As we wish goodbye to September and say hello to October the 2016/17 season is already a month old. Training as always has been intense, effective, and well attended.

Under the leadership of Richard 'Richard Christie 1st team captain' Christie; in their first match of the season the 1st XV would unfortunately lose at home to Skipton in their first round match of the Yorkshire Silver Trophy 8-34. With the league campaign beginning the following weekend the maroons made the short trip away to Leeds Corinthians and would run out hard fought winners 3-8 under very much autumny conditions.

The following week Burley would have a chance to set things right with another shot at Skipton this time away from home. However they forgot to pack their defense with Skipton running out 56-0 winners in a one-sided affair. Returning home licking their wounds the maroons would set things right against Ossett in a well deserved 22-17 victory. The feel good factor was not to last however with Burley taking on Hessle away and in a closely fought encounter that they would lose 34-17 as the game came down to the wire. Despite this a trip away to Hessle meant a bus-trip which enabled the lads to bond, drown their sorrows, and rediscover the feel good factor.

In following two weeks the maroons would rack up two dominant victory's first as home to York Railway Institute 45-0 and then away at local rivals Bramley 12-24. With the backs doing their thing and the forwards dominant in both scrum and lineout the maroons appeared to be firing on near all cylinders.

Training now continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1830 as we look to continue the momentum.

With regards to the 2nd XV after initially struggling for numbers the 2nd XV have had a side out for three weeks on the trot now. Under the seasoned leadership of vice-captain Jamie 'gasping for air too much to start a fight' Ferguson (official Captain yours truly was on holiday/playing for the 1st XV- soz) good numbers consisting of both old and new faces have put in a strong shift. Yet to put a notch in the W column however strong individual and team performances bode well towards a big win being just around the corner. It can't be understated however, how promising it is to be getting a team out at this time of the season where traditionally a 2nd XV is a mere fantasy due to availability issues.

On a final note a poker tournament was hosted by social secretary's Jack 'dodgy finger' Parker and Alan 'MIA' Sinclair last Saturday. The night was well attended and much fun was had. We all look forward to the next event as well as the tour happening at the end of the season (the rumour mill continues to turn).

Anyway that's all for now, otherwise this post is threatening to get into TL-DNR territory.

One last thing to reiterate training now continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1830 as we look to continue the momentum.

Many thanks for reading, see you all soon.