Firstly, may I wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year. After a couple of weekends off we are back into the swing of things today with matches for our first and second XV. By chance, this is the first time in a few seasons that both teams have had home games on the same weekend, so all are hopeful that a double success will be on the cards come the final whistle.

The first XV’s opponents, Old Priorians, travel to us from Ealing in 11th place in London 1 North, ten points above Sudbury. The boys are all confident that their improving form prior to Christmas, and home advantage, will translate into points today. So we can expect a competitive and entertaining fixture if the away game back in September was anything to go by.

Much has been said about the first XV and their chances this year. With 12 games left, including more home fixtures than away, the boys are all confident that they can retain their place in London 1 North for next season. The message from coach Ben Scully is clear. 2017 will be our year, and there is not a player in the squad who does not buy in to that mantra.

On the far pitch at 14.00, the Second XV’s opponents Colchester IV travel to us in eighth place in Eastern Counties 2 South. With Sudbury coming to the fixture following defeat at Stowmarket in their last game before Christmas, the boys will want to take this opportunity to bounce back immediately, and with home advantage will look to capitalise on the result at Colchester, played in the September sunshine, which feels a million miles, and a million degrees away. The second XV are currently third in Eastern Counties 2 South, on 28 points, with both Hadleigh (game in hand) and Mistley only two points behind, and Ipswich six points ahead in second. League leaders Mersea Island are out in front on 39 points.

Away from rugby, the club comes into this weekend following a very successful new year’s eve dinner, which saw 120-plus players, supporters, friends and family join us to make the night a very successful event, for which thanks must go to our club manager Ruth Murray (almost wrote Hellier there, which she would not appreciate…) for all her efforts with the NYE event, and at the club in general.

Best of luck to all those turning out in the blue and white at Whittome Field this weekend. Let’s start 2017 how we mean to go on.

Paul ‘Cabbage’ Mather
Vice Chairman, and Second XV Captain
From the Old Priorians programme 7.1.17