Leighton Buzzard RFC v Belsize Park RFC
For the final time this season, I would like to welcome you all to today’s pre-match lunch and match vs Belsize Park RFC. An especially warm welcome to our guests and visitors from Belsize Park for making the trek up the M1 to be with us.
We have a feast of rugby today, with not just the 1st XV in action, but also our Women’s team and our 2nd XV taking to the field, against Belsize Park Women and Ampthill 5th/Vets team respectively. I wish them all well!
Today sees the last home game in charge for our Senior Coach, Tom Mowbray, who, as some may know already has been offered a role at his old club, Tring RFC which is the natural step onward and upward for him. His 5 years at Leighton Buzzard RFC have seen him lead the team and the club to that incredible high of the 2018/2019 season, when not only did the 1st XV win their league but they also won that incredible final in the Midlands Intermediate Cup here at home defeating Malvern RFC.
Tom leaves with our very best wishes and will always be welcome here at Leighton Buzzard.
Tom’s final game in charge is next Saturday over at Bedford as we compete in the Beds Cup Final vs Bedford Athletic; all support would be welcomed as always.
The world, as they say, keeps turning, and our plans for the redevelopment of the changing rooms and function facilities are about to become real with this coming Monday being the day when the works start. If you still haven’t stepped up to offer help (any and all would be welcomed) or put your hand in your pocket to buy a Grand Draw ticket to help with fundraising, there is still time. Tickets are available from behind the Bar, and Pete Arthur is the man to speak to regarding any physical assistance you might be able to offer. The more of the little, non-technical jobs we can do ourselves the better, the less we have to pay the contractors to do!
I will finish with my perennial plea for people to step up and offer to help. As I have said many times before, these lunches that we all enjoy so much; the rugby out on the pitches; the crowds out on a Sunday morning as 100s of youngsters run around falling in love with our game and these facilities that we are rightly proud of do not all just happen. They are there due to the hard work and efforts of an increasingly small group of volunteers, a group of people that dedicate time and effort to this club and whom I cannot thank enough!
Enjoy your day but do take a moment to pause & reflect on how all this happens and how you could maybe help us out.
BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN
. . Have You Volunteered Yet?
Rugby Round Up - London 1 North
Saturday 9th April, 2022
Amersham & Chiltern 36 20 Old Haberdasher Belsize Park 19 19 Brentwood Chingford 6 - 39 Thurrock Eaton Manor 7 - 22 Colchester Shelford 69 - 12 Leighton Buzzard Southend Saxons 55 35 Harpenden Sudbury 77 10 Norwich
Buzzards Play For Pride Against Impressive League Champions
Shelford 69 - 12 Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard’s final away match of the London 1(N) season was to league leaders Shelford. It was clear from the start why the home team would be crowned Champions later in the afternoon with a scintillating display of running rugby. Shelford played at a pace and with a clarity of purpose unrivalled in this league. Despite the final score, Leighton can be proud of its efforts. Led by Captain, Jacob Murtagh, who had one of his finest games for the club, Buzzard competed to the end, scored two fine tries and played a significant part in an entertaining game, that was much appreciated by a large home crowd.
Eddie WigginsThe match was played in dry conditions on an artificial pitch with Buzzards playing into the wind in the first half. Whilst the early play was in the Buzzard half, Leighton resisted the initial pressure well. Finally, after nine minutes, the speed of both the ball transfer and the home backs split the
Buzzard defence to score in the corner. Four minutes later, a second try was added when the Buzzard defence was cut open from deep, following a loose kick. With both tries converted Leighton trailed 14-0, which was extended to 21-0 midway through the half after a quick tap penalty led to a third try. Despite the score, Buzzards were continuing to compete, and the Leighton pack was looking very solid to the extent that one scrum was won against the head. The lineout was also much improved from recent weeks. Despite a good period of possession, there was always the concern that any lost ball would quickly be turned into a threat by the home team’s razor-sharp attack. With a touch of inevitability, possession lost deep in the home territory was quickly kicked long and then spread wide at speed for the fourth try. Worse was to follow – straight from the restart, Shelford put together a display of speed and slick handling to add a further try. With the last play of the half Shelford pounced on a loose lineout for a soft try. With only one conversion missed, Shelford led 40-0.
Despite conceding an early interception try to the home side’s lightening quick left winger, the second half started well for Buzzards with an extended period of possession. A possible kick at goal was declined as Buzzards kicked for the corner. Mike Robert came close to scoring but when the ball was recycled, Jacob Murtagh scored in the corner. The difficult conversion was
missed, but with seven minutes of the half played, Buzzards trailed 45-5.
Eight minutes later, Leighton scored again. Once again turning down a very kickable penalty, Buzzards chose a scrum. As the pack drove forward, the Shelford scrum appeared to split, to the extent that a penalty try was a realistic option. However, Will Batchelor, who with Owen Forsythe has given a real solidity to the front row, drove over. Ollie Taylor converted to make the score 45-12.
However well Buzzard tackled, the threat of the home team backs was everpresent - they added two excellent tries from their own half in the twentythird and twenty-ninth minutes to lead 55-12. Buzzards continued to show great resolve but conceded two late tries as they tired from their herculean effort to leave the final score 69-12.
Leighton left the pitch with their heads held high knowing they had been beaten by an excellent side at the top of their game.
Support Events At Your Club
Dickie’s Drivel
‘Looking on the bright side…’
This may be the 458th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s supposed birth but I’m afraid, instead of the ‘Bard of Avon’, all you’re going to get today, from me at least, is the ‘Bad of Bideford Green’. You certainly won’t be getting any verse - only rhyming slang ‘Iconic’ is arguably one of the most overused and abused words in the language that Shakespeare was so articulate in and who can argue with his being so, given his having been featured on the back of a £20 note, albeit that this is now out of circulation. I see one can be bought online for £50, proving that Numismatism, the collecting of bank notes and coins, is a waste of money!
(Ironically, ‘ironic’ is probably the second most overused and abused word in the English language.)
Otherwise, as a representation of being positive despite being in an impossible situation, Eric Idle singing ‘Always look on the bright side of life’, whilst being crucified, at the end of the film ‘Life of Brian’ is also genuinely iconic.
Whilst such positivity is to be applauded in many circumstances, it isn’t always. It may be the case that ‘All of us are in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars’ but in my case it’d almost certainly be overcast and I’d get aerially guanoed by a passing bird. Indeed, only recently I was in a pub garden admiring a bird of prey overhead, which promptly tried to ‘whitewash’ me! Fortunately, it missed but not by much.
I, thus, prefer to call such positivity ‘turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse’ or ‘shining a **** (‘Richard the Third’)’ and, so, in looking back over this season, at least the 1st XV won’t be bottom of the league and won’t be relegated, if only with the latter being as a result of next season’s league
reorganisation.
But I’m not here to ‘pony’ on the players and their efforts. Whilst the Skipper’s Dad, Darran, making the call that the second half of the season would be better than the first is worthy of credit, that this was, in fact, the case was to the much greater credit of the players, with there having been no wins before Christmas and, so far, of course, four after it. It was, though, as Darran predicted, a season of two halves.
To hopefully not overuse or abuse a phrase used in the last match report, the players and in particular ‘the Skip’, Jacob, can later today leave “the pitch with their heads held high”, irrespective of the result, given the character they have displayed during the season. It’s been a difficult season but, hopefully, one that can be built upon.
Otherwise, off the pitch, many of you will already be aware that I’m no vegetabilst with my idea of haute cuisine being those tins of Baked Beans with the little sausages in them and one of my pet hates being dishes that are unnecessarily ponced up. As a smoker, I spend a lot of time outside pubs and often check out the external menu displays. These are invariably successful in driving me to even further drink, by starting well but ending with a, to me at least, hateful item or ingredient. All too often this involves the S-word - salad - and sometimes even two S-words - sesame seeds, thereby turning an otherwise palatable dish into one that is less appealing than a pig’s ear!
So, thank you, Paul, and speaking personally of course, for not having ponced up our “school dinners with alcohol” - too much that is - this season!
Meanwhile, Happy St George’s Day and, hopefully, we’ll see the 1st XV have even more reason to hold their heads high by having slain the, metaphorical of course, dragon of today’s opposition.
Finally, I’ll read the entire works of Shakespeare to anyone who can tell me which band sang “Do you remember the loving on the floor in Belsize Park?”.
The Real Spirit of Rugby John McDougal
I always think that level 6 rugby is particularly tough as it is where amateur clubs, such as us, clash with the semiprofessional. As the Southend Chairman said “as I’m paying him £100 a game, I expect rather more commitment”
Therefore, it is good to come across examples of the real spirit of club social rugby – and here are my season’s two favourites.
When we played away at Amersham and Chiltern, their third team were playing Pinner and Grammarians (known as P&Gs) First XV. To put this in perspective P&Gs are so poor they have dropped out of the bottom league and play mostly club 2nd and 3rd teams. Yet they had a table of 5 for the pre-match lunch, determined to enjoy themselves. P&Gs also happen to be my old School - Pinner Grammar- old boys club – I haven’t been to the club since the mid-1980s and last played for them in 1978. Yet I knew one of the five and we had many mutual friends, so I chatted to them for some time. It was the coldest Saturday of the season with the match played in a blizzard, yet they supported throughout the game. Afterwards in the bar, I asked what the score was “no idea but we lost – conceded a lot of tries in the first half” as they tucked in a few more beers. So enjoyed lunch, supported their very poor team in a blizzard, and had no idea what the result was but was determined to have a good time. Social rugby at its best, I felt vicariously proud of the spirit of my old club despite how rubbish they were!!
My second tale also involves Amersham and Chiltern. When we invited the Chairman to the pre-match lunch, he said he was unable to come as he was on the Club’s Vets tour. I said, “you do really well to get a vets side out” to which he replied, “Oh no we don’t play rugby on tour, we watch a Premiership game, play Golf, drink lots of beer and tell old stories” Now that’s my kind of tour!
Good reminders that league position isn’t everything.
when
Whether
make
Leighton Buzzard RFC
Round
23rd April
Kick Off
Belsize Park
Not Received
For Inclusion
The Buzzards
Coaching & Support Team
Tom Mowbray
Head Coach
Assistant Head Coach & Skills
Sam Clapham Medic
Assistant Coach Forwards & SkillsPaul Greenway
Chris Bateman Medic
Club Captain Jacob Murtagh Flanker
Snowden 2nd Row
Creber
nd Row/Flanker
Tom Winch Centre
James Brett Scrum Half
Sponsored by: Leighton Buzzard Hatters
Sponsored by: Mr Mark Hardy
Sponsored by:
Mounteney
Sponsored by: Mrs Mary Hardy
Sponsored by:
Davis & Ann Hopper
Olly Gronert Stand Off
Matt Bloxham Flanker
Ewan Starling Stand Off
Tom Wicks Back Row
Joe Healy Prop
Sponsored in memory of Val Tanton
Sponsored by: Frank & Margery Bloxham
Sponsored by: Mr Mark Hardy
Sponsored by: Rural Roasts
Sponsored by: Mr Alan Hodey
Jacob Barker 2nd Row
Ben Silvester 2nd Row
Dan Chalmers Fullback/Winger
by:
by:
Limited
by:
Achitecture Ltd
Support Events at Your Club
Orit’llprovethatIwaswrong
Maybeitwillprovethatwewere right
Kayleigh,I’mstilltryingtowrite thatlovesong Kayleigh,it’smoreimportanttome, nowyou’regone
Topatchupourbrokenhome
Tohearyou’vefoundanotherlover
Kayleigh,IjustwanttosayI’msorry But,Kayleigh,I’mtooscaredtopick upthephone
Butyoubrokemine
Sosorry,Inevermeanttobreak yourheart
Bytheway,didn’tIbreakyour heart? Pleaseexcuseme,Inevermeantto breakyourheart
YouneverunderstoodIhadtogo
Doyouremember?
Dancinginstilettoesinthesnow
ThelovingonthefloorinBelsize Park Doyouremember?
Barefootonthelawnwithshooting stars Doyouremember?
Doyouremember?
Sohowdiditcometothisbitter end?
Wesaidourlovewouldlastforever
And,Kayleigh,Ithoughtthatwe’d alwaysbefriends
Kayleigh,ohIneverthoughtI’dmiss you
Thatitcametoanaturalend
Ijustcan’tgoonpretending
And,Kayleigh,couldwegetit togetheragain?
Kayleigh,isittoolatetosayI’m sorry?
Butyoubrokemine
Sosorry,Inevermeanttobreak yourheart
Bytheway,didn’tIbreakyour heart? Pleaseexcuseme,Inevermeantto breakyourheart
Ithoughtitwasconfettiinourhair
Thecherryblossominthemarket square Doyouremember?
Doyouremember?
Dawnescapesfrommoonwashed collegehalls
Chalkheartsmeltingona playgroundwall Doyouremember?
Doyouremember?
SERVICE NOT LIP SERVICE
Equinox Maintenance services are pleased to confer Closed User Group (CUG) status support to: Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club Members Players Supporters and friends. This gives reduced prices on the full range of services offered across the UK Equinox 80,000 square foot central repair facility at Tewkesbury Accessed using Postage or Courier With 70 field based engineers plus 35 bench engineers Equinox can provide field based support services or a fully equipped workshop on a contract or chargeable basis.
HELP or questions contact Equinox stating Leighton Buzzard RC
Role:
Head Coach/Player Coach
Company: Leighton Buzzard RFC
Salary: To be Agreed depending on commitment
Hours: Minimum of 24 Hours a week
Introduction
Leighton Buzzard RFC looking to recruit a Head coach or player/Head Coach for the senior men’s squad.
The club which is based in Bedfordshire with good links to London and the Midlands, are seeking to recruit a dynamic coach/Player Coach with a strong understanding of player and club development to continue the progress of this ambitious club.
Responsibilities will include:
• Design and develop and implement a game plan that builds on the clubs strengths and produces game winning teams at all levels in the club.
• To lead and mentor the coaching team responsible for the senior squads (Firsts and Seconds)
• Attend all coaching sessions and matches involved with the club’s senior squads.
• Input into the development of teams, coaches and players moving through the club pathway including recruitment, running coach development sessions, player and coaches profiles and development plans.
• Have vision, drive, ambition and determination to achieve and exceed the clubs rugby plans
• Contribute to the team culture and Leighton Buzzard RFC ethos through exemplifying club values
• Work within agreed budgets
Skills
The successful person will have to demonstrate,
• RFU level 2 Coaching Qualification minimum level 3 preferable, or working towards Level 3, support will be given for coach development.
• Previous coaching experience at a senior level.
• Commitment and enthusiasm – This position will require a time commitment involving evenings and weekends.
• Rugby knowledge – It is expected that the coach will have the required level of knowledge to enable the players to achieve their potential.
• Planning – The head coach is directly responsible for planning the coaching programme for the season and will be asked to prepare individual sessions.
• Leadership – The head coach sets an example and standards for the coaching team and squad. As such they will need to be able to inspire the coaching team and players to ensure that all involved maximise their potential.
• Man Management- The coach is expected to manage all members of the squad in a professional manner and communicate to all effectively and with respect.
• Delegation – The head coach needs to be able to delegate agreed responsibilities to the assistant coaches to ensure that they feel valued and their expertise is used effectively.
• Team Work – The head coach needs to be able to work effectively with the players, coaches, manager and all others within the club.
Applications
To apply for this position please send your rugby CV along with a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role and documenting any rugby experience you feel relevant to; coach@buzzardrugby.co.uk.
To discuss the opportunity in confidence please phone club president Gordon Fletcher on 07747 627844
Points of Law Some Clarity On New Laws
John McDougal
Twice in the recent game at Brentwood there was debate whether the referee’s decisions were correct in law.
The first decision relates to a maul directly after a kick-off. A restart kick was cleanly caught, the player was immediately held and was unable to free the ball from the ensuing maul. The referee gave the scrum to the kicking team (Buzzards), whilst the home crowd loudly offered the opinion that it should be their ball, as the catcher was immediately held.
Law 18 states that “If a maul is formed immediately after a player has directly caught an opponents kick in open play and the ball comes unplayable then a scrum is awarded to the team of the ball catcher”
The crucial point is whether the play straight after a kick-off is open play. To paraphrase the definition of open play it is “The period after a kick off, restart, free kick etc….and before the next phase”. So, it appears the crowd was right and the referee wrong.
The second debate followed an Ollie Taylor clearance kick being charged down and going dead. The referee gave a goal line drop out. The law states three situations when play is restarted with a goal line drop out:–
1. When the attacking side is held up in the in-goal area
2. When the ball is kicked into the in-goal area and is grounded or made dead by the defending team or
3. The attacking side knock on in the in-goal area
None of these describes what happened. Therefore, the game should have restarted with either a twenty-two drop out (if the charge down was in the field of play) or a five metre scrum (if charged down in goal).
& Results
1 North
Off Times:
pm Sept, Oct, Mar & Apr
pm Nov & Feb
Jan
& Results
2nd XV
Midlands 2 Merit Table
in capitals letters
R
Off Times 3:00 pm during Sept, Oct, Mar & Apr 2:15
during Nov,
Man of the Match Award
Both visiting and home supporters will be able to vote for their “Man of the Match” in all Leighton Buzzard 1st XV home Games this season.
To vote please complete and detach the voting slip below and place it in the box on the bar after the final whistle.
Once voting has closed, the votes will be totted up by an almost independent adjudicator and the winner will receive their award in a short presentation.
This award is open to both Buzzards and their opposition so please vote fairly and only vote once. We are very thankful to M&M Properties for sponsoring this seasons man of the match awards.
Leighton Buzzard RFC - Man of the Match Award 2021/22 In Association with M&M Properties.
LBRFC Office Bearers & Officials 2021-2022
Honorary Life President Mark Hardy President Gordon Fletcher GENERAL COMMITTEE
Mr Lee Beaumont—Chairman
J McDougal, R M Evans, S Draper, K Street, J Davis, Malcolm Brooke, Jade Wheeler BOARD OF DIRECTORS
M. Hardy DL, G. Fletcher, P. Arthur, R M Evans, L. Beaumont J. Davis LIFE MEMBERS
H Ansdell, P O’Reilly, D Currie, H Thomas, R Giltrow, T Tift, R Dillamore, A Hodey, Mrs M Reeves, N. Coles, G Blower, R. Robinson, E Banks, J Hall, A Micans, A Turney, E Cohen, P Cohen
Vice Presidents
Vice Presidents 2020 - 2021
Mr Richard G D Allen
Mr Peter Arthur
Mr Graham Aldridge
Mrs Linda Baroux
Mr Lee Beaumont
Mr Richard Beer
Mr Danny Bowell
Mrs Becky Bramham-Jones
Mr Steve Bramham-Jones
Mr Simon Brett
Miss Liz Briggs
Mr Neville Brown
Mr Keith Burchell
Mr Jon Chapman
Mr Henry Clark
Mr Russell Cohen
Mr Steve d’Sylva
Mr Hugh Davies
Mr Neal Davies
Mr Tony Dixon
Mr Martin Dwyer
Mr Richard Ellis
Mr Mike Evans
Mr Stuart Gore
Mr Ashley Grace
Mr Mel Gray Mrs Myra Gray
Mr Keith Griffiths
Mr Tony Guerieria
Mrs Mary Hardy
Mr Darren Hayter
Mr Kelvin Healy
Mr Tom Henrick
Mr Ron Hill
Mr Andrew Hogg
Mr John Hooper
Mr Tony Horne
Mr Dave Hyde
Mr Ben Irvine
Mr Terry James
Mr Andy Jenkins
Mrs Elaine Jenkins
Mr Peter Keane
Mr Dave Lee
Mr Roy Lemon
Mr Jeff Lewis
Mr Adrian Linden
Mr Andy Long
Mr Steve Maddison
Mr Mario Marrone
Mr Andrew Mason
Mr John McDougal
Mr David Middleton
Mr Les Minney
Mr Keith Minor
Mr Gordon Moulds
Mr Darren Murtagh
Mrs Nicky Murtagh
Mr Maurice Parker
Mr Bill Pragnell
Mr Bryan Pratt
Mr John Pratt
Mr Steve Proctor
Mr Keith Prosser
Dr Ivan Pullen
Mr Andy Purr
Mr Richard Roff
Mr Steve Rogers
Mr Trevor Russell
Mr Martin Shayler
Mr David Siddon
Mr John Sirett
Mr Laurence Smith
Mr M J Smith
Mr Neil Smith
Mr Peter Smith
Mr Rob Stirling
Leighton Buzzard Rugby Football Club Limited Wright’s Meadow, Leighton Road Stanbridge, Bedfordshire. LU7 9HR www.buzzardrugby.co.uk
Mr John Surguy
Mr John Tarbox
Mr Malcolm Taylor
Mr Jeremy Tobin
Mr Andy Tooley
Mr Chris Turner
Mr Mike Turner
Mr David Tysom
Mr Mark Vincent
Mr Andy Walton
Mr Cliff Ward
Mr Nobby Ward
Mr Barry Webb
Mrs Carol Williams
Mr Barry Wilson
Mr Alan Worrell
Mr Bill Yirrell