All,
So the first half of the season has drawn to a close and it's time to spend a bit of time with family and friends over the Christmas break. It gives us a chance to have look at where we are as a club and have a few thoughts about 2015.
The seniors have had a mixed start to the season I think it is fair to say. But and this is the big but, the 1st team continues to play some outstanding rugby. To score points against Diss was an example as was coming from 23-0 down against Wymondham to snatch 2 points from the game. I truly believe that the squad has the potential, skills and ability to mix it with the very best this league has to offer and get results. They will come, the effort is there.
The Pedlars are having a great season, winning all but a difficult game against Norwich Union and some of the players are stepping up into the 1st XV. It has also been great to see some of the Colts starting their senior rugby careers in the Pedlars, having been around the club for long enough to have seen those boys at age 4 and 5 playing for the minis to watch them run out for the seniors is a very proud moment regardless of who they are. That's a lifetime playing for our club right there. It's equally good to welcome new players into our club or indeed some returning faces.
As for the youth and minis these section seem to continue to grow. The Colts have delivered some outstanding performances, maybe not winning all the games but certainly putting in huge performances against clubs who in the past have posted cricket scores against them.
The Under 15s have also produced some great results most recently winning on the road at Lowestoft & Yarmouth RUFC. Both of these squads will hopefully provide a number of players for our seniors in years to come.
The mini section next and the teams here too have had some brilliant results. It's great seeing the pictures of the young players enjoying the game and it's clear that team spirit is very evident in this section. This is where one of the best examples I have of why our club is so special. A few weeks ago I helped out with our "mini-minis" a small group of under 6 year olds and during the 30 minute session 3 1st XV players came and helped out with a little bit of chasing and passing and most of the Under 15 players helped out as "dummies" for these young players to run around. That was the whole club involved there in one instance.
This has been repeated as we have seen mini and youth section parents and players attending clubhouse lunches and supporting the seniors on match days.
Off the pitch the club is in a healthy position. Having had the boiler replaced last season all of the pipes for the water (hot and cold) in the club have been replaced this season already at a cost of over £9,000. Whilst we'd have loved to have spent this on rugby kit and equipment our clubhouse is our biggest asset (besides our pitches) and spending money on this is important. This is underlined by the excellent work Ned and others have done in filling the club daily with bookings and functions which are necessary for us as they provide an income for us.
We have seen an increase in VP membership this year, thanks to Mike Pond for looking after this and readying for the hand over to Rich Morrissey who picks this up at the end of this season.
Plans are already in place for next year's Tigers course and the success of the last event, together with the Prima Cup and the Fireworks night shows what the club can achieve. These events form a massive part of the club's income and it is down to the volunteers who ensure they run as smoothly as they do.
There remains much to do at our club for the remainder of the season both on and off the pitch but I'd like to thank each and every single one of you for everything you have done for the club so far this season and wish you all a safe, happy and healthy Christmas.
For those of you not crying into the toilet on the 1st Jan there is the annual New Year's Day game. If you can't play, come and support.
But in the meantime, eat, drink and be merry (mid - season carb loading is a valid excuse).