WELCOME To players, members, supporters and visitors alike let me offer you all a very warm welcome back to league rugby at Acklam Park after the summer break. And to kick off our home games this season I am pleased to welcome back an old Club with a new name; last season we welcomed Horden to our 'Christmas Special' our last home game of 2015. Today we are delighted to welcome them in their guise as Horden & Peterlee. Let me add there's nothing sinister in the change of name, merely recognition that after 91 years in Horden they have moved their HQ from Welfare Park to Eden Lane in Peterlee. I wish them the best of luck at their new base and hope they continue to flourish.

They couldn't have wished for a better start at their new home. Last week they beat Medicals 34-5 to sit proudly at the top of the league, just ahead of Northern and Gateshead. In that Christmas game I mentioned above we won 26-6, a scoreline which would delight me this afternoon. Incidentally Sam Gaudie, who scored six points for us in that game and is now with Wharfedale, suffered a suspected concussion in a pre-season fixture for his new club. Worryingly he has had a few similar scares in the past year. Sam was seeing a specialist in London last week, and we send him our very best wishes with the hope it is not too serious and doesn't impinge on his life in rugby.

LEAGUE RUGBY Our opening league game at Hartlepool Rovers wasn't the most thrilling encounter you'll ever see, but we did emerge victorious. Liam Wilson and Matty Todd have taking over as Captain and Vice Captain and Richie Lonsdale made a welcome return to the bench after his long lay-off. Rovers were the better team in the first half and went into the break 5-3 ahead. We'd taken the lead after 30 minutes with a penalty from Matty, but Rovers squeezed in a late try in the corner. However we improved and were the better side after half time, re-taking the lead inside ten minutes when Jordan Miller, one of three players making there 1st team league débuts, skipped past three defenders to cross the line for Matty to convert. Rovers weren't finished and with ten minutes on the clock they scored a second try to level the scores, but we took the spoils with another well-struck penalty by Matty late in the game – well. I say late, but we played an extra nine minutes of stoppage time before we were able to finally relax.

OTHER MATCHES The Wasps opened their CANDY League campaign in great style, beating visitors Blaydon 48-3, displaying a lot of dashing footwork and awesome defence. The Wasps squad contained many of the lads who won the double last year plus a few new faces including Andy "Taff" Geekie and a few old timers including Eric Windross. They got off to a flying start with an early try, adding four more before half time to turn around 31-3 ahead. Scorers were Joe Gaudie, who was originally selected by the cricket club for a game which then fell foul of the weather, Joe Durrant, Harry Hutt, Jay Ellis and Lewis Steele, with Angus MacColl adding three conversions. Astute handling of substitutes by acting team manager Robbie Small (not playing because he hurted his big toesy-woesy on a rock when scuba diving in Tenerife) led to a further three tries, with the two Joes each adding a second and Angus also crossing the line and converting his own try. Dick of the Day was Matty John, who thought he'd lost his kit bag but found it still at the club from last year – boy, did his kit stink!

Meanwhile Acklam cried off the fixture against our 'A' team, but not fazed, our merry band travelled to Northallerton, who had beaten them quite convincingly in a pre-season game. However we turned the tables and finished victors by 19 points to 10.

JUNIORS Our U13s and U15s kicked off their campaigns with games against Yarm School on Saturday. It was a good exercise with two close games thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Our U14s didn't have the best of season's last year but they got off to a great start on Sunday. Having to play away because of the Tees Pride run they travelled to Bishop Auckland and won 15-43. By the same token our U16s, who enjoyed a splendid 2015-16, continued their good form by going to Wetherby and winning 29-36. Our U15s also played Wetherby, their second game of the weekend, but came a distant second.

CLUB NEWS Many of you will know that sadly, after battling illness for some time Tom Jones died in June; he was only 64. Tom was a second row forward who played with such tremendous tenacity and determination that for some time he was a fixture in the Yorkshire County side; indeed his County Cap sits proudly in our Honours Cabinet. He holds the record for most appearances in our 1st XV, an incredible 437. Despite this fierce on-field persona Tom was a lovely man with a big heart and a huge cheery smile. He was always fun to be around and had a happy knack of lifting everyone's spirits, whatever their frame of mind. Even when confronting his health problems Tom's conversations were laced with his sharp wit and good humour. Unfortunately several of our members were unable to attend Tom's funeral; to give those members an opportunity to express their condolences and to share their memories of Tom with his wife Pat and their sons, Mike Wright has arranged for them to attend the luncheon before our next home match with Novocastrians in two weeks time, 24 September. The invitation to attend this lunch is open to you all – just get in touch with Keith Bircham to book your place. As a special honour to and in commemoration of a great guy, this will be the first of an annual Tom Jones Memorial Match and Lunch.

Unfortunately recently there is more sad news - Bryan Bainbridge died a couple of weeks ago. Bryan was a regular supporter and pre-match diner along with friend and colleague Reg Arundel. He was 81 years old. And Alex Woodward has been diagnosed with the early stages of MS but, as reliable as ever, he has offered to get involved with the 'A' team – we wish him well for the future.

Happier news, congratulations and Happy 40th Birthday to Brad, who reached the milestone on Wednesday. He enjoyed a surprise celebration in the club on Sunday afternoon, payback for the astonishment he caused Jonno on his 40th birthday last season. And congratulations to Craig Chapman, who earlier this year represented the United Arab Emirates in Division 2 of the Asia Championship, gaining promotion to Division 1 for next season by beating Uzbekistan 65-13 in the semi-final and then Thailand 70-18 in the final.

There's been a bit of movement these past few months. Danny Poole is emigrating to Australia next month and Paul 'Weeman' Wrathmall has moved out of the area with his job; after almost 300 games for the 1st team and 31 years playing rugby here (he must have joined our Juniors before he could walk!) Andy Micklewright has moved to Ripon and will play out his career there; Aedan Moloney, elder brother of Sean who played for us at Rovers on Saturday, joined Novocastrians a couple of years ago when he moved to Tyneside to study at University in Newcastle and was invited to pre-season training with Tynedale.

And a big THANK YOU to everyone who made our 3rd Beer Festival such an outstanding success - plans are already underway for next July.

REFEREE'S CORNER For our game with Horden last season we welcomed a referee who had never before set foot in Acklam Park. Well, it has happened again. Today it gives me great pleasure to welcome Sean White for his first visit to Acklam Park and also his experience of refereeing us, home or away. Sean has been a referee for only two years, having previously played at full back for Doncaster. He is a director of a company which handles the payment of wages for various organisations. I hope he has an enjoyable and memorable experience with us this afternoon.

CHANGE OF DATE: THE ANNUAL BALL WILL NOW BE HELD ON 30 DECEMBER!