Season 2017-2018 // 21st April 2018 LONDON 2 SOUTH FOR PROMOTION TO LONDON 1 SOUTH HOVE V OLD REIGATIAN SATURDAY 21ST APRIL 2018 THIS YEARS PLATINUM SPONSORS: HOVE RECREATION GROUND @HoveRugbyClub SHIRLEY DRIVE, HOVE THANK YOU TO ALLTHANK OUR SPONSORS YOU TO ALLTHANK OUR SPONSORS YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS www.hoverugby.club If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of Hove Rugby Club call 01273 505103 If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of Hove Rugby Club call 01273 505103 www.hoverugby.club If you are interestedwww.hoverugby.club in becoming a sponsor of Hove Rugby Club call 01273 505103 If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of Hove Rugby Club call 01273 505103 PRESIDENT’S & CHAIR’S ADDRESS Just when you thought it was all Congratulations to both Hove over – it isn’t! Last week it seemed and Old Reigatians on achieving a racing certainty that, even if we runners up position in London won and qualifi ed for the end of South East 2 and London South season play off in second place West 2 respectively and with it (London and South East Division the opportunity for promotion to 2) the play off would be an away London 1 in this winner takes all fi xture. Instead Old Reigatian lost play off fi xture. (30-29) away to London Exiles, we Richard Hopkins won and gained a bonus point, all David Forsyth We can anticipate a hard fought of which leads to this afternoon’s and competitive game between 2 eliminator for promotion back to London 1 South after a three teams that share the distinction of having the second fewest season absence. I don’t think there is any doubt that we are points conceded and the second best points difference in their a better side than we were three years ago but remains quite respective leagues. Both clubs can be justifi ably proud of the a step and the higher division is very different from the one achievements of their players this season. we left in 2014-15 – only Brighton, Cobham and Chobham remain. Reigatians and Hove last met in 2009/2010 when both teams were the same league. That season Hove fi nished in the runners As I write the weather is set fair for the weekend and catering up position and alongside Tonbridge Juddians achieved arrangements are being made; it looks as if Old Reigatian will promotion to London 1 where they remained until relegated in be bringing two coachloads of supporters (about 100 people) 2015. to Hove for the afternoon. Plans are for a buffet lunch and ready access to the bar! On behalf of the club, I extend a warm If we are looking for historical encouragement in todays meeting welcome to all our visitors including David Forsyth, Chairman of then it comes in the form of previous play off results where Old Reigatian and Gary Henderson, Chairman of Sussex RFU. the London South West sides have succeeded in 10 of the Gavin Ross, president of Sussex RFU, has sent his best wishes 17 games between the 2 leagues. However, on 9 of those to the team but is unable to be with us. occasions it is the home side that have triumphed. Next weekend it’s the Bob Rogers Cup Final on Saturday April We look forward to a great game of open running rugby and 28 – with Horsham again providing the opposition; the game may the best side win. takes place at Hastings (kick off 3pm). On Sunday our Colts are in the fi nal to be played at Heathfi eld. David Forsyth Chairman ORRFC After that, it could be that there is some time to draw breath before it starts all over again. I hope so – for the sake of all those who put so much into making the club the great place that it is. Last weekend an old friend was visiting Sussex and I invited him to lunch at the club – no problem with fi tting him at late notice (thanks, Maddy) - and within an hour of arriving he had already got a very good sense of the friendly, sociable atmosphere that prevails in the clubhouse and commented on it. Visitors and members alike regularly remark on the warmth of the welcome which they receive. We do need to keep this up – a large part of it fl ows from the unstinting generosity of FUN FACT our volunteers, particularly with their time – one of whom, Andy Ward, is stepping down for a hugely deserved break after years “In the last eight of great service to the club in many different roles. We do need to replace him and to fi nd a new commercial manager and we do need every one of our members to play a part in ensuring the playoffs the home club continues to make progress while retaining the inclusivity, friendliness and kindliness which distinguishes it. team has won four I hope that many of you reading this will be attending the ball times and so has the next week – and I hope also that you will make the effort to attend the club’s AGM on May 31. away team” In the meantime, enjoy the game this afternoon - and have a great time. Richard HOW WE GOT HERE All good stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. In terms of this story, a good starting point is probably 24th April 2010. That date was the last time that we Change was starting to happen - what had started off as a very sat in second place in London 2 young team that got relegated from London 1 had started to South East and our superior record develop into a much more mature team as the seasons went on. meant that we would welcome Keeping faith with the players and with the coaching set up was Guernsey in a play off to decide who starting to pay off. The team was regularly hitting around 60% of Phil Ward would reach London 1 South. We’d the team all players who had played youth rugby for Hove and go on to win that game in a very players were coming back into the team either as they finished narrow encounter, with a scoreline of 17-14 to achieve London Colts or when they came back from university and players who 1 status for the first time in our history. joined the club as adults quickly found themselves loving what the club was about. A decent first run out in 2010/11 saw us finish in a respectable 9th place before we achieved our highest ever position of 5th in As we approached the start of the 2017/18 season, a London 1 South in 2011/12. A similar finish the next season of miscommunication ended up looking like a masterstroke! Former 6th proved to be a good finish in a competitive league. Hove youth player and Sussex Coach Jack Newton had been doing a bit of coaching with the team at the end of the previous At the time, there were an increasing number of stories of clubs season and had been offered a regular coaching role for the season who had bought in players and moved up the leagues only going forward. At the same time, conversations were happening to find that the promised land of a higher level came with a with Ryan Storer, also a former Hove youth player, who had spent new set of challenges and some of these clubs had bottomed some time at Cornish Pirates and Ealing in the Championship was out and seemed to be in a bit of a free fall - not too dissimilar available for coaching. Worries about the budget aside, both were to the stories of clubs like London Scottish, Richmond and brought on to the coaching team and the intent was to have the West Hartlepool in the Premiership when the game first turned fittest team going into the new season. professional. A good pre-season win against Worthing Raiders A led into a With a game that also seemed to be shrinking (at one point more competitive match with Old Dunstonian, which also resulted Hove used to run six teams but at this point we were down to in a win. Hove, who previously had always been known for their four) Hove took the decision to remain a truly amateur team backs, were starting to show signs of improvement in the scrum and instead of recruiting players to help keep a strong league with Storer’s vast experience - and although it was great to see position, decided to invest into coaching and into the youth the scrum going forward with Ryan in the middle of it, it was even system. While this happened as a transitional period, on-field more pleasing to see that the scrum went forward even when he results suffered and Hove finished 11th in the 2013/14 season wasn’t on the pitch. At one point in the OD game, our number 8 before being relegated in 13th position the next year - although knocked the ball on at the base of the scrum and the joke in crowd we only stayed off the foot of the table because Basingstoke was that it was the first time in a few years that the scrum had been had been deduced 20 points for going in to administration of going forward! all things! Any glimmers of hope about bouncing straight back into London 1 were effectively ended by October.