Pearl's Corner - 22/04/22

Comment

Pearl's Corner - 22/04/22

A WARM WELCOME TO HERTFORD RFC

Today we afford a traditional SRFC warm welcome to all players, officials and supporters of Hertford RFC as they visit Knole Paddock for just the second time.

This is a special day for us as we bask in the knowledge that Adam’s 1st XV squad has gained a promotion unprecedented in our history. However we still have to clinch top spot unequivocally and today’s opposition also have their eyes on a potential promotion slot. So there is much to play for by both sides.   

To add more spice to today’s match we have played Hertford three times now, with one win, one loss and one draw, as well as 49 points for and 50 against.  So this promises to be a cracking fixture with which to break the deadlock and close an exceptionally competitive and successful season for both clubs.     

Old Hertfordians RFC was established in 1932, resulting from the desire of Hertford GS alumni wishing to continue playing rugby after leaving school.  In those days they were a nomadic bunch playing on six different grounds up to the end of 1949.

They then moved to their present home in Hoe Lane by purchasing that land which, on reflection, was the canniest move they could have made.  

Facilities at the start were pretty rudimentary but in 1966 their existing pavilion was built and in 1972, with fewer and fewer Old boys coming through they renamedthemselves Hertford RFC. 

When the professional era dawned in 1995, Hertford “committed to achieve a level of management and professional coaching necessary to sustain a position as one of the largest rugby clubs in Hertfordshire, and to offer comprehensive facilities to junior and senior players alike”.  Such words can easily be repeated for SRFC, so we share identical ambitions for our respective counties and beyond.

Level 5 status was achieved in 2001 and then three seasons later promotion to Level 4.  Hertford haven’t been lower than Level 5 since and, in line with our own modus operandi, are representative of what modern rugby clubs can aspire to. 

If Oaks win today this would be our 16th successive win, which will equal the record set by the 1st XV in September ’95 and which covered three separate seasons - three wins in Spring ’94, our “perfect” season of 94/95 and the first match of ‘95/96.  Records are made to be broken so if we surmount today’s considerable obstacle we stand on the threshold of rewriting our own history.  This particular contemplated landmark brings to mind our Club’s ultimate unbeaten streak in the last century and fashioned by an unlikely and unheralded group of “social” players.  Their tilt at history can be read elsewhere in the programme.

Howard Pearl

 

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

  Brighton v CS Stags1863​North Walsham v Maidenhead

  Sidcup v Havant​Sutton & Epsom v Westcombe Park 

  Tunbridge Wells v Dorking​   ​Wimbledon v Tring

Comment

1 Comment

CHARLIE’S ANGELS?

Our current all conquering 1st XV have achieved unprecedented heights this season and are on the brink of equalling our top side’s record League winning streak set over 25 years ago.  We were playing at a lower level than now which makes today’s potential milestone even more commendable, but records stand whenever achieved and are there to be broken.

Thinking of such a record those of us longer in the tooth than most can reminisce on the most unlikely of similar achievements created by one of our lower teams also 25 years ago.  In those days Sevenoaks RFC fielded six sides every week and on 1st February, 1997 our Extra A XV (the 4th team of the 6) lost to Cranbrook thus ending an epic 42 matches unbeaten run stretching back almost two years to March 1995.

With few if any players at that level training it was up to the Captain and a few trusted lieutenants to pull together a motley crew and send them out to battle each week.

Charlie Marchetti, in those days probably the only rugby player of Italian origin we knew but speaking in a broad Scottish accent, was the inspirational Captain of his sidedespite only  jetting in almost every Friday evening from his work in Milan. 

In Charlie’s first report he said “our mission was to enjoy rugby” and he carried that mantra throughout his tenure.  Familiar names of yesteryear like Russ Goater, Alex Sherman and Richard Ewence crop up in Charlie’s extensive reviews while of current luminaries Billy Belither, Roger McKerlie and Paul Vizard also receive due praise.

He has a full paragraph on Rob Pearl who “first and foremost deserves special mention as unsung hero.  Only through his persistence and patience were we able to field a side consistently each Saturday, despite the inevitable changes since selection”.

Of the non players, Chris Birch “has to be recognised as a cornerstone to our triumph.  In his weekly role as “God” he was instrumental in helping to keep the important nucleus of our team together.”  Charlie was also extremely proud that President Peter Hunt and ChairmanAlan Townsend showed such a keen regard in the team’s performances.

It is also so heartening that the majority of those mentioned above are still with us in fact and in spirit.  

Charlie also wrote: “One consistent factor throughout has been the infrastructure of our Rugby Club which we could rely on to provide the framework where we have built our success.”  So in many ways plus ca change, plus la meme chose as Mike Wooldridge and Trevor Nicholson and the present Committee are equally proud of every team that represents the Mighty Oaks. We are living with head spinning success these days and with a history of inclusiveness that is the envy of our fellow rugby clubs. 

There is no better way to close than quote Charlie’s finalsign off after his unbeaten season of 1995/96:  Thank you for your friendship and support – FORZA! 

Played 42 ​Won 41​Drawn 1​Lost 0​       Points For 1,576     Against 390

   

1 Comment

Comment

You asked, we're delivering! RUGBY CAMPS ARE HERE!!

After years of requests, we are finally delivering the fun and rugby excellence seen during the rugby season in holiday camps!

The Mighty Oaks Holiday Rugby Camp Programme is aimed at U7 - U15 (Current Year 2 - Year 10) girls & boys and provides fun, organised and educational activities for all players, utilising our experienced and qualified Mighty Oaks Holiday Rugby Camp coaching team.

Click here for more information!

Comment

Bowman's Blog - 08/04/22

Comment

Bowman's Blog - 08/04/22

Well here we go. I am going to start by saying we approach this weekend like any other. The senior squad travels to Maidenhead for the penultimate games of the season, whilst the Acorns play local rivals Westcombe Park in their Cup Final, held at Maidstone RFC. Our 1s and 2s preparation this week has been focused on meeting a strong Berkshire opponent, whose first team in particular has seen a significant improvement in results as the season has progressed. And in the case of the Acorns, I think every Oaks supporter will be urging them on to beat Combe!

All that said, I can’t do my blog without mentioning and being excited that the First XV will be promoted and crowned Champions if we secure a 5 point win on Saturday. Cliche alert…….we have to play the game, not the occasion😀, and if we are anything other than at the top of our game, we will not capture the victory. Maidenhead has some very good players so we will need to be at the level we showed last week when scoring 9 tries against Tring, to be sure to win. Yes it has been a great season, but the job is not done.

The brand of rugby we are playing is as a result of hard work by the players and coaches, honed on the training ground over the season (and previous seasons) and has involved the whole squad contributing. For all 24 games and the 2 to come, we rely on ‘One Squad’ to get us over the line. The boys are focused on Maidenhead and will do their best to bring the win, promotion and champions crown to the Paddock.

A bit of a journey round the M25 and M4 to our Thames Valley hosts, but all support will be welcome. The weather looks ok, so where else would you want to go on a Saturday afternoon! Kick off at 3pm.
COYO
Adam.

PS- Please get down to Maidstone on Sunday to support the Acorns, who as I may have mentioned, we would like to beat Westcombe Park!!!

Comment

Comment

Best Rugby Club and now Best Town too....!

We have all known it for some time, but The Times have just confirmed that Sevenoaks is the best place to live in the Southeast, thanks in part to Sevenoaks Rugby Club and our ‘thriving youth academy’ - just one part of our excellent rugby provision.

Click HERE to read the article!

Comment

1 Comment

Acorns - Cup Final - Sunday 10th April 2022

Sunday 10th April 2022
The Mote, Willow Way

CUP Final: 4.00pm

Sevenoaks     v     Westcombe Park

*** From little Acorns grow old OAKS***

I have often been asked why the Sevenoaks Veterans team are called the "Acorns" and whilst the story has changed over many years it seems it is because once you reach the dizzy heights of Vets Rugby you like to roll back the years and pretend you can still play with the skill and pace of younger days!

Most of us started our rugby through mini and junior ages at some point although for some of us there are only black and white photos to prove this and nothing on social media! Vets Rugby is officially from the age of 35 and you can play for as long as the body is able which is usually shorter than the mind thinks it can! You usually find the changing room is over flowing with tape and deep heat and strapping the old muscles can sometimes take longer than the warm up! Jack Mortassagne has played 25 seasons for the Vets with Rob Thurnell a close 23 seasons! I'll let you do the maths..

The Acorns is a very special part of Sevenoaks Rugby and you will find some big names on the honours list like Trevor, Woolybags, Howard, Roger and the man credited with starting it back in 1975 Peter Hunt (deceased) The longest serving Captain/Manager was Alasdair Bray from 96/97 to 03/04 for 8 seasons and his reign saw the Acorns compete in the "Evergreen cup" reaching the finals a number of times but failing to win the main cup, although we were plate cup winners in 2010 (see photos).

There have been many tours over the years visiting France, Spain, Georgia, Belgium, Holland and even Bahamas and South Africa! The touring and social side is such a big part of vets rugby and there has been a strong representation at international and national competitions with a number of Sevenoaks Vets representing Kent at last years National vets wooden spoon tournament - Kent crowned the winners!

More recently the Acorns have enjoyed enormous success in the Spitfire Kent Vets competition, reaching the finals day 5 out of the last 6 years and wining the plate once and the main cup twice - hoping to make it a hattrick on Sunday! And whilst the pace of the game is slightly slower than the 1st team! There is no less passion or desire to win and now and again you will see a piece of skill as if we were in our 20's again! The lads would be grateful for any support on Sunday and if you previously played and miss the smell of deep heat and the beers after a good game then please contact me, we are always looking for more people to discuss "How good we used to be!"

We are always looking for new players - if you are interested, please contact:

Miles Hayward

mileshayward70@gmail.com

1 Comment

Comment

The Airborne Custodian Association

At the lunch on Saturday Gary Tootill of the under 15’s arranged a table for The Airborne Custodian Association, based in Eltham & Chislehurst. Based at The Woodcroft club Eltham, commemorating 40 years since the Falklands war, 2nd April 1982.

Retired Lt Colonel Gerry Porter MBE, gave his account of landing on the beach on the Falkland Islands and his personal experiences of that war.

It was a real pleasure to listen to the experience of Lt Colonel Porter - He had the whole room captivated and his speech ended with a standing ovation.

We thank you for your words and time on Saturday and above all your service to Queen and Country.

Comment

Bowman's Blog - 01/04/22

Comment

Bowman's Blog - 01/04/22

Well I hope you have all recovered! What a weekend of rugby last Saturday, with two fantastic displays at Dorking, whilst the Gents lost out in a close encounter against Canterbury RFC. At Dorking’s Big Field it was a very special day with the 2s fighting superbly to draw 38 all, as the 1s edged out the league leaders to take top slot. Both games were a great advert for Level 5 rugby. Thanks again to our welcoming hosts.
Of course last week is behind us, and we are now focused on this Saturday’s fixtures. The 2s were due to welcome Bournemouth to the Paddock but unfortunately they have pulled out and we could not find a replacement, the Gents visit Tonbridge Juddians lll, while the 1s play Tring at home.

The Firsts will remember a very physical game away at Tring, so any basking in the glory of sitting in first place in the league and not being at our best, could mean last week’s win counts for nothing. The boys were pretty battered and bruised after last weekend, so we had a pool recovery session on Tuesday and then a good run out on Thursday ready for Saturday.

We picked up one or two injuries, and to keep it fresh there are a few changes to the 1s with. Alex Rolfe starts for the unavailable James Simmons, Drew Narbey starts for the unavailable Tommy Morris. With both Jonny Short & Awa Morris injured from the weekend Drew Forrester gets a start after impressing in the 2nd XV last weekend. George Flatman & James Fotheringham join Charlie Naismith on the bench.

We have three games left in the season, which I am sure you all agree has been an exciting one, as we are currently on a 13 match unbeaten run, and know if we win our remaining games we will have achieved a promotion slot. That said our focus is only on Tring who have some very good players and are a well coached side, we must be on the top of our game!

The boys were really spurred on by the loud and substantial following at Dorking, it made a massive difference. We hope you can turn out in big numbers again on Saturday to cheer the Oaks on. Sun lotion not needed this weekend I am afraid, but it will be dry, if a bit chilly. We are well prepared as ever and will do our best to entertain and maintain our winning run.


COYO
Adam

Comment

Pearl's Corner - 01/04/22

Comment

Pearl's Corner - 01/04/22

A WARM WELCOME TO TRING RFC

For just the second time we welcome to Knole Paddock everyone involved with Tring RFC. The first occasion was just before Christmas 2019 so, with everything that has happened in between, this will be a first time visit for some.  It’s a bit of a stretch navigating the M25 all the way from Hertfordshire, but we hope that all players, officials, supporters and alickadoos travel safely and at the end take back good memories from our area of the Garden of England.   

As observed in previous programmes, leagues rugby denies clubs various chances to indulge in some local derbies, but it certainly allows the opportunity to meet and fraternise with others who we would not have considered playing in the old days.

Tring won’t mind being called a comparatively young club, having been formed just 58 years ago in 1964, the brainchild of two London commuter residents who wanted to spread the rugby gospel in their home town.  Their first pitch was a piece of pasture land and their changing rooms an open ended cowshed.  For those of us who remember pre 1978 this brings to mind our own basic facilities before our present Clubhouse was erected.

Tring’s ground was compulsorily purchased in the early 70s to alleviate the housing problem in this expanding community.  However the unlikely figure of Dorian Williams, the then well known show jumper and BBC commentator came to the rescue with a philanthropic gesture by including rugby in his community sports centre which included football, athletics, squash, hockey and bowls.  The grand opening in April ’75, at Cow Lane which is an appropriate name considering the description of their original home,  was embellished with a match against an International XV full of leading names of the time.

There were further clubhouse facilities expansions in 1985 and 1989 which allowed for the increase in playing numbers especially in the junior age groups.

When the Club was still in its infancy the enlightened thinking of Mark Ottway, an All Black triallist, international tennis player and local resident, encouraged a regular junior team to be introduced.  Taking its players from state schools, they played against local rugby schools week in week out.  This was unique to the area, also possibly the UK, and helped in no small way to gel the whole club.

With regard to the RFU leagues, Tring made a stratospheric ascent from the Herts/Middlesex leagues in the early noughties by gaining four consecutive promotions and just missing out a on a fifth with a playoff loss to Thanet Wanderers.  However they remedied that blip the next season, gaining promotion to Level 5 in 2007/08 where they have resided ever since.

As with our set up, their mini and junior sections are integral to the Club’s success and wellbeing.  The “One Club” mantra is alive and well at both Tring and Sevenoaks rugby clubs.

The match here before Christmas 2019 was a tense 7-6 win for the home side.  The first Covid lockdown stopped the return leg that season, but we did pay our first visit to Cow Lane last December where we were treated most hospitably.  The home side won the first half but Oaks eased away in the second to record a hard but well earned win.

As we have noted before there are no easy matches in London & South East Premier and our fixture today will be a skillful sporting contest played between two strong sides.  During our match there will also be some Oaks supporting spectators keeping a watchful Twitter eye on events unfolding not a million miles from Norwich…..

   

Howard Pearl

  

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

Brighton v  Hertford                          Havant v CS Stags

North Walsham v Dorking                 Sidcup v Westcombe Park

Sutton & Epsom v Maidenhead         Wimbledon v Tunbridge Wells

Comment

Comment

Global Rugby Family

A great update from Hugo who has helped to extend the Oaks family within South Africa whilst playing for Silvertree RFC (SRFC as well!) - Our cultural exchange around the world continues - one big global rugby family! We look forward to hosting you back at the Paddock in the not too distant future!

Comment

Comment

Top of the league.....!

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨

It was a mammoth tussle for the 1s and 2s at Dorking. The 2s recovered well to secure a hard fought 38-38 draw. 👏 The Gents 🎩 came away with a narrow 15-8 loss 😢

In the table topping main event, it was the Mighty Oaks who came through a hell of a battle to pip Dorking Rugby Club to take top spot in the league!!!!! 😍🤩🥳🤯

It was the one club ethos that oozed from the boys in navy and gold under the Surrey sun ☀️😍
Kudos to Dorking Rugby Club who offered the best of tests and filled their ground to make for an electric atmosphere! 🏟👌🍺

Three games to go….

Comment

Bowman’s Blog - 25/03/22

Comment

Bowman’s Blog - 25/03/22

Our three senior teams return to action this Saturday, after a week off last weekend. The Gents welcome Canterbury III to the Paddock whilst the 1s and 2s both travel to Dorking for what will be tough fixtures. The 2s are having a strong season and will certainly be tested at Dorking, who have good depth in their senior squad. It should be a tight match.
For the Firsts, this is a huge game. Dorking sit first in the league table, with Oaks only two points behind in second place. Victory for either team, at ‘The Big Field’ will go a long (but not quite all the) way to cementing promotion at the end of the season. Oaks’ supporters will remember the pulsating battle at the Paddock earlier in the season when Ben Adams slotted the winning penalty with the last kick of the game, to win 8-6. We are expecting another fierce encounter, with Dorking looking to bring their power game to the occasion. We know they will be formidable but also welcoming hosts.
We have a number of players now back fit and available for selection, to add to the squad who delivered an excellent 6-try victory over Wimbledon two weeks ago.
We will need to be on our A-game this weekend and hope to be able to play some great attacking rugby on what looks like a superb day, weather wise. The boys have, as ever, prepared well this week and are looking forward to playing the league leaders.
We are hearing there will be a big Oaks following, including the fast filling up supporters coach that leaves the club at 1pm, making the shortish trip to Dorking. The players are relishing the game and the support they will get.
Here’s to a great weekend, with the 2s kicking off at 2pm and the 1s at 3pm.
COYO
Adam

Comment

Comment

Proud of our Girl!

Last weekend our very own, Tori Sellors (she has moved on and is playing for her college now, but we are still claiming her as ours) represented England U20 against Scotland and delivered a fantastic result - a convincing win of 38-7.

Be sure to head to the clubhouse this Saturday for the start of the Womens Six Nations - at 1200 Scotland will be hosting England at the DAM Health Stadium in the opening game (Tori will be there before we know it!) and Ireland vs. Wales later in the day with a 1645 kick off!

Comment

Bowman's Blog - 11/03/22

Comment

Bowman's Blog - 11/03/22

Having banked the air miles from our successful trip last Saturday to the far-flung corners of Norfolk, it’s back to business at the Paddock this weekend for the 1s and 2s. The senior squad made the overnight trip to North Walsham for the first game after a week off, to deliver a very controlled performance, winning 13 -5. This was the 11th win on the bounce for the First team, maintaining second place in the league table.

On Saturday, the 2nds face a good Bury St Edmunds team whilst the Firsts play Wimbledon. Both will be tough games, with the 1s looking to avenge a narrow defeat when playing the SW London team earlier in the programme. Wimbledon are the only team to stop Oaks scoring a try this season, and despite a recent dip in form, will present a serious challenge at set-pieces and in wide areas in particular.

As usual the focus of the boys is on the next game only. It would be a mistake to start to think about the exciting looking fixture against top of the table Dorking in two weeks’ time. We have 5 games remaining and sit 6 points ahead of Hertford and 2 behind Dorking though any discussion on the “P word” in the dressing room is banned! In this league, as I have said on numerous occasions, anyone can beat anyone, so our focus is only on the Wimbledon game.

Saturday looks set to be dry and a blazingly hot 9 degrees, so please come down to support the 1s and 2s who both kick off at 3pm. Both games promise to be as appetising as the Eat The Farm burgers being served up by the visiting caterer. We will do our best to serve up a feat of rugby too!!


Comment