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CLWB RYGBI WRECSAM WREXHAM RUGBY CLUB Bryn Estyn Road, Wrexham, North Wales. LL13 9TY Tel: UK (0)1978 261215 |
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CLWB RYGBI WRECSAM WREXHAM RUGBY CLUB Bryn Estyn Road, Wrexham, North Wales. LL13 9TY Tel: UK (0)1978 261215 |
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CLUB NEWS 07-08
Latest News
Week Ending 2nd May
Wrexham Youth Team take on Nant Conwy in the semi-final of the North Wales Youth Cup at Bryn Estyn Road on Thursday evening 1st May (k.o.7.30pm). All support will be very welcome.
PWLLHELI 2NDS 59 WREXHAM 2NDS 0
A makeshift Wrexham Second XV, missing 10 of their regular players, was whitewashed by Pwllheli Seconds who relied on the pace of a number of their successful Youth Team players to outstrip their struggling opponents.
Week Ending 25th April
Wrexham, depleted by injuries, have it all to do
when they visit Division Five North leaders on Saturday afternoon (k.o.2.30pm).
Former skipper John Roberts, who suffered a damaged
ankle in last week’s home defeat by Bro Ffestiniog, has played in every game this
season but looks set to miss out on the Pwllheli trip. His place at scrum-half will
probably go to Ashley Wrathall who came on as a replacement for Roberts last week and has
proved that he can fit in anywhere in the threequarters.
Lock Phil Williams is due to make his 60th
senior appearance for the club and should do well in the scrum and line-out. Another good
all rounder, Llion Morris, hasn’t missed a game this season and will claim the
Bernard Malley Award for most appearances in a season when he takes the field against the
league leaders, probably at full back.
Pwllheli knocked Wrexham off top spot in Division
Five North when they triumphed by 29-0 at
Wrexham coach Russell Penrhyn Jones
said at the time, “They are just a better side than us, they are much more clinical
and they have more options than us.” However
he was pleased with the way that his players contested the game for so long even though
they didn’t get the scores that their performance deserved. The visitors need another
good performance on Saturday.
NORTH
PWLLHELI 2NDS V WREXHAM 2NDS
Wrexham Seconds visit Pwllheli Seconds knowing that
they still have a very slim chance of winning the North Wales Districts Superleague. They
are currently in fifth place just above Pwllheli Seconds with one remaining game to play
against leaders Llangefni Seconds. Bonus point victories in both away games could land the
title for them and they will undoubtedly give their all in pursuit of the trophy
(k.o.2.30pm).
Week Ending 18th April
WREXHAM V BRO FFESTINIOG
Wrexham take on Division Five North
promotion hopefuls Bro Ffestiniog in their last home league game of the season at Bryn
Estyn Road on Saturday, and will be going all out to defeat their Gwynedd rivals and get
back into the top 3 in the Championship table (k.o.2.30pm).
Hooker John Gill and number eight Keir
Harding are expected to return to the side to strengthen the pack and improve their
attacking capabilities. Harding, Wrexham’s top try scorer with 11 tries to his
credit, took a break from rugby last week and competed successfully but painfully in the
London Marathon for his favourite charity MIND.
Skipper Guy Bingham, sidelined for the
last two games due to injury, is also expected to make a welcome return to the front-row
and complete his 70th senior appearance for the club. Ben Cheesbrough, freshly
returned from long term injury, performed well in the centre last week and should start
there against Bro Ffestiniog with Mike Powell at outside-half.
With only 3 games to go, Wrexham have
fallen to fourth place in the table but have two games in hand on their closest rivals.
They need to beat Bro Ffestiniog and secure a bonus point against them on Saturday because
they know that they will face Pwllheli at their Lleyn stronghold next week and cannot
expect to steal any points from the top performing Championship leaders.
On the following Wednesday 30th
April, Wrexham will play their final league game of the season at Bro Ffestiniog and may
still be in contention for a promotion place to Division Four North if other results go
their way. They haven’t played well since Christmas but put on a much improved
performance, despite losing, at
WREXHAM YOUTH V RHYL YOUTH
Wrexham Youth will play their last
league game of the season when they take on a strong Rhyl side at
WREXHAM SECONDS
Wrexham Seconds don’t have a game
this weekend but will be preparing for their visit to Pwllheli Seconds in the North Wales
Districts Superleague on the following Saturday.
Wrexham Rugby Club members were saddened to learn of
the death last week of George Lee (86) who was a highly regarded former treasurer of the
club and was also fondly remembered by many players for his dedication in driving the team
by bus to rugby matches during the Sixties and Seventies.
George completed a ‘FULL TOUR’ (30
missions) over Germany and Italy when he flew with RAF Bomber Command as a wireless
operator air gunner (WOP AG) in the Second World War. Afterwards he worked as an engineer
for the Wrexham based M.A. Evans Bus Company. He was a keen member of Wrexham Rugby Club
and successfully held the post of Treasurer from 1968 to 1973 in a very important period
in its development. In 1974 he won the Frank Chapman Award for outstanding service to the
club and continued to attend First XV matches until ill health prevented him prevented him
from doing so last year.
His funeral will take place at Pentre Bychan
Crematorium on Friday 18th April at 12.00 noon.
WREXHAM 2NDS
26
HARLECH
17
Wrexham Seconds put themselves back in contention
for a North Wales Districts Superleague top three finish with a hard earned 26-17 victory
over leaders Harlech, who have now been overtaken by Llangefni Seconds.
The home tries came from props Chris Phillips and Rob Thatcher, winger Matthew Clerc and flanker Mark Jones while outside-half Carl Pugh (2) and lock Dave Thomas kicked the conversions. Number eight Victor Lema enjoyed his best game to date alongside the scintillating Mark Jones.
Week Ending 11th April
Wrexham, in third place in Division Five North, take
on second placed
Although the cancellation of last week’s home
game against Rhayader has probably cost Wrexham some loss of match fitness, at least the
enforced rest will have helped influential centre Jonathan Davies to recover from a groin
injury. His goal kicking could inspire his side in what is anticipated to be a tense game
at
One key player who will not be on duty at
Wrexham beat
WREXHAM SECONDS V HARLECH
Wrexham Seconds, up to mid table
after their narrow victory over Llangollen last Saturday, take on leaders Harlech in a
North Wales Districts Superleague contest at Bryn Estyn Road (k.o.2.30pm).
Wrexham Youth visit Ruthin Youth for a North Wales
Youth Cup quarter-final match. It will be the fourth time that the teams have met this
season, and all of the games have been very close with Ruthin holding the advantage with
two victories so far (k.o.2.30pm).
LLANGOLLEN
25
WREXHAM SECONDS 27
The battle between the bottom two clubs in the North
Wales Districts Superleague was settled in Wrexham’s favour, but only just as the
visitors left it until two minutes from the end before they clinched a 27-25 success at
Llangollen. Lock Dave Thomas forced his way over the home line under a mass of bodies and
then kicked the match winning conversion once he’d recovered.
Llangollen scored first in this hotly contested
game, but Wrexham stormed back with a neat try from flanker Victor Lema, their rampaging
Spaniard, plus a conversion and two penalties from Dave Thomas. The lead then changed
hands twice with number eight Dean Griffiths adding a
try for the visitors before Thomas squeezed in at the end to claim the
spoils and increase his personal tally for the match to 17 points.
Week Ending 4th April
Wrexham aim to bounce back
from last week’s narrow defeat at Cobra with a home victory over Rhayader at
Although Rhayader are second
from bottom in Division Five North with only one success – against Welshpool –
to their credit, they have taken part in some very close matches and will be treated with
respect. Wrexham defeated the mid Walians by 24-15 on their home midden just before
Christmas but had to work hard to contain a good Rhayader back-row unit.
WREXHAM YOUTH V RHYL YOUTH
Wrexham Youth take on a very
good Rhyl Youth side in a North Wales Youth Division One game at
LLANGOLLEN V WREXHAM 2NDS
Wrexham Seconds visit
Llangollen for a North Wales Districts Superleague match between the bottom two sides. It
should be an exciting contest with both sides desperate to get away from the basement area
so that they can start to challenge the Gwynedd clubs who are performing best in this new
league (k.o.2.30pm).
Week Ending 28th March
PREVIEW FOR SATURDAY 29TH MARCH 2008
Wrexham Firsts, lying second in
Division Five North but being hotly pursued for a promotion place by
Top try scorer Keir Harding could give
Wrexham the edge as he did the last time that the sides met in November. Cobra capitalised
on mistakes by the home side to establish a 13-0 lead on that occasion, but Wrexham then
switched to a fast open game and won the match with three tries, including one apiece for
Harding and scrum-half John Roberts.
Roberts will be on duty again in this
return game and will be partnered at half-back by Richard Lloyd if Lloyd recovers from a
bout of flu. Centre Jonathan Davies demonstrated his kicking abilities against Caernarfon
last week, landing two conversions out of two attempts, and will give his team the
confidence that they can make Cobra pay for any indiscretions.Wrexham Seconds visit
Llangefni Seconds for a North Wales Districts Superleague contest (k.o.2.30pm).
Wrexham Youth will also be on the road
on Saturday, this time visiting Llandudno for a North Wales Youth Division One match
(k.o.2.30pm). A win will guarantee their survival in the top flight of youth rugby in
WREXHAM 2NDS
8
RUTHIN
2NDS 12
Wrexham Seconds fell to an 8-12 home defeat against
Ruthin Seconds in a North Wales Districts Superleague game, all of the points coming in
the last ten minutes of the game. Lock Darrell Hughes opened the account for Wrexham with
a penalty, but Ruthin countered with two swift tries and a conversion before scrum-half
Kevin Davies claimed a consolation try for the home side. Wingers Jason Reano and newcomer
Pryderi Jones gave outstanding performances for Wrexham.
Week Ending 21st March
Wrexham Firsts, out of action for five
weeks while Wales were winning the Grand Slam in the 2008 Six Nations Championship, make a
welcome return to rugby action on Saturday when they take on local rivals Rhos in a
Division Five North contest at
They defeated Rhos by a record 67-7
score in the corresponding fixture at Ponciau Banks last November, but they have endured a
faltering campaign since Christmas and came badly unstuck against Machynlleth in their
last home game which they lost by 0-17.
Centre John Roberts broke his hand
against Machynlleth and will miss tomorrow’s game while scrum-half Michael Powell
will also be a non-starter because of a shoulder injury. Ashley Wrathall, however, can be
counted on to serve his pack well in place of Powell while Jonathan Davies can impress in
the centre.
Both sides will be a little rusty following the
recent lay-off in local rugby due to the massive interest in the Six Nations Championship,
but Wrexham should have enough power in the forwards to overcome the stiff challenge that
Rhos will present in a classic derby encounter.
Wrexham Seconds also have home advantage in their
North Wales Districts Super League game against a powerful Ruthin Seconds team. Ruthin
overcame their Wrexham counterparts by 27-22 in a friendly encounter at Ruthin last
September, but Wrexham can edge tomorrow’s match particularly if centre Dave Thomas
can retain his excellent recent form (k.o.2.30pm).
Wrexham Youth Team welcome Caernarfon to Bryn Estyn
Road, knowing that they need to win one of their remaining three league games in North
Wales Youth Division One to make sure of avoiding
relegation in their first season in the top flight. Caernarfon won the corresponding game
at their ground by 22-3 last September, but Wrexham played well in last week’s
floodlit game against Mold and can turn the tables on the Gwynedd club (k.o.2.30pm).
Week Ending 5th March
This Saturday, many players and
supporters will make the trip across the Irish Sea to cheer on
MOLD 2NDS
3
WREXHAM
2NDS
10
Wrexham Seconds opened their account in the North Wales Districts Super
League with a hard earned 10-3 victory over their local rivals Mold at
With the wind at their backs in the first-half, the home side pressed hard
and soon took the lead with a penalty. Wrexham, however, stiffened their defence and
bounced back with a well constructed try by winger Dave Thomas who latched on to a pass
from his threequarters and went over in the corner.
The score remained at 3-5 at the break and then the visitors really got to
work and extended their lead with a fine try by number eight Keir Harding who forced his
way over the Mold line wide-out. As expected, the home side came back strongly and
pummelled the Wrexham line, but they just couldn’t find a way through and were
eventually forced to concede a rare home defeat.
Dan Cheesbrough was an influential figure in the centre for Wrexham and lock
Phil Williams also delivered a stirring performance in the visiting pack.
Week Ending 29th Feb
Wrexham Firsts will have a blank St David’s Day on Saturday although
most of the other clubs in North Wales Division Five North will be in action. They were
originally due to travel to play
The Seconds face a stern test at Chester Road against Mold Seconds who
are riding high in the new North Wales Districts Super League (2.30pm). The Youth Team
also have to travel for their North Wales Youth Division One game against Nant Conwy at
Llanrwst (2.30pm).
Week Ending 22nd Feb
WREXHAM 2NDS 10 MENAI BRIDGE 24
Wrexham Seconds lost their opening game in the North Wales Districts Super League
competition when they suffered a rare 10-24 home defeat against
Week Ending 15th Feb
This Saturday, Wrexham will be in action
at
The bad news for coach Russell Penrhyn Jones is that his regular scrum-half Michael Powell has suffered a knee injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season, and prop Geraint Davies is unavailable for Saturday’s contest. On the positive side, however, Ashley Wrathall has returned from injury and is a ready made replacement for Powell, while lock Cliff Baxter has emerged from the Second Team as a strong contender for a second-row berth.
Wrexham defeated Machynlleth at their Mid
Wales ground by 23-9 last October and should profit from the match fitness which they have
maintained in recent friendlies. They will be aware, however, that sixth placed
Machynlleth have four wins under their belt and started the new year with a hard earned
victory over
Week Ending 8th Feb
One Friday evening,
Wrexham will take on Llangollen under floodlights at
Week Ending 1st Feb
With
OSWESTRY VETS
29 WREXHAM
VETS 38
Wrexham overcame the home side by 38-29 in this high
scoring veterans game at Oswestry which witnessed a successful come-back by winger Barry
Lewis who has been out of the game for a long time. Tries came from centre Dave Thomas
(2), centre Dave Morris, number eight Carl Turner, lock Iwan Roberts and Barry Lewis.
Thomas (2) and lock Darrell Hughes (2) shared the conversions while Rhodri Davies made a
big impression at scrum-half.
Week Ending 25th Jan
Division Five North leaders Wrexham travel to Rhyl
on Saturday aiming to achieve their second double of the season before they face a
fortnight’s lay-off due to the start of the 2008 Six Nations Championship
(k.o.2.30pm).
Although the pitch at The Waen has been badly
affected by recent heavy rains, Wrexham coach Russell Penrhyn Jones is still keen to keep
the ball moving and bring his backs into the contest. They were responsible for scoring
four of the five tries in their last game at Welshpool and can make a big impact at Rhyl.
Scott Davies, the winger who returned to the squad
and scorched in for a brace of tries at Welshpool, is expected to start on the right wing
on Saturday. Llion Morris, who notched his first ever try for Wrexham in the same match,
will probably switch from the wing to full-back if Jamie Morris is unable to play due to
his Youth Team commitments.
Flanker and current top try scorer Keir Harding is
hoping to add to his impressive tally of nine tries so far, particularly as he has scored
in every match that he has played against Rhyl so far. He went over for a try when his
side defeated the Seasiders by 54-7 at Bryn Estyn Road last September and also grabbed a
single touchdown when they won by 32-5 on the last visit to The Waen in 2005.
Most of the rugby programme in
Week Ending 18th Jan
All games have been cancelled at Bryn Estyn Road this Saturday due to waterlogged pitches caused by recent heavy rains. The adverse conditions have also put Sunday’s mini and junior rugby programme in doubt.
Wrexham Youth Team’s home league game against Rhyl has been postponed while the Firsts and Seconds are looking for friendly away fixtures in the local fixture pool. However, Wednesday evening’s floodlit game between North Wales and Worcester is still scheduled to go ahead. This will be the first full representative game to have been held at Wrexham since the club house was completely refurbished last year and the floodlights upgraded to 'match' standard.
Wrexham Seconds were
whitewashed 0-21 at home by a vastly strengthened
Week Ending 11th Jan
Steve Jarvis with a club shirt presented to comemorate his 30 years of playing senior rugby. Dan Cheesbrough and John Roberts before playing their 100th and 250th 1st Team games.
Photo's by Steven Pepper 2008
WREXHAM 2nd's 15 DENBIGH 2nd's 5 Wrexham continued to press leaders Mold at the top of Division ‘A’ of the North East Wales Championship with a 15-5 victory over Denbigh Seconds, but Team Manager Kevin Davies admitted that his team gave an uninspiring performance against a good Denbigh side. Wrexham’s scores came from tries by winger Will Gauntlett and replacement flanker James Allen with a conversion and a penalty by outside-half Carl Pugh, while Denbigh’s consolation score came from lock Rhodri Sellars.
Week Ending 4th Jan 2008
Division Five North
leaders Wrexham take on second place Pwllheli in what promises to be a hard fought contest
at
Two home players will
reach a landmark in their rugby careers, scrum-half John Roberts celebrating his 250th
senior appearance for Wrexham and Daniel Cheesbrough playing his 100th senior
game. Both trained hard this week in an effort to overcome the rustiness of what has been
a four weeks lay-off for the divisional leaders.
Coach Russell Penrhyn
Jones is looking forward eagerly to the start of the New Year campaign and can choose from
a near full strength squad, long term injury victims Ben Cheesbrough and Mike Jones being
the only absentees.
Pwllheli completed the
double over Wrexham last season but still ended up being relegated with them. Both clubs
have recovered well this term and have maintained an average of six tries scored per game,
admittedly against much poorer opposition than the ones that they met in Division Four
North.
With other successful
clubs like
CORWEN
10
WREXHAM 2nd's
39
Then the Wrexham pack
powered away in the second-half with other tries coming from flankers Wayne Roberts and
Matt Arnold plus a conversion apiece for outside-half Sion Lloyd-Jones and lock Dave
Thomas. Flanker Mark Lloyd deserved a special mention for stepping into the unaccustomed
position of second-row at short notice.
Week Ending 28th Dec
Wrexham Youth entertain Ruthin this Saturday in a NW League Div.1 tie. Wrexham 2nd's and 3rd's have NE Wales leagues games against Corwen and Abergele.
Week Ending 21st Dec
Wrexham failed to secure
a suitable match from the local fixture pool to fill a blank date last weekend and
therefore had to step up their training this week in preparation for their top of the
table game at Bro Ffestiniog on Saturday (k.o.2.30pm).
It will be a special
occasion for two Wrexham players, scrum-half John Roberts making his 250th
senior appearance for the club and centre Dan Cheesbrough running out for his 100th
senior outing. Both are products of Wrexham’s successful player development
programmes and Roberts was an essential cog in the Wrexham Northern Counties side that
represented
The
MOLD 2NDS 19
WREXHAM 2NDS
5
Week Ending 14th Dec.
WREXHAM 2NDS
30
Week Ending 7th Dec.
Centre John Darlington
grabbed a hat-trick of tries to help Wrexham to overcome Abergele Seconds in a North East
Wales Division ‘A’ game on the
Week Ending 23rd Nov.
Wrexham play Denbigh under lights this Thursday. KO
7.30 pm.
OSWESTRY VETS 22 WREXHAM
THIRDS 14
Week Ending 16th Nov.
Wrexham's away game with Bala this Saturday, in the ScottishPower Cup has been postponed. The late draw and injuries to essential members of the pack have left the Wrexham side depleted and unable to field a front row.
MOLD YOUTH V
WREXHAM YOUTH
Wrexham Seconds
maintained their unbeaten run in North East Wales Division ‘A’ with a
well-worked 27-15 success at Denbigh. Tries
came from winger James Jess, centres Dave Morris and John Darlington, and replacement
full-back Steve Pepper who scored from his first touch of the ball for his new club.
Full-back Sion Lloyd-Jones added two conversions and a penalty and there was a promising
debut by flanker Victor Alonso.
Week Ending 9th Nov.
This Saturday, Wrexham will enjoy home
advantage for the first time in six weeks when they take on Cobra, who were early season
leaders until they suffered two recent reverses. Coach Russell Penrhyn Jones is hoping to
field a full strength side with lock Mike Jones celebrating his 100th
appearance for the club (k.o.2.30pm).
WREXHAM SECONDS 46
CORWEN
0
Week Ending 2nd Nov.
This Saturday, hooker Gareth Perrin make his 100th appearance for Wrexham Firsts when they face their local rivals Rhos in what is bound to be a fiercely contested Division Five North derby game at Ponciau Banks (KO 2.30pm).
Perrin, a product of the Wrexham Youth Team organisation, was a regular member of the front row union for many years before he decided to have a break from rugby last season. This term he is back to his best and has missed only one game so far, a friendly at Ruthin.
Wrexham are currently occupying fourth place in the table behind leaders Bro Ffestiniog, Cobra and Pwllheli. They are unbeaten in the league championship so far and have been scoring well through their forwards and backs, number eight Keir Harding and centre John Roberts being top scorers on four tries apiece.
Rhos have won only one of the four league matches that they have played this term, but their recent slender 22-26 home defeat to the high scoring leaders Bro Ffestiniog shows that they are a strong side and will take some stopping. When Wrexham last visited Rhos two years ago, it turned out to be a very even contest which the visitors just managed to edge by 15-13 in a raging snowstorm.
WREXHAM THIRDS 17 RUTHIN SECONDS 12 Wrexham’s superior power in the set scrum proved decisive in this North East Wales Division ‘B’ contest at Bryn Estyn Road, once the home side had recovered from conceding an early converted try. Tries came from number eight Carl Turner (2) and lock Dave Thomas while outside-half Carl Pugh added one conversion.
Week Ending 26th Oct.
Wrexham, once regulator visitors to
Coach Russell Penrhyn Jones has selected a strong squad for the game including Youth Team outside-half Jamie Morris who has already made two appearances for the senior side this season and is a fine goal kicker. Flanker Iwan Jones and scrum-half James Wrathall are injured, however, so Mike Powell is set to partner Morris at half-back with a late decision being made on the replacement for Jones.
Skipper Guy Bingham is looking forward to the match and the opportunity that it gives his side to establish a cup run this season, and introduce some of the promising Youth Team players in the squad to the challenge of playing in the south. Wrexham reached this stage by defeating Bala, one division above them in the National League, by 19-9 in Welsh Cup preliminary round a month ago
Newport HSOB won promotion to Division Two East last season but have struggled to find their form at the higher level and are currently languishing in 8th place in their league table with only one win to their credit. They have conceded the most tries in their division and that frailty in defence is something that Wrexham will try to exploit on Saturday.
In contrast to Newport HSOB, Wrexham were
demoted from Division Four last season after finishing bottom, but are now amongst the
leaders with an unbeaten league record and an average of 5 tries per game to their credit.
They will need to maintain that free running spirit against
Wrexham Seconds visit Shotton for a North East Wales Division ‘A’ league game while the Thirds are set to take on Ruthin Seconds in a Division ‘B’ contest - if they can raise a combined side with Rhos (k.o.2.30pm).
Week Ending 19th Oct.
WREXHAM SECONDS 31 MOLD SECONDS 26 This was a tremendous game in the North East Wales Division ‘A’ Championship with Wrexham taking a lead which they never surrendered and current champions Mold attacking the home side from all angles to outscore them by four tries to three on try count. Full-back Richard Lloyd, playing his first competitive game this season notched a personal tally of 21 points through a try, two conversions and four penalties. Other home tries came from centre Sion Lloyd Jones and lock Jason Griffiths, while Peter Blakemore impressed with his outstanding performance on the wing.
RHYL SECONDS 24 WREXHAM THIRDS 0 Wrexham Thirds, including a strong contingent of Rhos players, managed to get their season under way in Division ‘B’ of the North East Wales Championship. Although outgunned by the home side who had one man extra, the visitors tackled well throughout, limiting their opponents to an unanswered 12 points in each half. Andrew Pickering impressed at scrum-half and Rhos player Steve Jones was outstanding at number eight.
Week Ending 14th Sept.
Wrexham Firsts were unable to find a suitable friendly fixture to fill a blank date in their Division Five North league programme, but two other sides were in action last Saturday. The Youth Team visited former champions Ruthin for a Scarlets North Wales Division One contest while the Seconds arranged a friendly at Oswestry to replace their scheduled North East Wales Division ‘A’ game that visitors Abergele Seconds asked to be postponed.
RUTHIN YOUTH 18 WREXHAM YOUTH 15 This was a tremendous evenly matched contest with the lead changing hands twice until Ruthin won the game with a last second penalty. A draw would have been a fairer reflection of the match but a late Wrexham error cost them dear. The visitors controlled the early stages with number eight Tom Crawford and prop Jake Edwards catching the eye with their powerful attacking play. Ruthin were forced to defend for lengthy periods and came back late in the second quarter to take the lead with a penalty. Wrexham started well again in the second-half and had the chance to level when a home forward was sin binned for violent conduct. Unfortunately scrum-half Kieron Morris failed narrowly with his penalty kick and Ruthin then stormed back to score a fine try under the posts after a kick and chase move. The extra points from the simple conversion put the home side 10-0 ahead.
That seemed to spur the visitors on to a higher level of effort and, with skipper Rob Moore and full-back Adam Pierpoint hitting top form, Wrexham countered with an excellent try in the left corner by winger Owen Willington. Then, as the game entered the final quarter, they levelled with a penalty try awarded when outside-half Jamie Morris was obstructed as he attempted to follow up his own kick to score under the posts. Centre Danny Roth kicked the conversion that put Wrexham into the lead which they held until the 60th minute when Ruthin bounced back with a well worked try wide-out. But once again the visitors rallied and levelled the scores with only two minutes remaining when Ruthin failed to release the ball and Kieron Morris slotted a penalty. However, a final surge upfield earned the home side a penalty and they made no mistake to claim a hard earned victory.
OSWESTRY VETS 5 WREXHAM SECONDS 37 Wrexham Seconds scored seven tries and started off their season in style with the help of several newcomers at Oswestry. Tries came from centre David Thomas, hooker Mark Jones, flanker Keir Harding, lock Wayne Roberts, scrum-half James Wrathall, wing Scott Davies and flanker Kerry Powell while replacement outside-half Darrell Hughes landed one conversion.
New lock Cliff Baxter made a very promising debut in the pack while new wingers Will Gauntlet and Adam Jones impressed with their pace in the threequarters.
Week Ending 5th Sept.
Wrexham coach Russell Penrhyn Jones is eager to get his First Team squad back in action again after their 44-16 demolition of Welshpool last Saturday. However, he faces a blank fixture date on Saturday due to the way that the league fixtures are organised and is hoping that he can secure a friendly fixture from the local fixture pool.
Wrexham Seconds were due to kick-off their campaign in North East Wales Division ‘A’ with a home game against Abergele Seconds, but the game has been postponed at Abergele's request because a large contingent of their players is in France for the 2007 Rugby World Cup games. Instead, Wrexham have been able to arrange an alternative friendly game at Oswestry (k.o.2.30pm).
Wrexham Youth Team will be in action at Ruthin in a Scarlets North Wales Division One game. They are aiming to field a near full strength side and hope to build on their 17-0 home success against Denbigh last week (k.o.2.30pm).
Week Ending 31st August
WREXHAM V WELSHPOOL
Wrexham, led by new club captain
Guy Bingham, take on Welshpool in their opening game of the season at
Now back in Division Five North
following their relegation from the North Wales top flight at the end of last season,
Wrexham have lost a few experienced players but have also signed up a couple of exciting
new squad members. The return from
Coach Russell Penrhyn Jones is also
pleased that his strong pack will include last season’s top try scorer, number eight
Keir Harding, and hooker John Gill who have both shown great pre-season form. That form
was good enough to get them into the
When Wrexham last played Welshpool at
Bryn Estyn Road in April 2006, they won fairly convincingly by a 27-14 score that included
five tries. Two of those tries came from centre John Roberts and number eight Keir Harding
who are on duty on Saturday, and they will be going all out this time to match those
scoring feats.
Week Ending 10th August
Welsh rugby superstar Gareth Thomas completed his three day visit to North Wales by presenting the new style shirt which he wore against England at Twickenham last Saturday to the young players and back-room staff at Wrexham Rugby Club.
The presentation was in recognition of the hard work that they had put in to organise the rugby fun event and make it a great success for the many young people who attended. Chairman Stan Edwards said on Wednesday, “It was very generous of Gareth to donate his shirt and we shall make sure that it is framed and given pride of place in the clubhouse.”
Edwards also announced that Wrexham Rugby Club will hold their Annual General Meeting at their Bryn Estyn Road headquarters on Wednesday 29th August at 7.00pm. This will complete the club’s preparations for the new season that opens with a home game against Welshpool on Saturday 1st September.
Week Ending 27th July
Wrexham Rugby Club have started
training for their new season in Division Five North under club coach Russell Penrhyn
Jones. Sessions, which take place twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6.45pm, are
fitness and skills based and are aimed at preparing all players for the new league
programme which starts in September.
The Firsts will warm up for their
new season with a friendly against Oswestry at
Wrexham Seconds will visit
Oswestry for a cross border friendly on 1st September before they commence their North
East Wales League programme with a Division ‘A’ game against Abergele at
Wrexham Youth Team, who won the
North Wales Youth Division Two Championship last term, have resumed training on Tuesday
evenings at 6.30pm to prepare themselves for their first season back in the top flight for
almost a decade. They will launch their new challenge against Denbigh at Wrexham on 1st
September.
Week Ending 13th July
Colwyn Bay 7's (23rd June)
After a disappointing performance in last months
Caldy sevens competition Wrexham travelled to the Clowyn Bay Sevens determined to improve.
Captained by players player of the year John Gill, Wrexham had trained hard over the past
weeks to address the weaknesses highlighted in the Caldy completion.
Wrexham got off to a dream start against Colwyn Bay Nomads. A young team who struggled to
cope with Wrexham's forward power which denied them any
meaningful possession. Wrexham ran in four tries via Tony Medcalf (2)and Ben Cheesbrough
(2) and were greatly assisted by Adam Jones who despite his diminutive size, hurled
himself into the game with the ferocity of a caged ocelot.
Wrexham next faced Rydal who showed some great ingenuity to defeat the Wrexham boys 38-7,
Wayne Roberts try coming from a mistimed Rydal line out on their try line that fell
straight into his hands. After this Wrexham were up against the hosts of the tournament.
Wrexham put up a brave performance but were torn apart by Colwyn who ran in eight tries
without reply.
Wrexham's next opponents were South Wales team Newport. In a close game Newport took an
early lead and went on to win the match with five tries to Wrexham's three, scores coming
from Keir Harding, John Gill and Wayne Roberts.
With one win from the pool games, Wrexham had qualified for the plate competition. Drawn
against Colwyn Bay 2nds, Wrexham put on a display of champagne rugby, running in 9 tries
including hat tricks for John Gill and Dave Thomas and scores from Dan Cheesbrough, Keir
Harding, and Wayne Roberts.
In the final of the plate Wrexham had to face Newport again. This time Wrexham got off to
an early lead. After a fantastic length of the field break Dave Thomas bafflingly managed
to get held up on the Newport try line. Newport were penalised in the ensuing ruck and
powerhouse Guy Bingham took the straight forward approach and barrelled over the line from
the quick penalty. Wrexham scored thrice more through Dan Cheesbrough, Dave Thomas and
John Gill before Newport hit back with three tries. Newport continued to press hard and
with Harding persistently offside their frustration spilled over into violence and their
scrum half was dismissed to the sin bin for emphatically stamping all over him. In sevens
this punishment only lasts for two minutes and despite Wrexham defending valiantly,
particularly James Jess on the wing, the disgraced scrumhalf returned to the pitch and in
the final play of the game Newport scored a converted try to clinch the game.
Disappointed yet buoyed by the improvements evident on the field Wrexham can take many
positives from their performance. The commitment and passion of those players who usually
perform for the 2nd fifteen such as Adam Jones, Tony Medcalf and Dave Thomas suggests that
they will be challenging hard for first team places. Dave Thomas in particular raised his
game to put on a performance that won him his team mates vote for man of the tournament.
One notable display of skill was in the game against Colwyn Bay seconds where Thomas
mis-kicked the ball into a member of the opposition, immediately caught the rebound and
sprinted off to score under the posts. On the other end of the scale Peter Blakemore
crowned an otherwise solid performance by winning the idiot of the tournament award.
Against Colwyn Bay Blakemore was perceptive enough to see that the opposition defence were
charging in too fast leaving a weakness behind for him to exploit. Eying the gap Blakemore
deftly stepped inside and launched a precision punt straight into the face of team mate
Guy Bingham.
Other notable performances came from Guy Bingham and Wayne Roberts, both of whom displayed
a mobility and awareness of the game seldom seen in 19 stone forwards. Daniel Cheesbrough
was at the heart of the majority of Wrexham attacks and with excellent vision and dynamic
angles of running he cut a swathe through the opposition defence. Keir Harding displayed
the energy and alertness you would expect from one whose daughter Scarlett is less than a
week old. Captain John Gill inspired with some fearsome tackling while Ben Cheesbrough and
Tony Medcalf injected speed into the side but were sadly sidelined through injury early in
the tournament.
Llandudno emerged overall winners in the main competition defeating Colwyn in a tightly
contested final. The Wrexham players extend their thanks to Colwyn Bay RFC for organising
a thoroughly enjoyable weekend of rugby.
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