All are welcome – kids too!

Cheers

I would like to congratulate you all for the massive effort put in this season. We have now officially won the league and remain undefeated in that league for 2 1/2 seasons.

The match yesterday was full of drama with Justin sealing victory in the last play of the game with a superb kick from out wide, fantastic. He was by no means the only hero of the day, Danny got us back into the game with a try on his return, Nick took his try well to cap a very fine season, Wayne Q scored 2 very good trys, Tim’s dogged determination delivered another, and Belsh was directing every play which enabled us to claw our way back after a typically poor start.

The most impressive thing of all was our collective will to win, even in the death when they took the lead again I knew we would have another opportunity to score, in fact we had several which the ref put a stop to with a couple of odd calls. We played with heart, determination and above all with our heads. I am proud of you all.

Colin

With only five minutes on the clock, they found themselves 12-0 down, as the Bracknell midfield threatened to run rings around the Rhino defence, scoring two quick fire tries. The first, after a misunderstanding between the Reading centres, gifted the ball to the home side, and then straight from the kick off the Bracknell outside centre, who scored the first try, turned provider for his fly half. Fortunately, these Rhinos are made of stern stuff, and within three minutes they had clawed their way back thanks to a clever kick from Gareth Belshaw, which took them to within five metres of their opponent’s line. The subsequent lineout failed to hit the target, and Danny Pratt had only to fall down over the line to score. This gave Reading new belief, but all their hard work was undone, as the Bracknell midfield again broke through the visitor’s defence for a third time midway through the half.

As Reading pressed, the home side’s discipline crumbled and resulted in one of their locks receiving a yellow card for persistent offending. During his absence, Pratt and Belshaw combined from a scrum, and eventually Captain Sharp drove over from a couple of yards for a converted try to make it 19-12. Instead of pressing home their one man advantage, the Rhinos then fell asleep after conceding a penalty, and the quick witted scrum half burst through a non-existent defence to set up his fly half for his second try of the half.

Once again Reading came back, and from a quickly taken tap penalty of their own, the ball was shipped down the line and winger Wayne Quintyn dived over for his first Rhino try. Unfortunately, full back Nick Robins-Cherry was injured whilst making the extra man, and was forced to leave the field, joining legendary prop Andy Clark (ribs) on the sidelines.

Going in nine points down, the captain and Dictator of Rugby Driver drove home to the players what was at stake, and their expectations for the second half. Within forty eight seconds they were rewarded with a try by flanker Tim Hill. Fly half Mark Lilley launched a speculative kick down field, and had the presence of mind to chase his own kick, forcing a turnover from the Bracknell full back, Hill kicked on and won the foot race to the line. Within minutes Wheeler added a penalty from forty five metres to take the lead, which was then extended when Quintyn, chasing another Lilley kick, out jumped the hapless full back and sped forty plus metres to the line to put Reading 32-26 up.

Bracknell refused to give up, and the lead switched hands again with nine minutes to play. After a successions of penalties, the visitor’s defence was stretched to breaking point, and the standoff found a gap to run in his hat-trick score, and by converting it himself, he gave his side a slender one point advantage.

But still the match had one last twist. With time running out the Rhinos launched their final push, and forced the opponents into conceding a penalty. Wheeler, with nerves of steel, drove the ball between the sticks from towards the right hand touchline to win, not only the match, but also the league title.

Team

Andy Clark
Glyn Blakemore
Rob Lynch
Colin Sharp
Diego Barrow
Tim Hill
Dave Osborne
Danny Pratt
Gareth Belshaw Man of the Match
John Green
Justin Wheeler
Wayne Palmer
Wayne Quintyn
Nick Robins-Cherry

Substitutes

Scott Stevens (Clark 31 minutes)
Nigel Goodwin (Robins-Cherry 39 minutes)
Jerry Downes (Green 54 minutes)
Dave Parish (Not Used)

The Rhinos only arrived with eighteen players, but were indebted to Jerry Downes who rolled out of the pub in time to join the fray in the second half.

Captain’s Views

I would like to congratulate you all for the massive effort put in this season. We have now officially won the league and remain undefeated in that league for 2 & 1/2 seasons.

The match yesterday was full of drama with Justin sealing victory in the last play of the game with a superb kick from out wide, fantastic. He was by no means the only hero of the day, Danny got us back into the game with a try on his return, Nick took his try well (?)  to cap a very fine season, Wayne Q scored 2 very good tries, Tim’s dogged determination delivered another, and Belsh was directing every play which enabled us to claw our way back after a typically poor start.

The most impressive thing of all  was our collective will to win, even in the death when they took the lead again I knew we would have another opportunity to score, in fact we had several which the ref put a stop to with a couple of odd calls. We played with heart, determination and above all with our heads. I am proud of you all.

Thames Valley Invitation League – Division B

Next Week

With the league campaign now over, the Rhinos can relax, and this week they host Cainscross RFC at Holme Park. Based on the outskirts of Stroud, they have become a regular haunt of the Rhinos, and the boys are keen to repay their hospitality. And of course the Rhinos have a former Cainscross player in their ranks, former player and now Dictator of Rugby, Ali Driver started his illustrious career in Stroud somewhere back in the middle of the last century!

Following the match, all attention will focus on the 2010 tour to Bilbao, which starts on Wednesday 7^th April, with Captain Sharp leading a party of over thirty vets and virgin tourists.

Hope you are well, over the next few weeks you will be sent information from The Club leading up to the AGM, which is being held on Weds 28th April at the Club, please add date to your diary.

This information is documenting views of the current Exec about what we are trying to achieve on behalf of the club. We want you to attend the AGM and share your views positive or negative. We have no problem with members that disagree with our views but we will ask in return what are you prepared to do about it.

WE need volunteers to do jobs on the Exec, support groups aligned to the Exec and also for work parties to carry out certain projects at our club for our benefit.

Over the next few weeks and months we will be investing time and money back into the facilities on certain projects that need doing. Mark Everett, Facilities Chairman, is doing excellent work on our behalf and we need members from the club to step forward and offer help.

We need to get back to doing repairs / maintenance ourselves, using skills we have within the club, we simply can not afford to pay for it all to be done by third parties.

There will be set weekends that we are asking members to come to the Club and offer time and expertise to get certain things done, this starts tomorrow. If you can’t help this time as did not know about it, don’t wait to receive a message when the next one is taking place, ask.

Some of the Projects completed or to be started over the next few weeks / months include:

· Lights in main changing rooms replaced and upgraded

· Floodlights – the existing lights are being replaced ready for next season

· Floodlight Posts to be repainted

· Repainting Rugby Posts and crossbars on all pitches

· Bonfire Corner – we are not having bonfires any more, we are still having fireworks parties – this space is being cleaned up, levelled and reseeded to be used for mini / midi training pitches for next season.

· Pitch maintenance – as soon as games have finished pitch 3 is being shut off completely for the summer, pitch 1 & 2 are having remedial works carried out but we need to use them for certain functions over the summer.

· Scrummage Machine – is being serviced ready for next season.

· Gents Toilets – subject to final costings the gents toilets in main changing room will be ripped out and refurbished as soon as possible. This might cause an inconvenience for a week or two but it will be worth it in the long run.

· Changing rooms – will be altered and repaired – also need painting.

· New Storage units for Rugby Kit – the existing portacabin where we store rugby kit is going this weekend and will be replaced with storage units sitting on a concrete hard stand.

Projects under discussion for future projects include:

· New fence around 1st XV pitch

· Finishing off wooden fence between RRFC & Adwest ground

· Resurfacing of road from Holme Park Lane up to Nursery – to complete the access road

There are many other projects large and small we want to do, – details of which will be circulated over the coming months all of which need funding . If you can help or have seen something that you feel needs doing – please step forward and suggest it HOWEVER don’t be offended when we ask you back “what are you going to do about it”.

Thanks in advance

Craig Hunter

The one concern at the moment for Captain Sharp is the ever lengthening injury list, which meant debuts for prop Ian Livingstone, centre Giovanni Tira, and wingers Luke Stanley and Dai Batten. All played their part by scoring four of the day’s tries. Joining Livingstone in the front row was the legend that is Dave Parish, and the Vets very own possum Duncan Colley. Whilst the other debutants joined the back division, alongside Jerry Downes, Dave Swan and Nick Robins-Cherry.

Almost from the first whistle, the Rhinos encamped in the Wheatley half, and could have scored within a couple of minutes, however a mazy run from Jofi Alexander was halted just short of the try line. They didn’t have long to wait though, as five minutes later standoff Downes chipped through for Robins-Cherry to touch down for his fifth try of the season. Downes added the conversion from the far touchline for a seven nil lead. Downes then extended the lead with a try of his own, after No. 8 Mark McAdden and Scrum Half Simon Waterer broke from a five metre scrum, Downes spotted a gap in the home side’s defence to go over for an unconverted score. It was to be another twenty minutes before the third and final score of the half came along, during which time Wheatley managed to escape from their half to exert a little pressure on the Rhino defence. This was all to no avail as from a free kick, Downes released debutant Tira to power over for another unconverted try, and a half time lead of 17-0.

Sharp made use of his subs during the interval, and within seven minutes Dai Batton had notched two almost identical and clinical tries with Tira linking with first Downes and then “Freddie” Swan, to release the pace ace to stride clear of the defence to score under the posts for converted tries (Downes and then Swan adding the extras). Briefly, Wheately threatened a comeback, when they scored down the blind side after a lineout catch and drive and, but for some desperate defence, they could have added further scores to leave the Rhinos feeling a tad nervous. However, the Rhinos regained their composure, and their grip on the match, and they proceeded to score three further tries.

First, Jose Dias caught a high ball and returned with interest, before quick hands from Downes and Swan resulted in a gap for Jofi Alexander to score his second try in successive games. Then Dias and Waterer chased down a kick ahead, and although Wheatley managed to secure the loose ball, a kick to touch was charged down and pounced on by Tira for his second score of the match. Then to put the seal on the match, a touch of Parish magic side stepping through three tackles and delivering a powerful hand off, saw the ball reach the hands of Sharp and Downes, and finally Livingstone was left with an easy ten metre jog to the line. All three tries were unconverted by Swan who was drop kicking his efforts.

All in all a satisfactory day’s work done, in match superbly controlled by the Oxfordshire Society referee.

Team

Ian Livingstone
Duncan Colley
Dave Parish
Colin Sharp
George Troughton
John Green
John Von Beneki
Mark McAdden
Simon Waterer
Jerry Downes
Jofi Alexander
Dave Swan
Giovanni Tira
Luke Stacey
Nick Robins-Cherry

Jose Dias  (Alexander Half Time)
Dai Batten (Stacey Half Time)
Jofi Alexander (Von Beneki 50 minutes)
Luke Stacey (Colley 60 minutes)
John Von Beneki (Parish 78 minutes)

Captain’s Views

It was a welcome change to have an easier fixture than the wars we’ve had of late. Thanks to the lads from the 3rds who all played well and scored most of our tries – oh to be young, fit and fast. Also, well done to Dave and Duncan, who both played out of position in the front row, and continually went down claiming injury so they could get their breath back! In truth the forward battle was rather tame, but the open play handling and support was first class which continually left Wheatley floundering in defence. We did go to sleep briefly and let in one score, but the game was well won by then and as we had most of the ball our defence was rarely tested.

 Thames Valley Invitation League – Division B 

The one fixture this week saw Oxford Harlequins defeat Reading Abbey 25-17 at Rosehill. The defeat means that Abbey have now completed their fixtures, and are level at the top of the table with the Rhinos. However, Reading still officially have three games to play, although the fixture against Marlow has been conceded, but we are just awaiting the official confirmation from the league. Oxford remain in third, but have moved to within five points of the leaders. Should Reading win at Drifters II next week, the trophy will be returning to Holme Park for the third year in a row.

Also next week, Oxford Harlequins will host Marlow IV, although this may be in some doubt as the visitors have been struggling to fulfil their fixtures this year.

I’m taking part in the 2010 Asics Reading Half Marathon on 21/03/2010 to raise money for Cancer Research UK and would really welcome your support.

Please take a moment to sponsor me. It’s really easy – you can donate online by credit or debit card at the following address:

http://www.runningsponsorme.org/davidosborne7

All donations are secure and sent electronically to Cancer Research UK. If you are a UK taxpayer, Justgiving will add an automatic 28% bonus to your donation at no cost to you. Please join me in supporting Cancer Research UK and a fabulous cause!

Thanks and best wishes,

David (OZ)

The home side took the lead inside three minutes when, after concerted pressure, a gap appeared on the Rhinos’ left flank, and the Broadmoor right wing took his chance to score in the corner. When the lead was extended to twelve points just four minutes later, things began to look bleak for the visitors.  From a scrum 25 metres out, the fly half ran blind and broke through three tackles, before feeding his full back for the first of his three tries. Although Justin Wheeler got the Rhinos on the board after eighteen minutes with a penalty, this was to be a temporary respite, as the home side’s full back was again fed by his fly half and he sped through the defence to score under the posts.

The combination of a stern team talk from Captain Sharp, and youthful over exuberance from the home team’s No. 10, saw the Rhinos haul themselves back into the match. The fly half trying to find his outside centre, miscalculated his pass, and flanker Marc McAdden was on hand to scoop the ball up and run 30 metres to the right hand corner for a score, which was superbly converted by Wheeler.

However, the half time deficit of 24-10, widened within a minute of the restart, as the Rhinos lost a scrum on their own put in, and the lethal combination of fly half and full back joined forces yet again, with the latter running three quarters of the length of the field for his hat-trick.

It took a piece of pure genius to get Reading back in the game and the magic was provided by big Dave Swan, who flicked up a loose ball with his boot, and his pass to substitute Jofi Alexander saw the winger sprinting over from 25 metres. With Wheeler again adding the extras from wide out, suddenly there was only one score between the sides.

As the home side began to flag, the Rhinos sensed that they could get something out if the game, and this time Alexander turned provider, as he timed his pop pass to fellow substitute Andy Silvey to perfection, and the full back cut a great angle to score under the sticks, from where Wheeler could not miss.

All square, and the Rhinos pressed on in search of a winning score, and had the match official been more eagle eyed it could have come. However, he failed to notice the home fly half deliberately throwing the ball off the field, and instead of awarding a penalty, he decided enough time had been played and blew his whistle.

Despite the comeback, the draw was just about deserved, but there was plenty to concern the captain. Not least the first half performance, and in particular the poor levels of tackling throughout the side. Also worrying will be the injuries suffered by Nigel Goodwin (ankle) Duncan Colley and Alex Cooper (both back), to add to those currently unavailable (Danny Pratt, Julian Edwards, Scott Stevens, Neil Hallett and Vice Captain Diego Barrow).

Team

Andy Clark
Alex Cooper
Steve King
George Troughton
Nigel Goodwin
Duncan Colley
Marc McAdden
Colin Sharp
Gareth Belshaw
Mark Lilley
Simon Waterer
Dave Swan
Wayne Palmer
John Von Beneki
Justin Wheeler

Dave Osborne  (Goodwin 25 minutes)
Jofi Alexander  (Cooper 29 minutes)
Andy Silvey  (Colley  Half Time)

Captain’s Views

After yet another very poor start we managed to salvage a draw. It was an odd game which only came to life well into the 2nd half, when we started to control the game and they panicked. Had the game gone on a bit longer I’m sure we could have nicked it. However, I feel the draw was a fair result. Well done to Jofi (Alexander), who scored his first try for the Rhinos, while both Andy Silvey and Mark McAdden both took their tries well, and once again Justin’s boot got us out of jail. Thanks also to Ali, who bollocked us sufficiently at half time to make us turn the game around.

Thames Valley Invitation League – Division B 

In this week’s only fixture, Oxford Harlequins returned from Windsor 20-7 victors, and they leapfrog over Bracknell into third place. Windsor were also involved in other matters this week, as Reading Abbey were awarded a home walkover against the Home Park side. This leaves the table looking like this:

The big fixture this week sees Oxford Harlequins visiting second placed Reading Abbey, while Windsor hosts Marlow in a bottom of the table clash.

Reading meanwhile are scheduled to visit Basingstoke Vets for a friendly, but will also be without last season’s captain Andy Clark and fly half Mark Lilley who are both unavailable due to family commitments.

From the start, the Rhino pack dominated the scrums, with the match official penalising their opponents at the first three set plays. However, it took until the midpoint of the half for the Rhinos to open the scoring, with full back Nick Robins-Cherry latching on to a miss-pass to score from ten metres. A moment of madness from prop/second row Stevens, saw the big Aussie yellow carded for illegally stopping the home side’s scrum half from playing the ball at a ruck. Fortunately for Stevens his team mates restricted their hosts to a single penalty during his absence. To make matters worse for Stevens, when he was finally allowed back to return, he had to trudge to the opposite side of the field, which took him nearly a minute to achieve!

The Rhinos defence was beginning to be stretched, and just before the break an outstanding effort kept out the opponents, but from the resulting lineout Oxford took the lead. The ball was thrown long, to the No.8 who crashed over from short range.

Turning around eight points to five up, the home side looked to push home the advantage of fresh legs. However, the visitors defence, with Robins-Cherry and the recalled Dan Packer in particular, standing firm the Rhinos slowly began to reassert themselves. Sharp, who led from the front all day, broke strongly from scrummages, and eventually the pressure began to force errors and ill discipline from the Oxford side. A needless bit of back chat cost them ten metres, and brought a penalty within range for Rhinos kicking machine Justin Wheeler, and he brought the scores level with ten minutes remaining. The home side failed to heed the warning, and with the seconds ticking away, they conceded twenty metres for loose tongues, and Wheeler had the chance to snatch all the points. However, concerns over his footing, saw the winger snatch at the kick and the Sharp’s troops had to settle for the draw.

Team

Andy Clark
Alex Cooper
Lindsey Abery
Scott Stevens
Diego Barrow
Dave Osborne
Marc McAdden
Colin Sharp
Gareth Belshaw
Mark Lilley
Simon Waterer
Jerry Downs
Dan Packer
Justin Wheeler
Nick Robins-Cherry

Man of the Match

There could be a case for any one (or indeed all of the team) to collect the award for this Herculean effort. The captain led by example, and his runs from the scrum gained valuable yardage, while he again dominated the lineouts. Barrow and Stevens (yellow card aside) belied their obvious discomfort, while the flankers McAdden and Osborne were always in the thick of things. In the backs, Belshaw worked as hard as ever, although his box kicking was a little off colour, and fly half Mark Lilley was unlucky not to get more reward from his fine touch kicking.

However, this week’s award goes to centre Dan Packer. In defence, he was simply outstanding; two of the tackles took the wind (literally) out of opponents’ sails, whilst in attack he constantly broke through the gain line, and then some, giving his pack a great platform to work from.

Captain’s Reaction

Any disappointment that Sharp may have had at losing his 100% league record was far outweighed by his pride in the team’s performance and effort in trying conditions.

“The pitch was a bog, the ball was like soap, we started with 14 and both our second rows should really not have played. Well done Scotty and Diego, I know that one hurt. Our try was scored by NRC, who put in another strong performance and fortunately for the late Mr Wheeler (wishful thinking) he kicked the penalty to draw the game.

Thanks to Lyndsey (Abery), (Dan) Packer and Alex (Cooper), who all stepped in at short notice to help us out and all played well.

I had one remaining goal for our season, which was to win all our league games, but it was not to be. The draw on Saturday, I’m told, means that we need only to turn up for our other fixtures and we’ve won the league, but we knew we would do that before the season started.”

Thames Valley Invitation League – Division B

This was the only fixture to take place this week, with Drifters visit to Windsor being postponed. The win leaves Reading with 26 points out of a possible 27 and a four point gap at the top of the table. With no side being able to get more than 28 points, and this leaves Reading on the brink of a third consecutive title. We understand that Marlow have conceded their match against the Rhinos, and if this is the case, then they are the Champions. However, Reading will be keen to extend their unbeaten run to well over two seasons and to finish the campaign in style.

Reading now take a couple of weeks off, with friendlies against Chinnor Vets (H) this weekend followed by a trip to Basingstoke Vets, before travelling to Drifters II on 20^th March for their penultimate league fixture.

Great result against Lightwater after what was a very poor start. Lesson of the week for us all is that we should never take any opposition lightly and that all victories must be earned at any level. From what I’ve heard the battered and bruised bodies after the game show how hard you all worked in the second half to secure this win, well done to you all. Fantastic.

This week we have an away League game vs Oxford Quins, as usual I will be picking the strongest available 20 man squad, and I will be looking to maintain continuity with selection. I know that two key players are out in Danny Barrett and Tim Hill, so there is opportunity for others to make the squad.

Please let me know ASAP if you are available.

Cheers

Colin

The tackling was particularly poor in the first period, with the exception of the reliable Nick Robins-Cherry at full back, and flanker George Troughton. This allowed the visitors to score two unconverted tries, before Reading had even begun to wake up. Almost as worrying, was the way the Lightwater front eight dominated the scummage and mauls. It is rare to see the Rhinos on the back foot.  

The first score came as early as the second minute, as the visitors slide through the Rhino defence seemingly without a hand getting a touch. And the second try 25 minutes later was all but a carbon copy. Fortunately, neither score was converted.

Just before the break, the Captain himself broke through the away defence to touch down from short range, and with the recalled Andy Silvey slotting the extras, Reading found themselves, somewhat lucky to find themselves only three points down at the break.

However, a loose pass early in the second period, was gleefully intercepted by a Lightwater centre, who sprinted over half the length of the field to score under the posts, and with the conversion the visitors now led 17-7.

With the captain off the field, it was left to Reading’s other talisman, No. 8 Danny Pratt, to haul the home side back into contention, with a short range effort two minutes later. Substitute Justin Wheeler was unable to draw the ball in between the posts, but the lead was cut to five points.

Reading had their tails up, and as Lightwater began to hit the self destruct button, which would eventually lead to the sin binning of their number 12, the Rhinos began searching for the winner.

It came on 23 minutes, with another half time substitute, scrum half Gareth Belshaw, breaking from the base of a scrum, and centre cum winger Dan Ingwell ran an exquisite angle to mark his return after injury with a fine try. This time Wheeler nailed the conversion from wide out to give Reading the lead. And it was a lead they managed to keep, as Lightwater down to 14 players could not find a way back through the Rhino defence, and with booming kicks in particular from “Freddie” Swan relieving the pressure, Reading saw out the remaining 10 minutes with only a few minor scares.

Captain’s Verdict

This was a great result against Lightwater, after what was a very poor start. Lesson of the week for us all is that we should never take any opposition lightly and that all victories must be earned at any level. From what I’ve heard, the battered and bruised bodies after the game show how hard you all worked in the second half to secure this win, well done to all the lads. Fantastic.

Man of the Match

This week’s award went to prop Scott Stevens. Despite being put under tremendous early pressure in the scrum, the big Aussie showed great resilience, and slow but surely helped to steady the ship. In addition, Stevens regularly made himself available in the loose, and made valuable ground through the visitors’ defensive line.

 Team

Scott Stevens
Glyn Blakemore
Andy Clark
Diego Barrow
Colin Sharp
George Troughton
John Green
Danny Pratt
Simon Waterer
Andy Silvey
Richard Hall
Jerry Downes
Dan Ingwell
Wayne Quintyn
Nick Robins-Cherry

Gareth Belshaw      (Waterer           H/T)
Tim Hill                      (Sharp              H/T)
Dave Swan                (Hall                H/T)
Justin Wheeler       (Hall                H/T)
Steve Griffin             (Clark              H/T)
Andy Clark               (Barrow           53 minutes)

Thames Valley Invitation League – Division B 

There was only one fixture played this week, but the result was massively important to the Rhinos. With Abbey being heavily beaten at Drifters (34-0), Reading are now only five points away from a third successive title. Indeed with Marlow apparently happy to concede the points from the postponed game two weeks ago, one victory should suffice. However, Captain Sharp will be keen to emulate the record of his predecessor (Andy Clark), by completing the campaign undefeated.

The main battle now seems to be for second place, with four sides (Abbey Bracknell, Drifters and Oxford Harlequins) all in the mix.

Next week Reading head to Oxford, while Windsor host Drifters.

Iain Scott