By David Wilkinson
Last season’s championship winning squad
Getting promotion back into the national leagues was a massive effort from the players and the coaching team. After the previous season’s performances, promotion was the number one and very realistic target, with the squad’s development had being consistent. The core of the team had progressed from Macclesfield’s Mini & Junior section, with a few blue-chip loaned players coming on board towards the end of the season. The coaching team was led by the enigmatic Darren Lamon, who’s effervescent energy always got the best out of the players, to ultimately create a championship team.
James Oliver with the North Rugby trophy
For most of the squad the season didn’t end there, the Cheshire County squad was built around the successful Macclesfield team; and their winning ways would take them all the way to county final at Twickenham. Cheshire looked in total control creating a very healthy lead, that looked unassailable for Oxfordshire; but momentum in rugby can have a multiplying effect that is difficult to combat. Oxfordshire’s never-say-die attitude took them to the last kick of the contest, which they converted to take the trophy. And for some there was still yet another fixture, ‘North Rugby’s’, North West v North East. It was a close affair, but the North West were the stronger, taking the trophy 35 – 28; with Harry Oliver and Harry Blackwell getting on the score sheet, and James Oliver lifting the trophy.
Promotion into National Two West came as a bit of a shock, with most of the fixtures deep into the South West, including Redruth and Camborne, both over 600 miles of travelling. Twice Chairman Bob Cooke put up a strong case to the RFU to reconsider our promotion into West, rather than North, and twice it was turned down at committee level. It would seem to me that that the RFU’s review of player welfare within community rugby, in 2017, has now been well and truly scrapped; their admin being deemed to be more important.
New forwards working with the pack and coaches on driving-maul strategies
The squad is now in place for the new season, although missing a handful of players from last season. Sadly Tom Morton has decided to hang up his boots after re-breaking his arm; it was a difficult decision to make, and he will be sadly missed on the pitch, after a brilliant come-back in the second half of last season. It was in 2015 that a young Morts turned up on loan from Sale Sharks, making an immediate impact; and but for a brief spell at Sandbach, has been with as since, and now continues in the coaching team. Tom Burden has departed to the Far East for a few years and Head Coach, Rhys Davies, is dearly hoping that he can hang-up his boots this season; which will be a very unpopular decision by all! Charlie Attis, Terence Babarinsa and Brendan Berry have decided to move on, and we wish them well after great shifts.
There are 10 new boys that have signed for the new season, as well as several 2nd team players that will be up for selection. The new players are:
- Ben Blackburn, previously with Tynedale, 8/2nd Row
- Elliott Thompson, previously with Sandal, Blindside Flanker
- George Boughey, previously with Newport Salop, Back Row
- Dan Leake, previously with Sale FC, Full Back/Wing
- Jamie Harrison, previously with Sedgley Park, Wing
- Theo Hulbert, previously with Sandbach, Loose-head Prop
- Dominic Lovesy, unattached, Flyhalf
- Will Lever, previously with Bowdon, Scrum Half
- Marcus Pyle, returns from Burnage, Prop
- Lewis Stanhope, returns from Hong Kong, Prop
New Coach Matt Bebbington sharing his knowledge with the backs
I watched the last training session before the boys had a well-earned week’s break; and was surprised to see Matt Bebbington on the pitch leading a coaching session. Matt has excellent coaching credentials, he will a major asset to the coaching team. Talking to Head Coach, Rhys Davies, after the session, he was upbeat for the season ahead: “We have a target to win as many games as possible in the first half of the season and then take it from there; mid-table is a realistic target”. The players will certainly have their sights set on more than just survival, and why shouldn’t they? They have been a try scoring machine and losing is not in their current frame of mind. Rhys is confident with the squad: “Besides being a little vulnerable to any injuries, at half-back, the squad is in good shape. We have good relations with some of the senior clubs in the North West, which hopefully we can call upon should we need to”. Ollie Longmore continues in the coaching team as well as Russ Tomlinson and Paul Jakubowski, with Matt Coleridge taking on the challenge of Director of Rugby.
National Two West will be a very expensive league for the Club to play in, as the travel costs will be considerable; as such every effort is being made by Rob Oliver, Commercial Director, and the team to increase the sponsorship base. If you know of any businesses that might wish to partner with a community rugby club, whilst promoting their brand, please contact the Club at info@maccrugby.co.uk. There are numerous opportunities, to fit your budget, including advertising boards, player sponsorship, programme advertising, and social media.
The pre-season warm up games start with a Friday evening fixture at Heywood Road against Sale FC on 16th August, followed by Preston Grasshoppers at home on Friday 23rd August, and then Chester away on Saturday 31st August.
