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West Midlands Police RFC
U.K Police Champions 2012, 2011, 2009 & 2000
West Midlands Police Retain U.K Title
Match Report by Steve Foster, Fixtures Secretary.
West Midlands Police RFC met Police Service of Northern Ireland at Stourbridge on 25th April, in a remake of the 1999/2000 final which WMP won 19-6 in Coventry. Both teams fielded two players who featured in that final twelve years ago; Richard Marsh and Neil Weston were the two from West Midlands. The road to this year’s final was a difficult one because every match was played away from home but it was also exciting, particularly the nail biting quarter final 17-16 away win against a very strong Gloucestershire Police team.
Due to the weather, this year’s final wasn’t going to be a pretty one in front of a small crowd, although the standard of rugby was good because both teams contribute a significant number of players to the British Police squad. Heavy rain caused early handling errors and made the ground difficult underfoot, particularly in the scrums where WMP fought hard to disrupt and frustrate a visibly heavier PSNI pack. A lack of PSNI discipline also made a contribution to the game and after five minutes, fly half PC Chris Scott attempted a 40 metre penalty kick from the PSNI 10 metre line; the ball struck the top edge of the cross bar and bounced over to make the score 3-0.
Two minutes later, PSNI infringed and a free kick was awarded to WMP. Scrum Half Toby Handley took a trademark quick tap and ran at the PSNI pack who were penalised for not retreating 10 metres; Chris Scott stepped up again but missed the kick. After another ten minutes, PSNI drew level with a penalty kick awarded on the WMP 22 for infringing at the maul, but Chris Scott kicked another penalty three minutes later to make the score 6-3.
There were a number of high tackles in what was becoming a frustrating match and the referee finally awarded a penalty to WMP just before half time, for a high tackle which nearly took PC Neil Saunders’ head off; some might say that wasn’t an offence. Chris Scott kicked the penalty and WMP led at the interval 12-3.
The rain continued throughout the second half and after ten minutes, WMP were awarded another penalty when PSNI were caught handling in the ruck. Scott kicked the penalty and increased the WMP lead to 15-3. Five minutes later the PSNI hooker was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for an infringement in the ruck. WMP failed to capitalise on the one man advantage and should have scored a try. In a rare moment of open running rugby in a game dominated by scrums and penalty kicks, there was an overlap which wasn’t used, PSNI tackled hard and the try went begging.
The 14-man PSNI continued to work hard and finished the game playing in the WMP half of the pitch and scored a penalty when WMP failed to release in a tackle in their own 22.
The final score was WMP 15 – 6 PSNI with all WMP points coming from the boot of Chris Scott and Vice Captain Francis Knock received the trophy from British Police Rugby Chairman, Assistant Chief Constable Frank Armstrong (City of London Police).
The result was a fitting end a season in which West Midlands Police RFC field four different sides (1st XV, Black Country XV, Coventry & Solihull XV and Birmingham Central & West XV). Also, despite operational difficulties, two different matches were played on the same night in October, thanks to a lot of dedication from the players and hard work from the back room staff. The season also saw six WMP players represent British Police; a reunion dinner held for 90 former and current Coventry & Solihull players and a Black Country Police four-match tour of Benidorm.
The PSUK final victory was also a fitting the end to the rugby careers of two WMP players. A/PS Karl Mackley (Coventry) announced his retirement from rugby and DC Darron Moore (CTU) who has retired after thirty years service. Karl played his junior rugby for Barkers Butts and was a regular member of the Coventry & Solihull extras XV as well as the 1st XV. Daz was a stalwart of West Midland Police RFC who will continue to coach the juniors at Dudley Kingswinford. WMPRFC would like to that both players for their contribution and support over the years.
WMPRFC 2011/2012 Results
19.10.12 Coventry & Solihull 62 – 17 B’ham Central & West
26.10.11 West Midlands Fire 17 – 63 1st XV
26.10.11 Kidderminster 7 – 42 Black Country XV
10.11.11 Q.E Hospital Combined Services Medics 10 – 18 B’ham Central & West XV
16.11.11 Coventry RFC (Nighthawks) 44 – 10 1st XV
07.12.11 Nottinghamshire Police 00 – 84 1st XV PSUK
17.01.12 City of London Police 44 – 24 Coventry & Solihull XV
25.01.12 1st XV 41 – 00 RAF Vets
29.02.12 Gloucestershire Police 17 – 18 1st XV PSUK Quarter Final
07.03.12 Black Country XV 36 – 00 Coventry & Solihull XV
21.03.12 South Yorkshire Police 00 – 54 1st XV PSUK Semi Final
04.04.12 Barkers Butts RFC 26 – 8 Coventry & Solihull XV
25.04.12 1st XV 15 – 6 PSNI PSUK Final
19.05.12 Black Country XV 19 - 7 Ross-on-Wye
20.05.12 Black Country XV 17 - 7 La Denia
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2011/2012
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P
|
W
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D
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L
|
F
|
A
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+/-
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|
1ST XV
|
7
|
6
|
0
|
1
|
285
|
84
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+201
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| Coventry & Solihull XV |
4
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
94
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123
|
-29
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| Black Country XV |
4
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
114
|
21
|
+100
|
|
Birmingham N,E&S XV
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Birmingham C & W XV
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
35
|
72
|
-37
|
|
C.I.D & Ops XV
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
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West Midlands Police RFC consists of a 1st XV and five 'Extras' sides. The club's members are Police Officers and Police Staff from all corners of the force area, from the Black Country in the west, to Coventry in the east; and Sutton Coldfield in the north to Solihull in the south.
The 1stXV and both Birmingham Extras teams play their home games at West Midlands Police Training Centre, Sports & Social Club, known as 'Tally Ho!', which is on Pershore Road in Edgbaston. For more information about each team, or Tally Ho! itself, click the menu on the left. The Coventry & Solihull team will be playing their home games this season at www.broadstreet-rugby.co.uk as usual.
Until the mid 1990s West Mids played in the Saturday leagues, but numbers started to dwindle due to the demands of modern operational policing conflicting with force sport. Also, players were becoming semi-professional in the new era of rugby at clubs such as Mosely, Coventry and Birmingham/Solihull and they were reluctant to play for the force at weekends.
A decision was made for the 1stXV to only play midweek matches against other Police Forces in the Police Service U.K Rugby Union Tournament (P.S.U.K), which we won in 1999/2000 by beating the R.U.C., 2008/9 by beating Gwent and in 2011 by beating Metropolitan Police.
Our 'Extras' sides play each other for the Mark Woodhead Trophy every season, as well representative matches against neighbouring police forces and rugby clubs in their respective communities. The most active of all the teams in WMPRFC is Coventry & Solihull Police, and the North Birmingham XV are the serious tourists. For details on all our teams, choose a link from the menu.
Modern Policing is now under considerable financial strain, resulting in no recruitment and less staff. This will impact heavily on force sport this season, with players not being available as before and new players won't be joining us. The Coventry & Soihull teams recently merged and will be playing only 12 games this season. With a lack of new talent coming forward, it is half expected that all sides will soon be playing in vets tournaments!
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