John Barker Tel: 01684 569527 e-mail [email protected] 23 August 2016

Dear Fellow Non-Player

MOVE OVER OLYMPICS; MAKE WAY FOR RUGBY!

I don’t suppose I am the only Rugby sportsperson who has been hooked on the Rio Olympics for the last two weeks, but I must now set that aside as we approach the new rugby season. Incidentally, I wonder if I am the only Malvern body who actually attended both of the last two London Olympics, 1948 and 2012? Both were outstanding occasions in my sporting memory; 1948 for the memorable Dutch woman sprinter Fanny Blankers- Koen, and 2012 for the Super Saturday Greg Rutherford, Jess Ennis (as she then was) and Mo Farah. Arising from Rio in 2016, we rugby club members will be remembering the introduction of Rugby Sevens to the Olympics and the splendid silver medal result of the GB team after just 10 weeks of their getting to know each other; almost certainly Sevens will develop worldwide as well as becoming a regular Olympic sport. Although I feature among the team photographs around the walls of the clubhouse as a member of the MalvernVII at Worcester in 1951-52, I could never have kept it up because you do have to train to be super-fit!

OK, enough of all that but what about our stars of Malvern RFC last season? I attended the Annual Dinner and Awards evening in the clubhouse on Friday 6 May when, between the courses of a good meal, the following club awards were made:

(1) Development XV Most Improved Player of the year: ASH BUDDING. (2) Development XV Player of the year: JACOB HEWER. (3) The President’s Cup (Outstanding young player in senior teams): ALEX STOCKWELL. (4) Most Improved Player: WILL GOUGH. (5) The Chairman’s Cup (Person done most for club in past year): ROB HARKER. (6) Player’s Player of the Year: JOE BUDD. (7) Player of the Year (The outstanding 1st XV player of the past season): JOE BUDD. Well done to all the award winners and good luck in the forthcoming season.

Another event I attended following the end of last season was the Club AGM on Friday 15 July. Dave Robins in his President’s Introduction gave thanks for a year’s hard work by the Executive Committee and specifically asked for additional club members in business to volunteer to help share the load of the Commercial Committee. John Holden in his Chairman’s Report emphasised the value of strong second and 3rd XVs to ensure a successful 1st XV (and regular use of the ground and clubhouse); he also emphasised the benefits to the Club of strongly integrated senior and youth sections. He reported changes to officers in the Youth Development Section; Mark Wolfe was handing over the Chairman’s post to Neil Palmer; Sarah Curtis the Registration Officer to Sarah Kane; and Deborah Pullen the Safeguarding Officer to Sian Landon. John emphasised the need for an increase in the number of members to obtain more income for the Club and advised more fundraising events were being proposed. He reported that the Executive were still in talks for a possible potential move of the Club but no decisions had been made; there were still 15 years left on the Spring Lane ground lease from Malvern Hills District Council but Morgan’s field in 5 years’ time would not always be available for the Sunday needs of the Youth Development Section.

At the AGM, John Taverner in his Treasurer’s Report for year 2015-2016 advised a figure of £612 excess expenditure over income, despite stringent control over expenditure and a 3% increase in total income. However, budget spending figures had not been achieved. Getting sponsors was now proving to be difficult and hence delaying essential ground and clubhouse maintenance. I do not intend to report further on the AGM

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except to say our existing officers were unanimously re-appointed and thanked. I do think, however, that more of us could learn a lot from attending the AGM and possibly be able to contribute to it.

Now let us look ahead to the forthcoming playing season. The 1st XV, having finished sixth in (South) last season, remain in this league and play their first league fixture on Saturday 10 September, away against Nuneaton Old Edwardians. However, one week earlier, on 3 September, they have a North Midlands Shield game away against Old Saltleians. So this means their first home fixture is at 1500 on Saturday 17 September against Pinley. There has been no structural change to this 12-team league so our other opponents are (alphabetically): Barkers Butts, Berkswell & Balsall, Dunlop, Earlsdon, Leamington, Nuneaton Old Edwardians, Pinley, Rugby Lions, Silhillians, Southam, and Spartans (Midlands). On Saturday 24 September, the club is drawn away against Old Yardleians in the RFU Intermediate Cup; we do seem to get drawn out of the hat for away fixtures more often than for home! Our excellent coaching team remains unchanged.

The Development XV will be playing in Worcester & Hereford Merit League 1, an 8-team league. Their opponents will be (alphabetically): Bromsgrove 3, Droitwich 2, Evesham 2, Kidderminster 2, Ledbury 2, Old Yardleians 2, Worcester Wanderers 3. One can straightaway see that this will lead to a clutch of local derbies, which is great, but the only snag will be getting enough ‘friendlies’ for the non-league Saturdays. The fixture list shows two so far, Cheltenham 2 and Greyhound RFC, both home and away.

The picture for the third XV is similar, in Worcester and Hereford Merit League 2, another 8-team league. Their league opponents (alphabetically) will be: Bournville 3, Evesham 3, Kidderminster 3, Kings Norton 2, Old Halesonians 4, Redditch Development, Stourbridge Lions 3; and up to now they are listed for ‘friendlies’ just with Stourport-on-Severn, home and away.

To be sure of knowing when and where all our senior teams are playing, you need to be sure to join the Club for the new season and thus get a members fixture list; same rates as last season. Attached is a membership application form. Also please do try and get an extra rugby-interested friend to become a paid-up member. STOP PRESS NEWS. Your use of your members loyalty discount card at the bar this season will take 10% off your bar drinks purchases, not 5% as heretofore; see you there!

Finally, but by all means not least, what about our Colts XV? They were North Midlands Division 2 Champions with an unbeaten record last season. They lost matches only in three Cup Competitions: (1) The last 32 of the National Cup (Lutterworth); (2) The Semi-final of the North Midlands Cup (Church Stretton); and (3) Quarter- final of the National Plate (Ivybridge). Overall they scored 673 points for, with 274 against, an average of 40- 16. It was a splendid effort and they were quite rightly entered into Malvern Hills District Council sports competition as a contender for the Team of the Year award. So this year’s Ian Budd Academy XV will have a lot to live up to when their season gets underway. The Youth Development Section Registration Day is Sunday 4 September, 1000-1200 hrs for all 6-17 year olds.

The full social calendar is not yet available to me but the first members lunch, as last year, will be free to members, and be held on Saturday 8 October; when the 1st XV home league game will be against Silhillians. If you can, bring a potential member or guests, for whom the meal cost will be £20. Make sure you have paid your membership subscription to get the free lunch! Remember the Club needs the money!!

Sincerely

JOHN BARKER

Enclosure: MRFC Membership Application Form.