Photo's courtesy of Dave Sharp

Last Friday Harlow Rugby Club held their senior players presentation evening. Over 100 players and their friends from the Ladies and Men's teams came along to celebrate the successes during the season.  As always the competition for awards was very strong but with a very large number of new players in all of the teams the most difficult decisions were in the most improved player category. When introducing the awards for their teams all of the managers and coaches played tribute to the number of players making real progress, a good omen for the club in future seasons.

The ladies presentation had top billing in recognition of their finishing top of their league.  Introducing the awards the Ladies’ Coach Kerry Palmer paid tribute to the massive commitment and support he had received from the team this year. The player of the year was Nikki Millman who switched to scrum half for this season and combined the attacking and defensive roles of the position to great effect. Centre Davina McLellan was chosen as player’s player in recognition of both her attacking role and her massive tackling in defence. High scoring winger Abi Perry was most improved player, whose contribution included a hat trick in the critical home league match against Chelmsford.

In introducing the 1^st XV awards Lee Harron paid tribute to Paul Eynon who won the Player of the year award. He praised both his work to motivate he team in a difficult season and his personal contribution as a player who would consistently get across the gain line in attack. The Players Player went to Stuart Wilkins and the most improved player was mark Twiner who moved up to the 1^st this year and performed very well at lock.

In the second XV the Player of the year award went to Scrum Half Neil Fitzpatrick and for the thirds the award went to  Matt Johnson.  Mark Wedd took the title for the 4^th XV as undoubtedly the most versatile player in the club. In the course of the season he played virtually every position on the park, including Prop, Hooker and Fly Half, a range few could emulate.

Awards:

Ladies XV

Player of the Year: Nikki Millman

Players Player of the Year: Davina McLellan

Most Improved Player:  Abi Perry

1^st XV

Player of the Year: Paul Eynon

Players Player of the Year: Stuart Wilkins

Most Improved Player: Mark Twiner

2^nd XV

Player of the Year: Neil Fitzpatrick

Most Improved Player: Sam Cootes

3^rd XV

Player of the Year: Matt Johnson

Most Improved Player: James Banks

4^th XV

Player of the Year: Mark Wedd

Most Improved Player: Paul Crabb

1st XV Player of the Year: Paul Eynon
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1st XV Players Player of the Year: Stuart Wilkins
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2nd XV Player of the Year: Neil Fitzpatrick
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Most Improved Player: Sam Cootes
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