YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR : ADAM CAVANAGH
TOP TRY SCORER : MATTHEW ATKINSON
EAGLES YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR : BEN ROBINSON
MOST IMPROVED : PATRICK NOUTCH
MOST INFLUENTIAL PLAYER [THE HARRY MITCHELL AWARD] : LEE TINNION
LONG SERVICE AWARD : PAUL MILLER
MOST CONSISTENT : HEINIE JONKER
EAGLES COACHES AWARD : WILL STEELE
1ST xv COACHES PLAYER OF THE YEAR : JASON WARD
EAGLES PLAYER OF THE YEAR : DAVID HUMES
PLAYERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR : GRAHAM ANDREWS
PLAYERS SPECIAL AWARD : JAK LEE

All the award categories were hotly contested. The judges had a really tough decision in the Young Player Category as this has been a break- through season for several young black reds. Both Ryan Scott and Jack McCoubrey were mentioned in despatches before Adam got the nod.

Perhaps the one award where there was near unanimous approval was for Paddy Noutch as the most improved player. The progress made by this young man over the past 9 months is truly remarkable.

The Harry Mitchell Trophy for the most influential player on the pitch and around the club was taken by Lee Tinnion who has set a fine example for others in the squad and laid his body on the line week in and week out.

Two special awards were given out.

The first went to Paul Miller who is retiring from the game after 20 plus years’ service in the front row. Paul might have hoped for his last season to be a little quIeter than it turned out. The big lad answered our front row crisis with enthusiasm and clocked up 15 league appearances for the 1st XV.

The second award was to Jak Lee who acts as the team ball boy and rarely misses a game either home or away. Jak is a talented junior player and it won’t be too many years before he pulls on a senior black red shirt.

The most consistent award had a strong field of runners and riders. Andy Holcroft only got in a handful of games as he joined the club late in the season but his performances in those games ensured he could not be left out of the running.

Also in contention was Craig Foster who goes about his business with a quiet efficiency that is often missed by supporters but so much appreciated by the coaches and his team mates. In the end Heinie Jonker got the nod. Heinie was returning this season from serious injury but after a few appearances we were reminded of what we had been missing. Heinie did mention he may be stepping away next season but surely after so many outstanding performances he will have to rethink.

As always the most coveted award is the Players Player accolade. The ballot was held and all the usual suspects had their supporters in amongst the playing ranks. But by a ‘short head’ Graham Andrews –The Rock once again took the honours.

Massive thanks to Jack Clegg for taking on the organisation of the event and to Helen Lee and Christine Mac who prepared and served the food. Also a shout out to Fiona and the bar team who endured a raucous evening before finally getting the last of the lads out into the night air.

Let’s do it all again next year.