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Spring Ball on Valentines Night
This season’s Spring Ball will be on Saturday 14th February 2004 at the Portal Golf Club in Tarporley. This year will be an extra special night as we have booked Valentines’ night so please support the club and have a great night out. Live entertainment will follow a 4 course meal with a bar till late. Nearly 100 club members, families and friends came last year, lets make an even bigger event this year. Tickets will be £30 per head including dinner and entertainment, there will also be a special raffle on the night. For tickets email springball@northwichrufc.co.uk or call Ken Houghton at 01606 558677.
December 2003
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Xmas Socials at the Club
It will soon be time again when we hang up our boots for the festive celebrations. As is traditional at Northwich, we try and organise events for all the family and this year we hope to be no different. Sunday 21st is our target date for all the Xmas celebrations. U7’s to U10’s will have a party at Moss Farm and hopefully a visit from the man in red (assuming they’ve all been good this year). U11’s, U12’s, U13’s, U14’s and U15’s are going bowling at Winnington Bowl - 10.00-12.00 (for U11’s & U12’s), 12.30-2.30 for the older teams. Price is £8.50 per person,please let your coach know by Friday 19th. For the adults we are holding our traditional ‘NOT NEW YEARS EVE’ bash at Hartford Legion on Saturday 27th December, a great night in store there and on NEW YEARS EVE we will be holding our regular do in the club house. More info to follow as soon as we have it.
In summary Xmas dates are:-
Sunday 21st December Bowling Party 10.00am U11’s & U12’s Winnington Bowl
12.30pm U13’s,U14’s & U15’s
Minis Xmas party 2pm Moss Farm
Saturday 27th December Not News Year Eve Party Hartford Legion
Wednesday 31st December New Year Eve Party Moss Farm
December 2003
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Club wins ‘Cheshire Community Club of the Year’
Monday 6th October saw Northwich RUFC become Cheshire Club of the Year. Organised by Sport Cheshire this annual event aims to reward sports people, clubs and volunteers across Cheshire. This year Northwich were nominated for their efforts to acheive the SportsMark award and for their outstanding contribution to community sport across Vale Royal. The award was received by Ken Houghton and Simon Bridle from James Hickman (Olympic Swimming Finalist and Commonwealth Games Champion). By becoming Cheshire Club of the Year, Northwich have been automatically nominated for the BBC North West Sports Awards which will be held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester on December 1st.
See Sport Cheshire page for more details..
October 2003
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USA are victors in Rugby World Cup!
World Cup history was made at Moss Farm on Thursday 23rd October when a USA team won the Rugby World Cup. Yes, USA (well actually Charles Darwin School of Northwich) won the special Rugby World Cup Tag Tournament run by Northwich Rugby Club. 20 teams representing 18 schools from Northwich, Middlewich and Winsford had a glorious afternoon as they battled out in in a tournament modelled directly on the Rugby World Cup. Over 200 children, parents, teachers and young people from Weaverham High School all seem to have had a fabulous time. Pictures of the event and details of the competition are on our special Rugby World Cup page. October 2003
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England vs South Africa
Photograph courtesy of Claire Manning Northwich Guardian
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Sale Sharks at Moss Farm!
Sunday saw players from Sale Sharks put Northwich Junior sides through their paces in the Powergen Proficiency Awards scheme. All the teams were put through a number of exercises to test their prowess in skills like tackling, passing and kicking. Points were awarded for each skill and players reaching the ‘gold’ standard for all the exercises will receive their certificate at the Sale vs London Irish game on 31st October in front of Sky TV cameras. Some pictures of the day are now shown below. September 2003
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Ken Houghton receives a donation of kit from Sale Sharks’ Mark Cueto
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Sale Sharks’ Stewart Pinkerton helping out Northwich RUFC U7 & 8 players.
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Sale Sharks’ Darrell Griffiths & Mark Cueto explaining the Powergen scheme to Northwich players.
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Sale Sharks’ Chris Mayor explaining the finer points of kicking
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Sale Sharks’ Chris Jones marking Northwich U12’s kicking skills
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Northwich RUFC to run Schools Tag ‘Rugby World Cup’ Tournament
It’s official, Northwich will be running a special tag rugby tournament in October. The local tournament will be modeled around the Rugby World Cup knockout competition taking place in Australia throughout October and November. Twenty schools throughout the Vale Royal area have already signed up Year 3/4 teams to take part. After the draw, each school will be assigned one of the countries playing and encouraged to take this country as a topic in class for this term.
To learn more about the tournament, schools taking part and for a copy of our special World Cup spreadsheet please visit our new Rugby World Cup page.
September 2003
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Northwich RUFC to run Schools Tag ‘Rugby World Cup’ Tournament
Northwich will be running a special World Cup Celebration in October. This will take the form of a local tag tournament and will be modeled around the Rugby World Cup knockout competition with twenty schools throughout Vale Royal taking part. Each school will be assigned one of the countries that is taking part in Australia, and will be encouraged to use this country as a topic in class for the Autumn term.
Twenty schools have been invited to enter children from Years 4 & 5 for this special tournament which will take place at Moss Farm Sports Complex on Thursday October 23rd. As with the regular summer tag competitions run at the club, both girls and boys must make up the teams, with games running at 7 minutes duration. Northwich Rugby Club will be running and managing the tournament and will provide referees, administration support and thanks to sponsorship from Cosgrove Civil Engineering Ltd, will be awarding trophies to the winners as well as certificates and special RWC T-shirts to all children participating. Local MP Mike Hall has agreed to present all the prizes.
The tournament is planned to start at 2.00 pm. sharp and finish between 4.30 & 5.00 pm. and matches will be held on the Northwich’s first team pitch. Each school will be sent a formal invitation and information pack shortly. September 2003
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Rugby World Cup’ Tournament
Later this autumn Australia will host the 5th Rugby World Cup (RWC) tournament. The opening ceremony and first match between Australia and Argentina will be held in Sydney on Friday 10th October. Twenty teams will then compete in four pools during October and November, culminating in the final, which will be held back in Sydney on Saturday 22nd November. After a disappointing performance in the last Rugby World Cup in 1999, England will be hoping to win this time around.
As October 10th approaches, the TV, newspapers and radio will be giving more and more media coverage to the event, and you will be able to follow news about the tournament by listening to the news or looking in daily newspapers. In the meantime you can go to the official RWC web site - RWC2003 - or the English RFU site for match information. If you’d like to follow the matches closely and even invent your own scores, try downloading our own RWC spreadsheet. Here you can type in the scores for each match and the spreadsheet works out points and orders the league tables. The spreadsheet has all the UK match times and locations and can be printed out if you want hard copy to show your friends. August 2003
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Sale Sharks at Moss Farm!
This Sunday (September 14th) the juniors will be taking part in the Powergen Proficiency Awards scheme. In this area the scheme is being run by Sale Sharks and to help run the scheme and inspire Northwich youngsters, Sale will be fielding a number of their first team players including England and Australian stars. Make sure you’re down on Sunday to meet and be coached by England ‘A’ players Chris Jones and Mark Cueto, Australian ‘A’ player Stuart Pinkerton, England 7’s player Magnus Lund as well as Jets players Chris Jones and Chris Mayor. Players reaching the ‘gold’ standard for their combined rugby skills will receive their certificate at the Sale vs London Irish game on 31st October in front of Sky TV cameras.
September 2003
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Vale Royal Rugby excels at Games!
Vale Royal rugby players had a great day at the Cheshire Youth Games on Saturday June 28th at Macclesfield Rugby Club. Closely fought all day Vale Royal came home as winners of the Mixed Year 5/6 Tag tournament with third place in both the girls Years 7-10 and Boys Year 8 competitions.
Macclesfield Rugby Club proved a great setting for the event with the teams participating from seven Cheshire boroughs including Chester, Crewe & Nantwich, Congleton, Ellesmere Port & Neston, Macclesfield & Warrington. End to end rugby throughout the day kept up the excitement for the players, coaches and supporting parents alike. Even VIP’s, including local MP’s Ann and Nicholas Winterton joined in to support the players in the afternoon sessions.
With all the games closely contested and with a number of draws the league positions for all competitions weren’t certain until the final games were completed. In the year 5/6 Tag event Vale Royal beat Chester by superior try difference, while the girls missed out on being runners-up only by a single try.
Thanks go to everyone for a wonderful day including of course all the players for their commitment to prepare and to work hard on the day, to the coaches and to those who helped organise the event itself.
This year Northwich Rugby Club not only provided coaching help with all age groups but players from Northwich were well represented at all levels. Well done everyone.
July 2003
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Festival best yet!
This year’s formula for the Northwich Festival proved to be a winner over the Bank Holiday weekend. The weekend started with nearly 150 diners enjoying the company of ex British Lions captain Phil Bennet. Saturday’s balmy summers’ evening attracted 500 revelers for the Bog Trotters concert and Monday’s Extravaganza saw numbers substantially higher with over 120 cars arriving at 7.30am for a massive car boot sale. More details of the event and pictures coming soon! A big thanks to everyone who took part, every little effort really helped this year, to make the event our best ever.
August 2003
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Schools Tournament is great success!
July 7th & 9th saw this years School Tag rugby competition run for Year 5 & 6 children in Winsford and Northwich schools. Over 200 children participated this year, a big increase over last year with a separate competition at the Verdin School for Winsford, with Northwich schools competing at Moss Farm. While everyone enjoyed themselves with all teams getting an equal number of matches, there were some winners and some excellent Tag rugby throughout. Thank you everyone for making both days a success, don’t forget next year and look out for a Rugby World Cup tournament for schools in October.
Winsford Pool A Winners (Overall winners) St Mary’s School Middlewich
Pool B Winners Greenfields School, Winsford
Northwich Pool A Winners (Overall winners) Hartford Riddings Lane A
Pool B Winners Moulton A
Pool C Winners Hartford Manor B
Pool D Winners Sandiway School
July 2003
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Chairman’s End of Season News
Lancs & Cheshire Leaque
There has been no league restructure and therefore Northwich and IOM Vagabonds remain in the same league. Out go Ormskirk and Oldershaw and up come Bowdon and Anselmians (Wirral.)
1st XV Team News
In line with the Chairman’s decision to cut costs to a minimum, Coach Andy Mannicom has moved on. Phil Clarke will lead a pool of home grown qualified coaches including Bryan Johnson and Mike Naylor. “Quality players who want to wear the Northwich shirt are more important than coaches”, says Sam Naylor. Things also seem to be looking upbeat for next season, according to team manager Jan Cartman, with Mike Gallimore coming over from Park and an unnamed class hooker also on his way to Northwich. Northwich have always placed a great emphasis on youth and some of last seasons senior colts should make the 1stXV grade. Good bets would be Adam Bown, Gaz Davies and Andy Joseph.
Senior Committee News
The only major changes at the recent AGM were that prominent local businessman John Cosgrove has assumed the office of President. John who has been a major sponsor of the club wishes to get more involved and shares Sam Naylor’s ambition of taking the club up a level or two.
Junior Committee News
Simon Bridle again leads the Junior Section and he is determined to introduce rugby to more and more boys and girls in the Vale Royal area. The club will build on its prestigious 'Clubmark' and is keen to get rugby onto the timetable at all our junior schools.
Pat Nancollis was guest of honor at the recent annual award ceremony at Hartford Social Club. She announced that the family is to bequeath a sum of money to set up a fund to assist parents with low income to get their children into rugby. Pat who is the Headmistress at Victoria Road said that John always wanted to help the less fortunate and something as simple as the provision of a pair of boots could give a youngster a fresh start in life.
2002-3 Awards
Pat handed out the following awards:-
Junior Colts
Most improved players:- Ivor Robinson and Steve Coborn.
Player of the year:- Will Thompson.
Senior Colts
Best Three-quarter:- Liam Shields
Best Forward:- Tom Rafferty
Most Promising Player:- Mark Parkinson,
Players Player:- Gaz Davies
Player of the Year:- Elliot Fallon.
There was also a special award for Chris Dale in recognition of gaining his International Cap for England.
1st XV Player of the Year:-Steve Campbell
This was the first time in the clubs history that a player has won it 2 years in succession.
2nd XV Player of the Year:- Jason Christie.
3rd XV Player of the Year:- Tony Heaton.
Most Promising Player:- Daniel Davey.
John Finch Memorial Trophy:- Gavin Venter.
Tim Wilding Junior Trophy:- Simon Bridle.
Club Member of the Year:- Kevin Jones.
May 2003
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England Under 18’s do great job
Chris Dale and fellow Northwich lad Mike Breen did England proud in the recent internationals with a win against Ireland and a draw against Wales. A 12-8 loss against Scotland just cost them a chance to win the championship finishing third in the end. Well done. Here’s Chris & Mike in their England shirts at the England vs Wales game.
April 2003
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Club wins Clubmark award
Northwich Rugby Club became the first rugby club in Cheshire to win Sport England’s Clubmark award in April. During the last few months club officials have been working hard to complete the paperwork necessary and were presented the award by English RFU president Graham Cattermole at Chester Rugby club on Monday April 7th. See also the SportCheshire web site for details of Clubmark. Well done team! April 2003
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Festival of Sport
Northwich Rugby club will this year be teaming up with DAN, Vale Royal Borough Council and Cheshire County Council to expand the annual Festival of Sports into a larger more extravagant social event. Details of the event planned over the August Bank holiday event can be found at the Festival’s Web site by clicking this link.
April 2003
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Spring Ball - Great night was had by all
The Spring Ball again turned out to a big success on Saturday 8th March. Look out soon for more details of the date for a Valentines Night next year. Here are members of the club enjoying this years event.
March 2003
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Juniors get 30 minutes of fame at Twickenham
Nearly 40 boys and girls aged between 9 and 11 from the Northwich RUFC Junior section took part in the curtain raiser before the recent England vs Scotland 6 Nations International on March 22nd. Thanks to Cheshire’s Rugby Development Offcer Steve Peters and Northwich Head coach Phil Clarke, the youngsters not only had an opportunity to play on the hallowed turf before the main match itself but formed the guard of honour for the players as they sang the national anthems. "I have been to Twickenham before, but to step on the pitch is a completely different experience” said Phil Clarke. “ It was an absolutely magnificient day - and the children enjoyed it too! "You could see the change come over their faces at times. They gave a demonstration of Tag rugby, which is straightforward enough, but there were 10,000 people in the ground and, even then, the international players were warming up and chatting to them. "It was day they will never forget". The children taking part came from all over the Vale Royal area including Northwich, Hartford, Sandiway, Cuddington, Weaverham and Winsford. More pictures will be available here soon.
The club would like to thank both the Royal Bank of Scotland, Calor Gas and of course the English RFU for making the trip possible and for providing Six Nations Rugby shirts (RBS) and polo shirts (Calor Gas) to ensure this was a day the youngsters would never forget.
March 2003
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Chris guides England to Victory
Chris Dale led England Under 18’s to victory in his first game as captain but Luke Cousins was the hero as England Under 18s Group Clubs beat Scotland A Under 18s 21-3 at Berwick-upon-Tweed on Sunday 6th April. Bury St Edmonds and Eastern Counties stand-off Cousins scored a try and also kicked three penalties and a conversion as England warmed up for this month's Four Nations series in Scotland with a convincing win.
Michael Breen of Winnington Park scored a last-minute try as England triumphed.
"We are very pleased with the team's display," said team administrator and selector Adrian Gilbert. "Our defence had to work hard at times and did very well."
England now face Wales in their opening Four Nations contest on April 19.
March 2003
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Best Day ever at Cheshire Cup Festivals
The Junior sides had their best ever day on Sunday at the Cheshire Cup to bring home silver in four of the five age groups played. The Under 9’s were Cup winners, U7 & U11 were tournament runners-up and the Under 12 were plate competition winners. A great performance everyone. Well done players, coaches and parents for their long suffering support across a blustery and cold Cheshire.
Here are the Under 9’s with their trophy received at Wirral Rugby Club on Sunday March 9th. March 2003
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 DALE'S IN CHARGE Latest News!
NORTHWICH'S No.8 Christopher Dale will captain the England Under 18 team that plays Scotland Under 18 A at Berwick-upon-Tweed this coming Sunday April 6 (1.30pm).
Dale is joined in the starting line-up by his Cheshire team-mate Michael Breen. Yorkshire have a strong presence, with three players in the team and three on the bench.
The England 18-Group Club will be team (1-15): Dylan Hartley (Crowburgh and Sussex), Simon Mabin (Newton Abbot and Devon), James Armitage (Leeds Tykes and Yorkshire), Alex Rae (Barkers Butts and Warwickshire), Brin Walker (Chipping Norton and Oxfordshire), Matthew Cook (Saracens and East Midlands), James Burns (Gateshead and Durham), Christopher Dale (Northwich and Cheshire), Robbie Westworth (Otley and Yorkshire), Luke Cousins (Bury St Edmonds and Eastern Counties), Michael Breen (Winninghton Park and Cheshire), Phillip Ellis (Saracens and East Midlands), Paul Greenwood (Sheffield and Yorkshire), Nathan Burchell (Old Salts and North Midlands), Dominic Hitchcock (Bath and Somerset).
Replacements: Mitchell Hulme (Moseley and Staffordshire), Richard Blaze (Moseley and North Midlands), David Ward (Bristol and Somerset), Iain Gordon (Leeds Tykes and Yorkshire), Craig Faulks (Leicester and Leicestershire), Steven Jay (Northampton and Eastern Counties), Tom Lawy (Wellington and Somerset), Mark Livesey (Chippenham and Dorset&Wilts), Michael Hague (Leeds Tykes and Yorkshire), Benjamin Hoyles (Northampton and Eastern Counties), Luke Cooper (West Park Bramhope and Yorkshire). March 2003
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Tag coaching huge success in local schools
This week Northwich presented three local primary schools with rugby balls and tag equipment. All the schools had been receiving tag rugby training over a number of weeks and the equipment will help the staff continue rugby coaching during normal curriculum activites. Well done to all the Northwich coaches who have given their own time to provide the coaching and to the nearly 200 boys and girls who had a great time learning a new sport.
February 2003
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Northwich coach Ken Houghton presenting Hartford Riddings Lane School with Rugby balls and tag equipment.
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Chris wins England place!
After a gruelling round of training sesions and trial matches Chris Dale has won his place in the Under 18 England squad. This means Chris, a local Northwich lad, educated at Hartford High School, who has played for Northwich Rugby club for many years will get an England cap later this season playing against the other home nations of Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Congratulations to Chris and of course his family, Dad Ian and to Northwich Rugby club - keep up the good coaching everyone!
February 2003
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Five Northwich players in Cheshire Development Squad
This season five Northwich players have made it into the Cheshire RFU U17 Development Squad. Well done lads, good luck for further representative honours. For more details see:- http://www.cheshirerfu.co.uk/Clubs%20Development%20Squad.htm
January 2003
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Northwich Girls get International coaching
Five of Northwich's RUFC youngsters received top grade coaching recently from the USA Under 23's Ladies team at a coaching clinic run by the UK's Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW). Girls rugby in the North West received a boost recently with the appointment of a dedicated development officer for Greater Manchester and with the USA Under 23's Ladies team currently touring England, it was a great chance for the youngsters to meet the players and sharpen their skills. All the girls play regulary for the Northwich RUFC club in mixed junior sides and usually are coached alongside boys in their age groups. However at the clinic they joined 60 other girls from the Cheshire, Merseyside & Greater Manchester areas for expert tuition from the USA team, coaches from the RFUW and players from the Sale Sharks Premiership Rugby club. Everyone enjoyed the experience, Sale's hospitality and an exciting match between Sale Sharks and fellow premiership side Newcastle Falcons later that evening.
Northwich RUFC welcome boys and girls of all ages to join the club and to enjoy playing rugby against other teams in the area. If you are interested just come down to Moss Farm on a Sunday morning or ring Phil Clarke on 01606 781441. January 2003
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Australia 
Argentina 
Ireland 
France 
Scotland 
Japan 
USA 
South Africa 
England 
New Zealand 
Wales 
Italy 
Canada 
