WE WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR
and a huge welcome back to the touchline after what I hope was an enjoyable and fun-filled festive season for you all. Hopefully you've been able to join in some of the activities which crammed our social calendar, starting with Christmas lunch and Memorial Saturday five weeks ago and continuing throughout a hectic December.

Unfortunately, and very sadly, it's not been the happiest of times for everyone. I am devastated to report that after a short illness Colin Hill, Brendan's dad, died earlier this week. Colin was a former Colts' Organiser and one of the good guys, a true gentleman who was never without a smile. Despite his problems he attended recent home matches in a wheel chair to cheer on his boy and the team. Brendan is determined to play today, with the whole team dedicating the match to his father. Our sincere condolences to Brendan and his family.

Before looking back at recent activities on the pitch, and five weeks since we played our last home league match, it gives me pleasure to offer a very warm welcome to today's visitors from Beverley to kick off 2022. We have previously contested games in Y1 in 2017/18, when we lost our away game 28-12 but won the return 36-22, and again in 2018/19, when the pattern was repeated: we won 21-7 at home but lost 39-19 at Beverley. Today's match is our second return fixture of the season. Our earlier meeting at Beaver Park was a thrilling contest which ebbed and flowed as both teams played some exciting rugby before we eventually won 31-48. We trailed 14-0 after ten minutes but at the break we were 14-38 in front. Sounds comfortable? Think again. With ten minutes to play the score was 31-38 with everything to play for.

In their last game of 2021 our visitors earned themselves a fantastic Christmas present by beating table-toppers O Crossleyans 25-15. They were always in front, with a 5-3 half time lead stretched to 25-8 before Crocs added seven points with the final move of the match. This was the fifth and most memorable win of their eight home games to date; unfortunately they've not been as successful on their travels, beating only Leos of their six away matches. As a result Beverley are sitting in mid-table with 31 points from 14 matches, but I'm sure that this afternoon they will be going all out to improve that record. We are duly warned!

DECEMBER RUGBY We launched the month with the legendary Collingwoods' Christmas Lunch, which this year incorporated time to reflect on those of our members who died during lockdown. We also made a formal presentation of donations made by members to the White Feather Project, a scheme to help eliminate food deprivation in our local community. We were joined by O Rishworthian, who came with two teams, and who very quickly brought our thoughts back to rugby with a spirited display of such attacking skill we could not relax for a moment. We did win both games but the 1st team were all square at 10-all at half time before eventually winning 36-20. Our Wasps victory was even closer at 20-19! I must say they were all very welcome visitors, after the match providing an entertaining lead-in to our evening of disco, karaoke and live music.

This was followed by two away trips, the first to Dinnington, who ended our sequence of victories with a well-deserved 21-7 win. Our hosts started very strongly and after 15 minutes of sustained pressure took a 7-0 lead. In the second quarter we suffered, in quick succession, three yellow cards and a penalty try, but dogged defiance not only prevented any further score but we crossed the line ourselves, only to see the try chalked off. We fared better in the second half, sharing the spoils 7-all. We conceded whilst again a man short, but continued to attack. Yet another card reduced us to 13 but galvanised us such that Aedan finished off a five-man move to get on the scoreboard. On the same day our 'A' team welcomed Redcar in a friendly match and won 32-7; today they travel to the coast to meet the Mariners in a league match.

And then our second away trip was on the weekend bedevilled first by Omicron and the offer to all clubs to postpone fixtures and then a pea-souper of a fog which made spotting the invisible man easier than identifying anyone on the pitch. Several clubs decided to call-off their matches but our players expressed a wish to play...and then, almost inevitable, on Friday evening Matty Todd, selected at fly-half in place of the unavailable Andrew Baggett, tested positive. Fortunately no-one else fell foul of the lurgi and we travelled to Leos, with Jack Luke deserving praise for stepping in to play his first game after injury. We started badly and were 7-0 down from the kick-off. At half time a try by Marcus had narrowed the gap to 7-5. Thereafter we ran in five more tries against a penalty by Leos, with the scorers shrouded in mystery in the ever-thickening fog.

Meanwhile the Wasps fared no better with the weather. At home to West Hartlepool in gloomy fog so thick they were at times playing Blind Rugby we took a 17-0 lead into the break before West introduced some of their big guns. They quickly made the score 17-14 and continued to threaten our line but defiant defending earned its reward as we scored two late tries to win 27-14. It was an outstanding performance not just by our boys, there was also universal praise for the referee, David Ellis.

CLUB NEWS These games led us into the Lizard Run of Santas winding their way down the hostelries of Linthorpe Road, and then into a week jam-packed with jolly celebrations. Once again the SOLD OUT sign went up for the children's Christmas Party on Tuesday (with thanks to Jenna and Andy Micklewright for ensuring its success) and then on Wednesday we welcomed the cameras of the BBC (Boro Broadcasting Club) for the Great Boro Bake Off – the pie baking contest! Another plethora of appetising pies made judging very difficult but eventually it was announced that 1st prize went to Brian Sexton (a fine example of a pie-lover) with runners up Neil Dixon, last year's winner, followed by Sheila Bircham, flying the flag for the ladies. A special thank you to Mark Jones for continuing to make the night such a popular fixture on our calendar, and to Ian Collingwood for his crucial support. To round off the week before Christmas Eve Santa John popped in to lead our musical evening of carols and Christmas songs.

REFEREE'S CORNER I am delighted to welcome Andy Williamson back to Acklam Park and wish him an enjoyable, trouble-free afternoon. Not only is Andy a regular visitor he was in charge of our last home game against O Rishworthian! He has refereed for five years, before which he played at No8 for Ripon. He is a telecoms engineer.

BURNS NIGHT: Friday 28 January
3 course meal and wine only £20!

Always a wonderful evening it's the perfect way to brighten up
dismal January.

Book your place with Phil Tilson