches, facilities and future developments for all
club members. The decisions made by the Association effect all members, and as
such the A.G.M. is the time to have your say. All club members welcome to
attend.
Club Maintenance Schedule.
A number of projects are taking place over the summer months including pitch
maintenance and a re-decorate of the clubhouse. We will again be working with
the probation service, who will be providing labour.
Rugby Club Committee.
The next rugby club committee is on Monday 21st May at 8pm.
Ladies Night
Saturday 14th July. Tickets are £27.50 from Tony Munns 01767 691055. The
evening will include a three course meal, accompanied by light music, followed
by dancing to another live band until 1am. Table service will be provided.
Black Tie or Lounge Suits.
The ladies Night is kindly
supported by Wells & Young
Congratulations to club member Nigel
Aldis who was re-elected to Mid beds District Council representing
the Sandy Pinnacle ward.
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| NEWS | |
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U14s County Squad.
Belated congratulations to Michael Kendall who played for Bedfordshire County
U14s in their recent win at Kettering over East Northants U14s, at No8..... A
Kendall at No8 sounds familiar!
Welcome to Paul Raitt who is
coming back into the Biggy coaching scene to help with the older Youth and
Senior players. Paul is well known to many as having guided the Biggy U17s of
four seasons ago to National Finals and is coaching at London Welsh RFC.
Also welcome to some new players,
in Mini ,Youth and Seniors who have been in touch and look to come to the
club.
As ever, we have to say goodbye to
some players who are moving on, especially to Albert Pretorius who is
returning to South Africa. To those players and coaches moving on, thanks for
your time at Biggy and best wishes at your new clubs
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| The Association is responsible for the running, upkeep, maintenance, and future development of the clubhouse facilities and pitches. As such is very important to the running of both rugby and squash club. All members are welcome to come to the AGM and contribute to the plans in place. Further news of the Association AGM will be emailed and posted here. Thanks |
| Biggleswade First XV 8 - Chairman's XV 5 - 29/04/07 | |
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Both sides’ boasted internationals with Charlie Beech & Andrew Applegate (Fire Service) turning out for the Chairman's side and Pete Shea (England Deaf rugby) playing for the club. A number of current and former players turned out for the Chairman’s XV including five former Club Captains. A large crowd enjoyed the beer the sunshine, the barbecue and the rugby possibly in that order! The game was played in four quarters of twenty minutes to allow the more senior members of the Chairman’s XV time to recharge their batteries. At the end of an hour there was no score. Finally the deadlock was broken with the 1st XV awarded a penalty in front of the posts opted to kick at the posts. Despite the cat-calls retiring skipper Mark Rastrick calmly slotted the kick home. Immediately from the restart big prop Andy Burke charged back up the field brushing off half-hearted attempts at a tackle. Finally just short of the line fellow prop Martin Peace (better known as “Potton”) was on hand to take the scoring pass. In the dying seconds Richard Kendall went over ion the corner for a consolation score for the Chairman’s XV. |
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| TEAM PHOTOS | |
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We are in the process of restoring some of the old team
photographs, in the club house. Some have become faded and others are missing.
Wanted
Biggleswade Rugby Club Team photographs from the 1950s
and from 1960-61 and 1962-63
These can be scanned and the originals returned, or a
scanned copy would be just as good.
Please help us preserve a vital aspect of the clubs
history.
Thanks
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| BigglesFM | |
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Will be back on air from Monday
4th June with another month of good music, guests, outside broadcasts and
everything local.
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Biggy Minis sign off the 2006/7 season in style on Sunday
29th at the St Neots Festival with both the U9s and
U11s winning their respective age groups, congratulations to all of
the boys and coaches Darin (U9s) and Neil (U11)
Chairman's Game.
Biggleswade First XV 8 -
Chairman's XV 5
Both sides boasted
internationals with Charlie Beech playing for the Chairman's side and Pete
Shea (England Deaf rugby) playing for the club. A number of current and former
players turned out, with a large crowd enjoying the rugby and the sunshine and
barbecue!
Good to see Matt King along to
see some of his former team mates.
Rugby Committee meeting on Wednesday 2nd 7 pm to discuss
sponsorship/ fees etc.
Friday 4th....
Club Dinner and Awards night. Tickets
£15 see Dave Tysom
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| Biggleswade RUFC A.G.M. | |
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April 24th 2007 saw the well
attended AGM and heard presentations from outgoing club officers and those up
for re-election.
Both chairman John Thoday and
06/07 first XV captain Mark Rastrick commented on the tough year that the club
and first XV in particular had, with the first XV being relegated. Loosing 13
players from the previous seasons team due to injury and unavailability dealt a
blow that the team did not recover from.
However, on a positive note, Colts
manager Warren Churms was congratulated on the performance of the Colts, and the
condition of the pitches has been praised by many visiting clubs and the EMRU.
Thanks to Tony Munns for this.
Stuart Dunn stood down after four
years as treasurer and was thanked for his work, and for consolidating the
accounts.
Nigel Aldis was thanked for his
many years on various committees.
Mini and Youth sections will be
brought together, and the older Youth teams will be integrated into the senior
playing set up under Stan Matthews and senior coaches.
Former Biggy players to move
on the higher level rugby in 06/07 season include.
Charlie Beech (Northampton Saints
& England)
Joe Raitt (London Welsh)
Andrew Savage (Nottingham Rugby)
and current BRUFC member Pete Shea
(England Deaf Rugby)
Club Officers for
2007/2008 Season
Chairman
John Thoday
Secretary Simon
Rutt
Treasurer
Michelle Albone
First Team Captain
Iain Jones (Gooner)
Second Team Captain
Simon Rutt
Third Team Captain
Dave Tysom
Vets Captain
Mike Showell
Chairman of Playing
Committee Stephen (Stan) Matthews
Team Secretary
Dave Tysom
Fixtures Secretary
Peter Biernis
Match Secretary
Alex Bage
Mini & Youth representative Neil
Gregory
Equipment Manager Jim Caulfield
Grounds Tony Munns
Membership Glen Albone
Webmaster
Graham Place
Press
Martin Harwood
Social Secretary
Bev Athow
Bar rep Roy
Caulfield
Sponsorship Manager
Gary Burlison
Coaching coordinator
Mike Williams
Child Protection Officer
Darin Cleverly
U21s player mentor
Warren Churms
general committee,
all of the above , and, Doug Aberdien, Mark Wilson, Ann Richardson, Paul Raitt,
Mark Rastrick.
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| Reflections on the Colts' Season | |
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A very enjoyable season of Colts rugby has come to
an end and it has proved to be a very worthwhile time for all concerned.
Last summer, when my son Leo approached me and
said that he had "one or two" mates who were interested in playing rugby I said
I would be happy to help them train and learn some basic skills. If there was a
growing interest we hoped we could approach the Rugby Club for facilities and
fixtures. It would be a difficult task, though, as nearly all the interest was
from current 6th Form and ex-Stratton schoolboys, for whom very little rugby had
been organised or played in the past, whilst all other club Colts teams would
have many years experience of playing together.
So, many texts and phone calls later, Leo informed
me that he reckoned up to 20 boys were interested. I spoke to John Thoday and he
agreed to support the idea of pre-season training at the Club and if we could
raise a team then so much the better.
Pre-season was interesting, with numbers varying
between 8 and 18. Long, short, tall, fat, thin, fit, unfit, fast and slow all
turned up - a typical rugby squad in fact! A few fell by the wayside and a few
were added but overall it looked like we might be able to raise 15 for a game
when required. What was obvious, though, was the lack of rugby experience - and
etiquette. Some of the lads were quite adept but many had played little or no
rugby at all and were facing a crash course to set themselves up for selection.
Some interesting and enthusiastic training
sessions ensued and it soon became apparent who were going to be the regular,
keen trainers (Scad, Tom Saunders, Dave Benbow, JB, Tom Farren, Leo, Tim Wilkes,
Rojer and Ripon). An evening fixture was arranged against Datchworth U17s and
the lads had something to look forward to. Having spent the majority of their
time on handling and ball retention exercises, tackling formed the basis of the
last two sessions before the first match and how it paid off.
Eighteen lads turned up for the first game, which
was encouraging. Most didn't know where they played but we managed to put up a
good fight and tackled everything that moved. Much of the lineout and scrummaging
work was done in the hour before kick-off but the basis of a team was founded
and we knew what we had to work on - everything! Nonetheless, this was a good
start and a 17-7 loss was no disgrace against an experienced outfit.
Some players faded away and some just never
trained but still fancied a game when there was one arranged. This was a little
disappointing because we needed the numbers for the games but couldn't put team
strategies into practise in training. The stalwarts continued to put everything
into their rugby development, though and further encouraging performances
against Bedford Swifts (0-27) and Rushden and Higham (won 39-17) followed. The
Rushden win was a fantastic performance against a weaker team than some we
played but saw some superb handling and attacking rugby. We then met Northampton
BBOB (8-42) who were much too strong for us, yet still their Manager had some
encouraging words for us afterwards, as did their players. It did show who our
mentally strong players were and who could match up to this level. This is the
beauty of rugby - if you do your best it is acknowledged by all - and some of
our lads were getting the "bug".
It was proving difficult to arrange fixtures -
most Colts teams were in Leagues and just too strong for us, but we had to play
them when we could or we'd have had no games. Once the lads had a few games
under their belts, the Seniors benefited, too, and a few Colts graced the Club
in more experienced company. By the end of the season Scad, Leo, Tom Saunders
and Tom Farren had several games for the 2nds and 3rds whilst Harry Dix and John
Barton also tried their hand. Chris Mills, who joined the Colts during the
season, was already a regular senior player and he made a big difference to
us. There are many others that will need to play senior rugby next year and I
will do my utmost to stay in touch with them to encourage this. It is good for
the club and it is good for them - don't forget that in September 2006 most of
them had not played any rugby.
We were not helped by our lack of scrum-half
availability due to work commitments and a bad injury to Leo's shoulder before
Christmas as this meant no fly-half either. The back play suffered but the
forwards made really good progress and we won much more possession as the season
progressed. Once Tom Cookman, John Barton and Leo were available we were a
different side - they never once played in the same team!
The whole atmosphere of rugby - the changing room
meet, hard but fair game, shower, bar, speaking to the ref and opposition,
singing, man-of-the-match drinks, etc - was rubbing off slowly on the Colts and
they should go from strength to strength now. We had some hard games against
Stockwood park (twice), Dunstablians (twice) and Swifts (x 3) which were all
enjoyable. Sadly, probably our worst performance was on the 1st XV pitch in
front of a good crowd against Dunstablians - nerves? But, it is another
experience in the memory bank to learn from and we won the drinking games
afterwards!
By the end of the season we had regularly put out
between 15 and 18 boys, with the exception of the Referee's Cup game against
Dunstablians when 12 heroes went down 25-0 against an excellent side. I know the
lads have enjoyed their experience and I really hope that at least half of them
will continue their rugby education at Biggleswade. Some are off to university
and some will leave the area due to work but when they are back for a weekend,
they know what to do on a Saturday afternoon.
Thanks boys - it's been a pleasure. See you at the
Club Dinner.
Warren
Squad:
Leo Churms, Adam Wuestner (Scad), Tom Saunders,
James Brown, Tom Farren, Dave Benbow, Tom Cookman, Tim Wilkes, Chris Mills,
Rrutuj Patki (Rojer), Mohammed Tahrik Ali Khalique (Ripon), Dom Whitbread,
Fergus Thompson, Sean Allen, Ross Taylor, Craig Sheppard (Chunk), John Barton,
Harry Dix, Jamie Griffin, James Matthews, Ben Dackombe.
Also played once: John Scarratt, Ian Maskell,
Jason Savage, Jamie Reynolds
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| Tour Prices Reduced | ||
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At the moment there are some really cheap flights going for
the tour.
If we book a bunch of tickets NOW then we can get the cost
of the tour down to about £95
(those who have paid more will get a
refund)
Decisions needed now though.
This is a once in a lifetime tour put together by Thierry
Leaving Stanstead early on Thursday May 24th and returning
early on Sunday 27th
Final programme:
The details for your tour is something like This:
Thursday: wine cave visit
reception at the rugby club + BBQ
Friday: French breakfast
Armagnac cave visit (see http://www.tourisme-tenareze.com/armagnac.php) rugby game meal with players and people from the village
Saturday: breakfast
Wine cave visit (in Monstestruc) Restaurant (in Montestruc) Cave visit (see http://www.monluc.fr/) feria: bullfight/music festival
Sunday: for all valid English, breakfast + back to airport
Come on guys, lets end the season on a real high note.
John
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