Saturday 14th December, 2pm KO Witney 3rd XV vs Bicester 2nd XV
Sunday 15th December, 2pm KO
Kenilworth Women vs Witney Angels
Welcome to the Final Chairman’s Lunch Match Day of 2024. The Club continues to thrive but as with most community clubs is facing increasing pressure on our finances. Energy bills, minimum wage rises and increased employer NI contributions add to the pressure. What relieves that pressure is your support, without which we would certainly struggle and would not be able to continue growing as we are, thank you.
We also extend a warm welcome to the Jumbo Crew, led by the Right Honourable Crackers, to Witney RFC for the first time and hope they enjoy their day in West Oxfordshire.
Today neighbours Stow-on-the-Wold are our visitors to Hailey Road. Last time out, at Oddington Road, our Firsts went under to a six to one try rout.
Hopefully that isn’t going to happen today and we will do our best to avenge the defeat. We trust you have a great day here at Hailey Road, enjoy our hospitality, but regardless of the result we anticipate a great game.
There are a couple of families that contribute massively to the Club, today I just want to say a big thank you to the Copperwheats. Old man Paul, committee man, gate supremo and Wizard. Adam our First Team Coach and Simon our Seconds and Vets guru contribute so much week in week out. Let’s not forget Marc who served the Club so well, and the contribution from Claire and the extended Copperwheat family. Thank you all for your contribution, all of us at the Club are extremely grateful.
Robert Fisk Chairman - Witney Rugby Football Club
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who left Norway for Antartica in June 1910, on this day in 1911, became the first person to reach the South Pole.
The oldest known recipe, written in Cuneiform 1800 BC, on a clay tablet, is for Beer! I’ll drink to that!
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!
Charlie Bowyer WRFC Walking Rugby
Dom Coe Matthew Collins Furniture
Callum Godfrey
Barry Bowles & Tony Maycock
Ben Ling Glenn Davies
James Merriman AK Timms
Jack Strong Jason Strong Builders
Tom Gafney Ian Loughborough
Marcus Reading Celestra
Cameron Ayris
Milfield Contractors Ltd
Angus Brown Fowler Hicks Landscaping
Keir MacDougall
Gareth Lewis
Harvey Wattleworth TW Fitness
Jasper Nixey Rowles Roofing
Jack Daubney
Chris Delaney
Ollie Dawkins GMD Consultants
Haydn Clarke
Ready Set Solar
Connor Pummery Drive Engagement
Luke Manning Ashcroft
A massive thank you to all our
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 Willis
Matt Webb Shaw & Co Solicitors
Sam Winstone Mike Dunbar
Callum Cope JC Landscaping
Gareth Jenkins Matt Delnevo
Daniel Wilson 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
A massive thank you to all our
Come & Watch
Witney Calling!
Well, if Storm Bertie was bad, Storm Darragh was diabolical! Only our Twos who had travelled East to Wheatley managed to don the Black and Blue and weren’t we glad they did. A great win, 5 : 22 to our travelling warriors.
Another casualty of Storm Darragh was the much-anticipated return match between the Wolves and the Wizards. For those of you that don’t know, the Wolves are our SEND team, one of the oldest of its kind in the County, and a big part of the Witney Rugby Club family. So sorry that we Wizards didn’t get a chance to kick your butts, unlike last time.
Post Darragh rugby returned for the Black and Blues as our Old & Bold Witney Veterans travelled to Kidlington for a must win game against Gosford All Blacks. Well, they certainly won running out 10 : 94 winners in what I think we can describe as a one-sided affair. At this point I hope you forgive me if I miss a scorer, keeping tabs of the score is always difficult when you’re engrossed in the game, but when the lads cross the line so often, 18 times, and you struggle with the 5 times table, well you can see my dilemma.
Witney Calling!
Scores came from at least; Joe Rowles 4 tries and one conversion, yes conversion from out wide, Chris Cope 3 tries, Josh Rihan 2 tries, Wayne Caffekey 2 tries, Nick McDonald Smith 2 tries and one conversion, Tom Young 1 try, Carl Strutt 1 try, Gareth Campbell 1 try, Jon Derrick 1 try, Ben McPherson 1 try. Our best guess is the tries are correct but 4 conversions have fallen by the roadside. Still, 18 tries, not bad going lads. Andy Merriman had a fine game up front and was overheard walking off muttering “Well that’s another Front Row seen off!” Don’t quite know what he meant but well-done Andy. Another key moment was when Adam C banged in an excellent spiral 50-22 to keep possession at the lineout. Thankfully the Vets don’t qualify for a TMO.
On the downside Simon Cottrell left the pitch carrying a shoulder injury which was later confirmed in the JR as a broken clavicle. As you can understand he’s somewhat upset as had wanted to get on the score sheet. Get well soon Si, next game is February.
Saturday 21st December, 7pm
1st Things First!
No game to report on as storm Darragh brought everything planned for Hailey Road to a very wet standstill.
Today however we host Stow-on-the-Wold, close neighbours but we won’t be popping round for tea and biscuits any time soon. Earlier this season, Stow gave us what can only be described as a thumping at Oddington Road, our Firsts are keen to return the favour and are up for a battle royal.
Stow seemed dangerous with ball in hand and space out wide, hopefully we can contain their running flair whilst delivering a proper tight game from our forwards. Come on you Black and Blues!
Walk-In Hairdressing & Barbering
2 Be or not 2 Be!
Wheatley 5 : 22 WITNEY II XV WitneyVipersstartedoutwithoneofthebiggestforward
2 Be or not 2 Be!
Proud Father and Son moment as Chris came off the bench to join Callum and enjoy the win. How proud to be on the pitch when your son grabs the bonus point winning try. Well done from all at Witney RFC, The Family Club!
It’s been three weeks since we last took to the field and whilst we like the number 3, that is too long for our athletes to be sat twiddling their thumbs. Let’s hope they have been bulking up, polishing their handling skills and working at securing good set piece ball.
Today our 3s host Bicester IIs here at Hailey Road with a 2pm kick off, don’t miss the start! Bicester sit just 6 points below us in the league but with a game in hand. Last time out Witney secured a bonus try win with Bicester very slow out of the blocks, unlikely that they will repeat that and so our boys in Black and Blue need to be on it from the start. A big ask given their enforced rest period.
Calling all Golden Oldies?
Veterans @ Hailey Road
y to poular belief, you do not have to have: d in the Trenches of WWI er 60 with a pacemaker! though being either of not preclude you from playing, or a letter from your parent.
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
I sit and wait, Does an Angel contemplate my fate?
Watch the Witney Angels
@Hailey Road
Sun 15th Dec 2024
KO 2pm
Kenilworth Women vs Witney Angels
Sun 5th Jan 2025
KO TBC
Silhillians Ladies vs Witney Angels
Calling All Angels!
No game to report on last week as the Angels had a rest week.
I would love to report that they took the opportunity to rest and recuperate or even catch up on Christmas shopping. Not the case according to social media, the ladies decided to paint various towns red. Well done girls, lets hope you can bring some of that energy with you on your visit to Kenilworth.
Kenilworth sit in 3rd place having lost only once this season first time out to top of the table Rugby. This is going to be a tough game but you can guarantee our Angels will give it their all and regardless of the result, will still be smiling at the final whistle.
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!
The club have 10 tickets for England v Italy @ Twickenham on Sunday 9th March. Great tickets at only £119 each. Available to Club members and Sponsors on a First come First served basis. Contact Ian: tickets@witneyrugby.co.uk
Saturday 14th December
Witney 1st XV v Stow-on-the-Wold 1st XV
Saturday 18th January
Witney 1st XV v Swindon 1st XV
Saturday 8th March
Witney 1st XV v Thornbury 1st XV To Book:
To book a table or individual places please contact WRFC Chairman, Bob Fisk. email: robertfisk@btinternet.com
Sponsors: All sponsors are welcome to attend, Some sponsorship packages include chairman’s lunch, otherwise charges apply VP’s, Club Members & Guests: All welcome, price per lunch may vary between £30-35 per head
