Rugby World: The Champions

LONDON & SOUTH-EAST
WALSHAM READY FOR BUSINESS BIRTHDAY CHEERS CAPTAIN KENNY PORTSMOUTH’S POWERHOUSE
DOWN BUT NOT OUT lock Martin Bayﬁ eld will be guest the summer. Kenny won a tight vote Former Scottish international
NORTH WALSHAM mean business, speaker at the dinner on 16 January. among members to become captain, Derek White will have a more
with relegation prompting a move to Sussex, also 125 years old, saluted but Newton is his pack leader. specialist role nurturing back-row
semi-professionalism in London their landmark with a pre-season players while ex-Harlequin Neil
One. Any club ﬁ nishing in the top four ﬁ xture against a Belgium XV. Sussex, SHORT REIGN Collins is front-row coach with Ian
of National Three South ﬁ ve times in packed with young players mainly GEOFF RICHARDS didn’t oversee a Chandler continuing as head man.
six seasons before being demoted from Haywards Heath, triumphed single match as Basingstoke coach.
deserves a sympathy vote. 55-10 in the game that Lewes hosted. The former England Women’s head SAD LOSSES
They have bolted on a deal for coach took over from Jim Dixon in ELLINGHAM & RINGWOOD were
ﬁ rst-team players to be paid with a NEW ALL-ROUNDER May, but then left for Three South stunned by the death of Pete Corlett,
new coaching set-up, headed by Nick AMBITIONS run high at Lowestoft & Richmond. Stoke chairman Steve who was due to become their
Greenhall. Dave Smith, last season’s Yarmouth, of Eastern Counties One, Tristram insisted there were no hard second-team captain this season.
feelings. Coaches Gareth Lewis and Corlett, 32, died during a summer
SHORT PASS Lee Johnson now take charge on beach sevens event on the Isle of
MORE than 7,000 people, including representatives from London Irish and
match days under the guidance of Wight. A postmortem found he
the RFU, attended the second ‘Get Active’ Sports Fair backed by Andover.
director of rugby Chris Cook. choked on a sandwich. Corlett was
The free event encouraged participants to get involved in taster sessions in
Portsmouth, of London One, have to marry his ﬁ ancée Charmaine in
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50 sports ranging from belly-dancing to bowling and ice-skating to rugby. put the expertise and experience of August and was also a key player in
lock Tom Radbourne to good use the recent upturn in fortunes at E&R.
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caretaker-coach, is still there as who began their 129th season with since his return to his local club. The Hampshire rugby fraternity
backs mentor, Tim Malone has the recruitment of versatile Shaun Radbourne had spells with the has also lost a stalwart in former
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returned as forwards coach while Woodhouse as player-coach. successful Swansea University side, Alton chairman and president Geoff
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Mark Scott has taken up the new role He can cover every position in Henley Hawks and Newbury, piling Frith. He served the county in various
as coordinator of rugby. Chairman the front and back row and is the up more than 100 appearances in capacities but had fought a battle

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John Farrer said: “Nick and Tim forwards’ mentor, along with Simon six years at the Berkshire club. against Parkinson’s disease. n

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guided Wymondham to 20 straight Titterington. They’ve reintroduced a
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wins in Eastern Counties One and fourth team after a 20-year gap and
bringing that winning combination the target is to push for promotion
SPOTLIGHT ON…
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back to Walsham is brilliant news.” back to the London leagues.
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HURRICANES SEASON BOOZE-FREE BOARS

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EASTLEIGH are introducing HEATHFIELD BOARS overcame
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Hampshire Hurricanes, the ﬁ rst major disruption to their pre-match
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special-needs rugby club for adults build-up to enjoy success in France.
and children in south England. A blockade by striking French
G Sponsored by Sport England ﬁ shermen at Dieppe meant the East
U and supported by the RFU and Sussex club couldn’t take their

R Hampshire, they will use Eastleigh’s planned leisurely ‘booze cruise’ from
clubhouse and play in their colours. Newhaven to their twin town of
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Forges-les-Eaux. Instead, they had to
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LANDMARK CELEBRATIONS rush through the Eurotunnel, with no
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IT’S celebration time for the drinking time. Still, they pipped their
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venerable Brighton club and for hosts in an exciting tournament.
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both the Sussex and Hampshire Millwall, of Essex Two, have been
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unions. Brighton are looking ahead awarded a £6,000 grant and
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to a momentous 140th season with £50,000 loan from the Rugby
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ex-Havant centre Neil McGovern Football Foundation to refurbish
installed as the new head coach. their ﬁ rst clubhouse under railway
G They had a day of celebrations that arches at Millwall Park. They’ve been
OLD OUNDELIANS
included the Sussex One match using council changing rooms for
MEET the champion Old Oundelians squad that makes the club one of
against Uckﬁ eld, and dug through home games and a Portakabin for
the most unusual in England. New challenges beckon after they won the
the history books and set up a midweek training at Mudchute Farm.
Surrey Four title last season in only their third league campaign, but
special website at brighton140.com
to relive some of the club’s ﬁ nest COOKING UP A STORM
club captain and scrum-half Guy Simmonds is undaunted. He said:
“Surrey Three is uncharted territory for us but we have recruited
moments, featuring the day they SUSSEX back-row Guy Cook is back
some recent university leavers and hope to make an impression.”
beat Stade Français at what was to with East Grinstead after helping
It may seem odd that Oundelians, the old boys’ spin-off from Oundle
become the Parc des Princes. Haywards Heath to the Two South
School in Northamptonshire, play in the London leagues but Simmonds
Times have changed for the title. Cook is player-coach in a set-up
stressed: “Eighty per cent of our playing membership is based in and
Hampshire RFU as they mark their put together by newly-installed
around the City but some do travel from as far afield as Northampton,
125th anniversary with a dinner at director of rugby Gavin Gleave. Mark
Ipswich, Birmingham and Brighton. We revived the club seven years ago
Southampton FC’s St Mary’s Lewis has become head coach with
and are tenants of Old Cranleighans in Thames Ditton.”
Stadium. The county’s centenary Nick Bridgland marshalling the
Flanker Pete Bardell now captains Oundelians, who appreciated
event in 1984 was a men-only, black- forwards with Cook’s help.
the displays of centre Matt Mountain, lock James Davies and full-back
tie affair at Portsmouth Guildhall but Fergus Kenny and Rob Newton are
Jon Cope in a promotion-winning campaign that pleased Oundle old
this is a mixed occasion with a more in charge for Ventnor, of Hampshire
boys such as Rory Jenkins, David Walder and Mark Tucker, who all
relaxed dress code. Former England Three, after being opponents during
advanced into the professional game. n
Clubs editor Michael Austin welcomes stories and photos from all clubs. If you’ve any stories or Spotlight nominations, phone him on 01400 282189, fax him on 01400 281662, email michael_austin@freelance.ipcmedia.com or write to him at 22 Church St, Long Bennington, Nr Newark, Notts, NG23 5EN
136 NOVEMBER 2008 RUGBY WORLD
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