Rugby World: The Champions

IN ASSOCIATION WITH
LONDON & SOUTH-EAST
CHAMPIONS EDITION CHAMPIONS EDITION CHAMPIONS EDITION CHAMPIONS EDITION
LONDON ONE LONDON THREE NW and brother Jack played his part in a Parry amassed 320 points while Lee
RICHMOND STEVENAGE TOWN side developed via the youth section. Balchin was top try-scorer with 25.
Captain Matt Hart Captain Neil Bamber
Coaches Brett Taylor (DoR), Michael Coaches Terry Penny (head), LONDON FOUR NE LONDON FOUR SW
‘Buster’ White (forwards), Ian Taplin Gwyn Lewis (assistant) MERSEA ISLAND WARLINGHAM
BACK in the big time – well, almost IT’S all happening for Stevenage with Captain Dave Bredin Captain Tom Street
for the former Premiership club, nine three promotions in ﬁ ve years and Coach Andrew Skipper Coaches Neil Crammond (head),
years after going into administration negotiations to sell their ground at THE islanders, who won Eastern Steve Wagstaff, Peter Mattison
and starting again in Herts-Middlesex North Road and move to one that Counties One last year with just one (ﬁ tness), Glyn Bartlett (coordinator)
One. They lost only one of 22 games can be developed from scratch. They loss, repeated the feat this season. WARLINGHAM, in their 85th year,
with Neil Piggott running in 19 tries notched 116 tries and conceded only Their unbeaten home league record encapsulate everything a rugby club
and François van Schalkwyk 18. Hart 25 thanks to superior ﬁ tness. Gareth stretches back to 2005. Jon Williams should be with a strong volunteer
totalled 308 points while the ‘Heavies’ Lewis scored 161 points while Ian top-scored with 172 points to base, good ethos and a side with an
won the Surrey Veterans League. The Crompton (22 tries), Gareth Roberts surpass 2,000 in league and cup for average age of 23 emerging from the
club is seeking to extend their lease (21) and Michael Wilson (15) excelled. the club he joined 13 seasons ago. mini-juniors. The club thrived on
at the Athletic Ground, its home since ﬂ y-half Alex Glover (22 tries) and
1889. A requirement would be a new LONDON THREE SE LONDON FOUR NW No 15 Mark Kozminski (276 points).
clubhouse and grandstand. GRAVESEND FINCHLEY
Captain Martin Wilkinson Captain Ollie Richardson HAMPSHIRE ONE C
LONDON TWO NORTH Coaches Simon Jervis (head), Bob Coaches Peter Halsall (head), ELLINGHAM & RINGWOOD H
TRING Hussey, Malcolm Moaby Hughton Campbell, Michael Clifford Captain Rob Mitchell
A
Captain Tom Newton HOOKER Wilkinson built on last year’s FINCHLEY clinched the title by Coaches Steve Anderson (head),
M
Coaches Paul Bennett (DoR), Derek success as captain by delivering this beating Old Ashmoleans 32-18 in Alan Bingham (asst), Rich Major,
P
Trusselle (ﬁ rst-team), Andrew
I
Macintosh (ﬁ tness), Rob Edwards,
O
Paul Gunn, Mick Briggenshaw N
BENNETT and Trusselle made few S
changes despite losing to Thanet in
L
last year’s promotion play-off. It paid O
off with a squad comprising 70%
N
home-grown players unbeaten at
D
home and winning a fourth promotion
O
in ﬁ ve years. Tim Holgate scored 18
N
tries and Newton 173 points, while

Tom Hine and Tom Mowbray stood
A
N
out. John Lambden, ex-Henley
D
Hawks, will become Tring’s ﬁ rst

full-time paid coach next season.
S
O
LONDON TWO SOUTH
U
HAYWARDS HEATH
T
Captain Simon Fiﬁ eld
H
Coaches Nigel Baker (DoR),
-
E
Steve Heaton, Steve Dunnill
A
BOUNCING back from relegation,
S
Heath used just 26 players and Fiﬁ eld
T
nurtured a defence that leaked just
eight tries in the new year. Strong at
Home sweet home: Tring’s local players
secured a fourth promotion in ﬁ ve years
set-piece and breakdown, the pack
ensured quick ball for a lethal back title with a squad of only 25. Flanker their ﬁ nal match to ﬁ nish three points Andy Weeks, Clive Cashell (all player)
three. Threequarters Joe Govett Matt Clement was Player of the Year, clear of Grasshoppers and maintain EVER-RELIABLE ﬂ anker Mitchell
(23), Greg Parkes (15) and Nick centre Matt Weighman was the top their focus of climbing into London was an inspiring leader for a side who
Miller (12) all had decent try tallies. under-21 player in his debut season, One. Brendan Moore was inﬂ uential were always keen to get their hands
ﬂ y-half Scott Nash exerted a major while Halsall played a major part. on the ball and run. They scored
LONDON THREE NE inﬂ uence before breaking a leg and exactly 100 tries in all games, 16 of
WESTCLIFF Tony Nolan (19) was top try-scorer. LONDON FOUR SE them to Josh Beavis and 14 to vice-
Captain Matt Evans BOGNOR captain Adam Fityan. Andy Weeks
Coaches Bob Smith (DoR), Ben Ryan LONDON THREE SW Captain George Castleton totalled 227 points. The front row of
(forwards), Ricky Cooper (ﬁ tness) COBHAM Coaches Leighton Thomas (DoR), Allen Gilbert, Dave Powell and Darryl
FOUR promotions in six years testify Captain Bill Davison Karl Flynn, Joe Greenslade (players) Langford played nearly every match.
to Westcliff’s progress and they Coaches Davison (head), Pete FLYNN and senior players picked up
dropped just three points in achieving Costard, Martin Green (assistants) a relegated club by its bootstraps HAMPSHIRE TWO
the latest rise. Paul Radley was the COBHAM’S title celebrations merged and completed the double of a 100% EASTLEIGH
leading try-scorer while Rob Smith with opening a new £1.2m clubhouse. season and ﬁ rst Sussex Trophy. The Captain David Craddock
and Warren Duff kicked the goals. Mark Bennett (16) was top try-scorer No 8 cited an honest approach, Coaches Various
Tighthead prop and club secretary while David MacCallum collected 134 improved ﬁ tness and simple game EASTLEIGH won both the league
Rick Compton, 42, was a prime force. points. Davison was an inspiration plan as reasons for success. Rob and Hampshire Plate, and are due to
on 01400 282189, fax 01400 281662, email michael_austin@freelance.ipcmedia.com or write to 22 Church St, Long Bennington, nr Newark, Notts, NG23 5EN
RUGBY WORLD JULY 2008 121
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