Witney 3rd XV vs Stow-on-the-Wold 2nd XV 3 pm KO Official Main Partner
you Witney! Sunday 6th April 2025
Witney Wolves vs Kingswood 11 am KO
Witney Angels XV vs Oadby Wyggestonian Women XV 2 pm KO
After a week off our senior Men’s Teams return to action with three absolute corkers on the line. Our First Team travel to Chippenham, 2nd in the league but with no chance of going top, they will be looking to consolidate their position above Trowbridge.
Our Vipers welcome Didcot to Hailey Road and whilst we cannot catch Milton Keynes in third, we need at least 2 points from the game to guarantee 4th spot and ward off Tring. Our Third Team are also at home to Stow-on-the-Wold 2nd XV. Our Threes are secure in 6th but wouldn’t it be lovely to finish a tough season with a home win.
On Sunday our Angels game against Oadby Wyggestonian Women has been cancelled, numbers being the issue. Getting a team together on a regular basis is a big challenge for our Angels, if you know any ladies who are missing something in their life, like a challenge, and crave the camaraderie that you get with rugby, then please bring them up to Hailey
Road, Your Club Needs Angels!
Also, on Sunday our Wolves entertain Kingswood SEND team with the action kicking off at 11am.
43 of the 59 players on Saturday have come through our Minis & Juniors, and all but one of our coaches. Good luck to all who pull on the Black and Blue this weekend, without your commitment to the beautiful game we would be nothing. Those of us who have played the game know the pressures you are under, both on and off the pitch, we are therefore very grateful for your efforts.
As the season comes to an end so does my stint as Chairman, 6 years in the seat we have overseen so many changes as the Club continues to grow. It has been a pleasure and an honour to lead this fine group, and whilst we await the white smoke as the new Chairperson is chosen, it’s also a time for reflection: Our rugby family mourns the loss of Andy Tacon, a major contributor to the Club and a good friend to us all.
Thanks AT, for all you have done, you will be sorely missed by all, RIP old
Bob Fisk Chairman Witney RFC
"A life well lived, a heart well loved. Forever in our hearts."
The Club will be hosting a drink in honour of AT, Friday 25th April 4pm onwards. Come along and raise a glass to a true Club legend!
On this day in 1982, HMS Invincible and Hermes with their battle groups set sail from Portsmouth for the Falkland Islands following the Argentinian invasion three days earlier. The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with an Argentine surrender on 14 June, returning the islands to British control. In total, 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders were killed during the hostilities. There are no McDonalds, Starbucks or Tesco’s on the Islands, although there are rumours that KFC will be opening soon.
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Charlie Bowyer
Dom Coe
Callum Godfrey
Ben Ling
WRFC Walking Rugby
Matthew Collins Furniture
Barry Bowles & Tony Maycock
Glenn Davies
James Merriman AK Timms
Jack Strong
Tom Gafney
Jason Strong Builders
Ian Loughborough
Marcus Reading Celestra
Cameron Ayris
Angus Brown
Keir MacDougall
Milfield Contractors Ltd
Fowler Hicks Landscaping
Gareth Lewis
Harvey Wattleworth TW Fitness
Jasper Nixey
Jack Daubney
Ollie Dawkins
Haydn Clarke
Rowles Roofing
Chris Delaney
GMD Consultants
Ready Set Solar
Connor Pummery Drive Engagement
Luke Manning Ashcroft
Player Sponsors
Want to do more for your Club? Why not sponsor a player? Packages start at £190+VAT
Get your name in the match programme, but more importantly you are helping develop WRFC players!
Ollie Toner Drive Engagement
Dan Webb
David ‘Dabber’ Willis
Matt Webb Shaw & Co Solicitors
Sam Winstone Mike Dunbar
Callum Cope JC Landscaping
Gareth Jenkins
Daniel Wilson
Matt Delnevo
Matt Delnevo
Harry Ward WRFC Walking Rugby
Josh Whitehead J S Motors
Liam Cook J Brand
John Mason Blanketmen
Mark Roberts Pole Position Scaffolding
Finn Ayris Haysham Electrical Contractors
Carl Campbell
Helen Phillips
William King Tetbury Accounting
Rees Wilson
Andy Billington
Owen Fillary ADR Services
Rhys Morgan
Hyatt Financial
Jon Derrick B Wastie Electrical
Come & Watch Rugby @Witney RFC!
What’s On @ Hailey Road!
Thursday 24th April
Breakfast of Champions 8am. A chance to meet other like minded businesses and find out what is happening at the Club. Guest speaker Tug Wilson MBE, RFU Council Member and Director of Rugby UK Armed Forces.
Georgie’s fundraiser for RFU Injured Players Foundation
Banbury player John (JB) Baker sustained an injury during a VETS match at Banbury RFC against Witney RFC in November 2024.
Unfortunately JB has been left paralysed from the chest down losing function in both arms and legs. His Daughter Georgie has taken on the challenge to complete 12 hikes around the UK in 12 months, something which JB would be both immensely proud of and, also somewhat jealous. If you want to know more about the family, the challenge and donate then visit Georgie’s
JustGiving page
Witney Calling!
I wanted to make you aware of a serious issue surrounding health, the subject is suicide. We rarely talk about it, which is one of the problems, there is a stigma attached to it. Before we look at how we can be better placed to help, here’s a few statistics:
Almost 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, nearly twice the number who die by homicide.
For every death by suicide, there are approx’ 20 suicide attempts made. Each death by suicide leaves behind a community of bereaved family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. For every death by suicide, at least 7 to 10 people are directly affected by the loss.
Research shows that mental illness is the most important risk factor for suicide. More than 90% of people who die by suicide struggle with their mental health and/or addiction. Researchers estimate that up to 60% of people who die by suicide have major depression.
In the UK suicide is the biggest killer of men aged under 50.
So, what can we do? I believe the first step is for as many people as possible to be made aware of the signs and behaviour which could indicate somebody is contemplating suicide. Fortunately, there is a free online training aid available, which I would encourage as many people as possible to participate in. It takes about 30-40 minutes and can be found Here & Here
In the meantime if anyone has any concerns then please feel free to reach out to Ian Loughborough at l8est55@gmail.com or on
First Things First!
Drybrook 50 : 14 Witney
With 26 minutes gone, after a quick start from Drybrook, you could be forgiven for thinking it might be our day. Tries from Tom ‘Gaffers’ Gaffney and Captain Matt Webb both converted by Liam Cook meant that we were leading 7 : 14 at the ½ hour point. And then it went wrong! 43 unanswered points and Drybrook took all 5 points.
Never mind, we have another chance to finish the season on a high note with our trip to Chippenham. Chippenham are currently sitting in second place and need three points to guarantee finishing above Trowbridge currently in third. Trowbridge travel to Gordano so not so daunting but they won’t a banana skin at this stage.
Back to us and Chippenham. The game is a milestone in many ways, not just the last game of the 2024/25 season. Starting with the good stuff, today marks Matt Webb’s 200th game for the Club. 15 tries in 17 run outs this season, not bad having come back mid-season from an operation on his hand. Congratulations on an amazing achievement Matt, thank you for all your commitment and effort, all we need now is a couple of tries to round everything off nicely.
First Things First!
Not so happy news, today we say goodbye to John Mason as a player, a tremendous athlete and competitor, always ready to put his body on the line to secure Witney Ball. Thank you, John, for everything you have done here at Hailey Road. We all have fond memories of you being thrown up to altitudes normally reserved for your RAF aircrew mates at the line out. Good luck with everything you do and remember you will always be welcome back playing, watching, flying to new heights or just drinking. Finally, we must allow Seth Scarffe to hang up his Team Manager’s bag for the last time. Seth has served the Club for as long as anyone can remember, has entertained us with his stories and his hair styles, we will be forever grateful. But looking after the First Team takes its toll on anyone, and so Seth has decided its time for someone else to take up the chalice. The forwards want to say thank you for the endless supply of tape, deep heat and gummy bears. The backs send a huge thank you for the hair gel and fashion tips.
Come on you Witney Boys, let’s make sure it’s a day to remember for those heading off to pastures new, and also a win would be a great way to round off the season and mark Matt’s 200th game.
Chippenham XV vs Witney XV
3pm KO
1st XV - South West Division
Regional 2 Tribute Severn League Table
Walk-In Hairdressing & Barbering
2 Be or not to 2 Be
Witney 2nd XV 32 : 14 Wheatley XV
(Home Walk Over as Wheatley fielded 12)
The weather was superb, the players looked up for it, bring it on. Well Wheatley did bring it on, all 12 of them. Without a full squad Wheatley surrendered the points but we agreed to a 12 v 12 game, and what a spectacular display of running rugby.
With the fewer players came greater space, we were treated to almost 7s rugby as both teams attempted to keep ball in hand and run everything.
I know I have written this before, but this really was Charlie Bowyer’s last game. What a fantastic way to sign off, after putting in a tremendous shift in Black and Blue, Wheatley lost a player through injury, and Charlie throws his shirt into the adoring crowd and, donning the purple and white sees out his time at Hailey Road for the opposition. We forgive your treachery Charlie, thank you for all you have done for us in Black and Blue and remember you are welcome back here anytime, so long as you’re appropriately attired.
Witney 2nd XV vs Didcot XV 3pm KO
Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon North
THREES A CROWD!
It has been a while since our fighting Threes have graced the Hailey turf, they do so today with a big game against local rivals Stow-on-the-Wold 2nd XV.
Stow are no walkover lying just 9 points below us in the table. But this isn’t about us and them, it’s about finishing the season on a high, scoring tries, making big tackles and getting the win so that when the lads walk into the Club House after the game, they can Strutt their stuff, no apologies for the pun.
Counties
3 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon North
Witney Calling!
Have you played rugby with one of these guys? Do you fondly remember your playing days, the physicality, the camaraderie, the antics on and off the pitch. Do you find yourself using the
Stop! Stop being an I used to be guy and rekindle your relationship with the game we love. Be the, ‘Yeh I still play’ guy and get yourself up to Hailey Road. You know you want to. #witneyrfc #welovewitney
We would love to know your opinions on the Club, 6 Nations, or anything else that concerns you about Witney, rugby or anything else of relevance. Why not message us at: feedback@witneyrugby.co.uk.
Veterans @ Hailey Road
lar belief, you to have: enches of WWI a pacemaker! g either of preclude you aying, a letter from rent.
The Reality is:
You have to be over 35 years old and have been a member of Witney RFC for at least 4 weeks before match day. Sound like this could be for you? Why not come along to Club training nights; Tuesdays and Thursdays.
If you need to ease back in gently, we have Walking and Touch Rugby on Thursday evenings. Contact Simon Copperwheat on: 07904 360561
Angels Calling!
Witney Angels XV 5 : 65
Kenilworth Women XV
A strong Kenilworth side meant sadly the result did not go our way but a last minute try from Lisa Craddock meant we didn’t go away completely empty handed.
Lots to improve and reflect on as we draw to the end of the rugby season, while looking back on what we have accomplished this year compared to last.
We look forward to a new coaching team next season who have already declared their commitment to reviving the Angels’ fortunes and uniting the team. We cannot wait to have Dan and Alex on board.
Player of the Match:
Back - Ellen Raymond
Forward - Sadie Andrews
Overall - Lisa Craddock
Witney M &Js!
U16s Match Report, Stow-on-the-Wold:
SCORE: Witney 19 : 35 Stow-on-the-Wold
Witney’sU16sfacedoffagainstStow-on-the-Wold inamatchthatbeganwith highhopesbutendedina35-19defeat. Witneygotofftoaflyingstart, scoringanearlytrythathadthehomecrowdbuzzing. Theforwards were puttinginthehardwork,andthebackswereshowingoffsomenifty footwork.
However,thingstookaturnasWitney'sdefencestarted toresemble Swiss cheese,withgapsappearingallovertheplace. Stow-on-the-Wold, with theirscrummachineinfullgear,begantotakecontrol. Their forwards werelikeawell-oiledmachine,andtheirbacksmovedtheball around likeit wasahotpotato,findinggapsinWitney'sdefencethatyou coulddriveabus through.
Our Wolves welcome Kingswood to Hailey Road on Sunday at 11am.
The Wolves will welcome Kingswood with their now famous prematch battle cry, their very own Haka, the gauntlet will be firmly thrown down.
Why not come up to the Club early, catch the action from our SEND all stars, it will certainly put a smile on your face.
Witney RFC Walking Rugby.
The Witney Wizards is a group of older players, some with no previous rugby playing experience, all with one aim, to enjoy some fitness in a happy, social environment. We train once a week on Thursday evenings. Skills sessions, tactics, and competitive games, followed by a Supper Club and a social drink in our Hailey Road Clubhouse. The Wizards welcome people of all ages and backgrounds; we do have female players but could always do with more. The Wizards have played competitive matches at home and away, always draws a big crowd and above all else, is always fun. Think this is for you, why not come along and give it a Try!
