Harlow Rugby Club Player Presentations

Senior teams

Last Saturday Harlow Rugby Club held its senior player presentation evening. Among the men’s teams the best news was that the club have been able to field four teams most weekends during the season. Thanks are due to Brian Vinney who has worked very hard to revive the fourth team and to attract a number of former players back from retirement and to encourage others to take up the sport for the first time. He was rewarded with the Club Man of this Year Trophy to reflect his efforts. It now means that the club is in a position to provide for all levels of ability and ambition. The interest shown by a number of older players this season has lead to the club deciding to also run a veterans team next season.

The ladies team won their league in great style only losing one game and only conceding 30 points over the whole of the season. In their case choice of award winners was very hard with so many players making great progress during the season.

The awards winners were:

1st XV Player of the Year - Simon Vanbeck
1st XV Players Player of the Year - Mark Pickett
1st XV Most Improved Player of the Year - Nick Ford

Ladies XV - Player of the year - Tracey Lee
Ladies XV  Players Player of the year - Chole Van Dop

Ladies XV  Most Improved Player of the Year: Kym Hunter

2nd XV Player of the Year - Darren Hawkins
2nd XV Most Improved Player of the Year - Ben Branch

3rd XV Player of the Year – Danny Fitzgerald
3rd XV Most Improved Player of the Year - Mark Twiner

4th XV Player of the Year – Paul Bullen (Swampy)

4th XV Most Improved Player of the Year - John Stock

Among the most improved players special mention goes to Ben Branch and Kym Hunter. At the start of the season. Ben was in the third team but worked hard not only to establish himself in the seconds but also to earn several call ups for the firsts. Kym’s progress is highlighted by her willingness to broaden her playing skills to the extent that she played in a range of positions from winger to hooker; the type if player that is invaluable to a manager working with a small squad.

Youth Teams

Three of the junior Harlow Rugby Club teams celebrated the end of a satisfying season with a presentation night at the club last week.  The under 13, 14 & 15 teams enjoyed a great night together sharing memories of the season just finished and honouring a number of their players.

All the teams started the season rather slowly but found their form after Christmas to end the season on a high. Although all players from each team were warmly praised for their efforts and commitment, the award winners for the 2005/06 season were:-

Under 13 -  Harry Flynn (Player of the Year), Jacob Bessant (Players Player of the Year), Kieron Stoker (Team Man of the Year) & Sam Monaf (Most Improved Player of the Year)

Under 14 - Adam Davison (Player of the Year & Players Player of the Year), Lenny Hayden (Team  Man of the Year) & Sid Mortimer (Most Improved Player of the Year)

Under 15 - Sonny Neil (Player of the Year), Calum Potter (Players Player of the Year), Mark Ellis (Team Man of the Year) & Michael Blair (Most Improved Player of the Year)

                                    Click to enlarge

(L to R Calum Potter, Michael Blair, Mark Ellis & Sonny Neil