Club update: finance and governance
September 30, 2009
At a meeting of members on the 29th September, club president David Smith provided an update to members on the financial status of the club.
The main points were:
1. The club has appointed a new treasury team consisting of three experienced accountants. Their job will be to re-establish financial control and reporting procedures for the club. Michael Seckington has accepted a place on the management board and he made a short presentation to the meeting.
2. A more detailed report will be available at the Finance AGM on the 29th of October at 7:30pm.
3. The club is talking to all of its creditors and significant progress and payment has been made on old debt with nPower and Thames Water, among others. Talks with HM Customs & Revenue are on-going and open, with both sides hoping to make an affordable settlement agreement shortly.
4. David Jones will be assisting the club’s commercial team in getting further sponsorship.
5. Plans to redevelop the ground, which will provide increased revenue and improved facilities, are ongoing. Progress is expected by the time of the Finance AGM.
The club continues to build on its long-term vision of ‘one club’ and ‘rugby for all’ by building a sustainable facility available to the local community.
Julian Lewis
Director of professional rugby
Download the poster for CAB’s
September 29, 2009
Please download/print off/post up/email and generally get this poster noticed please!
Newbury Blues v The Cornish All Blacks
This Saturday the 3rd - 3pm Kick off!
A vision for youth rugby
September 28, 2009
The Youth section of the club returned to Monks Lane on 6th September. There are great plans for the Youth section of the club and to this end director of youth rugby, Dave Smith addressed parents at an open forum on Sunday 20th
Some of the key note points of my presentation revolve around the structure, vision and future of the biggest section of the club and I have detailed these points below. It is the start of what I and my team see as a real opportunity to ‘join up’ all sections of the club from the minis through to the 1st XV. After our meeting, the parents and coaches enjoyed a morning of training with great assistance from members of the 1st XV who assisted in each age groups training session.
We have had 1st XV players with us in the past but this weekend saw all the coaches and managers well briefed as to who would be helping them and fully enter into the vision of a joined up approach across the club. Feedback from the weekend was really positive and there are number of future sessions already booked.
I expressed my thanks to 1st XV manager Andy Widdop and the players for giving up their Sunday and making the morning really useful for coaches parents but most importantly the kids in all the age groups.
The new Youth Handbook is now published on the Youth Section of the NRFC website and I encourage all parents and players to read the sections regarding Codes of Conduct which underpin the ethos of the Club and the game we all play.
Moving forward, there is much to do, and I and the Youth Committee are keen to endorse the reignited motto of
“Expect Nothing, Blame No One, Do Something” throughout the Youth section.
The future players of our club are here already. Let’s support them and the section in whatever way we can, either by volunteering - or if you can offer sponsorship for the section or for our festivals - the highlight of our season - then please contact me via the club or on my mobile 07824 994717 if you can offer any assistance.
The key points of my vision are:
Vision
• To nurture Community Rugby and play safely and for fun.
• To maintain and develop the RFU seal of approval.
• To continue Newbury’s Mini, Junior and Colts (Youth Rugby) as one of the leading organisations in the South - if not ALL of England.
• To progress players from U7 to U19 and the onward transition from Colts to Senior Rugby at Newbury Rugby Club.
• To develop a structure which brings ‘home grown’ players across all sides.
• To develop sustainable resource of coaches, first aiders and others to deliver safe and best-in-class coaching at all levels.
Structure - Youth Committee comprises of
• Director of Youth Rugby
• Mini Rugby Manager
• Junior Rugby Manager
• Girls Rugby Manager
• Colts Rugby Manager
Associated to this will be:
• Coaching Co-ordinator
• Child Welfare Officer
• Tournament Director
Organisation
• Each section (Mini Junior & Colts) to have a Fixtures Secretary.
• Each age group to have a Manager and a Head Coach with suitably qualified and CRB checked coaching team.
• On training weekends, the potential to rotate coaches across the age groups to give advice and observe.
• On match days maintain the age group coaching structure.
• To develop a structure with independent head coaches - not age group parent head coaches, from U13 – U16.
To develop strong links by regular meetings with:
• Colts Rugby Management
• Senior Amateur Management
• Professional Rugby Management
• To ‘join up’ each section of the club and be visible as one club.
Dave Smith
Director of Youth Rugby
October menus at Monks Lane
September 28, 2009
October home matches at Monks Lane: Come and watch Newbury Blues play Launceston, Nuneaton and Wharfedale… we’ve fresh menus for you to enjoy all through the month. Make a booking for the Wickens Suite now!
Griffins burgers and club sausages available from the BBQ pitchside as usual but come and try out our menus in the Wickens Suite for a change
Launceston – October 3rd
• Fillet of salmon with new potatoes & spinach with a hollandaise sauce
• Apple & blackberry crumble
• Cheese & biscuits
Nuneaton – October 17th
• Lamb shank in a rich gravy with potato & celeriac dauphinoise
• Sticky toffee pudding with a butterscotch sauce
• Cheese & biscuits
Wharfedale – October 31st
• Chicken & ham pie with lyonnaise potatoes and seasonal vegetables
• Strawberry & white chocolate cheesecake
• Cheese & biscuits
Main course plus cheese from the buffet £10.50
or, two courses plus cheese served to the table £15.00
Great food… great value… great view of the game, come and support the Blues.
To make a booking call Susie on 01635-230023 option 2 or email susiepalmer@newburyrfc.co.uk
Newbury U14’s 24 - 29 Beaconsfield
September 28, 2009
“A good season beckons after a narrow defeat to Beaconsfield”
Newbury U14’s played host to Beaconsfield in a friendly on Sunday and although narrowly defeated 24 - 29 this was a real opportunity to look at the majority of the squad in a competitive game.
Beaconsfield had barely 15 players where Newbury, without some of the squad still had 27 players to choose from, a great advert for Junior Rugby.
In true tradition of a Newbury side the game kicked off, the opposition ran at Newbury and opened the scoring 0 - 7. Newbury then woke up.
From the kick off Newbury attacked and after a short phase of forward play Tristan Telford, who with Cole Bates dominated the mid field throughout the game, collected the pass and jinked his way under the posts with Cole Bates converting 7 - 7. All square.
The game was very competitive and some good running from both sets of backs gave both sides opportunities to score but equally good defence or a dropped pass thwarted the play and a score. After 15 minutes a counter attack by Newbury saw some quick passing with both Telford and Bates involved to set Freddie Fane running clear to score unconverted 12 - 7.
Newbury competed well but their early season rustiness showed, allowing Beaconsfield to push them off the ball at the breakdown and release their strong runners who ran in two tries to go in on half time 12 - 17 in front.
“Coaches View”
Good first half: some good individual performances from Bates and Telford with Collington in a new position at 6 and Captain led from the front and stirred the guys up well, with good support from Fane, Brady, Castle and Cresswell.
Lost our concentration on occasions and need to think about organisation on the field but overall pleasing start.
Newbury restarted well and considering the changes at half time the replacements slotted in well. Again the Newbury back line attacked well, Patrick Quinton-Smith running his back line well and after a quick break released Cole Bates to attack and run in to bring Newbury back on terms
17 - 17.
Beaconsfield regrouped and attacked strongly. Newbury defended well, tacking bravely but after sustained pressure Newbury crumbled and Beaconsfield where in front again 17 - 24.
Once more Beaconsfield countered Newbury pressure and ran in again to make the score 17 - 29. Considering the heat and pace of the game Newbury never gave up or dropped their heads and
from the kick off Newbury attacked and after a good passage of play Cole Bates tackled won the ball and ran in to score and convert 24 - 29.
With only 3 minutes left Newbury continued their hard work but were left defeated 24 - 29.
No disappointment in this friendly, 27 players had game time and long term injured assisted in carrying water bottles and being part of the whole team.
“Coaches View”
Some real positives, good defence, good spirit and good attitude. Things to work on, consistently win ball at the breakdown, we did it well in parts but not so well at critical times. Communication and Concentration is critical.
The kids all enjoyed themselves and it’s great to see a good squad effort and a building squad spirit, plenty to work on but really good with what we’ve seen.
And so to training next week in preparation for Windsor Festival and Basingstoke and some tough work on winning ball and skills.
Our Indian Summer continues and Monks Lane is lovely in September. If the boys work hard and keep improving the season will be good at Monks Lane….Not so sure about the weather though!
Match Reporter: Caroline Coombs
Newbury 13 - Cambridge 16 Report & Photos
September 28, 2009
Photos of the match compliments of Richard Bennett:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bennettsocial/sets/72157622341024311/
Report from www.newburytoday.co.uk
Blues downed by decisive try decision
By Malcolm Howe, Sports Editor
Email: newburytoday@newburynews.co.uk
Phone: 01635 564631
Rugby: Cambridge 16 Newbury Blues 13
BLUES were left seeing red and yellow as they narrowly failed to end Cambridge’s 10-month unbeaten record.
They won the yellow card ‘count’ 3-2, but were left red with frustration at referee Andrew Vertigan after he had awarded a decisive try on the word of a touch judge.
With the front rows downed, the referee awarded a penalty and allowed scrum half Craig Evans to take a tap and go over for what amounted to a free score, and one that Blues could not cancel out, especially after being forced to spend at least half of the second period short-handed.
Driven into more changes and with loanees Paul Roberts and Anton Welling on the bench, Blues might have expected to look disjointed. Instead, they dominated the first quarter, and if they toyed with the offside line, they were treated in kind by a Cambridge side adept at keeping hands and bodies where they should not, and two penalties apiece for Mitch Burton and Evans in the opening 10 minutes were fair rewards.
But Blues looked more threatening with the ball in hand as Cambridge laboured with player-coach James Shanahan slow to deliver, and three times Newbury breaks were halted, two for forward passes and one of which looked very dubious after Martin Freeman had gone away. Burton missed a penalty before Blues paid the price for allowing themselves to get dragged into some handbagging up front. It was a minor scuffle on the floor that led to a penalty and lineout, and the drive that ended with players all over the place.
Evans deserves credit for his alertness in snapping up the chance and the conversion, although he missed a penalty chance before the interval. Blues had prop Chris Rowland binned at the start of the second half, again on the word of a touchline official further from the action than the referee, but they responded well and again took charge of the game.
Burton hit the post with another penalty before Cambridge skipper Darren Fox was binned for halting a promising Blues move with Freeman ready to get away. The Cambridge defence creaked but held under
pressure and after Matt Williams had been carded for a shoulder barge on Evans, the kicker potted a penalty to give Cambridge a 10-point advantage going into the last 20 minutes.
Replacement Steve Pape joined Williams in the bin for a spell following a needless pulling down of a man in the lineout. Despite the disadvantage, Blues did break through, although too late to make a difference to anything other than their bonus-points return. Williams sent Freeman away into the Cambridge half before
figuring again and sending Chris Ridgers into a gap to score under the posts, Burton converting. There was no time to restart the game and Blues could only look at on that got away from them against a side that looked to have more reputation than ability.
Newbury Blues: Williams; Ridgers, Humphries, Scott, Freeman; Burton, Gasson; Green, McGrath, Rowland; Hodge, Ascroft-Leigh; Perkins, Fox, Witcomb. Replacements: Fincken, McGregor, Pape, Roberts, Welling.
Team to Face Cambridge 25/09
September 25, 2009
1. ROB GREEN
2. CRAIG McGRATH
3. CHRIS ROWLAND
4. DAN HODGE
5. IEN ASCROFT-LEIGH
6. LIAM PERKINS
7. SEAN FOX
8. SCOTT WHITCOMBE
9. WAYLON GASSON
10. MITCH BURTON
11. MARTIN FREEMAN
12. NICK SCOTT
13. MATT HUMPHRIES
14. CHRIS RIDGERS
15. MATT WILLIAMS
REPS:
16. PAUL FINCKEN
17. CALLUM McGREGOR
18. STEVE PAPE
19. PAUL ROBERTS
20. ANTON WELLING
Notice of the Annual Financial General Meeting
September 25, 2009
Notice is given to all members of Newbury Rugby Football Club that the Annual Financial General Meeting of the Club is to be held at The Clubhouse, Monks Lane, Newbury on Thursday 29th October 2009 at 7.30pm
The agenda can be downloaded by clicking here
Chris Hughes
September 24, 2009
It is with great regret that we can confirm that we have released Chris Hughes from our playing squad.
Chris moved to Newbury with a view to playing for the club, however a number of factors, not least of which was the injury to his knee meant that we all agreed that it was best for him to return home and complete his rehabilitation.
We wish Chris well in everything he does in the future.
Newbury Development win again!
September 24, 2009
ARMY U23’s 0
V
NEWBURY DEVELOPMENT TEAM 24
Newbury’s young Development Team continued it’s excellent start to their season by beating a strong Army side 24-0 at the Army stadium in Aldershot.
Despite a number of changes from the RAF game four days earlier Newbury were able to pick up where they had left off.
Both side spent the first 20mins sizing each other up with Newbury, perhaps, just shading the encounters but failing to register a score. Eventually, it was young, promising prop Nathan Thomas who broke the deadlock with a typical forceful charge for the line. Moments later Greg Sullivan dived on a well placed chip from, fly-half, Sam Katz to increase Newbury’s lead & the conversion from Katz made the half time score 12-0 in Newbury’s favour.
Newbury expected the Army to come out strongly in the second half & were not disappointed in that respected & soon found themselves defending their own line. With the early scare out of the way Newbury began to exert pressure of their own, especially, in the scrum. This was rewarded with a push over try which Dave Wells claimed. Newbury continued to threaten the line but failed to score until Wells again broke free to score his second. Katz converted one of the tries to give Newbury a 24-0 lead.
The Army did press hard for a score but Newbury’s defence held firm to give them a very well deserved win 24-0.