Given the demands of Covid and people’s wish to get out and ‘do stuff’ the squad ended up being over 40-players. We were fortunate to be able to complete most games, given work and home commitments of the players. Having just come out of various lockdowns and the effects of Covid, many people were just glad to enjoy some semblance of normality. Many were keen to catch up on work for financial reasons and so not everyone was available every week, inconsistent selection was a necessity. Just think of the possibilities if all 40-people were available every week – we could play regular 1st & 2nd XV matches. Despite the large numbers of players, we were never able to get a Development or 2nd XV team out.

A couple more victories would have been nice, but once again ‘mid-table respectability’ was ensured and we can move towards next season with confidence. The 1st XV played 19-matches with 3-games awarded to the opposition, due to being unable to field a team. These matches included 6-victories, a total of 441-points and 60-tries. All the players need to be congratulated on their efforts and determination shown this season, this is a difficult competition, the opposition is always challenging, the games always hard-fought but well done everyone for the grit and determination shown, for the resilience displayed in performances. Top Points Scorer was Alex Sparks with 133pts (4-tries, 28-conversions & 19-penalties) backed up by Sid Gittens 48pts (4-tries, 11-conversions and 2-penalties). Top Try Scorer was Tom Leach (10), followed by Jack Samways (8) and Sam Bills (5), but the fact that 21-different players managed at least a single try was testament to the numbers of players involved and their availability.

During the season various conversations were had regarding some Committee positions for the future. After 14-years as Club Chair Dave Hinves had been seeking someone who would be willing to take that role on. Tim Wright a former player, who has served in many Committee roles over the years, agreed to step up as Chair at the start of next season, subject to AGM approval.

In the mid-season Coach Dave Howard had approached the Committee to say that he would like to move into a slightly different role from just coaching the team and suggested hierarchical structure with a Director of Rugby in place and various people doing the team coaching. The Committee felt it was a little ambitious for a small Club with a single side. In the end one of the people he discussed the coaching roles with was keen enough to take on the Head Coach role himself. Dave Howard introduced Will Giddings to Cleobury Mortimer RFC and progress has been steady but sure ever since.

Having served his 3-year term, albeit 4-years in total (including the Covid season with no action), it was time for Pete Howman to step aside for our next Club President. Adrian ‘Murphy’ Robinson, local milk farmer and windmill owner, a previous stalwart of the pack during the early seasons, was approached. Always a great supporter of the Club, and he readily agreed to serve a 3-year term as President.

As a 30th Anniversary celebration we held a popular ex-player’s lunch and plan to continue that initiative in future seasons. On his departure as Chair, Dave Hinves said that he ‘borrowed this Club from Roy Powell in 2008 and was now handing it over to Tim Wright to borrow for a while, until he hands it on to someone else’. Further, he said: ‘I have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure as Chair and eagerly look forward to helping the transition to the new group. I shall then retire to the ‘back-benches’ and cheer the team on from the side-lines.’