An inauspicious start and a thrashing from Tenbury RFC in a warmup game inadvertently led to an excellent season, featuring the best every percentage win rate, another good cup run and promotion. With a Bye in the round-one of the RFU Midlands Cup on the first weekend of the season, initial thoughts were to arrange the Club’s President game on that date. The team and Captain Dan Bird felt they needed some match-time to prepare and so without a home pitch available, a weakened side conceded 54 points to local rivals. Then the North Midlands RFU asked that the home 1st Round tie of the Vase be played against Harbourne RFC instead. Little did we know at that stage how much the forthcoming season was going to be entwined with that particular club as they were brushed aside 29-13 in a stunning performance. The first League game, away to promoted Market Drayton RFC the following week, also featured another excellent performance, but this was affected by a minor traffic incident that delayed the arrival of some of the Cleobury players. With a disrupted warm up against a focused and determined home side this result was solved in the first half, but an excellent second half fight back nearly snatched victory. A home league win the following week and victory against Alcester in the RFU Midlands Cup boosted confidence. This was followed by a couple more League victories before a tremendous away win 33-15 against Ledbury RFC in the next round of the RFU Midlands Cup. Despite a reverse away to Bloxwich FRC in the League the Cup was a different prospect as Claverdon RFC were swatted aside 30-0 and the smells of Twickenham came flooding back!

As Christmas approached the weather became very icy and many games were postponed, but there were a couple of wins and one crucial defeat. Lying 3rd in the Table Cleobury went to leaders Harbourne RFC who were eager to avenge the earlier cup defeat, but Cleobury were winning 10-6 and looking good for another away win, when mid-way through the second half a knee injury to new Centre Jon Britton proved crucial. The length of wait whilst treatment was administered put the game in doubt as it got dark, but with a reshuffled Back Division after the re-start the home side ran in 3-tries in the closing minutes to snatch victory.

Since the defeat at Harbourne RFC the 1st XV went on a 7-game unbeaten run, including 6-League games, and a tense home local derby against Clee Hill RFC, who had pushed up the table to 3rd, behind Cleobury RFC. The other unbeaten game in this period was the Midlands Quarter Final of the RFU Cup, away to Birmingham Civil Service RFC – a spirited opposition playing a forward oriented game on a small tight pitch – something that Cleobury were not used to these days! A narrow and somewhat fortuitous 10-6 victory allowed progress to the Semi Final. Unfortunately, on a quagmire of a pitch away to Old Edwardians RFC the rub of the green was not quite with us, and a 24-8 defeat dumped us off the ‘Twickenham trail’ just 2-games short!

There was not much time to ‘lick wounds’ because leaders Harbourne RFC were due for a home league game the following week, followed by an away game at local rivals Clee Hill RFC – in clashes of the top three! As with the Cup game earlier in the season the leaders discovered the true Cleobury form and were vanquished 21-10 giving confidence for the next away trip. Our local rivals were having a fantastic season and were continuing to press for League position, but a tetchy game not helped by a fussy official meant that it was very tight throughout, but Cleobury managed to snatch victory with the last kick of the game due to a penalty in front of the posts for a 15-13 victory. With the bulk of close rivals now broken and positions well set, it was going to be very difficult to catch Harbourne who had claimed several bonus points already, but also Clee Hill were relying on a Cleobury slip up themselves, so the final 5-league matches were all won with some flowing Back play with an aggregate of 185-points scored and only 49-points conceded for Runners Up finish in Midlands 4-West (North). In a 28-game season of 22-wins and just 6-defeats this was 78.57% ‘win rate’ which beats even the Twickenham season (70.97%) and a true testament to the commitment and enthusiasm of the whole squad, the Coach Tony Heap but mainly of the inspiration of Captain Dan Bird.

During the season the Pack were superb in standing up to their opponents and providing a platform for the half backs. Reunited after recent injuries Scrum Half Willie Bache and Fly Half Allan Shields, were able to control games. However, the extra factor this season was the influence of new Centre Jon Britton (7-tries), he provided support for Fly Half Allan Shields, his tackling gave a defensive platform, but his distribution to all the various youngsters that played around him, was well timed and accurate to give them plenty of opportunities for scoring Tries. With all the kicking and running opportunities, this season saw the return to point scoring form of Allan Shields (196-points with 8-tries, 30-conversions, 31-penalties & 1-drop goal). This tally took him to just over ‘a grand’ with 1005-points for the senior club and 358-points behind all-time top scorer Colin Smith. James Manley (9) was top Try Scorer, while there was also a battle among the Front Row to add some spice! Skipper Dan Bird (3-tries) led the way, his other Prop Hylton Smith (4-tries), while Hooker Jack Bills won the bet with 6-tries!

It was unfortunate that once again, with all this success of the 1st XV, the 2nd XV could only manage a side for 3-matches and ALL of them at home with 1-win and 2-defeats. Despite this low number of games, about 5-7 players joined with Clee Hill 2nd XV to ensure that their fixtures were honoured for a further 8-games. It is worrying that we only appear to be able to field a side if at home and many players would prefer to find alternative activities on a Saturday afternoon. During the later part of the season a significant number of younger players were appearing at training and declaring themselves available to play, but without contact details, they were not being alerted to arrangements. Committee decided to change the future policy for choosing a 2nd XV Captain and this season it will be taken on by Matt Rogers with some assistance by senior players – just so that we can capture the enthusiastic youngsters.

Junior training continued throughout the season and played 8-matches with 5-victories and 3-narrow loses at Under-13 level. George Warrington continues to be prolific with (24-points; 2-tries & 7-conversions), closely followed by Louis Edwards (21-points with 1-try & 8-conversions), while top Try Scorer was Tom Roberts (5-Tries).