1st XV Review, Results and Tables for 2010 - 2011

Review of 2010 - 2011 Season

	P	W	D	L	For	Ag	Dif
League	24	0	1	23	235	868	-633
Cup/Friendly	1	0	0	1	16	27	-11
Total	25	0	1	24	251	895	-644

Rugby 1st XV

Well, three successful seasons had to end at some stage and season 2010-11 was unfortunately the worse in terms of results in the club`s history.

For the record the statistics for the 1st XV are P 27 W 0 D 1 L 26 F 258 A 928 and means that we are playing rugby in Yorkshire 3 next season, which is where we need to consolidate. Our promotion to Yorkshire 2 was always going to be a step too far, but the number of injuries and player unavailability meant that without the core of the side which had served us so well, in previous seasons, each game became harder and harder. The moral of the players was always high and each Saturday was a different challenge. We should have won five matches but lacked that extra power.

We must all remember that four seasons ago the club was in the bottom Yorkshire league and now we were playing against town teams with big forwards and fast threequarters. The jump from Yorkshire 3 to 2 proved to be too difficult. Roundhegians, who were promoted as champions of Yorkshire 3 have also been relegated.

The season was also known for the number of injuries which we had. Simon Edmundson, James Clarke, Richard Turner, Gerard Rollings, Tom Clough, Ben Robinson, Nick Faulkner, Fraser Davidson, Aaron Canning, Reuben Pollard, Matthew Hunt-Brown(3), Ryan Mudd, Lee Atkinson, Kurt Sutcliffe, Lance Hamilton and James Mcdonnell, were all injured at some stage during the season and with a small squad of players, we missed them. We hope that James Clarke, Simon Edmundson, Reuben Pollard, Matthew Hunt Brown and Kurt Sutcliffe are all playing again next season.

The 1st XV was captained by Gary Morris for the sixth season. Jamie Bloem had announced at the Players Dinner in March that he would not be playing this season, but he remained as coach. Unfortunately his Rugby League commitments meant that he was unable to attend matches on Saturdays and he resigned in November. The club will always be thankful for the help and assistance which Jamie provided and we wish him well in his refereeing commitments. John Clough took over as head coach and along with Michael Piper, who had joined from Castleford, started to develop a team for the matches ahead.

However, our first game in the league against Pocklington, the eventual league winners, on September 4th was a first in many ways. It was our first league game in Yorkshire 2 and against Pocklington and the first where a try bonus point was scored - by the opposition. The Yorkshire President Richard Matthews was in attendance and thoroughly enjoyed the day. The defeat by 20-12 was seen as a positive sign although defeats in the next three games did not look too good, but a draw against West Leeds (the final conversion kick was missed) and a narrow defeat at West Park Leeds meant that we were still awaiting our first win.

Unfortunately the worse winter for years meant that no match was played at Copley from November 27th until January 10th. The rest of the season is too painful to mention and after the resumption of games following the snow, heavy defeats were inflicted by Yarnbury, Hullensians, Leodiensian, Moortown, Pocklington and Ripon. Our last league game against Huddersfield YMCA was declared a walk over and for the record, there were five players who played against Huddersfield who played in the 1st league game against Pocklington, Robinson, Morris, Piper, Davidson and Billing. Some turnover! The age of the team reduced significantly over the season (exceptions to Glenn Rika - Rayne). Training numbers very rarely dropped below 20 and the introduction of Lance Hamilton, Glen and Michael, provided more experience to a team that was lacking in size. Michael Piper was the top points scorer on 133 and he also played in every game.

The Team were drawn against Ilkley (the eventual winners) in the 2nd round of the Yorkshire Shield but the match did not take place owing to the club not having sufficient front row players. The Club represented Yorkshire in the National Senior Vase, drawing Barnard Castle at home, and Blyth away. Blyth cancelled their game against Barnard Castle and we entertained them at home losing 16-27. The Blyth match was cancelled.

The following awards were presented at the players' dinner:-
• Terry Higgins Trophy - Best Newcomer: Phil Kershaw
• Peter Firminger Trophy - Most Improved Player: Reuben Pollard
• The Tommy Edwards Trophy - Players Player of the Year: Ben Robinson
• The Geoff Eastwood Trophy - Player of the Year: Ben Robinson
• The Dave O`Boyle Trophy - Clubman of the Year: Marie Fox
• G C M Hoyle - Coaches Achievement Award: Gary Morris

We are lucky to have Physio`s and First Aiders at the Club and our thanks go to Katie Wood, Fiona Billing and Annie Fawcett

Rugby 2nd XV

The second team played in the Yorkshire 4 Merit Table again under the captaincy of Ian Teasdale with Andy Wickham carrying out the managerial duties. They played 24 matches winning 6 and were 9th in the merit table. Next Season the structure of the competition is changing and the 2nd XV will play in a combined Aire Wharfe West District League with promotion being an added incentive. It is important that as many second team players train on a Tuesday and Thursday evening.

The following awards were presented at the players' dinner:-
• Player of the Year: Luke Dawrant
• Most Promising Newcomer: Liam Normanton
• Players Player: Andrew Brian
• Old Git: Andy Aldridge

House and Ground

Two new gents toilets have been installed and the kitchen now has a state of the art fan. The portakabin is a welcome but it should be made into a more permanent structure.

Yorkshire Water wish to move the Copley SPS to another site on the club`s land and we are negotiating with them with the help of John Haigh of Lister Haigh, Knaresborough. We will keep you informed regarding this project. The new scoreboard has almost been completed and will be ready for the new season. The club sign is being renewed and more local companies are being encouraged to sponsor a sign board around the perimeter of the pitch.

The pitch at Hollas Lane has been used most weeks by the minis and juniors and we are discussing with British Waterways the opportunity of acquiring more land for another pitch.

The bar continues to remain busy although a number of functions were cancelled owing to the bad winter and this reflected in our turnover as Dan Atkinson will report. The 200 club is another income provider and helps fund capital projects. the other. Our thanks go to President Fred Dawson, Julie Zientek, Dave Morley and all the volunteers for helping to run the bar.

Sponsors/Social

Sheard Packaging continue to sponsor the 1st team jerseys and we are grateful for their support. The company has been a consistent help to the Club and we would like to thank John and Barbara Whitaker and Sam & Claire Greenwood for their increased participation at Copley.

Richard Porter again organised a Dinner/Dance at the Club in October. It was very successful and a similar event is taking place on October 22nd. A race trip to York was held and it was so successful that another visit is being organised this summer to Thirsk.

Thanks

I must thank all the volunteers who run the various sections of the club, from Dave Butler as web master and Junior Chairman, John Hopkinson who builds projects before anyone else had thought about them, Derek Lister and Peter Bramley who assist Dave Morley and Fred Dawson on the ground works, Roy Greenwood for his press reports, and Julie for her stirling work in the kitchen and behind the bar. Club`s like ours depend upon volunteers and we need more but without them the club would not continue to function.

P G Morgan
Hon Secretary

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Diff	B Pts	Pts	Adj
Pocklington	26	24	1	1	790	323	467	13	111	0
Huddersfield Y.M.C.A.	26	20	1	5	673	438	235	15	97	0
Barnsley	26	17	2	7	814	432	382	17	89	0
Yarnbury	25	16	0	9	723	604	119	10	74	0
Skipton	26	15	1	10	631	455	176	16	73	-5
Leodiensian	25	14	1	10	641	470	171	11	69	0
Moortown	26	13	0	13	488	555	-67	11	63	0
Hullensians	26	12	1	13	557	511	46	13	63	0
Ripon	26	11	1	14	481	550	-69	11	57	0
Doncaster Phoenix	26	10	1	15	596	618	-22	15	57	0
West Leeds	26	9	1	16	492	729	-237	7	45	0
West Park Leeds	26	7	2	17	433	647	-214	10	42	0
Roundhegians	26	6	1	19	389	717	-328	10	36	0
Old Rishworthians	26	0	1	25	242	901	-659	4	6	0

Date	Competition	Opponents	Venue	Result	Man of Match
August 7th	7's Comp	Halifax 7's	Away
August 14th	Friendly	Fylde XV	Away	D 24 - 24
August 21st	Friendly	Goole	Home	L 7 - 12
August 26th	Friendly	Halifax Vandals	Away	C - C
September 4th	League	Pocklington	Home	L 12 - 20
September 11th	League	Ripon	Away	L 8 - 35
September 18th	League	Roundhegians	Home	L 17 - 24
September 25th	League	Skipton	Away	L 0 - 43
October 2nd	League	West Leeds	Home	D 21 - 21	James Clarke
October 9th	League	West Park Leeds	Away	L 7 - 10
October 16th	League	Barnsley	Home	L 18- 34
October 23rd	League	Doncaster Phoenix	Away	L 14- 30
October 30th	League	Huddersfield YMCA	Home	L 6 - 45
November 6th	Friendly	TBA
November 13th	League	Hullensians	Away	L 6- 32
November 20th	League	Leodiensians	Home	L 11 - 16
November 27th	League	Moortown	Away	P - P
December 4th	League	Yarnbury	Home	P - P
December 11th	League	Ripon	Home	P - P
December 18th	League	Roundhegians	Away	P - P
December 25th	Xmas	No Game
January 1st	New Years Day	No Game
January 8th	League	Skipton	Home	L 6 - 24
January 15th	League	West Leeds	Away	L 6 - 23
January 22nd	League	West Park Leeds	Home	P - P
January 29th	League	Barnsley	Away	L 0 - 38
February 5th	League	Doncaster Phoenix	Home	L 12 - 15
February 12th	Senior Vase	Barnard Castle	Home	L 16 - 27
February 19th	League	Huddersfield YMCA	Away	P - P
February 26th	League	Yarnbury	Home	L 9 - 47
March 5th	League	Hullensians	Home	L 5 - 47
March 12th	League	Leodiensians	Away	L 0 - 50
March 19th	League	Moortown	Away	L 5 - 56
March 26th	League	Moortown	Home	L 19 - 29
April 2nd	League	Roundhegians	Away	L 15 - 23
April 9th	League	Yarnbury	Away	L 19 - 78
April 16th	League	Pocklington	Away	L 7 - 90
April 23rd	League	Ripon	Home	L 12 - 38
April 30th	League	West Park Leeds	Home	L 7 - 33
May 7th	Friendly	Huddesfield YMCA	Away	L 19 - 89