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First ever 3rd XV 'Casuals' squad to face Preston Grasshoppers 5th XV

First ever 3rd XV 'Casuals' squad to face Preston Grasshoppers 5th XV

Chris Brannigan6 Feb 2015 - 11:57
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The time has finally arrived, & The Casuals are raring to make up for lost time.

Tomorrow marks a new era for TCRUFC when we field our first ever 'Casuals' team in a home clash against friends & neighbours, Preston Grasshoppers 5th XV. Whilst most other teams around the North West seem to be unfortunately dropping teams off, tomorrow sees two clubs heading in a different direction. Preston Grasshoppers consistently field SIX teams week in week out which is an absolute credit to the club & the work they do in the local community. To maintain that sort of commitment year on year is truly commendable. As is the work at little old, Thornton Cleveleys RUFC. The foundations have been laid down over the last few years under both coaches, Hanson & Moran, & tomorrow sees the club finally reaping the rewards by debuting our 3rd XV.

The basis of 'The Casuals' is exactly that, to keep it casual & most importantly, fun, which is what all rugby should be about whether 3rd XV or 1st XV. We want to provide games to those guys that cannot commit to the club every week, or maybe they can but quite simply they don't want to. Maybe they've hit 30 & don't fancy the rolling out of bed scenario every Sunday morning just for the toilet. Or perhaps someone is new to the game, & want to build their confidence up in a less pressurised environment. Whatever the reasoning you have, we have worked hard to cater to it & provide fixtures that won't have you travelling to deepest darkest Cumbria or playing teams whose objectives are vastly different from ours.

Finally, we wanted to be true to ourselves & test our resources. With no 2nd XV fixture it would have been easy to give some of the high flying 2's players a run out, but in the long run, what does that achieve...? There are some familiar faces in the squad, none more so than Captain for the day (fool for a life time ;)) Pete Rae, who have maybe been a little short of minutes on the pitch in recent weeks. Seasonal debuts will be given to Sharif Ela, Andy Tracey, former 1st XV Skipper, Nathan Gulati, Zac Garner, last season's Head Coach, Paul Moran, Andy Hatch, Paul Karlsson, Tony Newton & the oldest man on the TC roster, Les 'Golden Shorts' Marshall. As well as these guys, Club debuts will be given to the quick feet of Chris Jackson, recently joined Back Row, Daz Gibson, & ex-AKS utility back, Max Reid. Aaron Farnsworth makes a start not long after joining us from Rossendale & Dave Newton plays only his second game for the Club this season.

The team is listed below, if I have missed anyone off then please do get in touch. If you aren't on the list but wish to be, then please do bring your boots but I cannot promise you a game at this stage due to such popularity in the fixture.

1. Hutchinson, Raj
2. Docherty, Richard
3. Farnsworth, Aaron
4. Wilson, George
5. Ela, Sharif
6. Rae, Pete (c)
7. Forbes, Andy
8. Mason, Leon
9. Newton, Dave
10. Tracey, Andy
11. Jackson, Chris
12. Gulati, Nathan
13. Garner, Zac
14. Hagan, Adam
15. Reid, Max

16. Moran, Paul
17. Newton, Tony
18. Baines, Nathan
19. Pinington, Marcus
20. Karlsson, Paul
21. Kay, Dave
22. Gibson, Daz
23. Ryan, Terry
24. Crane, Niall
25. Clarke, Ralph
26. Whelan, Martin
27. Joseph, Ben
28. Wright, Neil
29. Tucker, Baz
30. Bonham, Chance
31. Marshall, Les
32. Hatch, Andy

If you are free tomorrow then please will you come down & show your support for the lads from both teams & as always all are welcome back to The Ashley afterwards for lashings of ale. With no 2nd XV fixture taking place, I hope the sideline will be buzzing for 'The Casuals'.

Let's get the win, but let's all enjoy the game.

Good luck fellas,

Brannigan

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