Rugby World: The Champions

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MIDLANDS FOUR WEST (S) MIDLANDS FIVE EAST (S) MIDLANDS SIX WEST (SW) who plundered 28 tries, was also the
SPARTANS MARKET HARBOROUGH REDDITCH leading point-scorer.
Captain Alex Stewart Captain James Baird Captain Neil Hodgkins
Coach Julian Whiting Coaches Martin Dare (backs), Mark Coach Jim Grifﬁ ths MIDLANDS SIX EAST (S)
A FOURTH trophy in as many years Thornton (forwards), Dan Bailey ONLY a conversion separated KEMPSTON
delighted Spartans, who won the REMARKABLY, Nick Allsopp and Redditch from scoring 1,000 points Captain Craig Cunnington
Warwickshire Shield in 2005 and Bryn Morris also shared in the for the season in all matches. Their Coaches Richard Dell, Mark Trinder
2007, and Warwickshire One in club’s previous league title 16 years pack was anchored by seasoned A FORWARD-THINKING youth policy
2006. Coach Whiting has put ago. Only 22 players were used this props Stan Hull and John Tomlinson, is serving Kempston well, alongside
together a ﬁ rst team with an time in winning all 18 matches – and their backs, marshalled by the South African inﬂ uence of centre
average age of 25, a reﬂ ection one by 151-0 over St Ives – together scrum-half Hodgkins, were young Wayne Botha, who scored 27 tries,
of his productive local links with with the Leicestershire Shield. Wing and speedy. Wings Tom Elmes, a while ﬂ y-half James Bayliss was the
Bishop Vesey’s GS in Sutton Brian Chapman ran in 34 tries and Worcestershire & Herefordshire top point-scorer. The family-based
Coldﬁ eld. Pack strength was hooker Marek Kwisiuk scored 16 player, and Edwin Grey were heavy club, formerly known as Cutler
illustrated with prop Willie Wright as the side piled up 748 points, try-scorers and ﬂ y-half Tom Hammer Europa, hope to secure
and No 8 Simon Carrington being including 244 from Tony Selby, Saddington, 19, headed the points a new sponsor to maintain their
top try-scorers, while captain Alex and conceded a meagre 74. list in his debut season. development. Relegated last year,
Stewart picked up the most points. they bounced back this time by
High ﬂ iers: Market
winning all but one of their 12 league
MIDLANDS FIVE WEST (N)
Harborough’s Ralph
games, scoring a total of 442 points
HANDSWORTH
Cooke scales the heights
and conceding only 76.
Captain Jon Doggett
Coaches Matt Nevitt, Howard MIDLANDS SIX EAST (NW)
Johnson (joint) BELPER
C
HAPPY Handsworth won a second Captain Craig Tennick
successive title, their only defeat in Coach Christian Barden
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two seasons being at Eccleshall after BELPER won their ﬁ rst title since
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they had already secured promotion. they lifted the Derbyshire Cup ten
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Centre John Macey was the top years ago. Their side comprised
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try-scorer with ﬂ y-half Paul Rogers mostly former colts, with an
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amassing most points. Flanker average age of 23. James Emslie,
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Henry Skinner won his ﬁ rst cap for who can play at full-back or wing,
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England Deaf against Scotland. scored 18 tries and Jack Plant, a

goalkicking ﬂ anker, contributed
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MIDLANDS FIVE WEST (S) 118 points. There was special delight I
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RUGBY ST ANDREWS for Barden, in his tenth year of
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Captain Mervyn McConville coaching at Belper since his
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Coaches Graham Heaton, promising playing career with
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Wayne Morgan (player) Leicester was ended by a back injury.
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THE Saints had built a reputation as
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a nursery club for Old Laurentians MIDLANDS SIX EAST (NE)
and Newbold-on-Avon, but by WORKSOP
retaining their youth and colts Captain Kevin McGuire
products they produced a side that Coach Keith Dunstan
played fast and open rugby. Centre STRONG scrummaging and mauling
Morgan was a major inﬂ uence while won the title for Worksop, who
wing Lee Hersey was top try- and responded positively to being
point-scorer. Coordinator Heaton, relegated last year. Next September
who indicated he would step down, the club will celebrate its 110th
enjoyed the campaign so much he’s anniversary and the 60th since
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agreed to stay on for another year.
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O reforming after the Second World
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H
E
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R War, and has ambitions to upgrade
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A
MIDLANDS FIVE EAST (N)
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and increase facilities to cater for a
BARTON & DISTRICT MIDLANDS SIX WEST (N) MIDLANDS SIX WEST (SE) growing youth section and attract
Captain Steve Foster BARTON-UNDER-NEEDWOOD STOKE OLD BOYS women’s players. No 8 Gary Truckle
Coach Paul Drury Captain Dave Rowe Captain Hamish Cameron scored 15 tries and Andrew Waddell
TWO years back in the leagues and Coaches Tony Skehan (head), Coach Carl Grifﬁ ths harvested 105 points. Lock Guy
two titles for Barton. Youthful Glyn Bennett (assistant) STOKE prospered despite being Wilkinson, ﬂ anker Colin Barnett and
enterprise combined with the SUCCESS for this Staffordshire club, among ﬁ ve clubs competing for wing Danny Bowskill also impressed.
experience of prop Jim Ayres, No 8 founded only 18 years ago, came with players in the Binley area of
Paul Vanno and utility back Christian a squad of locally-based players. Coventry. They used the RFU’s Go COUNTY CUP WINNERS
Lees achieved another promotion Coach Skehan placed a strong Play Rugby campaign to help their EAST MIDLANDS Kettering
under the guidance of former player emphasis on defence that led to recruitment. Early-season success LEICESTERSHIRE South Leicester
Drury. Fly-half Karl Claydon scored Barton retaining an unbeaten home was built on forward domination but NORTH MIDLANDS Luctonians
22 tries and was top point-scorer. record. Wing Johnny Hornblow was they later showed their adaptability NLD Scunthorpe
They were also runners-up in the leading try-scorer and centre Matt by using the threequarters to good STAFFORDSHIRE Newark
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire Plate. Bird swept past 150 league points. effect. Full-back Jamie Brewerton, WARWICKSHIRE Broadstreet n
Rugby World’s club guide returns next season. In the meantime, if you have any stories and/or pictures for our clubs editor Michael Austin, please phone him 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 125
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