Old Rishworthian RUFC Address: The Clubhouse, Copley, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX3 0UG
Telephone: 01422 353919, E-mail: rugby@orrufc.co.uk
Club Colours Maroon, White and Black
Old Rishworthian RUFC All good things come to an end as Old Rishworthians completed their fifth successful season of junior and mini rugby with the Minis end of season presentations held at the clubhouse on Sunday 10th May and the Juniors presentations on Friday 22nd May.
This years mini presentation day was even better than previous years with a clubhouse bursting at the seams. The introduction of the bouncy castles proved very popular and gave the parents a chance to enjoy themselves while their children played on the castles.
This season saw the micros consolidate on last seasons squad and last seasons under 6's (The micros) moving up to form a good under 7's squad playing competitive games. In all we ran 8 teams, namely under 5/6's, 7's, 8's, 9's, 10's, 11/12's, 15's and under 16's. Sadly the under 17's and colts were unable to form squads. This year the minis broke the 100 barrier with 125 players but the juniors numbers dropped down to 45 maintaining 170 mini and junior players the same as last year. 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.
Adie from Phoenix FM came along to present the awards and take part in touch rugby and the challenge race with the uder 10's. Thomas "Speedy" Sweeten managed to outpace Adie. Paul at Phoenix will no doubt give Adie some stick on Tuesday.
Under 5/6's The Micros
Neal Lumb gave a review of the season. The under 5/6 section has again been a major success with over 25 players in the squad. This has exceeded last years numbers despite some poor weather during the season. We were very fortunate to retain the same 4 dads as last year Neal Lumb, Warren Doyle, Darren Grogan and Guy Laurie to coach the squad. They have done a marvellous job over the last 2 seasons. This is demonstrated by the success of this seasons under 7's squad. Next season Neal, Darren and Guy move up to form the under 7's while Warren stays with the Micros. We will look to find another three dads to help with coaching the squad and so maintain the foundation of the minis section. We continued our relationship with Huddersfield YMCA and ran 2 sessions at home and 2 sessions at Huddersfield YMCA. This gives 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
Paul Savage gave a review of the season. The benefit of running a Micros squad is obviously paying dividends. Last year's Young Guns had a good season competing well in the Harrogate Festival but this years Young Guns have exceeded all expectations. The highlight of a very successful season is undoubtedly winning the Harrogate Festival. The squad have only lost 6 games all season finishing the season strongly undefeated in the last 18 games. In fact they had a wobbly start losing their first 2 games to Cleckheaton and Littleborough (but the opposition were fielding a combined 7/8's squad). They started to win games and looked good for a shot at the Sandal Festival but a defeat at the hands of Otley and a draw with West Park Leeds saw them pipped for a place in the final (Next year boys!!). A defeat at Huddersfield and 2 defeats at Skipton were the only blips for the rest of the season.
During the close season we will be looking to reruit more players for the squad. Some good news already Oliver Brian will returning to the club but sadly Neil Mallinson has moved to Pateley Bridge and Jack will be joining Wharfedale. We wish you well, and Wharfedale are a good club to join. Thanks for all your help Neil. The squad will look forward to seeing you both when we play Wharfedale.
So now the awards.
Under 8's The Destroyers
Grahame White gave a review of the season. Another very successful and enjoyable season. This season the squad seemed to be slow getting into their stride and often found themselves either going behind to early tries in a game or losing the first game but coming back wit excellent rugby to win the second and subsequent games. Next season the coaches would like to see the squad meeting earlier for some pre match practice to try to overcome the slow starts.
The Sandal Festival saw the squad lose to West Park Leeds, then beat Sandal, draw with Driffield, lose to Moseley and win the last game against Rotherham. However we were unable to reach the finals. In the Harrogate Festival again a slow start produced a loss to Darlington then produce good rugby to beat Brods and Otley. Darlington unbeaten progressed to the finals. Next season they throw away the tag belts to learn the contact game.
The main emphasis as usual has been about enjoying the game and playing fairly. The players 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 Simon Donaldson and Lee Haigh for their help coaching the teams over the past year. Can I also say a thank you to Kitchen Ken and his assistants for feeding us all, Dave Butler keeping everything running smoothly, to Helen Ratcliffe, Julie Cooper and Pat Bullough for the enormous amount of work they put in each week registering the players and finally Jade and Steph for texting parents and producing match reports.
Finally, the awards.
Under 9's The Raiders
Dave Puddephatt gave a review of the season. The Raiders took the big step from tag to tackle this season starting with a squad of 12 players but as the season progressed a few players dropped out and by November the squad was down to 6 players. Several under 10 players stepped in to help out with the short fall in numbers in the true spirit of rugby. Thanks go to under 10's Oliver Swales, Greg Day, Lewis Hilton, Dan Byrnes. Just before the Christmas break squad numbers started to increase and ended the season with a squad of 11. A further bonus for the squad two parents Adrian Muscat-Baron and Geoff Symms started to help Dave with the coaching. As a result performances began to improve on the field of play with wins over Brods and the double over Sandal.
A few more new recruits over the close season and a continued improvement with the squad learning getting to grips with the contact game should see a good season next year. Lets try and persuade any friends you have to come and have a trial at the club. They'll be made very welcome and will enjoy playing with a smashing group of young players. We will also distribute posters to the schools to place on their notice boards.
Finally, the awards.
Well done boys Dave Puddephatt
Under 10's The Reds and All Blacks
"This has probably been their best season so far". The quote from last seasons pesentation day. Well its seems the squad has surpassed itself this season. The highlights were winning the Doncaster and Scarborough Festivals and in the District Festival they reached the final only to go down 5-15 to local rivals Brods. They did however gain some consolation by beating Brods home and away later in the season.
Several new players joined the squad during the season boosting the squad to 20 player. This allowed All Blacks development team to play a few games when both we and the opposition could raise 2 teams on the day. The new recruits are developing well as they play catch up with the more experienced players. Next season the squad development takes on a new dimension as they add 2 more players in the forwards and play 11 a side rugby. Tries may also be converted. The coaches will be looking to increase the squad and again aim for two teams.
Finally, the awards.
Under 11/12's
Mick Bruce gave a review of the season. This season the squad has grown from 12 players to 20 players. The improvement has continued throughout the season and the squad recorded more victories compared to last season. More discipline has been introduced and numbers turning up for training and games have been good. There were good displays away at Wharfedale and Cleckheaton and at home to Baildon and Skipton Perhaps the most pleasing result was the last game of the season against Keighley. Back in January they lost 0-35 but turned the table with a 7-5 victory. Considering they playing games against u12 sides they have performed well.
With 20 players we are now looking at splitting the squad next season into seperate u12's and u13's. The under 13's will move into junior rugy and play the full 15 a side game on a full pitch. To achieve this we need to recruit more players and find addtional coaches to help Andy and Mick. We have 3 senior players who have shown an interest to become involved with coaching. We will be sending posters out to all the senior schools in the area and Rishworth School are keen to encourage pupils to join.
Finally, the awards.
Under 15's
Gez Rollings, Richard Wild and David Kelly gave a review of the season and presented the awards.
This season has seen a big improvement from the squad. The season started with a home defeat at the hands of Thornensians followed by a victory away to Morley. The squad returned to the club euphoric but that was short lived as the squad were unable to record another win before Christmas. To the lads credit they did not give up the defeats were often close affairs and perhaps could have turned into victories. The main problem seemed to be unable to score tries. Apart from the Morley game they were only able to score one try per game. During December and January the poor weather saw the team only play 2 games.
Then in February there was a dramatic turn around, they started to win games. The final run in to the end of season winning 4 games, losing 2 and 1 draw. One of those defeats was against a rather large/old looking Pontefract side. In the cup the squad lost to a strong and well drilled Malton and Norton side and then lost 0-17 in the Plate at Ripon. In the Ilkley 7's the squad performed well considering it was their first experience of 7's and only had 1 training session.
The final playing record reads Played 17 Won 5 Drawn 1 Lost 11 For 223 Against 350. The squads leading points scorer was Josh Kelly with 32 pts, second Jack Ledgard 31pts and third Vitaly Seleznev 30pts. The leading try scorer was Vitaly with six tries. The most appearances were made by Josh Kelly, Brad Fowles, Hary Collett and Chris Cowey.
Now for the awards
Coaches award - Milo Mansell for turning up for every training session.
Most Improved Player - Jack Smart. This was a close decision with Chris Cowey and Sam Bottomley in contention.
Forward of Year - Brad Fowles
Back of the year - Jack Ledgard
Players player - Harry Collett
Player of the year - Vitaly Seleznev
Under 16's
Warren Dodd gave a review of the season and presented the awards. The squad completed its first season of junior rugby. They have had a good season taking on some good junior sides and competing well. Considering they have not been together through the mini age groups like most teams its speaks highly of their ability and the coaching. The highlights of the season early on was the Yorkshire cup win at Driffield (only their 4th game as a squad) and the performances later in the season at Sheffield Tigers and at home to Barnsley. The two games against Brods is a marker for improvement. The forwards are capable of matching most packs but more work is needed to develop a cutting edge in the backs. A couple of new recruits in the backs joined late in the season, if they return next season they could be handy additions to the squad. Next season the squad play league rugby and if they can finish top of their league they enter the National Knock out competition.
The final playing record reads Played 22 Won 12 Drawn 1 Lost 9 For 499 Against 375. The squads leading points scorer was Matthew Cook with 106 pts, second was shared by Matthew Hunt-Brown and Paul Henry Jackson 80 pts and third Reuben Pollard with 25 pts. The leading try scorer was again shared by Matthew Hunt-Brown and Paul Henry Jackson with 16 tries and second Reuben Pollard 5 tries (No bad for a prop). The most appearances were made by Matthew Cook, Reuben Pollard, Tom Maquire, Ryan Percival and Luke Dawrant
Now for the awards
Most Improved Player - Matthew Cook.
Forward of Year - Paul Henry Jackson
Back of the year - Matthew Hunt-Brown
Players player - Matthew Hunt-Brown
Roger Bates Trophy Player of the year - Reuben Pollard
Vote of Thanks
The Club would ike to thank all the coaches, parents, players, families and friends who have been so supportive both at home and away games. Finally a big thank you to all the volunteers who have helped during the season to make this one of the most successful seasons. Looking forward to an even better season 2009-2010.
Presentation Day Slideshow.
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