Presentation Day Season 2007 - 2008 All good things come to an end as Old Rishworthians completed their fourth successful season of junior and mini rugby with the end of season presentations held at the clubhouse on Sunday 4th May.
This season saw the introduction of a new micros squad with last seasons under 6's (The micros) moving up to form the under 7's and start playing competitive games. In all we ran 8 teams, namely under 5/6's, 7's, 8's, 9's, 10/11's, 14's, under 16's and the under 17's. This year the minis and juniors swelled to a total of 170 players. The club wishes to thank all the coaches, parents and volunteers who give up their free time to allow these talented youngsters enjoy the game of rugby.
Under 5/6's The Micros
The under 5/6 section has been a major success with over 20 players joining this squad. This is by far the biggest micro squad since starting the mini section. We were very fortunate to find 4 dads Neal Lumb, Warren Doyle, Darren Grogan and Guy Laurie to coach the squad. They have done a marvellous job over the season. This is demonstrated by several players who moved up to play competitive games with the under 7's having reached their 6th birthday. Several of the micros taking man of the match awards and gong onto representing the club at under 7 level in the Huddersfield and Harrogate Festivals. Well done lads. Next season these players will form the basis of a good under 7's squad. This season we tried an experiment by inviting Huddersfield YMCA under 6's to come and join our training sessions and play some non competitive games, later in the season we took our micros to Huddersfield YMCA to return the compliment. This gave the squad the opportunity to train with different opposition and experience playing at an away location. We hope to develop this concept with a second club next season. Thanks to all the coaches for giving up their spare time and the parents for supporting the players and helping the coaches.
Under 7's The Young Guns
Another very successful and enjoyable season. With new players arriving at the club throughout the year and players coming up from the under 6’s the squad has grown to a very healthy 20 players. We will still need to continue to recruit more players at Under 7 level next year as well as at Under 8’s. Whilst the coaching staff has grown to three more help is needed with the larger numbers of players. Fortunately 5 more parents and a sister of one of the players have agreed to take the tag course and are interested in helping out. With more adult input the standard of coaching should get even better resulting in an improving quality of rugby being played by the minis. The increasing number of players has allowed us to field two sides in most competitive matches since Christmas. This has given the chance for all the players to take part in and gain experience from both the Huddersfield and Harrogate festivals and in playing matches against some very good local and not so good local sides. In the Huddersfield Festival pool games the A team won 2 and lost 2 and the B team drew 1 and lost 3. Neither side progressed to the finals but gained valuable festival experience. In the Harrogate Festival pool games the A team won 1 and lost 3 and the B team lost all their games. It was good learning curve for the squads containing some inexperienced players up against some older and bigger opposition who tended to barge through rather than weave around defenders.
The main emphasis as usual in the under 7’s has been about enjoying the game and playing fairly. The players have responded brilliantly and throughout the year have been a credit to themselves, the club and their parents. The parents also need a mention for their continued support. It makes life so much easier when you can rely on them to keep you informed of the availability of the players and to bring them week in week out to the games and training. I would personally like to thank Mark Oldroyd and Neal Mallinson for all their hard work and help in coaching the teams over the past year. Can I also say a thank you to Dave Butler for his tireless efforts to keep everything running smoothly, to Helen Ratcliffe, Julie Cooper, Pat Bullough and Julia Costello for the enormous amount of work they put in each week and finally the crew in the kitchen for providing the grub.
Finally, the award. Player of the Year goes to Corey White. The Most Improved Player award goes to William Harker. In his first season he has scored 42 tries, The Coach’s Award goes to Henry Hilton. Always present, always keen, always listening and always trys to put into action what I’ve asked the team to do. Well done James.
Grahame White
Under 8's The Raiders
This has been a successful season for the relatively small squad of under 8’s. It certainly started on a bright note, with a trip to Headingley Stadium for a demonstration match during the half time interval of the game between Leeds Tykes and Gloucester. Leslie Vinakolo’s five try haul that day for Gloucester has been repeated by several of the Raiders squad throughout the season. With several fine individual runners, scoring tries has not been a problem! Topping the try scoring list with a staggering 60 tries is Callum Bell, followed by Kallan Jamieson (42), Will Symms (33) and Sam Puddephatt (30). Defensive lapses in concentration though have often cost the team dearly. On too many occasions we would score a try, only to concede one straight from the re-start. This is an area that we will have to work on next season.
The highlight of the season however was playing at the Huddersfield Festival in March. As was often the case, we arrived with barely a team. Fortunately, Emma Bower came out of retirement for the day to lead the defensive line, score some important tries and remind the boys of what number they had been given! Having also persuaded Toby Muscat-Barron to step up from the under 7’s, the team managed to secure a place in the Shield final. This was a superb team performance, by far our best of the season, eventually beating Rhyll 7 – 6 to lift the Shield. Great stuff!. Next season will be a tough challenge. Learning how to tackle and making the transition to full contact will be an exciting development for the squad. What is clear is that we will need to encourage some new players to join our squad. I’d ask all of you to try to persuade any friends you’ve got to come and have a trial at the club in September. They’ll be made very welcome and will enjoy playing with a smashing group of young players.
Finally, the awards. Player of the Year goes for the second year running to Callum Bell. He is not only one of the most exciting attacking players I’ve seen all season in any team, he consistently shows 100% effort in defence too. Well done Callum. The Most Improved Player award goes to Kallan Jamieson. In his first season he has scored 42 tries, always wants the ball and has developed a great habit of nipping through a gap or down the touchline when the defence aren’t watching! The Coach’s Award goes to James McHugh. Always present, always keen, always listening and always tries to put into action what I’ve asked the team to do. Well done James.
Dave Puddephatt
Under 8’s Coach Under 9's The Reds & All Blacks
This has probably been their best season so far. The highlight of the season winning the Moortown and Huddersfield Festivals. however they were unable to take the under 9 trophy at Harrogate having previously won it at under 7 and 8 level. The first half of the season saw the squad on fire winning 13 games and losing only 3 matches. During the Christmas break they were invited to play at half time in the Leeds Carnegie v Sale game in front of a large 10,000 plus crowd. They played Pocklington and drew 10 - 10. Then the eagerly awaited game of the season home to Sandal. The Reds were given a lesson in contact rugby losing 0- 70!!. The coaches talk to Sandal to find out why a gulf has opened up between the 2 sides. The answer was extra training midweek and giving players set positions. The result was a run in to the end of season winning 10 games and a 10 - 10 draw. In those games they only conceded 3 tries and kept 9 clean sheets.
They only lost 9 games all season and after losing at home to Sandal the coaches decided to introduce training on a Friday night which paid dividends by going on an excellent run after Christmas only conceding one try in 11 games. Then an opportunity to travel to Sandal to measure the improvement, what a difference, they beat the Stingrays 65 - 0 and just lost to the unbeaten Sharks 5 - 20. Hopes were high at Harrogate Festival but they were uncharacteristically slow to start and lost the first 2 pool games which put paid to any chance of a final place. Three new players joined the squad and have played well. Thomas Creasy, Dan Byrnes and Sam Bake. Next season as under 10’s they still play 9 a side rugby but the following year they add 2 more players in the forwards and play 11 a side rugby. The coaches are already looking to increase the squad next season and develop any newcomers ready for the under 11’s season.
Finally, the awards. Player of the Year, the coaches and parents could not agree on one player and just could not split Jack Davis and Will Mc Donnell so they share the award. The Most Improved Player award goes to Thomas Cockroft. The Coach’s Award goes to Jacob Bower
Under 10's & 11's
The improvement with this age group continues. This season they won a few more games and the defeats were much closer affairs compared to previous seasons. Considering they are playing teams who have been together since they were under 7’s they have done well. There are still insufficient numbers to run separate under 10's and 11's so they have merged until we can recruit more players. Keith Atkinson who coaches the backs would like to see some speedy backs joining the squad, at present they are mostly forwards. Hence we don't score many tries like the under 7's, 8's and 9's. Andy Day and Keith Atkinson have done a great job working with this small group but they also need further help from parents on Sundays with coaching, match reports or running touch.
We will have another big recruitment drive during the close season and hope we can find Keith some speedy backs to coach then he can stand up next year and announce they have played champagne running rugby.
Next season they will be playing 11 a side rugby introducing two more players in the forwards. The scrums will be a 5 man scrum with a second row added and line outs will be contested with four players on each side. When a try is scored they will have the opportunity to convert the try.
Now for the awards. Under 10's Player of the Year goes to James Stott. The Most Improved Player award goes to Ben Atkinson. The Coach’s Award goes to Dylan Wannan
Under 11's Player of the Year goes to Tom Hammond. The Most Improved Player award goes to Harvey Keighley-Payne. The Coach’s Award goes to Sam Moore
The coaches would also like to thank all the families and friends who have been so supportive both at home and away games.
Under 14's
Their presentation was held Friday evening. waiting for a report
Under 16's & under 17's
The juniors dinner and under 16's, 17's end of season presentations was held at the clubhouse on Friday 9th May,
John Clough was the MC, Jamie Bloem the guest speaker & Fred Dawson brought the speeches to a close with his brand of humour!!
Under 17s
Kevin Flanagan presented a review of the season.
This season presented the under 17`s with a new experience league rugby. They were pitched into in Yorkshire 1 which on its own was a big achievement for the squad. They have played matches at a very high level and have managed to beat some of the top sides in the county, including Doncaster and Hull Ionians. They finished 3rd in the league and perhaps with a little more luck with injuries could have finished higher, They lost narrowly to Otley and Middlesborough (Our heaviest defeat was surprisingly at home to Middlesborough 17 – 25 by a mere 8 points). Our league record reads P 12, W 6, D 1, L 5, F 196, A
Finishing 3rd allowed the squad to enter the National Plate competition and after a walk over against Liverpool Collegiate and victory against Lymm were then pitted against Wirral in the Northern Divisional final. They had been the better side but lady luck was not on their side and lost 9-8 to a last minute drop goal.
In the Yorkshire cup they were gutted to go out by only drawing their home quarter final tie against Guisborough. Doncaster beat Guisborough to go through to meet Middlesborough in the final which Doncaster won on number of tries scored after a 15-15 draw.
Overall the season saw some exciting entertaining rugby, by some talented players many of whom will go on to play at a higher level. Hedley Stirk, Luke Flanagan and Christus Ferneyhough having already played for the 1st XV.
At county level, Luke Brocklehurst & Danny Chappell were selected for the Yorkshire squad but a change in eligible player date of birth moved to 1st Jan meant they were denied playing for Yorkshire. Tom Clough & Hedley Stirk have been selected for the Yorkshire u18 development squad.
Stato time. Leading points scorer Ed Cockroft 81points second Hedley Stirk 35 points who is also leading try scorer with 7. Tries were hard to come by this season.
Luke Brocklehurst & Danny Chappell were ever present with 17 appearances. It must be noted Luke Brocklehurst has only missed one game since this squad were formed as under 14’s.
Credit must be paid to the coaches John Clough, John Hopkinson, Kevin Flanagan and Glen Cockroft for their dedication and hard work over the season.
Now for he awards
Coaches award for the most improved player - Tom Clough
Back of the year - Cameron Ramsden
Forward of the year - Anthony Oxley
Roger Bates Player of the year - Hedley Stirk
Under 16s
Howard Cooper presented a review of the season.
This season has been a little mixed, some god performances but disappointing results, particularly pre - Christmas. However, in only their 2nd season together the team has developed and can confidently look forward to league rugby next season. If results were decided on possession and territory, then most games would have been won, the final push for the try line proved to be elusive on too many occasions. Much of the early season disappointments were mainly due to an unsettled side with players unavailable from week to week. After the turn of the year, a more settled side was established and the performances were much more assured resulting in some good wins.
Surprisingly the highlight of the season was a defeat in the Yorkshire Cup away to Sheffield, who went on to the semi finals. We dominated much of the game against a big pack with some speedy backs and deserved to come away with a win instead of a close defeat. It did show the ability that the side possesses and evidence they can compete with some of the bigger names.
It would be nice to have a few more players in the squad and another helper or two would be most appreciated.
Leading points scorer was Tom Booth with 67 points (1 try, 22 conversions & 6 Pens), second James Cooper also leading try scorer with 55 points (11 tries) and third was Josh Ferguson 40 points ( 8 tries).
The awards
Most improved player - Dan Brierley
Coaches award - Tom Booth
Player of the year - James Cooper Minis Presentation Slideshow.
Click on arrows to view more photos, click on photo to enlarge.
(Please e-mail davebutler@orrufc.co.uk for any of the photos in enlarged print quality)
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