WELCOME To players, members, supporters and visitors let me offer you all a very warm welcome back to league rugby at Acklam Park after the summer break and to kick off the new season at home it gives me a great deal of pleasure to welcome Medicals back to Acklam Park. It seems like only yesterday when they were last here – in fact it was 56 years ago. We met regularly in the late 1950s and early 1960s, during when Medicals beat us only twice; both were away games, 9-3 in the 1958/59 season (a blot on an otherwise very good season for us – we played 32 games, losing only seven and scoring 648 points at a time when 300-400 points were our norm) and 6-5 in 1960/61.

Medicals RFC was formed in 1898 as the Durham University College of Medicine RFC. The Club has produced five Internationals and two Presidents of the RFU, Danie Serfontein (1992-1993) and Derek Morgan (2002-2003), who was also one of their internationals. They were promoted from Durham/Northumberland 2 in 2009-10 and last year finished ninth with 14 wins – the D/N1 league table for last season is elsewhere in this issue.

Medicals kicked off their season with a home Cup tie against Blyth, but lost 17-27. They then got down to league duty at home to relegated Horden; the game notched up 70 points, the highest total on the day in our league, but Medicals were on the losing end of a scoreline which finished 33-37, although they did earn two bonus points. Apparently Horden were leading 22-0 after half an hour when the game went to uncontested scrums with both Medicals' props injured. I hope they're looking forward to and enjoy their visit this afternoon.

NEW LEAGUE We charter new territories this year in our quest for success, as we approach another season, in another league – our third different league in three years! Last year we did more than hold our own in a strong Y1; we finished fourth scoring 87 points, 12 tries and 7 bonus points more than the previous year, in the process conceding fewer points than every other club in Y1 except champions Doncaster Phoenix, a commendable performance taking in to account our small squad and the injuries we incurred. Pleasingly five Colts made the step up to 1st XV rugby.

Which leads nicely into our first league game against Hartlepool Rovers. With the game just about over the score was 18-25 to us when a last gasp try from Jack Bircham not only earned us a bonus point but snatched a losing bonus point away from Rovers. Oddly every winning team in DN1 achieved a bonus point, with the highest scorers being Novocastrians; although there was no score after 30 minutes they beat Darlington 59-0. But back to the Friarage. Having missed a couple of penalties and presented Rovers with a try-scoring opportunity from a kick through which went to one of their players, we found ourselves 10-3 down at the break. The second half saw a more measured performance. We added three tries, first from Brad and then Rhys before Smally crashed over after a 20m break and two sidesteps (or did he get the ball half a metre from the line?), plus another penalty and a couple of conversions by Toddy to another penalty by Rovers. And then in the dying minutes Rovers crossed the line for what appeared to be a bonus point, but fortunately we immediately returned the favour.

OTHER MATCHES Whilst Guisborough cried off their match against our 'A' team the Wasps had a great run-out against Bishop Auckland; Jonno's report appears in this issue. Our U17s went to West Hartlepool but didn't enjoy their game, with Jason taking them off the field before no-side,

TAKE NOTE We have been informed by the RFU that enforcement of regulations relating to uncontested scrums and player interchanges have been introduced for this season. “A club responsible for causing a match to go to uncontested scrums shall be responsible for removing a player” - the so-called 'Man Off Rule' - and “a club shall also be responsible for not exceeding the number of permitted interchanges, ie 'rolling subs'” (eight in our case). Breaches of these regulations will result in a 5 point penalty deduction. We have been warned.

In 1992 the value of a try was increased from four to five points. Is there another change on the horizon? It is reported that a six-point try is set to be trialled in Welsh domestic rugby this season. Penalties and drop goals will be reduced to two points and a penalty try will be an automatic eight-point score, with no conversion taken. It is hoped that a more open and attacking game will result, with fewer penalty attempts at goal.

JUNIORS Green Lane was closed on Sunday for the Tees Pride Race (and well done Hazel) so the Juniors went off to play West Park Leeds – what games with which to start the season! I'm sure they enjoyed the experience – I'm assured the U15s were so whacked after their endeavours that most of them slept on the return journey – and the U14s achieved a memorable victory against one of the toughest teams in Yorkshire.

CLUB NEWS Congratulations and Happy 40th Birthday to Jonno. He dashed off after the game last Saturday to get ready for what he thought was a celebratory meal out. Calling back at the club to pick up Brad and Sarah, so he thought, he walked into a wall of noise, with everyone shouting SURPRISE!! 'Everyone' included not only family, friends and players, but colleagues from work. A great night was had by all.

And a big THANK YOU to everyone who made our 2nd Beer Festival such an outstanding success. It was intended to be a two day event, with a band booked to provide a relaxing and melodic Sunday afternoon, but we sold out of beer on Saturday night, despite increasing our supply of ale from the 20 kegs we had last year to 28! More good news – as a result of this success and our other fund raising activities we have now arranged to improve the floodlights. Work to heighten and totally refurbish them will start on Monday, with work lasting five days. As a result the lights will be out of commission for the whole of the week.

Sadly we lost two long-standing members since last season. Mike Turner ('Snagger') died in May, and Arthur Greenwell last month. Snagger was a Vice President and had served as Chairman of Selectors, Junior Organiser and a Junior Section coach. A commemorative gathering was held held over until the rugby season; it was held this morning at the Treebridge Hotel. Arthur was always in attendance with Tommy and Peter Clarkson, latterly chauffeuring Peter to and from matches once driving became too much for him. Condolences have been conveyed to both families on your behalf.

REFEREE'S CORNER For our first league match of last season against Doncaster the referee was George Shield. To kick off our home league campaign this year George is again officiating and I am delighted to welcome him back to Acklam Park. George has a foot in both camps, being a Northumbrian living on Teesside. Originally from Corbridge he was a hooker and played for Tynedale before joining the Army. Injured whilst playing rugby in the Army he turned his hand to refereeing and was a member of the East Midlands Society for 20 years before joining North Yorkshire four years ago. George is now a Safety Adviser Engineer and lives in Redcar.

RUGBY WORLD CUP We are in for an enthralling, exciting, nail-biting and memorable few weeks as the RWC kicks off with England v Fiji on Friday. The matches will be shown live in the clubhouse (with special dispensation to older children to watch the end of games which finish after 9pm) so come down to the club, join your friends and enjoy the atmosphere of what will be a real humdinger of an occasion – WATCH THE GAMES WITH US!
C O M E O N E N G L A N D!!