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Breaking Fixture News
For games on:- New season starts September 5th
* Seniors Only Season completed, tour in May
* Juniors/Minis Season completed, tours in May
Training (all at Moss Farm)
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Seniors
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Tuesday & Thursday evenings
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6.30pm (Tuesdays from July 8th)
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Minis, Juniors & Colts
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Sunday
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10.30am-12pm Unless there are fixtures. See junior page or individual team pages for details. U16’s start 5th August 6pm prompt
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Mini/Juniors
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Wednesday
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6.30-8pm Mixed Age groups
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Ladies
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Tuesday
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7-8.45pm Also see Womens site
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Colts & U12’s
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Thursday
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6.30-8pm
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Girls (U15 & U18’s)
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Wednesday
Sunday
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6.30-8pm Moss Farm -next session 21st Jan
2pm @ Sandbach or Moss Farm. See also Girls site
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Contact your coaches for more information or check the relevant senior or junior team pages. New club fees are given in the ‘About the club’ page.
Got something that you’d like on the web site? Pictures, story, useful link? Then please email it to 4ourwebsite@northwichrufc.co.uk
For other other local rugby results and other sports try :-
Northwich Guardian - Northwich Guardian Rugby page
Northwich Chronicle - Northwich Chronicle Rugby page |
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Northwich Festi val August 28th-31st
It is that time of the year again and the organising committee of the Northwich Festival are gearing up for what promises to be the best show yet. There’s something for everyone over the August Bank holiday weekend, either in the giant marquee or on the fields at Moss Farm. See the dedicated web site for more details), this years highlights include :-
Friday 28th Social night organised by Northwich RUFC Junior section
Saturday 29th Rugby 10’s tournaments for Senior Colts - see page for poster & entry form and Ladies teams in the morning with evening music activity in the marquee. For details and forms for the Ladies event click on the Womens web site
Sunday 30th sees the Novice Strongman event organised by Mark Preece 07974 157280, all day competition from scores of North West Dancing Troupes
Monday 31st The big day itself - Bank Holiday Monday will be bigger than ever and have non stop action with a massive car boot sale, and the premier UK North Strongman Contest (see www.ukstrongman-north.co.uk) will kick off at noon. Twelve giants from as across the UK will compete for the £500 first prize.
The above will be complemented with an all day bar, fun fair and main arena displays The Monday promises to be a real family outing event. Please support this event to help the club raise funds and have a great time along the way.
The four day event is supported and sponsored by a host of local companies and is giving This festival is widely regarded as the ‘best value for money event in the Northwich social calendar’ and this year will mark its 25th staging.
We are looking for sponsors for this year’s event? Please contact Colin on 01606 891229 if you’d like to promote your company or organisation at any of the events across the weekend or would like some coverage on the club or Festival web site.
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Toga Party
Natalie and BJ are organising the next fund raising event for the club. This will be a ‘Roman’ themed event with Fancy dress compulsory, a hog roast, ‘Roman’ games and Best dressed competition. The event will take place at the Green Bank Hotel on Saturday 4th July. The couple judged with the best costume will be crowned Emperor & Empress of Greenbankovia. The fun starts at 7pm, entrance on door will be £3.
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Safeguarding Young People in Rugby Union
The club has organised a Safeguarding Young people in Rugby Union course to take place at the club on Thursday 30th July between 6.30 - 9.30pm. It is essential that all junior coaches and volunteers involved with the club who haven’t attended this type of course (child protection) for 3 years, must attend. The RFU now require that at least two coaches at each age group have attended this type of course. As we will be resubmitting our accreditation this autumn can all coaches please make sure that they attend. Please complete the application form and send it to Alexis Holding email alexisholding@rfu.com as soon as possible. As always all Northwich RUFC coaches can reclaim the cost of the course which is £15.
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Charity Tag for all!
Simon Clarke is organising a Charity Tag tournament event on June 10th down at Moss Farm from 4-8pm. Open to all age groups the team must have at least three female players in a squad of 10 ish. Free admisison but each team is expected to make a small donation to charity. If you want to enter please contact Simon Clarke on email at nrufc89@hotmail.com or Chris Jones at chrisjones@therfu.com
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2008-9 Club Awards evening
This years club awards evening at the Hartford Social Club was a big success. This year’s awards were as follows :
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1st XV Player of the Year
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Chris Heywood
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1st XV Players’ Player
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Stacey Hosking
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1st XV Most Improved Player
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Dave Farley
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Jon Finch Memorial Award
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Joel Barber
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2nd XV Player of the year
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Alistair Shimmin
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2nd XV Most Improved Player
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Lee Almack
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3rd XV Player of the Year
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John Talbot
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3rd XV Most Improved Player
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John Whelan
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Ladies Players’ Player of the Year
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Melanie McPhillips
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Ladies Coaches Player of the Year
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Julia Hopley, Rachel Phillips
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Clubman of the Year
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Rob Heath
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2008-9 Club AGM
This years Annual General meeting will take place on May 20th at the Hartford Social Club at 7.30pm. All members of the Club are encouraged to attend this important meeting. The committee reminds everyone that only fully paid up members (2008/2009 season) who are over 18 years of age are entitled to vote on resolutions.The agenda will be issued on the day. Any members wishing to propose agenda items should send their proposal to trawling@northwichrufc.co.uk by 13th May. This is an AGM so topics should be of a constitutional nature and not operational issues, which should be handled by committees. Formal notice of the AGM is downloadable at AGM Notice (Word) or AGM Notice (pdf). - Minutes now online - click here (pdf)
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Colts win Whitchurch Shield
The Colts won the Shield competition at this year’s Whitchurch U18’s tournament on Sunday 5th April. Good wins against Flyde, Oswestry and Bridgenorth secured the Shield, with only a narrow loss against Nant Conwy stopping Northwich going through into the main competition. See a full report and more pictures on the Colts team page.
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Canadian tourist visit big success
Handsworth High School from North Vancouver enjoyed a two day sojorn in Cheshire during the last stages of their 2009 UK tour and were hosted by a mixture Northwich Colts and U16’s players. On Monday evening 29th March they played a mixture of Northwich players for an entertaining game of rugby watched by nearly 100 supporters. Well done lads, hope to see you again some day.
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Photograph and article courtesy of the Northwich Guardian
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For more about Northwich’s International Player Exchange scheme see the International player pages
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Kiwi Happy to be here!
Simon Pratt is glad he picked Northwich as his temporary home town club. The Kiwi full back is the latest in a growing list of overseas stars to become a Black, a fact he says has helped him settle in at Moss Farm. “The boys have been brilliant,” he said. “Wherever you go in the world the rugby fellas are all the same – they stick together and they’ve been a really welcoming bunch here. “It’s good to have people like Stacey [Hosking] and Jamie [Miratana] around because we can reminisce about the things we miss back home.” The 23-year-old shares a living space with Hosking and another New Zealand import, Nigel Farrow, at the Greenbank Hotel. He arrived from the other side of the planet, Marlborough to be precise, in August when the weather was a lot warmer. “Getting used to the temperature is taking some time to be honest,” he grinned. “I’ve been in snow once and vowed never to go in it again. “I just wanted to play rugby all year round and when I found out about Northwich I was desperate to come. “I’m a country boy back home so the town is plenty big enough for me.”
Hosking has helped with style tips on the pitch as well as survival off it, resulting in Pratt playing a key part in moving Kevin Greaves’ men up the North Two West table. “The style is different here and I’ve struggled to get to grips with it at times,” Pratt admitted.
“I don’t see a lot of the ball because it’s not kicked to you as much but I’m loving the challenge of getting used to a new way of playing.”
He scored a try in Saturday’s success against Rossendale, a victory that takes Northwich to within two points of top spot, and each week brings a better personal performance. Pratt added: “I’ll go back a better rugby player, I’m convinced of that. “As a person I’m a lot more open-minded and loving the experience. “Northwich is a great club – there’s always some old boy around who’ll get a beer in for you!”
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2008-9 County Honours
Northwich RUFC have started early this year with County representatives. Two players have been selected to play at U18’s and both have played in all the county games against Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire. Well done lads.
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Three Northwich Women players make County grade
Three Northwich women players were selected to play in the recent Cheshire vs Lancashire county game on September 28th. Pictured here Natalie Wilson, Mel McPhillips and Hayley Coutts were thrilled to be selected and fly the flag for Northwich. They all threw themselves into the match held at Caldy Rugby club, but found it tough going against Lancashire, made up mainly from experienced and high ranking women’s teams Waterloo and Vale of Lune. Nevertheless are looking forward to the next county fixture.
If you are over 18 and interested in playing rugby for the Northwich women’s team see the women’s web site for more information.
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Great start to the season
It proved to be a great start to the season on Saturday 6th with a resounding win for the 1st XV 73-7 against local team Moore. The 1st XV had already won their Cheshire Cup 1st XV match with Hoylake, when Hoylake conceeded the game leaving the injury torn side with a pool match against Moore at Moss Farm. The Gentleman of Moore play two levels lower but they fought bravely to contain a vastly superior Northwich outfit.
The 'Blacks' were without at least six 1st XV squad members but their strength in depth meant that the side Kevin Greaves selected looked the part as they cruised through the gears in an eleven try blitz. Northwich kept their shape and momentum throughout scoring six tries in the first half and five in the second. New stand off and playmaker Matthew Bebbington converted nine of the tries and dictated proceedings from start to finish. All players performed well but Aussie second row forward Nigel Farrow looked completely at home and shoe in the Northwich pack.
Northwich led 38-0 at the break with ties coming from Rick Smith, Stacey Hosking, Joel Barber, Adam Bown, Gez Gough and Jamie Miritana. Moore did manage a second half try and conversion but Bebbington converted all of the 'Blacks' second half tries from Smith, Bown, Barber, Chris James and Hosking.
It was a good day at the office all round for the Northwich Senior section as the 2nd XV beat Winnington at Burrows Hill 32-5 and the 3rds came from behind to draw with Caldy 22-22.
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Colts win 10’s tournament
Over the Bank Holiday weekend the Northwich Junior Colts began their season well with victory in the Northwich Festival 10 a side competition, beating (amongst others) their bogey team, Lymm, twice. Once in the Pool stages and again in the Final. Caldy beat Wirral for the Plate.
On September 7th Northwich Junior Colts start their league season off with a visit to the current Cheshire Cup holders Wirral. The Colts will play this season in the Halbro Junior Colts league and having been seeded in the A league will face the best teams in Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria and North Wales.
Like the senior squad, there are a few injury worries this week with prop Bridle sidelined with a fractured wrist and flanker Jones (Ben) currently recovering from a throat infection. However, the squad came through a tough final training session on Saturday and coach Clarke declared himself "satisfied" with the efforts put in during the whole of pre season training.
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Ladies team is hoping to change the game’s image.
Northwich captain Natalie Wilson hopes to get more girls giving rugby a go, ahead of the new season.
“We need more numbers,” she said. “It’s time to put a stop to the stereotypes, ladies rugby is not just big, powerful players who can run fast – there is a position on the pitch to suit everybody regardless of their ability.” and it’s new recruits she is hoping to attract this time. The team got together four years ago when a group of ex-University students decided to carry on playing after their graduation. They formed Northwich Ladies RUFC. “It seemed a natural thing to do,” said Wilson.
“We wanted to keep playing rugby together so we started the team on our own.” Now many of the original members have moved on, leaving space for newcomers. And Wilson is calling on girls who have partners playing the game every weekend to follow suit and sign up for scrums. “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” she said. “I found out quickly that Saturday is sacred for rugby.” Former footballers have turned to rugby and never returned to the round ball, while others play to keep fit. An active social section keeps up spirits after a defeat. The team trains every Tuesday at Moss Farm from 7pm. If you would like to find out more about playing rugby for Northwich Ladies RUFC, call Natalie Wilson on 07788 502682.
Northwich Ladies RUFC have their own web site at www.northwichwomensrugby.co.uk. , plus don’t forget if your are under 18 you can still play in the U18’s girls team we run with Sandbach RUFC. More information about women’s rugby in the region or across the UK is at the following sites - Womens Rugby North West and the RFU for Women
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Northwich in partnership with Greenbank Hotel
In an innovative partnership to provide a base for visiting international players, Northwich Rugby club have agreed a 5 year contract to rent the third floor of the Greenbank Hotel on Chester Road, Northwich. As part of the agreement the club will refurbish 4 bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a common room/lounge which the club hope, will become the natural home for visiting players during the next few seasons. Thanks to a new kitchen from Howdens Joinery in Winsford (http://www.howdens.com/), the refurbishment is proceeding at full pace so anyone who has any spare furniture they would like to donate, or would be prepared to help with decorating or plumbing, please contact Colin Johnson on 07831 785972.
Greenbank Hotel Tel: 01606 783132 June 2008
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International Player Exchange
Thanks to the successful impact on the club of overseas players like Stacey Hoskin and David Khaniyle, Northwich would like to invite interested players to approach the club for next season. The club is interested in any player that would be comfortable playing in the North 2 West league or higher and is happy to spend the winter here in the England. In return the club are eager to continue to foster relationships with clubs in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand so that young Northwich players can get the opportunity to play and travel safely to those countries to develop their playing career and to compliment their education and/or employment. New web pages (see below) have been added to the web site to help provide information for interested players. Please feel free to contact Colin Johnson at the club if you need more information. His details and more are on the following page :- International Player Exchange - link
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Collecting Tesco Vouchers
We are registered again with the Tesco web site and have started to collect vouchers for this seasons sports promotion. Last year we were able to get some new balls and although that doesn’t seem very much it all helps us to stretch our meagre resources. We know that you may be already collecting them for schools but please find some spare ones for the club. The collection box is in the club shop. For more details about the promotion click on www.tesco.com/sport/
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Club members set up ‘Sportsmates Reunited’ web site
Three locals who come from a rugby, rowing & martial arts background have recently set up a new web site to help reunite old friends who’ve played sports together. After wanting to get in contact with old friends who’d they’d lost contact with and frustrated with the existing web sites on offer, they thought about creating a new website. Specifically sports-based Sportsmates Reunited works like the well established Friends Reunited sites but specialising in sports like Rugby with all UK clubs listed. To find out more here is the link. www.sportsmatesreunited.co.uk
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Sale Sharks - special prices on tickets
Last season we were able to get 40 free shirts as part of the Sale Sharks ‘kit back’ scheme. Sale will continue to offer the scheme this year. We get points for all Sale Sharks home match tickets purchased through the club, plus there are now new special family tickets. Please contact Dave Jefford email: djefford @northwichrufc.co.uk to book tickets for any of the Sale matches. More details of the status of the kitback scheme are also on our new page at Kit back. See the Sharks site for details of the next home game or go to the new Premiership web site for more information on the league, clubs and players. www.guinesspremiership.com
Matches looming up over the next few months include :-
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More Sponsors for 2009-10
The club would like to thank a number of sponsors for their support in the 2008-9 Season and welcome further new sponsors to assist with the cost of running the club for the forthcoming 2009-10 season.
If you or someone you know, would be interested in helping with a team strip, raffle prizes, equipment or with a team tour please contact Colin Johnson at 07831 785972 or email cjohnson @northwichrufc.co.uk and also view the new sponsor pages.
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