FEBRUARY 2017
6 Nations Special
Southam RUFC - Melbourne RFC - West Bridgford RFC - High Wycombe RUFC - Dunvant Rugby Club - Horden and Peterlee RFC
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6 Scotland 8 Southam RUFC 10 6 Nations 12 Melbourne RFC 14 West Bridgford RFC 17 High Wycombe RUFC 18 Dunvant Rugby Club 20 Horden and Peterlee RFC 22 Caldy RUFC 23 Wirral RUFC 25 Reading FC 28 Takely FC 30 Redcar RUFC 33 Richmond Town FC 34 Woodbridge RFC 36 West Park Leeds RUFC 38 Haverfordwest County F.C
Scotland vs. Wales Another scintillating match but, of more significance, we have incontrovertible proof now that this championship welcomes back to the fold of contenders another of its most famous names. Scotland had gone missing for a couple of decades there, but they are back, no question, and if people think England have just the one hurdle to clear for a second consecutive title they should reconsider. In a match that went from the never-lessthan-enthralling, through the exhilarating and tense, until it burst into the euphoric in the final quarter, Scotland overcame all manner of inconveniences, not the least of which was a Wales side not a whole lot shy of their best of those past couple of glory-drenched decades. In so doing, they proved themselves as inventive and witty a team, not to mention, as brave, as any who have graced the turf at Murrayfield. They were shorn of yet another couple of crucial players, one of them their captain and goalkicker, but Finn Russell, so long the promising maverick, took the reins with confidence, landed all his kicks from every which angle and sent player after player to the
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places that might hurt any defence in the world. It was a masterclass. And how his team responded. Scotland kept their Six Nations hopes alive with a dominant comeback in the second half to win at Murrayfield Ten years of relentless losing against Wales has been put to an end, as was a long stretch against France only last season. Now they have the longest of all their barren runs to contemplate – the 34 years since their last victory at Twickenham. It remains a long shot, but not as long as it looked a few weeks ago, certainly a few years. Let’s face it, England have not been firing on all cylinders for a while, notwithstanding that lengthy run of their own. Scotland most definitely are. Wales edged the first half, but they faded horribly in the second, not that it should detract from the home team’s performance. The visitors had contributed mightily to a great match, particularly in that first half. The theme of a vintage Six Nations was warmed to again. It has nothing to do with bonus points - we were nowhere near one again - more to do with an unusually high coincidence of teams up here finding their
form. Both sides played with confidence from the off. We had Lions auditions all round - one Alun Wyn Jones hit on Johnny Gray seemed particularly pointed - and the pleasing reassurance of each team playing as we had expected. In that first half, Wales were direct and the more physical at the breakdown, where Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric were magnificent; Scotland the more bewitching, the running and long passing of Russell and Stuart Hogg behind the lines causing all manner of problems. It was just a shame the first decisive blow of the game should be registered courtesy of a refereeing error. Wales held Scotland up at a maul, and John Lacey awarded them a scrum, but as it came direct from a kick the putin should have gone Scotland’s way. Naturally, Wales scored from it. They were awarded a free-kick, and Rhys Webb, Wales’s best player again, set his back division away. Crisp passing sent Liam Williams to the corner, exploiting an inexplicable narrowness in Scotland’s alignment. If and when Hogg is picked for the Lions this summer, it will not be
for his defence. Williams beat him to the corner quite comfortably. But, boy, Hogg can attack. His brilliance sparked the move from which Scotland pulled themselves back to 13-9 just before the break, moments after a rare miss from Leigh Halfpenny had denied Wales the chance to take a 10-point lead. A few minutes into the second half, and that lead disappeared altogether. Richie Gray served notice of his interest in a trip to New Zealand with a mighty carry, and the puppeteers, Russell and Hogg, fed the looping Tim Visser, who put Tommy Seymour away for the corner. He made it by the skin of his teeth, and Russell’s conversion from the touchline went in off the post. Suddenly, the force was with Scotland, all the more so when a Jonathan Davies break deep into Scotland’s 22 came to nought. How Scotland took advantage in the final quarter. They extended their lead to six points just before the hour, when Ali Price gave a convincing Webb impression with a break round the fringes, which coaxed Wales into conceding a penalty. If there is a question mark over Scotland, though, it remains that
WP Nel-less scrum. Under pressure, the ball popped out of a defensive scrum to afford Webb a chance in the corner, but a fine tackle by Visser thwarted him – just. It was not to be Wales’s day. They held the territorial advantage across the middle of the second half, but their best efforts floundered on a Scotland defence that was now the more physical, their back row surpassing their more illustrious opponents. Hamish Watson, a firsthalf replacement, was everywhere, a typical, grappling, stroppy flanker in the finest of Scottish tradition. And Murrayfield was soon in euphoria. Ryan Wilson was at
the heart of a series of drives, which took Scotland to within yards of the tryline, whence a sublime cutout pass by Russell across the face of the Welsh defence drew George North in on Hogg, who slipped a try-scoring pass to Visser with little more than 10 to go. The game was all but gone, and when Russell extended the lead to 16 with five to go it was on its way back into Edinburgh. This place has rocked in the past 17 years in celebration of a mugging by the underdog, but now it does it for what looks like real pedigree. It may be a season or two too soon to talk of titles, but at least we can say we have a proper Scotland team back.
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Southam RUFC The corresponding fixture at Old Eds away had been a close fixture, with the lead, changing throughout the game, with Southam just edging it by 2 points at 26 -24. This game was a complete opposite and the old chestnut 'it was a game of two halves' fits it to a tee, with Nuneaton Old Edwardians dominating the first half and Southam dominating the second. On a dry day at Southam with a slight breeze, Southam started a few players down and Old Eds turned out with a big pack, outweighing Southam by probably a stone a man. Old Eds started with the breeze and pinned Southam in their 22
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using their big forwards, 5 minutes in, Old Eds missed a 45m penalty and from the short dropout, ran it straight back to Southam 22 and then kicked a penalty for not releasing in the tackle, Old Eds came straight back and used their pack to continually hammer the short side, steadily making ground to go over after 9 minutes for the converted try. The Southam defence laid its body on the line, stopping phase after phase of Old Eds attack, with captain Will Grindal and No8 James Lander leading the way. After 16 minutes Old Eds kicked another penalty from the 22 for mouthing. 2 minutes later Southam were again pinned in their
22, but got some respite from a box kick out by scrum half Lewis Dodds, it was not handled well by the Old Eds backs and a loose pass was intercepted by fly half Pete Burnell on the Southam 10m, Burnell stayed in front all the way to the Olds Eds 5m before laying off to the supporting centre Richard LLoyd Jones, who went over for the try in the corner. Old Eds responded using the wind and their big forwards to crash into the Southam 22, For the next 17 minutes Southam defended until at last Old Eds were camped on the Southam 5m and after 2 scrums, where they used their forwards, Southam held them up over the line, on the third scrum
Old Eds spread the ball to wing, who went over wide out for the converted try. Southam put the restart out on the full, from the the scrum on halfway, the Old Eds scrum half broke and put an innocuous grubber through towards full back Billy Clarke, the ball took a horrible bounce over his head and the Old Eds wing ran on to score another converted try. At 44 minutes Old Eds finished the half using their forwards to crash up to the Southam 5m and getting another penalty for offside at the ruck. HT 5 - 30 Southam needed to change things and started to run the ball
with penetrating breaks from wings Ally Thorpe and Sam Bench, After 10 minutes, Southam won the ruck on Old Eds 22 and Dodds put a box kick over the Olds Eds defence, chased by Bench who challenged the Old Eds winger on the line, the ball ran free and Thorpe put his hand on it just before the dead ball line, converted by Grindal. 9 minutes later centre Will Wood broke from the halfway and fended off four tackles, up to Old Eds 22, the ball was quickly recycled to Burnell who went down the blind and crashed over for the try, converted by Grindal. 22 minutes, Burnell used the wind to put a long kick into clubhouse corner, a fine chase and tackle by
Clarke got Southam the ball, the forwards drove and recycled the ball and then fed prop Matt Catterall at first receiver, he made ground, fed Lloyd Jones and he fed Wood who made it up to the Old Eds 5m, the ball was recycled again spread wide to Bench who went over for the try, converted by Grindal. 29 minutes in Southam won the ball back in their own 22m, Burnell kicked long and then got kick or kick penalty for a late tackle, Grindal slotted the 30m penalty to bring the score to tense 29 - 30. Southam still had all the pressure, but were unlucky when a long kick was caught by by replacement full back Tom McGuire just on the Southam 22 and he put his foot in touch,
Old Eds saw their chance and were not going to let Southam backs anywhere near the ball, and from the line out kept the ball in the forwards for at least 20 phases, but Southam kept them out until at last they ran out of cover and Olds Eds spread the ball wide for the No8 to go over after 44 minutes for the try. Southam only had a few minutes left and got back to the Old Eds 22 but with the clock running out could not kick for touch and eventually ran out of time. FT 29 - 35 A great second half for Southam, who looked down and out at half time, another good defensive performance across the team against
the Old Eds heavier forwards, standout players were Grindal, Lander and young wing forward Jack Hewson, all whose tackle count was in the high teens, but the stand out player was Burnell, who contributed with a set up for the first try and a try of his own, but it was his strong tackles that secured key ball all through second half and put Southam on the front foot. At half time Old Eds (and the crowd) thought that the game was done, but Southams spirited fight back must have left Old Eds feeling fortunate to get the win. Southam take 2 bonus points and move up to sixth in the table.
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6 Nations Six Nations: Five-week tournament would be impossible - Stuart Hogg
English clubs' proposal to condense the Six Nations into five consecutive weeks would be "impossible" for players, Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg says. The two current rest weeks would be scrapped under the reported plans. Any changes would come in as part of plans for a global season from 2020. "The injuries that happen in Tests, the physicality of rugby now - for that to be [occurring] on a weekly basis, for me, is pretty much impossible," It is believed English clubs presented the proposed changes at a World Rugby meeting in San Francisco in January, at which the governing body discussed the potential shape of a global calendar to come into effect after the 2019 World Cup. That calendar could see greater alignment between northern and southern hemisphere domestic seasons. Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward believes a five-week Six Nations would help northern hemisphere teams compete with their southern hemisphere counterparts by replicating the final stages of a World Cup. Hogg's concerns over player welfare were echoed by team-mate
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Tommy Seymour. "If we were playing Wales last weekend we certainly would have been short on numbers, we've already ruled a few guys out of the entire tournament so if you're talking about short-term injuries we would have been short," said Seymour. And former Scotland scrum-half Rory Lawson said support staff would have similar doubts about players' ability to play Test matches every week. "I bumped into Stevie Much, an old physio of mine and who's been around the Scotland squad forever, and he suggested that over half of the Scotland squad wouldn't have been able to back it up again," said Lawson "He said, 'any claims you can condense it into five weeks are madness'."
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Dunvant Rugby Club Dunvant welcomed Waunarlwydd to Broadarce on Saturday for the Quarter Final of the Vaughan Sound cup. This was a game Dunvant were desperate to win having lost home and away in the league this season to a strong Waunarlwydd squad. The weather was feeling more like spring with the sun coming through the clouds and the pitch in excellent condition. Dunvant took the changing room energy to the field and dominated from the kick off. However, Dunvant’s enthusiasm made them rush some of their early plays which ended in knock ons or turn overs. However the team soon settled and were more patient on the ball allowing some phases to be built and inevitably creating some room for the backs to utilise. This is how the first try came
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with winger Tom Gigg finishing well in the near right hand corner, which was unconverted. Giggy injured himself during the score and unfortunately had to leave the field early and was replaced by DAN MUXWORTHY. With a dominate scrum and great ball retention Dunvant continued to control the game and further scores came from Sam Gallagher and Sam Hawkes both of which were converted by Dickie Lewis. Dunvant, when Waun infringed at the ruck just outside their 22, elected to keep on the pressure by slotting over a Penalty Goal to take the lead to 22-0 with 30 minutes played. Aaron Perkins who superbly covered a Waunarlwydd kick up field saw the attack pile on him which resulted in a knock to the head forcing him to leave the field. Perky was replaced by Charlie
Samways. The half was finished strongly with yet another strong run from NATHANIEL LLEWELLYN who score under the post leaving Dickie with a simple conversion bring the half time score to 29-0. Dunvant were determine to keep on the gas and push home their advantage. This is exactly what they did and kept up their energy and discipline, Waun however seemed to be losing theirs, with a straight Red which was then followed by yellow card which gave Dunvant even more space. Dunvant ran in further scores with another converted try from Sam Hawkes and then one from Dickie Lewis who converted his own score. Dunvant then made some changes with Callum Llewellyn, OLLIE BECK, Dickie Lewis, Sam Hawkes
and Matt Richards all leaving the field and being replaced by Youth Prop Alfie Thomas, Jac Newbury, Scott Edwards and James Mcloughlin. This only brought more energy on to the field and Dunvant continued to run in the scores with try’s from Mike Mizzi, Mitchel Ford and Jac Newbury with Jac converting all three. Waun never gave up and continued to tackle hard and make their own attacks mainly through there forward pack, it was one of these that got them deservedly on the board with a score in the far right hand corner, making the final result 64-5 to Dunvant. This win will give the team confidence to push on with the seasons remaining fixtures and look forward to a Semi Final, the opposition of which is yet to be decided.
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Takeley F.C. One theory is that the name derives from the ‘Teg-Ley’ of ‘sheepclearing’, ie a part of the forest cleared for sheep rearing. Another is that it derives from the name ‘Taecca’, a Saxon lord who owned much land in these parts and also in Oxfordshire where, strangely enough, there is a village called Tackley. Current thinking is that the name Takeley should be interpreted as “settlement next to open forest”. Nearby is the Roman Stane Street, joining the ancient Roman forts of Colchester and St Albans. Takeley Football Club is believed to have been formed in 1903, although little is known about those early times. The Club became affiliated within the Bishop’s Stortford, Stansted and District Football League (BSS&DFL) following the end of the First World War. The original pitches were in Hatfield Forest, then on to Station Road opposite to their
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present home ground. Additional pitches for the Club at the Recreation Ground just past Takeley Park have been arranged by the good offices of Takeley Parish Council. The club is well looked after by local businessmen: - Gordon Silvester, our President, Pat Curran, Chairman and Mick Rabey, Secretary together with local volunteers and active committee members. The manager of the First Team is Marc Das, supported by coach & assistant manager Andy Walker. Takeley’s status in NonLeague Football has risen beyond dreams during a short period. From early beginnings with the BSS&DFL Second Division the Club has risen through the Essex Olympian League and now to the Essex Senior League, winning numerous trophies along the way. With a Reserve team in the Essex Senior Reserve League and two U18 teams in the Southern
Floodlit and Royston & Crowe Leagues, Takeley goes from strength to strength. Following a fire of the old wooden shack that served as changing facilities, volunteers and supporters rebuilt a first class pavilion, with excellent facilities in 2001. 2007/8 1st team promoted to Essex Senior League. Reserves promoted to Essex Olympian league. The Club volunteers constructed a 125 seat stand, which followed the installation of a state of the art floodlighting system. 2008/9 1st team won the Anagram Records Trophy 3-1 on penalties after extra time was level at 2-2. On 29 April 2008 Takeley hosted West Ham Utd in a match, with Lucas Neil former player with the Hammers and an Australian International Captain switching on the floodlights in front of a
crowd of 500. Although West Ham won 4-1, with players including Jack Collison, Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins. 2010/11 Takeley has a high capacity seating stand and a newly completed wall and nets off the main road. A new canteen, independent toilet facility and Committee Room, with enhanced players and officials’ facilities, renamed after the late Secretary Lee Borham. Brand new turnstiles are fitted to the Clubs grounds. On 14th August Takeley 1st team play the first ever FA Cup game against Hertford Town and were featured on the front of the FA website, along with numerous other sports pages, including the BBC. 2011/12 History made for Takeley FC as the first ever women’s football match took place at Station Road. Club website upgraded and modernised.
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Redcar RUFC Both Redcar and Sedgefield were both used to racing, but it was hot favourites Redcar who were first to show their form and they took control ... Both Redcar and Sedgefield were both used to racing, but it was hot favourites Redcar who were first to show their form and they took control from the start. Redcar put together 8 phases and scored after only 3 mins, captain Shane Hurley getting the touchdown, 5 – 0. It was followed 8 mins later by a try from centre Ben Durrans, converted by fly half Jake Duddles, 12 – 0. On 20 mins an injury to open side flanker, Phil Dyball brought veteran and past 1st team captain
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Andy Tate to the field as a substitute, he was expecting a little run out later in the game, but this was an early appearance, to last for the rest of the game, Andy last played for Redcar 15 years ago and moved to New Zealand for several years before returning to Redcar as a teacher, Andy is 48 years old and had long since retired from playing, but proved there is life in the old dog yet, (a little too much life at times). Ben Durrans got his second and centre Brian Foreman also scored
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The well known and popular Water Wheel Inn has an excellent reputation and is on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park and about 15 mins from both Saltburn and Whitby. We are a traditional country pub with wooden beams and an open fire. We use local suppliers whenever possible for fresh meats, fruit, vegetables and salad. We can cater for all occasions and are lucky enough with both the size of our carpark and restaurant to be able to entertain coach parties. All our meals are cooked to order so a wait may occur at busy times. All groups and parties are welcome – walkers, classic cars, bikers, resident associations and social clubs just to name a few, we are able to provide meals from breakfast to evening by arrangement.
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Woodbridge RFC Woodbridge Warriors 37 v Clacton 12 Despite an early maul from the kick off where Clacton’s large front row showed their impact, a nimble up and under saw Warrior fly half JP Hart score in three minutes. The joy was short lived though as Clacton was quick to counter, applying pressure and feeding full back John Vine who ran a great diagonal line to level the score. Woodbridge‘s Hart kept the play in the Clacton half with his boot as the visitors started to accumulate penalties, spinning scrums and hands in the ruck. However a couple of stolen line-outs and they were back at half way, flanker Ben Buxey leading his pack on a sortie and wing Alan Redpath also pressurising the home defence but Warriors ran it back only for busy
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Clacton scrum half Elliot Shuttleworth to steal at the ruck and force more Woodbridge defence. The penalties kept coming as Clacton couldn’t keep their hands out of rucks which set up a great runs from Warriors wings Luke Garnham and Simon Ward and three points from Jamie Smith. Woodbridge forwards withstood a couple of attacking scrums from the big Clacton front row; Simon Anderson, Daniel Wigfall and Shane Jerram on their 22 as well as threatening runs from James Garrod, Tom Nation and the ever-threatening Vine. Woodbridge started to rack up the penalties as Clacton had a number of line-outs in the home 22. Hart’s clearance drew a sigh of relief as tempers were tested and both teams became 14 for ten minutes. Great pressure at the ruck then saw
Warrior Dan Bond steal to Aldis Salavejs and set up Garnham to score. More Clacton penalties allowed the home side another attacking position before the break where a line out saw Lewis Jacobs gain metres, Hart move the ball wide to Ward who scored on the whistle. Clacton re-started by kicking for position and using their big forwards to maul towards the line until flanker Max Swift broke, drove and recycled to big prop Jerram who scored to get Clacton back in the game. Woodbridge’s line speed, fluid inter-play and dogged tackling, Herb Parsley putting in a hard shift, continued to cause the visitors problems as did penalties so play stayed in the Clacton end for much of the time. Charges by War-
riors Jono Cooke and Capt Tom Stokes kept threatening and Hart’s kicking got better and better creating attacking platforms from nowhere. Clacton worked hard in defence but Woodbridge’s Smith took another three penalty points and despite some dangerous runs from the hard-working Vine the Warriors got another attacking position from a penalty that hit the bar forcing a drop-out from which they took possession for substitute Luke Norman to score. Smith, acting as scrum half, fed from a Warrior scrum on the 10 metre line to hart, to Stokes and back to Hart to score and draw a close a tetchy but action-packed semi-final and see Woodbridge deservedly progress to meet Southwold on 18 March at Woodbridge.
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West Park Leeds RUFC The club was founded in 1959 by masters and parents of West Park School and the Headmaster, Mr TL Mathews was the first President. In the early years the school facilities were used but a move to Tinshill Recreation ground and headquarters at the Welcome Public House were effected in 1966 and in 1969 the club achieved its first honour, winning the Yorkshire Shield. Inspired by this success the club sought to acquire a ground of its own and in 1970 arrived at the Sycamores Bramhope. The members voted to change the name to encompass the new location and thus West Park Bramhope was created. During the 70s and 80s many successes were enjoyed including good runs in the Yorkshire Cup as well as several semi-final and final defeats in the Shield. The elusive win was not to come until 1989-90 when finally the Shield was seized again twenty years after the first win.
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The advent of Leagues had now arrived and to compliment the Shield win the championship of Yorkshire 1 was also achieved. In the same season that Yorkshire President, R Jessop officially opened the new stand the semi-final of the Yorkshire Cup was reached crowning arguably the finest season in the club's history. Overall, the club has achieved five promotions, a record that stands comparison with almost any club in the county. Recent years have seen many changes in the structure of the game, not all of them for the better. The club remains determined to retain its amateur ethos and in 2003 redefined the club status as such. The club continues to build on its solid foundations and has a very exciting future ahead. In September 2006 the prestigious Community Rugby Seal of Approval was achieved thanks to the prodigious work of Alan Simpson & a dedicated band of
helpers. In March 2007, in accordance with the recommendation of the governing body, the club became registered as an Industrial & Provident Society, acquiring limited company status. In the Spring of 2007 building work began on the development of vastly improved facilities, including a new club house, terracing, extensive floodlighting & a state of the art all weather pitch at the Sycamores. The new state of the art building was handed over in July 2008 creating a set up and facilities that are second to none anywhere in the Country. The cramped 1960's clubhouse has been replaced with a spacious two-storey state of the art building. The clubhouse has 10 dressing rooms, a gym, officials, physio and doctors rooms downstairs. The social areas upstairs include a lounge bar, kitchen and dining area, audiovisual areas, committee rooms, offices and a shop. 240 covers can be accommodated in the
function room. The process began when Headingley and Roundhay merged in September 1992 to form Leeds RUFC. In 1997 a planning application was submitted to the council for residential development at Chandos Park. The outcome was determined in May 2007, which released the ÂŁ6m to fund the transformation. In turn Leeds merged with West Park Bramhope to form West Park Leeds. There are now over 850 members and continued success is assured. One is James Lowes, Director of Rugby at Warrington Wolves, who lives adjacent to the ground. "I bought a house in Bramhope, overlooking the ground, a few years ago and joined the club as a playing member. I was warmly welcomed and now all my family enjoy the top class facilities and atmosphere. It is terrific." The 1st XV pitch was completely rebuilt in 2007 and an automatic irrigation system has been installed. Three
new adult and two junior pitches have been created and the old grass training area has been converted to a full size 3G all-weather pitch, ensuring quality training can take place whatever the conditions. This, the grass training area and the 1st XV pitch are all floodlit to a high specification. England World cup winner Neil Back, Head Coach of Leeds Carnegie, commented that, "The facilities must surely rank amongst the finest in the country." The 42-acre site has doubled in size from the original and has an advanced drainage system using an 800m3 balancing pond. Rugby Union has moved a long way
since the game allowed professionalism in 1995. The club has constituted itself as a Community Amateur Sports Club, which means that amongst other factors, players will not be paid but it does not stop any player from achieving the highest goal of playing for their country. Danny Care, one of the most recent England debutants started his mini rugby life at the Sycamores. With such a large and unique project it is a credit to the club that all was completed within budget to open a new chapter in the club's history. New members are always welcome and membership is open to all sections of the community.
From the pioneers of the early days who formed the club and created the grounds and clubhouse, to the hard working members and players of today, West Park Leeds RUFC can rightly take pride in all its achievements. In keeping with our commitment to mini and junior rugby many players who started at the club at very young ages have made the transition to Senior Rugby, appearing in the 1st XV or going on to achieve success in the professional game. This flow of talented young players has enabled the club to amass enviable strength in depth. A memorable day in May 2005 saw the 1st XV lose narrowly to Sheffield
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Tigers in the Yorkshire Shield final, having held the lead at half time. This served to provide even more incentive for success in future campaigns. After suffering relegation the previous season, the club bounced back into Yorkshire 2 at the first attempt, being crowned champions of Yorkshire 3 in April 2009, clinching the title with a magnificent 0 v 14 away win at eventual runners up Hullensians. On 24th May 2009 the second leg of an outstanding double was achieved with a fine win 23 v 17 over Bramley Phoenix at Moor Lane, Pontefract to claim the Yorkshire Silver Trophy, the only time the club has competed for this trophy.
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