Pearl's Corner - 11/03/22

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Pearl's Corner - 11/03/22

A WARM WELCOME TO WIMBLEDON RFC

Once more we are delighted to welcome everyone associated with Wimbledon RFC back to Knole Paddock for what is always a competitive encounter.

The Dons can claim a proud history and have made a major contribution towards the implementation and furtherance of our sport.

Rugby was first played on Wimbledon Common in 1865 under this club’s original name of Wimbledon Hornets. They were one of the original 19 clubs that met in 1871 to form what is now the Rugby Football Union.

Wimbledon members were intimately involved with the RFU in those early years and one of their number, H J Graham, rates a special mention.  It was he as Hon Treasurer who received, and acted upon, a letter from Calcutta Rugby Club promising £60 to create a trophy “of Indian workmanship” so that club could be remembered in rugby history;  hence the origins of The Calcutta Cup.

The Dons, renamed as Wimbledon RFC, played on until they disbanded in 1914, but reformed in 1927 and remained on the Common right up to 1987.  They then moved to their present home at Beverley Meads in 1987 in preparation for the introduction of leagues rugby.  The Ladies club was formed in 1990, followed seven years later by the setting up of their mini section.

Wimbledon spent their first four leagues seasons in Surrey 2, but gained promotions in all of the following four, thus finding themselves at Level 5 starting in 1996/97.  Thereafter they have oscillated between Levels 5 and 6, with one stellar 2016/17 season when they finished second and beat Dings Crusaders in a playoff match to gain their promotion to the National Leagues.  Despite nine wins and 50 points earned they came back down again but continue to be one of the strongest of all Level 5 clubs.

Our own one on one record shows we have been in the same division for six terms before this one and have six wins each.  Curiously in all of those six seasons both sides have won once each.  With the Dons winning in November it’s up to today’s Oaks to continue that sequence.

The statistics signify two well matched clubs that started locking horns in 2000, and again today there is every reason to anticipate another close match with superior skills on display.               

Howard Pearl

  

Other London & South East Premier Division matches being played today:

Brighton v Tring                                CS Stags v Westcombe Park

Havant v Hertford                            North Walsham v Tunbridge Wells

Sidcup v Maidenhead Sutton & Epsom v Dorking

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The 2022 Club Together Kent Cycle Challenge, Sunday 26th June

Last year, 180 riders signed up for our Mid-Kent Club Together Cycle Challenge and raised an incredible £40,000 for Kent Spoon & the rugby clubs that took part. The highest total in any one year.  Needless to say we were delighted!

This year, the ride is back in West Kent and you can register now by visiting wwwclubtogetherkent.co.uk

The 100 mile route passes through Aylesford Bulls, Vigo, Dartford Valley, Swanley, Sidcup, Old Colfeians, Beckenham, Beccehamian, Bromley/Park House, Westcombe Park, Sevenoaks, Edenbridge & Tonbridge Juddians.  In addition, there will be 65 mile Northern and Southern routes along with some shorter distances of 30-35 miles.

Sponsorship raised by riders will be split 50/50 between Club & Kent Spoon with Gift Aid going to Kent Spoon. We'd love clubs to try to put out at least 10 riders if they can, with each rider raising a minimum of £100 in sponsorship.

We look forward, in anticipation, to your support in helping us to raise money for our projects in the County for disadvantaged children.  Our hope is that there will be a similar number of riders taking part in the challenge this year.

Best regards

 Club Together Kent committee

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Bowman’s Blog - 18/02/2022

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Bowman’s Blog - 18/02/2022

Well, what an exciting weekend of rugby ahead of us, with one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures of the season………. the A21 Derby!! . As the 1s meet Tunbridge Wells at the Paddock, the 2s unfortunately don’t play TW, but have another fixture against familiar opponents, Sidcup. No match for the Gents this week.

Training this week was disrupted on Tuesday by the terrible weather we have been having, but a good Thursday session took place, with both teams ready for the challenges ahead.

Last week saw us serve up two good victories; the Firsts defeating a gritty Sutton & Epsom to secure the bonus point win and the Seconds successfully beating Old Alleynians away from home. It was pleasing in the S&E game to produce some exciting attacking rugby, particularly in the second half, but we made too many errors for our liking. The boys know we need to return to the accuracy levels of a few games ago, to manage some very tough fixtures ahead - the TW game being one of them.

Tunbridge Wells will arrive at the Paddock looking for revenge for a heavy defeat against us in the reverse fixture and having come off the back of their best result of the season- beating league leaders Hertford. They will be highly motivated and present us with a really tough challenge. We need the points to stay in the mix at the top of the league, but it is wrong to focus on anything other than important details required to deliver a good performance.

Despite the weather forecast, we are expecting a big and boisterous crowd for the game on Saturday. All supporters are welcome, with the added attraction of a gourmet burger van serving delicious hot food to warm you up. The 2s kick off at 1.30, the 1s at 2.30. Look forward to seeing you there.

COYO

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Bowman's Blog - 11/02/22

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Bowman's Blog - 11/02/22

After the tension and excitement last week of our trip to local rivals Westcombe Park, this Saturday sees the Firsts return to the Paddock to play Sutton & Epsom and the Seconds visit Alleynians. The Gents welcome Cranbrook to Plymouth Drive for what should be a competitive fixture.

The 1s and 2s will be looking to build on good victories over WP. Both games were fiercely competitive but in the end the Seconds outscored their opponents 7 tries to 2- avenging their only previous league defeat of the season - whilst the Firsts edged a thriller by just 2 points.

The visit of Sutton & Epsom presents a tough fixture. You may remember the Oaks, with a very quick scoring start, came out on top 31 - 10 in the reverse fixture, but the Surrey team had good passages of play, using their big strong pack to constantly threaten the gain line. This week’s game will be a real challenge, for which we will need to be at our best to win.

With our 4 point victory last week, we are now sitting in third place in the league table as the teams around us secured their 5-pointers. We have 8 games remaining in the season, with S&E and then Tunbridge Wells at home next week, the two games remaining before the players have a break at the end of February.

The boys have trained well as usual, with the focus being on match preparation for Saturday as well as keeping an eye on the inevitable wear and tear on the players at this point in the season. That said we are well set to give our all for the two tough matches this weekend.

Weather doesn’t look too bad so please come to support our teams. It will be much appreciated.

Adam

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Ladies Lunch next Saturday - 12th Feb, 2022!

Next Saturday our 1st XV will be hosting Sutton and Epsom at the Paddock. It is also Ladies Day and with a few remaining seats left, why not come down to the club early and enjoy a spot of lunch before watching our boys doing what they do best on the field! Click the image above to go to the booking page or click here!

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Bowman's Blog - 04/02/22

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Bowman's Blog - 04/02/22

A big weekend ahead for the senior squad. Last weekend saw the Firsts continue our winning run, scoring six tries, to win comfortably at Brighton. We have had some chastening experiences over the years on the South Coast, so to win by a 29 point margin and secure the 5 league points was really satisfying. The Seconds travelled to Bishop Stortford in a friendly but we were unfortunately beaten by a very good team.

This week sees a double header away at Westcombe Park. The Seconds only league defeat this season was by WP, so a victory is imperative to strengthen our league position. The Firsts play an opposition who are on a very good run of form, winning 6 out of their last 7 matches. With Oaks winning our last 7 games, it is certainly a match comprising two in-form teams.

Whilst we are pleased with our form and league position, including boasting the meanest defence of all London & SE teams, we know we will need to be at our very best to overcome a Westcombe Park team with some very good players. The boys have been very focused in training this week, and there is always an extra edge when preparing for a local derby.

Team selections. The 2s have a very strong unit out, including the return of ex-1s captain and semi-retiree Stu Coleman. The 1s team selection Matt McRae and Drew Narbey-Nimeti return to the starting pack, with Charlie Naismith & Tommy Morris as replacements. Behind the scrum James Fotheringham and Nigel Gumbleton start in midfield, and Jonny Short returns to the starting XV.
Conditions look reasonable for Saturday, but we hope it will be a feast of rugby. Just think…… you will have time to watch the 2s (KO 1pm) and the 1s (KO 2pm), jump in your car and make the short journey back to watch Scotland v England at the club (4.45pm). Don’t worry you can watch a recording of Ireland v Wales later in the evening (midnight zzzzzz 😆)

Please do come and support the team if you can. The players really appreciate the Oaks’ travelling supporters!

Adam

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Double Header!

This weekend Sevenoaks 1st and 2nd XV will be travelling to local friends Westcombe Park for a postponed double header from before Christmas. Please do make your way to support our squad in what promises to be two fantastic and strongly contested games!!

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Bowman's Blog - 28/01/22

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Bowman's Blog - 28/01/22

What a fantastic weekend of rugby last Saturday despite a week of disruption for the senior squad with Covid making our usual preparations nigh on impossible. However we were still able to utilise our great strength in depth and field two very strong teams against Sidcup at the Paddock. The Seconds won a tight match whilst the Firsts ran out comfortable winners against a resilient visiting team. Credit goes to all of the players who stepped up and the coaching staff who did a great job while I was watching the live feed in ‘almost real time’ from the comfort of my lounge😀.

We have been pleased to get back to a relatively normal preparations this week, with the boys back to training on Tuesday and Thursday, in readiness for the First XV trip to Brighton and the Seconds away to Bishops Stortford. Our matches down in Sussex are tough and feisty affairs, with Brighton always having a big vocal following. Although this weeks‘ opposition have not had the best of runs recently, we know they have some dangerous players. If we are not at our best then we will pay the penalty.

Speaking of penalties, we did suffer through ill-discipline last week against Sidcup, particularly at the breakdown. We have worked on this, recognising the need to be smarter and working out the approach of the referee during the game.

Those of you following the league table will see we sit second, with Hertford above us and Dorking below, all on 64 points. If North Walsham win their game in hand with a bonus point, they too would be on 64 points. Exciting stuff! Looking at the fixture list we will be playing these teams in the run in towards the end of the season, but we are not thinking about that at the moment. We have some very difficult matches before then and are only focusing on the next game ……..and that’s Brighton.

As ever, any supporters able to make the hours trip down to Waterhall Road will be much appreciated by the players. The weather looks dry and a bit warmer so we will do our best to deliver some exciting rugby.

Best

Adam

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Oaks Curry Club - 4th February, 2022

Following last year’s lockdown success, the 4th February sees the return of the Oaks Curry Club. Order your curry online here and sit back while members of the Senior Squad deliver your food direct to your door. Order before 9pm on 3rd February - Only £10 per head

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