Having established a few 2nd XV matches towards the end of the previous season, the priority for this season was to ensure a good number of games for all the players that were keen to play, so Paul ‘Bodser’ Brown was invited to perform the vital role of the first 2nd XV skipper. As the 2nd XV pitch on site was very small and extremely boggy, alternatives were investigated around the town, met with very little success, so the club extended the hire agreement with Lacon Childe School.

Cleobury Mortimer RFC joined the RFU League structure for the first time. At this level of the game at the time this meant in a 10 or 11-team division only played each other once. It was either ‘home’ or ‘away’ depending on the luck of the draw!!! The season commenced with Alan Woodhouse as Captain, but an injury at a about Christmas time meant that Simon Conolly took over as skipper for the remainder of the season.

Going in to ‘League Rugby’ was a major departure for the club that required a different mindset, which the club did not want to detract them from the fun element that had become such a big part of the early development. The club did not want the more ‘professional’ approach to put off the less able players who still derived an enjoyment from playing the game and could we attract sufficient players to warrant regular 2nd XV matches. League rules required separate changing rooms, but how the club accommodated two additional teams for a 2nd XV match was a challenge.

Interestingly at that time all 15-players were required to perform a task on the ‘job list’, posted on the changing room wall at the start. Some had to set out the pitch, others had to clean the changing rooms, while re remainder had to collect kit or sell raffle tickets in the bar afterwards.

The club were particularly proud that Tony Yapp had moved on that season, initially to Worcester RFC and then to Bedford RFC under the tutelage of Paul Turner (former Sale RFC star & Welsh International) a path that would one day lead to 4-caps at Under-21 level for England during the 1997/98 season.

On the playing side the main influences were the formidable pack and strong tackling three quarter line. The pack had a strong front-5 locked by Pete Howman at No 8, as he had moved from Tenbury RFC because of the challenge of ‘League Rugby’. Tony Heap was top try scorer that season with seven from Tight Head Prop. In the Back Division Simon Conolly took most of the kicking duties from fly half (150-points 1-try, 14-conversions & 39-penalties), but we all still shudder at the memory of some of his tackles that stopped many a charging ‘back rower’!

There were other memories from this season, but particularly the famous occasion in a brawl near the halfway line of a game against Greyhounds RFC, a side from Ross on Wye, when their Prop hit Stephen ‘Squeeze’ Hems. Before he could retaliate, his wife had stepped on from the side lines and exacted her own retribution!!!!! The Ross on Wye player was later ‘in court’ for putting his face where Mrs Hems wanted to put her fist!!!!!