Hello, good afternoon and welcome to Vice Presidents, club members, supporters, sponsors and especially Cheshunt RFC for what is the club and new 1st XV captain Charles Woollard’s first home fixture since the start of the season.
Unfortunately, the home game against Saracens Amateurs, scheduled for the 3rd September was postponed due to the opposition being unable to raise a side as a result of the hard pitches and their delayed player readiness for contact rugby. This match has been rescheduled for 8th October.
As many of you will no doubt be aware, the League has been restructured and renamed Counties 2 Herts/Middx this season
Three sides (Finchley, Welwyn and Hitchin) were promoted to Counties 1 Herts/Middx in April, with five sides being promoted from the old Herts/Middx 1 League (Ealing Trailfinders 1871, Wasps FC, London Scottish Lions, Saracens Amateurs and Barnet Elizabethans)
With the addition of these sides, the coming season will be intense with very few weekends free and a challenge to all concerned to ensure player availability and management of injuries.
During the closed season, the clubhouse has undergone a “facelift” both inside and outside and big thanks must go to Libby Trude (clubhouse internals) and the Minis and Youth (outside) for undertaking this work Fraser Morris continues to work hard to maintain existing and find new sponsorship opportunities and Paul Mather and Richard Hope are working as hard as ever to maintain player membership and encourage a fantastic atmosphere amongst all the players throughout the club.
The 2nd and 3rd XVs (led by Harry Trude and Dave Scanlan respectively) continue to grow with increased numbers of availability this season. However, trying to obtain regular fixtures is going to prove difficult as many local clubs are struggling with numbers and we have had at least three last minute call offs in recent weeks both pre season and last weekend.
In addition to running three sides, and after the success of the St Albans RFC Vets (40+ year olds) at the Harpenden Pub 7s in August, it has been decided to try and organise a number of Vets matches during the season.
Thanks for moving this forward must go to Mick O’Shea who will be organising these games.
So, in addition to our 1st XV playing Cheshunt this afternoon, the 2nd XV have their first home fixture in Herts Merit Table 3 against Bishop Stortford Abbotts making it an action packed Saturday. A fantastic opportunity to watch the Blue and Gold on both pitches and partake of several beers: before, during and post match.
A very big thank you must go to Ron Hayes for organising the VP meal and to Dionne and the ladies for their hard work and effort in the kitchen for providing such excellent quisine As a means of generating some much needed income, the club is this afternoon, trialling serving coffee and tea, chips and sausage rolls from the “Hatch” during the games.
Again, a big thanks to Dionne and the ladies for offering to do this and for providing the post match player’s supper a busy afternoon!!
Enjoy the game and hospitality (the bar opens at 12:30pm for the VPs lunch) and Happy New Season to one and all!!
Dave English (Chairman)
You lot down here love your lunches don't you?
It’s a concept that is completely alien to this former Jarrovian who is used to the standard that comes with life at a Durham & Northumberland Division Three side, or whatever the league is called these days
We were once branded 'the most grassroots club in the north east' which I think was meant as an insult but I always took as a badge of honour
If you ’ re lucky, you may get something from the antiquated pie warmer but you ’ re not getting a three course meal that’s for sure.
Down here though, every club has plenty of them and ever since landing on the sports desk I have been offered a seat at one of them.
The life of a regional sports journalist has changed beyond all recognition in the seven years I have been doing the job and it’s a miracle if I even get a chance to cover a game at one of my many clubs these days.
But all that I said, I gratefully took up the offer from Ember Designs of a dinner last season and it reminded me what I love about the game
The port was flowing before kick off
Rock-hard pitches have disrupted the pre-season campaign.
and the fact it was the final game of the season, and against my adopted home town of Welwyn, meant there was a cracking atmosphere
I even managed to get a couple of interviews done before leaving and before the standard of my conversation and questioning skills rapidly packed up for the night.
All the planning that goes in to putting on a dinner starts again with the commencement of fixtures, as well as all the other work that goes on behind the scenes, most of which you are completely oblivious to when simply just a player.
It’s the start of another season though that can hardly be described as normal No COVID restrictions this time, just rock hard ground and a disrupted pre season for most.
I was actually pleased to see common sense prevail when it came to the safety of players through the baking heat of August
For years I have whined and moaned about the fact that frozen pitches in December and January are too hard but apparently concrete like surfaces in April and September are perfectly acceptable.
The week delay for many will soon be caught up with the much anticipated rain hopefully making life much better.
For many though the playing season will be a bit of a voyage into the unknown, the restructured leagues and campaigns throwing up what ifs as well as the odd different visiting club.
But for most the welcome chance to get back to the club on a Saturday afternoon and spin tall tales of days gone by as well as catching up with old comrades will be very welcome They never fail to bring a smile to the face and in an ever changing world, it's always good to know that some things stay the same.
Now, pass the port will you?
NEIL METCALFE, FRUSTRATED FLANKER AND CHIEF SPORTS REPORTER FOR HE HERTS ADVERTISER GIVES HIS VIEW ON ALL THINGS BLUE & GOLD.
COUNTIES 2 HERTS/MIDDX FIXTURES
RESULTS: SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2022
Barnet Elizabethans P - P Hendon
Cheshunt P - P Saracens Amateurs Harrow 10 24 St Albans
London Scottish Lions 103 7 Finsbury Park Tabard 31 10 Royston Wasps FC 26 42 Ealing Trailfinders 1871
COUNTIES 2 HERTS/MIDDX
FIXTURES: FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2022
Saracens Amateurs v Finsbury Park
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 v Tabard
Hendon v Wasps FC
London Scottish Lions v Barnet Elizabethans
Royston v Harrow St Albans v Cheshunt
PWDL PTS
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2200 10
London Scottish Lions 21107 Tabard 11005 St Albans 10005
Royston 21014 Cheshunt 10102 Wasps 20022 Finsbury Park 20021
Barnet Elizabethans 00000 Hendon 00000 Saracens Amateurs 00000 Harrow 10010
17/09/2022 Cheshunt Stonebond
01/10/2022 Finsbury Park Taylor Walton 08/10/2022 Saracens
22/10/2022 Barnet Lister Interiors Ltd 05/11/2022 Wasps Ember Designs 26/11/2022 Tabard 03/12/2022 Harrow 17/12/2022 Royston Stonebond 14/01/2023 Ealing 1871 28/01/2023 Hendon 18/02/2023 LS Lions
Saturday, 10 September Harrow 10 24 St Albans
Saturday, 17 September St Albans v Cheshunt
Saturday, 24 September Royston v St Albans
Saturday, 1 October St Albans v Finsbury Park
Saturday, 8 October St Albans v Saracens Amateurs
Saturday, 15 October Ealing Trailfinders v St Albans
Saturday, 22 October St Albans v Barnet Elizabethans
Saturday, 29 October Hendon v St Albans
Saturday, 5 November St Albans v Wasps FC
Saturday, 12 November London Scottish Lions v St Albans
Saturday, 26 November St Albans v Tabard
Saturday, 3 December St Albans v Harrow
Saturday, 10 December Cheshunt v St Albans
Saturday, 17 December St Albans v Royston
Saturday, 7 January Finsbury Park v St Albans
Saturday, 14 January St Albans v Ealing Trailfinders
Saturday, 21 January Barnet Elizabethans v St Albans
Saturday, 28 January St Albans v Hendon
Saturday, 11 February Wasps FC v St Albans
Saturday, 18 February St Albans v London Scottish Lions
Saturday, 4 March Tabard v St Albans
Saturday, 11 March Saracens Amateurs v St Albans
A
THANK YOU TO
DIFFERENCE
THOSE
On a subdued but sunny Saturday afternoon in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's passing, A two minute silence was observed by all in attendance
St Albans made a blistering start with aggressive carries from both the forwards and backs in particular Toby Sweeney in the centre stepping and bullying his way through defenders to set up Will Taylor for the opening try, flyhalf Steph Harding adding the extras .
With the side feeling rambunctious they made their way upfield , prop Chris Jones had turn of foot on the outside to orchestrate a try that was finished off by winger Adam Jasinski the conversion was no good and the score was 12 0 within the first ten minutes .
It would seem the flood gates were about to open as good play especially from the line out set piece from The blue and gold was yielding great results , Harrow however were doggedly resilient in resisting the onslaught Flaws of old seemed to creep back into St Albans way of playing as ill discipline and lack of composure saw the side lose their direction , fortunately Harrow’s ineptness and profligacy kept St Albans ahead as they failed to take advantage of two penalties at goal It would remain like this till the end of the half .
The second half was tightly contested affair with some flanker turned centre Sam Howell making a nuisance of himself in the midfield , great runs from man of the match Tom Webb kept St Albans on the front foot
Ill discipline however continued with the side being on constant team warnings from the referee , who lost patience with captain Charles Woollard when he was adjudged to have elbowed a Harrow player , ten minutes in the cooler for man mountain seemed to ignite Harrow’s attack as they incisively cut through St Albans landing their opening try through Thomas Scott Linden and the conversion was good , Harrow growing in confidence continued to press on as they added a penalty making the score line 12 10.
With game on a knife edge Woollard returning from the sin bin , director of rugby Paul Mather sent on the finishers also known as the bomb squad comprising of Harry Trude , Roy Dube and Ross Taylor to give the side some needed injection . It paid off immediately as Captain Woollard made a thunderous run that saw Harry Trude crashing through, Harding’s conversion virtuously bouncing in leaving the score at 19 10.
With their tails up and confidence brimming St Albans decisively went for the jugular and sealed the bonus point win with a catch and drive line out that saw Adam (gremlin) Power elegantly score in the corner , extras were no good … relief and jubilation followed as the referee blew the whistle for full time , St Albans were happy to have got off the mark albeit brilliance interspersed with lack of discipline and composure something that has to be reigned in if the side are to mount a serious promotion campaign
Onwards to Chesthunt
ST ALBANS MADE A WINNING START TO THE NEW SEASON AS THEY RAN IN FOUR TRIES AT HARROW ON THEIR WAY TO A BONUS-POINT VICTORY.POSITION: HOOKER SPONSOR: AVAILABLE
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Back in 1952, the old boys of Cheshunt Grammar School formed a club to further their friendship through playing Rugby Union Football.
Originally, and somewhat unimaginatively, called Cheshunt Grammar School Old Boys, the club soon re christened itself Old Cestrians adding a touch of class to its name, in stark contrast to the quality of rugby it played!
The enthusiasm of its members, however, knew no bounds The numbers increased, the standard improved and soon Old Cestrians were taking on all comers from Hertfordshire County on their home ground in Goff ’ s Lane, provided by a supportive Cheshunt U.D.C.
After ten years Old Cestrians R.F.C. moved its HQ to Rosedale in Andrews Lane, merging with the Rosedale Bowls, Tennis and Cricket clubs to become one of the largest and most successful sports clubs in the area. The final development came in 1966 when Old Cestrians R.F.C. became Cheshunt R F C
For some time the club had pursued a policy of allowing a percentage of non school boys so that it could grow and they would have somewhere to play rugby. The formation of Cheshunt R F C formalised that policy of “going open ” and it was the springboard for the remarkable success that was to follow.
The mini and youth section is well established and is a thriving part of the club with over 250 kids between the ages of 6 and 17 now regularly turning out on a Sunday morning for their age group
The mini/youth section provides RFU qualified coaches at every age group ensuring that children enjoy the game in a safe, friendly environment with a family ethos running right through the club
In 2004 the club became one of the first in the country to gain the Rugby Football Unions’ Seal of Approval and Cheshunt RFC continues to go from strength to strength
IN THE MURKY CHRISTMAS HALF-LIGHT AT BOGGYMEAD, THE SAINTS EMERGED WITH A GLOWING PERFORMANCE WHICH WAS FORGED IN THE FIRES OF DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS WEEK.
Challenging conditions under foot as they took on a Cheshunt side buoyed from downing previous league leaders Hitchin the week before, Saints knew it would be a stiff test and started the battle well.
The defence continued to reign supreme as they battered Cheshunt into conceding an early penalty in front of the post which Latham dispatched This was followed by a snatched drop goal which he truthfully had no right to pull off But he did 6 0
Almost immediately following kick off the impressive Will Taylor found himself in space to attack. In what we can only assume was a premonition of jug avoidance, he was downed by the last man and popped to the ever supportive Sweeney who dotted down in another outstanding midfield display 11 0 in the mire of Boggymead
Cheshunt did challenge the Saints line in the first half and had it not been for a number of unforced errors may have tightened the screw further than the 8 points they scored, but time and again Saints battered their attack.
Dube, Barber and Jones standing out in another brutally combative defensive display The set piece grew through the game as both the lineout and scrum finished the game on top Power and Rogers in the scrum and Holmes and Dempsey in the lineout combining to great effect.
As the game wore on Hardings control with both hands and boot steered the game away from Cheshunt without much they could really do about it.
Will Taylor capitalising for two more of his own and Boost returning and looking very dangerous carving through under the sticks (his Dad asking after the game ‘who scored the 4th try?’ a testament to the vile conditions the game was played in).
Welcome to Boggymead for our first home game of the new season.
There’s no getting away from the fact that we ’ ve seen some extreme temperatures over the last few months which resulted in a reduced pre season schedule. That said, we did manage a run out against a very strong Fullers side in early August and thought we played some excellent rugby which set us up well for the last few weeks of the summer.
We have a committed group of players here and we spoke at length about our goals for the season and despite the lack of contact time, we wanted to ensure that we were as prepared as we could be for what we know will be a challenging campaign ahead Most of the teams in our division were in the same boat so we just put it to one side and focussed on what could control.
On a personal note, it was an absolute honour to be named captain for the new season but with so many leaders within the group, it makes the job a whole lot easier.
It’s an old cliche but the unity within the squad is extremely high. It’s something that we pride ourselves on and we’ll certainly need that strength as we launch another promotion charge this time around
Last weekend we travelled to Harrow for the season opener and came away with a bonus point victory The result was perfect but we know the performance wasn’t faultless. We set ourselves some high standards and there were times when we didn’t meet those.
However, it’s a very good platform to build upon as we head into today’s local derby.
Cheshunt are an extremely strong unit who derailed our promotion hopes last time out. Discipline is going be key this afternoon but the boys are keen to get out there and right all the wrongs from the end of last year
We’ve recruited well, the energy levels are high and the appetite for success is certainly abundant. It’s going to be a tough encounter today and there will be times when we’ll need to dig deep but if we can play to our potential then there’s no reason why another victory can’t be within reach.
Make yourselves heard today and get behind the blue and gold.
Enjoy the game.
Christian Wade has confirmed he will join French side Racing 92 for the rest of the season after a three year career in the NFL .
The former Wasps winger had been a free agent after being dropped by the Buffalo Bills but has now decided to make his return to the 15 a side code he quit in 2018.
He represented the Coventry based side 115 times and has one England cap to his name which only added to the shock when he chose to pursue a career in the NFL by joining the Buffalo Bills practice squad.
However, he was never able to break into the full roster and was released earlier this year.
The news was confirmed by Wade on Twitter with a message reading: "I'm excited to announce I've officially signed for Racing 92.
"Looking forward to working with this special group of people and winning championships! With God, all things are possible."
The news was also confirmed by the Top 14 French side in a statement on their website: "Racing 92 formalises the arrival of winger Christian Wade (31) in its men's professional team
"He joins the Ciel et Blanc squad as an additional player and is committed until the end of the 2022/23 season "
If the sale is approved it would ensure Worcester’s survival, just days before their first home match of the season against Exeter on Sunday. Hosting that match at Sixways involves significant operational costs and up until now it has been unclear how they would be met There is now confidence that the match can go ahead, however
On Saturday, after Worcester’s defeat on the opening day of the season by London Irish, the director of rugby Steve Diamond revealed the owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring had held positive talks with a potential buyer.
The buyer has not been identified, and they would have to take on debts of around £25m, including a £6m tax bill which is due to be paid to HMRC before 6 October the date of the club’s winding up court appearance.
As a result, there remains a degree of wariness from some members of staff that the deal will go through and on Saturday Diamond warned of “false dawns”. Nonetheless, if the sale is approved it would avoid the need for the club to be put into administration which would leave the Warriors facing relegation.
Another interested party a consortium led by the former chief executive Jim O’Toole and James Sandford is only willing to proceed if the club is put into administration. On Monday they released a statement calling for the government to put the club into administration, pledging to provide the funds to ensure Sunday’s match goes ahead Whittingham and Goldring have defiantly insisted they will not consider administration however and it is understood the impending deal is not with the O’Toole consortium.
“ We and other key stakeholders remain resolute that the only viable solution to the current crisis is for the club is to enter administration. We are ready, willing, and able to fund the administration process, ” read the earlier statement from the consortium
“ With the current owners not willing to go down that path, that decision now rests with the DCMS via their charge related to their significant loan. With this as our goal, it is pointless negotiating with the current owners as they remain focused on selling the club to address their pressing solvency issues
Gloucester produced a spectacular second half comeback to launch their Gallagher Premiership campaign with a 27 21 win over Wasps at Kingsholm on Sunday.
After missing out on a place in the play offs last season by two points, the home side looked way off that form as Wasps surged 21 points clear before the break.
Tries from fly half Charlie Atkinson, back row Brad Shields and centre Burger Odendall and three conversions from Atkinson put Wasps in the driving seat.
But Gloucester, inspired by Louis Rees Zammit (pictured), looked a different team after the interval, with the Welshman running from deep inside his side's own 22 to score before scrum half Charlie Chapman added a second try within two minutes during the third quarter.
Adam Hastings added a conversion and penalty, before Gloucester were awarded a penalty try with just over 12 minutes remaining
Wasps were reduced to 13 players, with Gloucester taking advantage, and lock Freddie Clarke completed a stirring response by crashing over from close range and securing a bonus point in the process
Sale fended off a late fightback from Northampton to begin their season with a 29 22 victory
Sale scored the only try in a well contested opening period, but Saints were blown away by three quick fire scores midway through the second half to trail 29 3.
Phil Dowson's men hit back through two tries from Tom Collins and an Ollie Sleightholme score, but Sale held on for the win.
Both matches paid their respects to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday, with poignant moments of silence followed by renditions of God Save the King
