SEDGLEY TIGERS

It is a very great pleasure to welcome Wharfedale to Whitefield this weekend in what will be always be much sought after and a keenly fought game.

We have met our fellow Northerners’ on 11 occasions in the past winning six of them with one drawn over the years in some very hard fought encounters. The important statistic is the fact last season we failed to beat them and on current form both clubs come into the game in very similar form.

Last week Dale had a very comfortable home win against second bottom Stourbridge winning 40-5 whilst also bringing an end to three defeats on the trot.

Sedge in an almost identical fixture list have had 4 back to back defeats but the score lines do not reflect the effort by the team and last week’s 32 -12 defeat away at Cinderford does not tell the complete story.

So with both clubs with a lot to prove and with safety yet not completely attained this game has much, much more than county bragging rights at stake.

But enough of them for the time being as we take a good look at our guests in the usual articles later in this piece in:, The Season so far, Players In, Hot stuff, Previous games, Club history and finally the ridiculously biased big match prediction.

Until then

TIGERS TALK

Tough day out last weekend with players getting injured before the game, and during the game, but as Alan Munroe works his magic it is hoped he will get enough out this weekend. More on that later.

So lots of negatives this week emanating out of the club and unfortunately once more we have no inside knowledge from the coaching staff ahead of a must win game.

I would like to take a different track and highlight some big positives from last week’s game.

I will start with Paul Urmston, who had a superb game when he came last weekend with the ball and the pack fizzing along and taking the game back top Cinderford. He is a Sedgley lad though and through, one of the main stays of the second XV ‘Mighty’ this young lad has proved what a great addition he makes to the first XV.

All I can say Paul, thank God ‘Hazz’ has allowed you to step up. Sorry a Chris Leader inspired quip.

Speaking of Leaders Chris’s brother Tom Leader also came on last weekend and had a very good game. Tom another young man that has come through the Sedgley ranks who is relishing every minute of first XV game time he gets.

From last week’s game we could have all been talking about a wonder try, the try of the season and so on.

It could have been too as Tom under pressure on his wing and as cool as you like chips the oncoming wing with a perfect kick collects with both hands steps passed a tackler rounds him and with the last man coming on a moments delay was the difference from a perfect off load to the supporting player and try time and what actually happened as Tom got pushed into touch.

It could have been different and in time Tom will learn from those situations.

Ben Black was utterly immense when he came on. Big and strong, great scrumaging, and on the front foot he was utterly devastating. His attitude and directness never mind his sheer aggression was brilliant and gave the team a much needed shot in the arm.

For a prop to have such an impact on a game, away and in the home of forward orientated, rugby says it all really. Ben great game matey

So with all you doom and gloom merchants out there, there are plenty reasons to be cheerful you just need to look a little bit harder.

NEWS FROM THE BOOT ROOM

Well the good news on the injury front was short lived as a couple of injuries from last week has made for some changes

Captain Garth Dew will be out for a substantial time following a horrific injury to him in the first 12 minutes of the game against Barking.

It is without doubt a huge miss for the club but that is our last concern as I speak for us all when I wish him a very speedy recovery.

Nick ‘It’s my birthday cake’ Flynn remains as Captain whilst Garth Dew is out.

Henno Venter has picked up an injury so he will be out for some time and could be the rest of the season. I will keep you posted on this as more news comes in.

Chris Parrott who has had an excellent first season for the Tigers will miss out also due to a stinger injury he picked up against Ealing Trailfinders

Simon Parrott is out following his injury last week but it should not be too long before we see Simon back on first team duty.

Winger Mike Dutton is also out with a niggley injury but again it was a touch and go call.

Winger Jamie Harrison has improved during the week and returns to action although starting on the bench.

The really good news is the talismanic Chris Wilkinson returns to fly half after a brief time out. I had to put up with a full hour of ‘how good is Chris Wilkinson’ from young senior colts scrum half Patrick Paine as they formed the second XV half back pairing last weekend.

It is certainly good to see Chris back in first team action and he will add a great deal to the team this weekend. Come on Wilko!!!!!

I can also tell you new fans favourite James Lloyd is fit and raring to go after twisting his ankle last week. This powerful second row has been a real find this season and I am sure popular player will go on to be main stay in the Claret and Gold for many seasons to come.

Phil Largan also looks like he could be back on First XV duty very soon (well he’s playing five a side). This even for one game would be a very welcome return. I have to say I have had some inside information from a highly reliable source that has confirmed a more positive outcome on what has been a horrific niggley injury.

And finally

If you cannot make any the game this week don’t forget you can keep up to date with all the action as and when it happens on the live match update which is found on the forum area of the website or on the left hand side link of the home page under the live match update link live feed.

Anyone can access it as you do not have to be a member so please join in and enjoy.

It’s going to be a cracker this Saturday.

Come on Sedge

Enjoy the game

All the best

ST


THIS IS THE FIRST XV SELECTION TO FACE WHARFEDALE RUFC AT PARK LANE
This is the first team selection to face Wharfedale RUFC at Park Lane, Whitefield, Saturday 10th of March kick off 14.30.

SEDGLEY PARK

SELECTION

15 MARK JENNINGS
14 GREG SMITH
13 RICHARD WAINWRIGHT
12 MATT RILEY
11 FERGUS OWENS
10 CHRIS WILKINSON
9 PAUL URMSTON
1 BEN BLACK
2 RICHARD OXLEY
3 NICK FLYNN (Captain)
4 JAMES LLOYD
5 LOUIS McGOWAN
6 BILLY EMERSON
7 DAVE LIVESEY
8 JUAN CROUS

REPLACEMENTS

16 DANNY BIRCHALL
17 SCOTT WRIGHT
18 ADAM LEWIS
19 JAMIE HARRISON
20 WILL RUNCIMAN


WHARFEDALE RUFC

SELECTION


15 LUKE GREY
14 JAMES TRINKNEL
13 DAN HART
12 TOM DAVIDSON
11 SIMON HORSFALL
10 TOM BARRETT
9 PHIL WOODHEAD
1 NEIL DICKINSON
2 BEN SOWERY
3 MARK TAMPIN
4 RICHARD BROWN
5 JOE QUINN
6 ALEX REIDER
7 DAN SOLOMI
8 ROB BALDWIN (Captain)

REPLACEMENTS

16 JOE ALTHAM
17 STEVE GRAHAM
18 JAMES MASON
19 RICHARD RHODES
20 WILLIAM BELL


WHARFEDALE RUFC

THE SEASON SO FAR

Like Sedge another tough season, in a very tight league so far for the Green machine with just ten wins from 24 games. They have battled hard in most games and managed to gain 6 losing bonus points and 7, 4 try scoring bonus points.
In years gone by that would have been quite respectable

This much loved Club and visit will battle hard to the season in true Yorkshire spirit to ensure they move away from the end zone. The thing is the more they push upwards it seems we fall back.
They have played some very tough teams in recent weeks just like ourselves and will target the game at Park Lane as an away win and it would be their first in the last three away outings.

A good win recently put paid to the then top spot side, Rosslyn Park, and with it there hopes of winning the league. Last time out they met second bottom Stourbridge and took them apart in a 40 – 5 home win.

They are currently one place behind Sedge in 12th place on 53 points having played 24 games winning 10 losing 14. They have scored 513 points with 568 against giving them a -55 points difference.

PLAYERS IN

Like most teams in National One Wharfedale do not adopt a scatter gun approach, with a money no object to new signings preferring to merge good signings with a bias of either future potential or league experience and blending them into an existing strong playing squad.

Well the later part of bringing in future potential or league experience and blending them into an existing strong playing squad has been a very successful trait operated by the Green machine for a good few seasons.

The recent signings of James Tincknell has to be a real bright spot after the horrific accident that put this big running winger out of the game. It is certainly good to see him back playing once more.


James Tincknell: (Wing): Leeds Tykes
Scot Jordan: (Wing): Westoe RFC
Lloyd Davis: (Centre): Wharfedale Academy
James Holland: (Back row): Bradford and Bingley RFC
James Gough: (Scrum half): Kendal RFC
Mark Tampin: (Prop Forward): Harrogate RUFC
Joe Althan: (Prop): Loughborough Students RFC
Alex Reider: (Hooker): Harrogate RUFC
Joe Quinn: (Second row): Otley RFC
Adam Myers: (Back row): Westoe RFC
Callum Connor: (Second row): Wharfedale Academy
Rhys Davies: (Second row): Northern RFC
Chris Morgan: (Wing): Otley RFC
Ben Sowery: (Hooker) Harrogate RUFC


HOT STUFF

These are the players who have scored more than ten points so far this season for the Green Machine.

Top pints scorer and big Billy’s boots is inside centre Tom Davison with 79 points, but top try scorer is a guy we know all about big back row Dan Solomi.

79: Tom Davison: Inside Centre: 1 (T) 19 (C) 12 (P)
71: Tom Barrett: Fly Half: 2 (T) 8(C) 8(P) 7(DG)
65: Dan Solomi: Back Row: 13 (T)
32: Simon Horsfall: Outside Centre: 6(T) 1 (C)
31: Luke Gray: Fullback: 3(T) 5(C) 2 (P)
30: Scot Jordan: Hooker: 6 (T)
20: James Druce: Winger: 4 (T)
20: Phil Woodhead: Scrum Half: 4 (T)
15: James Holland: Back Row: 3 (T)
15: Richard Brown: Number 8: 3 (T)
15: Adam Myers: Back Row: 3 (T)
15: Andrew Hodgson: Inside Centre: 3 (T)
10: Steve Graham: Hooker: 2 (T)
10: Robert Baldwin: Back Row: 2 (T)
10: Mark Tampin: Prop Forward: 2 (T)
10: William Bell: Scrum Half: 2 (T)
10: Dan Hart: Outside Centre: 2 (T)
10: Joe Quinn: Second Row: 2 (T)


CLUB HISTORY

Wharfedale was founded in 1923, its first ground at Wood Lane where the cricket ground is now situated.

Without its own facilities, the Wilson Arms and the Black Horse served at various times as headquarters.

The War years saw a temporary suspension in operations, but the club re-formed and in due course changed its HQ to a third public house, the Foresters Arms.

The gradually improving club’s first tangible reward came in 1957, when it won the Yorkshire Shield against Moortown at Otley.

Just twelve months later a Colts side was formed, the foundation of the junior section, seen as the cornerstone of the club’s playing development.

The club continued to prosper on the field and in 1964, when it moved to its current facilities, it reached the semi-final of the Yorkshire Cup.

The inception of league rugby saw Wharfedale positioned in North East Two (level seven). The opportunity to play against clubs which at that time had a more illustrious fixture list proved incentive enough for the club to win that league, then three more in following eight seasons to achieve its current place at level three. Season 2009/10 is Wharfedale’s fourteenth in the top 40 clubs in England.

Wharfedale prides itself on its homegrown talent, and over the years its players have been awarded representative honours at all levels of the game.

It’s President John Spencer, British Lion, Barbarian and England captain, continued to play for various Wharfedale teams for many years after the end of his international career.

No club playing at Wharfedale’s level fields so many local players, testament to the vigour and ethos of all those involved, and in particular to the single-minded devotion of the Harrison dynasty.


PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

We have met Wharfedale on 11 occasions in the past winning 6, losing 4 with one drawn.

We have won 4 out of 5 games at home with last season’s narrow defeat being the first one at Park Lane.
In recent times it has been Dale who have had the winning habit over the Tigers

The total points haul for both teams have been

Sedgley Park 266 - 206 Wharfedale

Averaged Scores

Sedgley Park 24 - 19 Wharfedale

Wharfedale 28 - 29 Sedgley Park 05/11/2011: (Won)
Wharfedale 22 - 22 Sedgley Park 12/04/2011: (Drawn)
Sedgley Park 19 - 27 Wharfedale 02/10/2010: (Lost)
Sedgley Park 24 - 29 Wharfedale 27/03/2010: (Lost)
Wharfedale 35 - 9 Sedgley Park 28/11/2009: (Lost)
Wharfedale 13 - 9 Sedgley Park 17/01/2004: (Won)
Sedgley Park 22 - 6 Wharfedale 14/12/2002: (Won)
Wharfedale 14 - 38 Sedgley Park 31/08/2002: (Won)
Wharfedale 3 - 33 Sedgley Park 06/04/2002: (Won)
Sedgley Park 50 - 24 Wharfedale 15/12/2001: (Won)


BIG MATCH PREDICTION

A very tight call indeed with no real form at all for either team I am going to feel the full wrath of the Calvary Club and favour Tigers Just! What else did you think I would do!!!!


SEDGLEY PARK 23 (4) – WHARFEDALE 22 (1)

All the best

ST