President’s Piece
The season has started off very well in many respects with results on the pitch showing excellent potential for the future, if not quite there yet. The whole club seems to have started the season in a positive frame of mind & whilst I do not have the figures I suspect that memberships, turnouts & results are all on an upwards trend throughout.
One particular area where there is positive news is our new Netball Section who is now officially part of the Club. They are currently training at Cranleigh School on a Tuesday evening from 7:30 to 9:00pm & I understand that they have around 30 players regularly turning out as Cranleigh RFC Netball team. Our new section got themselves off to a fantastic social start with around 170 people attending their Halloween Party, which amounted to the best turnout & bar take for one party in the history of the Club – sounds like they will be fun to have around! Welcome to you all & I hope that the Netball Section will settle in over the coming months. Well done to Robin Williams for his hard work in liaison between the rugby & netball sections. If you are interested in the netball section then call:
Amanda Harrison on 01483 894324 or Jen Pogacic on 01403 780442
GoPlayRugby.com
On 27th September Lyndon Percival, James Moore, Toby Eves & I went to a meeting at Harlequins hosted by Rob Andrew. Liz Townsend was also there for Surrey Rugby. At the meeting we were told that we’d been selected to be part of a pilot scheme sponsored by the RFU whereby 44 rugby clubs from Surrey would be taking part in an 8 week recruitment campaign to get players between the ages of 18 to 30 to start or come back to rugby. This picked up on the fact that after we won the World Cup (yes we are still World Champions & will be so for another year yet) only 2% of new players recruited on the back of this triumph were over the age of 18 (the majority were Minis & Juniors).
This pilot scheme is a trial & will then be rolled out to the whole country in time for the World Cup next year. We’ve been told that the budget for this pilot scheme is circa £100,000. You may have seen posters or beer mats in the club, pubs, builders’ merchants etc & heard adverts on Radio Eagle. Also you may have received a funny video clip of a cat or the adverts on the sides of buses. The idea is simple – if you are a lapsed rugby player or know a lapsed rugby player then let them know how much fun they are missing-out-on by not coming along & playing at some level.
This activity of keeping people playing rugby is in fact an extension of the good work that Neil Clisby in particular does on a weekly basis when trying to get a side out. That said it is an excellent opportunity for us non-players to all think about why we are not playing anymore & think about having another go. It is also an excellent prompt for the current players to persuade their mates who used to play to come back & also to recruit totally new players to the game.
There is an incentive from the RFU by way of prizes to the club who recruit the most or who increase playing membership by the greatest percentage. These include the England physio or Twickenham groundsman coming to the club & are worthwhile incentives, albeit I think the greatest incentive is to do better than the other clubs! If you are interested in this initiative then please:
- Go to the website and find out more www.goplayrugby.com
- Download the viral & send it to your friends http://www.goplayrugby.com/kick_the_cat.html
-
- Come training at 7.30pm on either (or both) Tuesday or Thursday night.
One final thing is that I have been to a few follow up meetings with the various clubs and I have to say that the majority of clubs seem to measure their success or otherwise by how well they are doing in recruiting players from around the world and I am proud to advise them that Cranleigh are not a paying club and that we are thriving on local talent brought through from the Mini’s & Juniors – so well done all!
See if you can get someone playing rugby again!
Luke Margetts – President
Chairman’s Chat
The 1st quarter of the season has started well both from a playing & social aspect. Training has been well attended, although numbers have decreased slightly of late. The 1st XV playing record is witness to this. Thanks to Jez Shayler, Kenny Edwards, Tom Wright & Derek Coward for all the time & effort they’ve put in.
The 1st XV had a good win against the Law Society last Saturday & this weekend we play Old Ruts in the 3rd round of the EDF Energy Junior Vase away on Saturday 18/11 - KO @ 1200. We’ve fielded 3 senior sides lately, but could do with more players, especially front row! If you are available to play, but have not been contacted recently, please give me a call on 07836 560467
The RFU Raffle has started again with some brilliant prizes. The most important thing is that the Club gets 90% of the ticket money! So it’s a great way of fund raising. All monies made this year will go to re-equipping the club kitchen. Please ask any Senior Club or Junior/Mini Committee Member for your tickets.
The Christmas & New Year Season sees three home matches, Warlingham on Saturday 23/12, Barns Green on 26/12 (KO 1115) & Holbrook on Saturday 30/12. All games will field a Club XV & are thus open to everyone who wants a game. There will be a list for the Boxing Day fixture on the main Club notice board - usual rules apply! The Bar will be open on all 3 days.
Please continue to support OUR CLUB
Nigel Spong - Chairman
Clubhouse
Apart from the aforementioned Halloween Party we have also recently hosted a highly successful 25th Wedding Anniversary Party for family members Guy & Rita Darby who have sons playing in the U13s & U15s. Rita is also Treasurer of the Mini & Junior Section.
Hire is FREE to FAMILY MEMBERS who just need to pay for the bar staff & cleaning. Any Club member who is interested in hiring the Club’s facilities should contact House Manager Cliff Ilsley on 01483 536561
Grounds
Two pieces of excellent news:
- Lower pitch over the road from the Clubhouse is now finally playable!
- Planning permission granted for replacement training lights.
Further details regarding the training lights project to follow in due course.
Minis & Juniors
After a mixed set of results at the Waverley Festival, held at Farnham this year, the Minis latest games were at Old Cats on 22 October & at Alton on 5 November, when Farnborough were also present.
Here’s a report received from the U10s coach Simon Jozwiak:
“Last weekend saw us at Alton on another beautiful autumn morning. After a low key training session we played the home team. Playing down hill in the 1st half we put together some great flowing rugby, leading to 2 good tries from Ollie G & Sean. Uphill in the 2nd half we couldn't repeat our fluidity & started to miss a few tackles leading to an Alton score.
However great scrummaging (once the Ref decided to allow competitive scrums!) led to a ball against the head & Ollie G made a classic scrum half dart for the final score with us ending up convincingly 15-5 victors.
We then combined with the Farnborough players there to take on another Alton side. Everyone played some part & the combined 'Cranborough' team won again. Sean was player of the day for his powerful running & willingness to pass out of the tackle.
Overall a good performance. When we get on the front foot we look very good. In defence we’re beginning to push up as a team but missed too many one-on-one tackles whilst in attack we didn't always clear out rucks properly & sometimes ran sideways towards the space rather than passing the ball to our player in the space!”
U13s & U14s
Both the U13s & U14s have had difficult starts to the season but are working hard to recruit more new players & training enthusiastically.
U15s
Among the other junior teams the U15s enjoyed big early season wins over Midhurst, Mitcham & Haslemere but then lost to a strong Chipstead side & to Cobham Bs. Guildford are next up followed by a rematch against Mitcham. Interestingly the U15s problems are not too different from the U10s!
U16s
Our U16s have only played one league game to date but hope to improve matters shortly!
U17s
The U17s have enjoyed a good start to the season but suffered a reverse at Pulborough due to a slow start & then recently defeated a spirited Tottonians side 7-0 at home.
Girls
Our successful Girls teams have yet to play any games but are at home in League action on 10 December so please support them.
Regular or occasional reports from the other Mini & Junior Teams would be most welcome for inclusion in the next Newsletter & posting on the website which can be found here:
www.cranleighrfc.co.uk
Harry Watts Cha11enge
Since we launched the Harry Watts Cha11enge, we’ve been stunned by the immediate & enthusiastic support from a such a wide range of people, friends & strangers alike, all of whom have been touched by Harry’s story & just want to get involved.
At the outset, the Cha11enge to the boys - Harry’s team mates – was to raise £11,000 by the end of the season in honour of Harry’s No.11 shirt. But quickly the Cha11enge expanded beyond Cranleigh RFC. The Wallis family were the first to start the ball rolling out in Dubai, organising a range of activities from a Ramadan brunch, to a 24 hr Bond-a-thon (Harry was a big James Bond fan) & a 12-hour sponsored walk in the sand dunes.
Funds were boosted significantly by a couple of significant donations from large corporations. A lady completely unknown to the Watts family even ran the recent Loseley 10k on behalf of the Cha11enge.
We now have a calendar of events including the Christmas Lights in Rudgwick, a bungee jump on 2 December, a Christmas Wine Tasting on 13 December, the Fort William Marathon next April, a 40 mile sponsored walk along the South Downs next May; there’s a big HWC team for this so watch out for sponsorship forms! A RaceNite at the Club is also being planned for the New Year.
Cranleigh RFC will also be hosting with 2 other events: “All Night U17s Training” in February & a Rugby Festival at the end of the season on 29 April, with the likes of John Inverdale & other celebrities hopefully attending.
All funds raised will go to the Wooden Spoon Society & local worthy causes. For those unfamiliar with the Wooden Spoon, it is rugby a charity which supports disadvantaged children. Full information can be found here: www.justgiving.com/harrywattscha11enge
Above & beyond everything else, Marianne, I & the other Harry Watts Cha11enge Trustees want everyone who rises to the Cha11enge & gets involved with fundraising for this great cause to have fun. Harry was the first to laugh at any situation & this should be his legacy. The Cha11enge is fundamentally about participation, so if you have any ideas, please contact us on 01403 823748 or here: theharrywattscha11enge@hotmail.co.uk
Anthony Watts
Minis Christmas Party
This will be held after training on Sunday 17th December in the Clubhouse. All registered Mini players are invited. There will be party food & presents delivered by Father Christmas. Any offers of assistance will be gratefully received by party organiser & U12s Team Manager Nicola Spence who can be contacted on 01483 751744 or at: nicola@cine-photo.com
Parents & Coaches Match
The next annual New Year game against Guildfordians is being played at Cranleigh on Sunday 14th January – KO 1300 approx. If you’d like to play contact Toby Eves on 07710 862605 or email tobyeves@aol.com
Last year the prospect of playing with a certain U8s father & occasional coach produced a massive turn out of occasional players who all wanted 5 minutes on the pitch with a rugby legend. Unfortunately, due to a last minute work commitment, he had to drop out but we are hopeful that with another son now playing in the U7s, two U9s & a daughter in the Girls U14s team he may put in a guest appearance!
1st XV News
After 8 games we’re well placed in midtable:
Surrey 1
|
Team
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Diff
|
Pts
|
Adjust
|
|
Old Wellingtonians
|
7
|
6
|
1
|
0
|
283
|
62
|
221
|
13
|
0
|
|
London SA
|
7
|
5
|
0
|
2
|
201
|
93
|
108
|
10
|
0
|
|
Kingston
|
7
|
5
|
0
|
2
|
186
|
92
|
94
|
10
|
0
|
|
London Exiles
|
7
|
5
|
0
|
2
|
124
|
96
|
28
|
10
|
0
|
|
Cranleigh
|
8
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
116
|
118
|
-2
|
9
|
0
|
|
Old Alleynians
|
7
|
4
|
0
|
3
|
118
|
139
|
-21
|
8
|
0
|
|
Old Tiffinians
|
7
|
4
|
0
|
3
|
111
|
193
|
-82
|
8
|
0
|
|
Croydon
|
7
|
3
|
0
|
4
|
177
|
99
|
78
|
6
|
0
|
|
Old Emanuel
|
6
|
1
|
0
|
5
|
69
|
157
|
-88
|
2
|
0
|
|
Law Society
|
7
|
1
|
0
|
6
|
60
|
269
|
-209
|
2
|
0
|
|
Battersea
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
110
|
237
|
-127
|
-2
|
-2
|
|
|
Last Updated: 11/11/2006 19:10:51
|
|
Next up are the following:
Old Tiffinians (A) – 2:30pm 25 November
Kingston – (H) – 2:15pm 2nd December
Please make the effort to support the boys & at the same time enjoy a VP’s Lunch before all home league games. Contact Robin Williams on 01483 276928 for further details.
EDF Energy Junior Vase
Having beaten Eastleigh 50-10 in Round 2 we’re now drawn away to Old Rutlishians on Saturday 18 November, 1200 KO. Your support would be most welcome.
Captain’s Comment
PLAYING TO OUR POTENTIAL?
Here we are well into the season & it gives us time to reflect on victories, draws & loses. We sit mid table, but with the potential to be top. Without question, we are the best team in the league, but I feel we have only yet glimpsed the true ability, skill, passion & commitment which lie slumbering within our 1st XV. For this reason our league position is perhaps justified.
The teams that have walked away from us boys in blue as victors must count themselves fortunate. Did they truly win the game, or did we give it to them? With a well tuned coaching system, allied to the “You Train - You Play policy” in force, there is depth in all positions, even that of the mystical player known as the front rower. Positions are keenly fought for & players’ performances are key.
The coming winter months will surely define our character as Cranleigh Rugby Club players. Will numbers dwindle on the training pitch on Tuesday & Thursdays? I think not, for we are men not mice. Training is the foundations of any team’s success; for us to fulfil our playing potential & drive the 1st XV to success - missing training is not an option.
Gentlemen we are on the verge of greatness; all it takes is for us to play with confidence to our potential & the results will come. When you win everything tastes sweeter. Opposition should underestimate us at their peril, for we are Cranleigh & we will win.
STOP PRESS!
Cranleigh 23 Law Society 3
After a disappointing result the previous week Cranleigh were eager to get their league campaign back on track. The Law Society are considered a team not to be underestimated after slaying a few giants in their time.
The 1st half saw much Cranleigh possession, but yet again this season constant infringements never allowed the hosts to truly develop their attacks & Cranleigh lost ground through LS fly half’s boot.
The visitors dominated in the lineout, with excellent catch & drives, but the often lost momentum in crucial positions. Excellent defensive tackling from Tim Bargeman, Chris Morris & Will Stacey at the rear of the scrums, plus a strong drift defence from Cranleigh’s backs meant the LS were only able to generate 3 points.
Cranleigh’s 1st try was well worked from their own 22 metre, beautiful interpassing between backs & forwards seeing powerful centre Ben Silks claim his 1st try under the posts.
The second half saw a more disciplined Cranleigh take the field, giving away no penalties but capitalizing on the LS’s infringements as Luke Edwards stretched the lead by another 6 points.
The tiring LS side struggled to contain Cranleigh’s attacking onslaught & eventually Ben Silks almost claimed a second try, a last ditch tackle seeing him hauled down just short of the try line, but a simple off load to supporting Captain James Moore allowed Cranleigh to score a try in the corner.
Then in the dying seconds of the game the experience & strength of second row Dan Cast showed as he ploughed his way over the line to seal a well grafted victory.
James Moore - 1st XV Captain
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