Review of 2003 - 2004 Season

Player statistics for the season are also available
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The season will be remembered for the impact of the Junior Section to slowly bear fruit, but what a season of contrasting fortunes. Old Rishworthian RUFC looked forward to the challenge of league rugby and felt that the 1st team would be promotion contenders in Yorkshire 5 North West after coming 3rd and 4th in the previous seasons.

In fact, after some difficult friendly matches, the team lead again by Gary Morris, ended October top of the league having played four and winning three scoring over 141 points and conceding 68. The start also included two games in the EDF Junior Vase, one against Helsby who were defeated 66-0 and Hullensians (the eventual winners of Yorkshire 4) who beat us 21-12. Then disaster struck. Having lost two players to Halifax, others were injured or unavailable and the team struggled and did not win again until February. Gary Morris rallied his players however and considering the devastating effect of losing nine regular 1st team players, the team finished 7th in the league table. Three long serving players, Simon Wadsworth Alex Fearnley and Toby Wood retired at the end of the season. During the season 9 Players aged 18 or under were registered for the Club to play League Rugby and of these Nick Faulkner, Joe Billing and Wesley Aldridge were 1st team regulars.

The teams record for the season was P 22 W 7 D 1 L 14 Points For 346 Against 460. The number of games played is the lowest in the clubs history and reflects the shortage of players within the 1st team. The team did not play in the Yorkshire Silver Trophy against Knaresborough owing to a shortage of front row forwards. The club is now seeking players at open age level and are liasing with the school to see if any former rugby-playing pupils of Rishworth School are still living in the area. We Need You Urgently.

The second team entered the Division 5 Merit Table League and was ably lead by Chris Mitchell. The team fielded regular sides in all but two Saturdays up to the middle of November. Shortages in the 1st team meant that a number of second team players were brought in, probably too soon, but notable victories were gained over Heath 3rd XV, Wibsey and Ossett. The teams record for the season was: P 17 W 7 L 10 For 204 Against 251.


Date Competition Opponents Venue Result
August 30th Friendly Halifax Vandals Home W 15 - 12
September 6th Friendly Baildon 2nd XV Home Cancelled
September 13th League Burley Away L   11 - 12
September 20th Junior Vase  Eccles Home L   12 - 39
September 27th League Knaresborough Home L      3 - 8
October 4th League Sheffield Medicals Away L      5 - 31
October 11th League Aireborough Away L     7 - 10
October 18th Friendly No game Home
October 25th League Pontefract Pythons Home W   37 - 7
November 1st League Sheffield Oaks Away L    12 - 20
November 8th League Wharfedale Rams Home W   13 - 5
November 15th Friendly No game Home
November 22nd League Mosborough Away L    12 - 23
November 29th Friendly No game Home
December 6th League Adwick Le Street Home W   30 - 11
December 13th Friendly No game Away
December 20th League Wharfedale Rams Away L    10 - 27
December 27th Friendly No game Home
January 3rd Friendly West Leeds 2nd XV Home W   8 - 5
January 10th League Sheffield Oaks Home L    7 - 35
January 17th Friendly No game Away
January 24th

League

Pontefract Pythons

 Away L   18 - 20
January 31st League Aireborough Home

W  16 -  8

February 7th Friendly Wibsey Away

L   32 - 37

February 14th League Sheffield Medicals Home

W  37 -  0

February 21st League Knaresborough Away

L   10 - 14

February 28th Friendly Old Brodleians 3rd XV Home

W  31 -  0

March 6th Friendly  Old Crossleyans 2nd XV Home

W  16 -  0

March 13th League Burley Home

W  24 - 18

March 20th Friendly Selby XV Away 

W  14 - 5
March 27th Friendly No game Away
April 3rd League  Adwick Le Street  Away

W  22 - 12

April 10th Touring Team Ystalyfera Home

L   31 - 39

April 17th League  Mosborough Home

L   15 - 31

April 24th Friendly Halifax Vikings Home

W  21 - 17

May 1st Friendly TBA Home