TETLEY'S BinER County Championship 1997-98

Date Fixture Date Fi xture Date Fixture Date Fi xture

29th Nov 97 South Vorbhirc v Norlhumbcrkmd (ot/cy RUFq 30th Sept 97 St.f!ord!.hire '1 No1h Iv'Iic!onds (Burton RFC) Durham '1 Yorbhire 1fAGll" (Dorlinglon Mowden Parle,

ComwoII v ~ (Redruth RFC) 7th Dcc 97 South 1st Oct 97 ~evNom~re GIouce9cMre y lJe.,on (lydncy} 1fA"'" , LEAGUE 4 (SystOM RFC) looc:oshire y CUIT'I!:ria (West Park) Hcnbdshire v Berkshtrc (Tabard RFC) lJe.,on v CMordshire (Bornstople RFC) NortIunbcrlond v Che!.hire (Tync dolc) LEAGUE 3 North 14th or 15th Oct 97 Warwicbhire v Sloffordshire ~ v C0mw01 (Bridgcw otcrJ Hompshirc v Ken! (US Ports mouth) LEAGUE 2 ( FCJ Surrey v &dinghomshire IImber Court) Cheshire v Lonco!.hirc (Sale RFC) LEAGUE 4 151h Oct 97 EwI Midbnd~ v ~shire (TBA) 28th or 29th Mar 98 U21 County Championship DcvonY~ (Tiver'on RFC} 13th Dcc 97 South Ch:.hdshire v Somene! (8onbury RFC) 1fAGll" 28th Oct 97 North WUdbrds v WorwicLhtrc Semi Finals North Eosk.'m CounIies v COn' ...·,d (S'ourbridge RFC) IfAGUE , (Cambridge Univer sity) 181h Apr 98 U21 County Championship Cumbria v Nom/Uno/Derllyshill! 29Ih Oct 97 NoIIs/liocs ,tDe.byshirc y Eo!.l fv\idIards LEAGUE 2 Final (Tw

A most sincere welcome to our friends from Cheshire today. We congratulate them on their campaign to date and we look f.Jrward to the challenge tbis aftemoon.

1 hope our lads are buoyed up by the success of our Colts in becoming County Champions last week and 1 hope we see an exciting and free flowing game today. A warm welcome also to Referee Paul Dickens and bis Assistants David Thomas and Graeme King. 1 hope they enjoy the game and give the players and spectators agame to enjoy~

My sincere thanks to Worcester for hosting our garDe this aftemoon. They are quite rightly very proud of their fine new facilities and it is a pleasure to be able to bring our players and our guests from Cheshire to Six Ways this aftemoon. .

In the North Midlands, we are proud of Worcester' s achievements and we wish the Club every success as they look for promotion for" the . second year in succession.

May 1 wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a successful New Year.

Dai R Scard President, North Midlands NORTH MIDLANDS CHESHIRE Red Shirts, Black Shorts, Red Socks White & Blue Hoop Shirts, White Shorts, Blue Socks 15 . N. Hillard Stoke 15 . 1. Kennedy New Brighton 14. A. Wildey Camp Hill 14. A. Whalley New Brighton '.:) 13 . J. Rawnsley Worcester 13 . R. Hughes New Brighton - D-evZj { 12. M. Humphries Worcester 12. H. O'Hare New Brighton Il. G. Gregory Moseley Il. M. Blood Manchester

10. G. Harwood (Captain) Worcester 10. A. Guest New Brighton 9. G. Henderson Malvem 9. N. Briers - f>.v.{jA

1. S. Cooper Malvem 1. S. Dodds Manchester 2. A. Caves Moseley 2. L. Hewson Manchester ~ 3. S. Baylie Moseley 3. S. Dorrington New Brighton 4. A. Reynolds Camp Hill 4. D. Craddock Manchester 5. T. Pemberton Whitchurch 5. T. Wasdell Chester 6. A. Heal Telford 6. G. Jones New Brighton ~ 7. S. Tansley Canlp Hill 7. K. Brookman (Captain) New Brighton 8. W. Morgan Worcester 8. M. Kirke Macclesfield

Replacements Replacements From: From: J. Powell Worcester R. Trigg Worcester a R. Sproston S. Powell Worcester A. Parsons Worcester +- C. Brierley Orrell M. Harwood Pershore J. Taylor Lichtield t- A. Yates Lymm S. O'Brien Telford C.Wood Moseley - T. Lloyd Lyrnm ~--__ li '" T. Beddow Northampton P. Kay New Brighton L. Mansutti Chester Referee: Mr. Paul Dickens RFU Advisol'd'1r. B. Abrahams Touch Judges: Mr. David Thomas & Mr Graeme King RFU I -"--:-:---~ ~ -7 I,I.-t. LI ''-'. ,~ -0 ).2. - (;y(..--.-q i,-­ ~ ~ ~-<-. ru ""', -'f. 7 ( -7 Il. - Jo 0-M--1--<'1"-(t...... 1).. - 7 ft - .2 j ~ ,",-"'- ,A, 1 ). 1).. ..LI (Il... - kt M, 17 Saturday 6th December 1997, will be remembered by aIl people associated with the North Midlands. The North Midlands Colts were crowned as Colts County Champions for the first time in their 40 year history. Under the guidance "fJohn Beale and Terry Malins, the side had won their way through to the Final, by being Midlands Champions and then by beating strong rivais Yorkshire in the Quarter Final and Surrey in a thrilling Semi Final. Having to come iTom behind twice in the Final against Gloucester, they won the game with a wonderful try by Leigh Hinton. A try worthy of the occasion and the venue. We congratuIate ail the squad on their achievements throughout the season and we thank ail the parents and relatives who have supported the boys. We wish them weIl for the remainder ofthis season and hope that they will gain further honours representing the Midlands Colts. It was certainly a proqd moment for Tom Walters, the President of the North Midlands Colts. He and Stan Whitfield have trodden so Many paths with the Colts over Many years and to win at Twickenham made it ail the more special. Great thanks must also go ta Roy Taylor, Mike Evans and Gordon . Wood for aIl tbeir bard worle, as weIl as aIl Roy' s committee for their .support over many years. Having tasted success, 1 am sure they will strive ta retain the trophy again next year. The Under 21' s retum ta their battle in the County Championship after Christmas. They have an awaz ~e against East Midlands at Northampton on Tuesday 24 February 1998 and need ta win that game to progress any further. So far they also have done weU and thanks to John Gregory and "AJ" Johnson for aU their bard work too. Anyone wishing to support them will be made most welcome.

·1

1 "As a Yorkshireman and rugby fan~'tic 1 am delighted that Tetley's Bitter is supporting the Tetley' s Bitter (ounty Champlonship. Ir plays a huge part in the season far (ounties throughout Eng land. Tetley's Bitter has already signed a faur year deal ta provide ample spansorship af the Tetley's Bitter Cup, which provides its own identity and dreams for thase teams raking part, Ir Is a high profile tournament and the winners rightly receive the credit they deserve. We must never forget the Importance of the g rass roots o f the game. The Tetley's Bitter County Champlonshlp is an area of the SpOrt offerlng an opportunity far more stars of tomorrow, Fu rthermore it is particularly helpful in stimulating the potenria! talent of ex·schoolboys and colts who mighr otherwise be lost to the game. The Tetley's Bitter County Champlonship ensures not only an entertaining day at Twickenham for the finalists but is a reflection of a crucial part of the English game's playing pyramid. Without ir. would not be in the strong position it Is today, It is a tournament we should cherish and enjoy at every Jevel and it pJays an important part in Rugby UnJan 's ongoing success. 1 hape that in my Pres idential year and beyand, ir continues to be a great success and graws in statu re year by year". 1'4tt..- -c,:o?':> ~ rresldent R,F,U,