WELCOME I am delighted to welcome Sheffield back to Acklam Park. Lying fourth in the table,
and looking likely to overtake third-placed Wheatley Hills, our visitors are in a strong position to
finish the season in a better position than last season, when they finished sixth. They lost their
opening match at Morley but then won their next five games before losing to Wheatley Hills.
They then beat us 25-10 and drew at O Crossleyans before embarking on a run of seven wins in
nine matches, including revenge against Wheatley Hills last week. Although we finished above Sheffield last season they beat us in both games, a sequence I hope we can reverse today!

TEAM NEWS Sadly we lost 35-0 at Morley last week. There were withdrawals before the game – Bellers had twisted his knee and Benn Horton was ill – but we fought manfully for 30 minutes without conceding a point before Morley proved to be just too strong for us. They now lie second in the table. Looking back a week, at first sight the score line of 49-5 looks like a thumping at Beverley. However there are positives to take from the game. Beverley were 14 points clear at the top of the table and yet there was no score during the first quarter, and in an even second half each team should have scored one try – Beverley were awarded two when a blindingly low sun unsighted the referee to a clear forward pass, and that score dropped us to third bottom because alphabetically Keighley comes before Middlesbrough! The damage was all done in the second quarter of the game, during which we were down to 14 men and Beverley really cut loose to score five goals. But, even at 35-0 down, we rolled up our sleeves and got stuck into the second half.

Before the white-out we suffered another disappointing loss at home to Keighley as they completed the double against us. After a slow start we were 0-6 down, recovered a little with a penalty from Simon before conceding a try which was converted to put us 3-13 in arrears but for the next 20 minutes we camped on the Keighley line but could not break through. I was a little surprised at the number of penalties they were allowed to concede while they were under siege…Immediately after the start of the second half Keighley ran through to score what turned out to be a another crucial seven points. They were never again in our half as we applied constant pressure throughout the rest of the match. We did score two tries, from Jack Bircham and Shaun Kay but just could not get those extra points. Keighley’s defence to keep us at bay whilst under continual bombardment had to be applauded.

To digress just for a moment, the RFU sees the Rugby World Cup in 2015 as an opportunity to increase a playing population that has been falling in recent years. Indeed last month Sport England announced that it would cut its funding to rugby union by £8.8 million to £20 million between 2013 and 2017 because of falling participation numbers. I draw your attention to this because if Sport England are paying for numbers we should get a disbursement! We now regularly field five senior teams plus a Colts side, a truly magnificent achievement in these times of reportedly dwindling numbers of players.

Since my last report the Wasps have won their three matches, completing the double against Keighley, 29-12, in what was only their third match in eight weeks and in which one of the highlights was seeing Jabba anchoring the scrum at prop in his coat of many colours. He was due to play a cameo role to establish our supremacy but played the whole game – and it grieves me to say so but he played very well! They have also beaten Blaydon 31-17 and on Saturday Westoe 21-19. Great going guys.
Congratulations to the ‘A’ team who beat a very determined DMP on Saturday to reach the final of the Merit League Cup against Acklam in April to continue their fantastic season. They’ve also beaten Billingham on their home turf and lost to a Seaton Carew 1st team out to prove they should be playing our Wasps. Joanne has supplied match reports on p4. The Lions also deserve our congratulations for beating Thirsk 20-13 in the QF of the North Yorkshire Trophy, as well as beating Hartlepool and Stockton. The Bees were hosts to Bishop Auckland and won an entertaining game 19-14 on the Tollesby mud patch before losing a close match 28-20 at Acklam, whilst the Colts got back in harness, unfortunately losing at home to a big Cleckheaton side before beating Wath upon Dearne 22-0 on Sunday – see Terry’s report. A pretty good set of results I think you’ll agree.

CLUB NEWS Congratulations to Josh Walters and Ollie Hodgson, both selected for the North of England U18 team. Josh and Ollie both joined MRUFC at the age of 8 and 9 respectively and both played County rugby at U15/16 level and were involved respectively with Leeds Carnegie and Newcastle Falcons. We wish both guys all the best and look forward to seeing how far their rugby careers progress.

Well done to John O’Boyle; his bid for funding for this Club to run a 'Big Lads Into Rugby Programme' under a community health programme has been approved. We have been awarded a sum of £2,610 to run the course for two dozen 10-11 year old boys.

On Saturday 2 March the Mini coaches have planned a Race Night to raise some funds for our little treasures in the U7s, 8s and 9s age groups. It will be held in the Club’s function room and tickets cost a measly £5 per person which includes pie and peas. Let Brad have your name and how many tickets you require – quickly – by texting him on 07912 546479 (he’s the handsome one in the photo on p9 of the programme). There is an opportunity to sponsor a race for the very attractive price of only £20 – just let Brad know ASAP.

The mention of pie and peas reminded me of the headline “Protect Against Frozen Pies” in the last edition of “Touchline” the official newspaper of the RFU. Well, that’s what I thought it said but when I read it again I realised it actually said “Pipes” not “Pies.” Incidentally now that ladies are able to enter the Annual Acklam Park Pie Baking Competition Delia Smith, taking umbrage at being dropped from Waitrose adverts, has asked for an entry form; she wants to show them, she says, by winning ‘the most prestigious event in the baking calendar.’

Members Reunion Saturday 6 April, lunch 12.30 for 1.00pm before we play Morpeth at 3.00pm. Tickets are £15 and include entry to the match. Please let Stu Micklewright know if you are attending (tel:01642 327382/07909 744114, email: l.micklewright@ntlworld.com)

SPONSORS I am delighted to welcome back two sponsors to our game this afternoon. There is Andrew Gloag of Gloag & Sons Ltd, a farming and contracting business based on their farm on the outskirts of Stokesley. The business has developed through managed agreements, contracting a variety of agricultural activity, and having plant and equipment available for hire. The family have a long association with the Club, starting with Andrew’s father, a Scottish international, who played here in the 50s. The other sponsor also has a father-and-son association with the club – he is Tom Seymour (John’s son), who, as Dromonby Fisheries, also of Stokesley, has developed private fishing facilities across a sequence of waterways on their farmland.

REFEREE’S CORNER I am pleased to welcome Jonathan Hill back to Acklam Park for his second visit of the season; he was in charge here against Northern just before Christmas. Jonathan has been a referee for 17 years; before that he played in the front row at Old Otliensians and then at Malton & Norton. An agricultural consultant, he knows some of our country members, including one of today’s sponsors Andrew Gloag. I hope he enjoys his return visit with us this afternoon.