Dear 200 Club Member,
Welcome to Newsletter number 26.
The 200 Club draw for March has been made and these are the winners
£200 – Number 21 – Ted Potter. A Club stalwart for many years.
£100 - Number 171 – David Taylor – From the Mini/Junior section
£50 – Number 126 – Dee Owen. Wife of Life Member Jeff. Congratulations to our winners, spend your winnings wisely.
The 200 Club are continuing to spend money on the Rugby Club. We have given, on your behalf, money to the Under 7 Minis to fund a project by their Manager, Gavin Smith, to improve their skills over the Summer holidays. Also we have funded the Under 13 proposal for a new gazebo to be used by all the Junior sections when they play their matches.
We have also funded Subsuits for the six senior teams in the Club. They are long overcoats with Club logo and 200 Club logo and will be ready for use next season.
The 1st XV have done really well in their last three games. They played well to defeat High Wycombe at Wycombe and then came to their last home game against Littlemore who were bottom of the table. Littlemore couldn’t field a team of registered players so they conceded the league points but brought a team to play a friendly game. Reading won convincingly.
The last league match was against Marlow, away. Marlow had defeated us 41-10 at Holme Park in the first game of the season. From the first scrum, Marlow were up against it but defences were in control and Marlow led 3-0 at half time. A penalty and try saw Reading take the lead 8-3. After 15 minutes of the second half Marlow scored a converted try to lead 10-8. Marlow used a forward orientated approach but the Reading defence held firm until with 15 minutes to go Reading scored the decisive try to win 13-10. Man of the match was Alex Dorliac playing at fly-half. Well done to the 1st XV and Ben Wills, the Coach.
A great performance which showed that Reading can compete with the top teams in this division. This showed the standard that Reading can play and it is hoped that next season they can manage to put out their best team on more occasions and reach the upper echelons of this league.
After qualifying as Area 2 Champions, our Under 18 Girls went to Cheshunt to play in the National Semi-Final South. As the country is split into 6 areas, the semi was a 3 team section, with each team playing each other. Reading were drawn against Pulborough, National Finalists for several successive seasons and Winscombe.
Reading played Winscombe first and after a tough game, Reading won 26-12.
Then against Pulborough, the Girls were 21-0 down at half time but a splendid resurgence in the second half saw Reading recover well to score 12 points. A defeat 21-12 but a very creditable performance. Pulborough beat Winscombe to go through to the National Final against the winner of the Northern section. Well done to the Girls and their support team.
The Rhinos go on their 30th annual tour next Wednesday, which sees Captain Keith Searle and Tour Manager Paddy Murphy lead the party to Sofia in Bulgaria.
Good luck to the Rhinos as they take their style of rugby to Eastern Europe.
Sunday May 12th. This is the Mini/Junior Presentation Day and we will have the April draw for the 200 Club. There will be £1000 given out in prizes.
Other dates which I hope that you are aware are:
May 12th 2019 – Memorial Game kick off 2.00 p.m.
May 16th 2019 – AGM.
We have 10 spaces in the 200 Club membership if you wish to buy a second or third number. Remember we have the “Bumper Draw” coming up next month with £1000 on offer in prizes.
Come to the Club to meet old friends, or even new ones, support the teams and help to increase the bar profits.
Enjoy the European semis this weekend
Best wishes,
Graham