First XV - 2008-09 (Midlands West 1 Champions) Danny Ruyssevelt, Danny Phillips, Neil McMillan, Dorian Ward, Gordon Jackson, Marcus Pask, Pete Blunt, Lewis Kelsey, Mark Warrilow, Matt Timlin, Terry Curran, Danny Birks, Steve Hersey, Alan Roberts, Simon Harry, Scott Condit, Kit Forrest ( Manager), Alex Carroll, Nick Maxwell, Simon Dudley, Patch Northover, Simon Magill, Keiron Price, Tom Secher, Adam Preece, Tom Williams, Hannah Dudley (physio)

With a more or less unchanged side and having made such a big improvement the previous season, promotion was a real prospect this time around. Trial games and the opening friendly against Camp Hill suggested we were some way off finding our best selection and this proved to be the case in the opening league game against a much strengthened Nuneaton Old Edwardians. After a scoreless first half in which chances went a begging we were made to pay as the Old Eds ran in three tries to secure the points. A consolation effort from substitute Gordon Jackson, on his debut at centre, made the final score 5-19.

The second game was against newly promoted Spartans, from the northern tip of Warwickshire. This was the first ever league meeting between the clubs, although we had played them in the Warwickshire Cup in 1984/85. Having shaken off the cobwebs from the first week, the pack got on top and the backs sparkled in the autumn sunshine with tries from Danny Ruyssevelt, Gordon Jackson (2) Tom Secher(2), Simon Magill and Adam Preece, to win by 39-18. The only disappointment was a broken wrist for skipper Danny Birks, which kept him out until after Christmas. Nick Maxwell took over as skipper.

The improved form continued into the next game at home to Newbold and the backs let rip to score tries from Jackson, Preece, Tom Williams and Secher to clinch a 25-15 victory. Barkers Butts visited the following week and they defended stubbornly all afternoon. Chances were missed with the backs having an off-day and nothing went right as we failed to score. Barkers took the points with a 13-0 win. Old Coventrians away was expected to be a big test of our promotion prospects and they had started their programme well, but with the front-row of Danny Phillips, Nick Maxwell and Matt Timlin ensuring plenty of ball, the backs scored four spectacular tries - two apiece for Secher and Magill - to secure a comprehensive win by 35-10.

The opening game in the EDF Senior Vase brought us up against Aston Old Edwardians. The visitors scored two tries before the break and seemed to be heading for a comfortable win. In desperation, we reshuffled the team for the final quarter and a Pete Salmon try put us back into the game, but more chances were missed as we pressed for an equalising score and Aston appeared to have landed the killer blow with a try just before full-time, to go clear at 25-13. But the "fat lady" had not yet sung and in three dramatic minutes of injury time a converted try by Tom Williams and another in the corner by Derek Jones tied the match in the final move. Into extra time, we took the lead with another try by Williams and Secher's conversion proved crucial as Aston came back to score an unconverted try, leaving them two points adrift at 32-30. The spectacular finish against Aston put us in good heart for the visit of Old Laurentians the following week and the unbeaten league leaders were blown away in brilliant fashion. Forwards and backs combined together in another try-fest and once Adam Preece touched down after quarter of an hour, the tries kept on coming through Jackson, Carroll and Ruyssevelt and back row of Steve Hersey, Scott Conduit and Antony Rose.

After a scoreless first half at Silhillians, an Alex Carroll try opened our account at the start of the second period and the floodgates then opened with Secher (2) and Magill scoring as we pulled away to win by 28-14. Earlsdon were our next visitors and they came with a clear plan to stifle the Leamington forwards and deny possession to our in-form backs. It worked a treat and the Coventry side were 22-3 ahead by just after half time. Tries by Magill and Leigh Cleary brought the game back to life and in another grandstand finish we passed up a penalty opportunity in front of the posts and a try by Scott Conduit was controversially disallowed before a second Magill effort in the corner brought us back to 20-22 with hopes of another Aston-like recovery. This time it was not to be as Earlsdon held out.

We bounced back with an 11-10 victory at Balsall & Berkswell, which wasn't as close as the score suggests as we were always in control and led through two penalties and a try from Tom Secher before our hosts scored a late penalty try. We then paid the price for resting a few players and went out of the EDF Vase at Worcester Wanderers, the community arm of the Premiership club, who were on the way up the leagues. Back on league duty, a try from the kick-off by Steve Hersey set us on our way against Droitwich and further efforts from Secher (2) and Preece ensured a comfortable win. This was followed by an emphatic 41-8 win at Kidderminster and the return game against Balsall & Berkswell, who looked anything but tail enders as their forwards kept us under pressure and led for most of the first half. But once Secher opened the scoring, other tries quickly followed from Magill and Carroll to wrap up the pre-Christmas programme with a 26-10 win

In the Warwickshire Cup at New Year, we had the worst possible opening round draw against perennial winners and Midlands 1 champions-elect Broadstreet. Our slim chance of success became even slimmer when we had to concede home advantage due to frost at Moorefields. After falling behind to two first half tries we came out fighting in the second half and laid siege to the Street's line with some brilliant rugby, eventually rewarded with a try from Derek Jones. But as the game drew to a close the effort told and players began dropping like flies and we eventually ran out of substitutes and in our depleted state conceded three very late converted tries to lose by the unflattering margin of 44-8.

The league programme resumed the following week, with us having completed the first half of league programme in first place with 9 wins out of 12. Earlsdon were a point behind and Nuneaton OE and Old Laurentians two points behind, but with a game in hand. On the road we had won all of our games, which suggested that our home programme in the second half should be relatively easy (which proved to be the case as we scored a succession of comfortable repeat victories) and the worry was that we had played most of the best sides at home and had lost three times. Therefore, if we were to achieve promotion, maintaining our away form in the key games would be critical. The first of these was at Earlsdon in mid-January and as at Moorefields, they played an effective game of containment, using primary possession and turnovers to push us back with long kicks, knowing that we would run everything back at them from deep. After dominating the first quarter we fell behind to two penalties, but we appeared to have turned the game around with a penalty of our own and brilliant long range tries from Pete Blunt and Adam Preece either side of half time, but Earlsdon gradually clawed their way back with three more kicks to knick the game 15-13 and take over at the top.

After a comfortable win at home against Silhillians our next key away game was against Old Laurentians who were thirsting for revenge after their stuffing at Leamington in October. As in the Earlsdon game, kicking made the difference as a succession of penalties put the Laurentians well ahead by half time which raised their confidence and their level of performance as they scored two tries to our one and two speculative drop-goals as everything went right for them in a 35-13 win. With Earlsdon going off the boil it now became a three way fight for promotion with Nuneaton OE leading by two points from ourselves and Old Laurentians. A 26-3 home win over Old Coventrians led us into two tricky away games against Barkers Butts, who had beaten us at home, and Newbold. Number 8, Steve Hersey was the star man against the Butts. His driving runs from the base of the scrum inspired the forwards to dominate the game and he registered one of four Leamington tries in a repeat of the previous week's score line. Newbold proved to be a difficult nut to crack and the forwards had to be on top of their game to hold out under pressure from the home team, but with the game in the balance at 6-6, Alex Carroll nipped in at the corner to score the winning try.

Another home win, against Spartans, took us into what was effectively the championship decider against in-form Nuneaton Old Edwardians, who had disposed of Old Laurentians the week before. In a confident start, despite the wet conditions, we attacked and dominated the first quarter, but had nothing to show for our efforts as we were held up on the line and missed kickable penalties. It looked as though we would pay for our missed chances as the powerful Nuneaton forwards then began to get on top and laid siege to our try line before scoring on half-time. They extended their lead to 12-0 just after the break as they broke through the centre to score a second try. Things were looking bad but the forwards upped their efforts and we went back on to the attack. A penalty by Tom Secher put us in touching distance and a try from Simon Magill then made it 8-12. As Nuneaton came back at us a relieving kick by Secher was followed up by Danny Ruyssevelt who stole possession on the half way line and slipped the ball to Alex Carroll for the veteran centre to scamper up the touchline and score the winning try in the corner. Tom Secher converted to provide the best 18-12 comeback since the Russians beat Napoleon.

Knowing that two wins would now secure the championship, but that any loss would probably mean third place and out of the play-offs, Kidderminster were our final visitors and they were seen off in fine style by 38-7, with two tries a piece from Magill and Carroll and one from Preece before the forwards got in on the act with the try of the day - Neil McMillan gathering the ball from the kick off and instigating a forwards' move which went the length of the field and was finished off in style by Pete Blunt

The climax to the season was at Droitwich and with everything at stake we opened up in brilliant style and controlled the match from start to finish: both forwards and backs dominating their opposition. First half tries from Patch Northover and Pete Blunt put us 12-0 in front and settled the nerves of the large travelling support. With Danny Ruyssevelt adding a third try in the second period and Tom Secher keeping the scoreboard ticking over we were rarely troubled and victory, promotion and the championshipwere achieved by 26-3. The winning side at Droitwich was: Adam Preece, Danny Ruyssevelt, Alex Carroll, Tom Williams, Simon Magill, Tom Secher, Patch Northover, Ciaran Price, Nick Maxwell, Mark Warrilow, Simon Harry, Neil McMillan, Pete Blunt, Steve Hersey, Danny Birks

Having been in serious danger of relegation to our lowest ever level two years earlier the improvement of the previous year was maintained and we played some of the most skilful and exiting rugby seen at Moorefields for many years. Coaches Alan Roberts and Alex Carroll and stand-in skipper Nick Maxwell developed the playing style and team spirit around a talented group of three-quarters and a mobile pack. The threes' ran the ball from everywhere and scored some sensational tries. Full back Adam Preece was usually involved, running back every ball he received all season. He was rewarded as Player of the Year. Half-backs Patch Northover and Tom Secher were always a step ahead of the opposition and Tom finished as top try scorer with 16 and top points scorer with a splendid 231. Simon Magill scored 14 tries from the other wing. Having lost his long term partner, "Sooty" Smith, Alex Carroll teamed up at centre with newcomer Gordon Jackson and then Tom Williams.

Although some of our opponents had bigger more powerful packs, no-one could match the mobility and fitness of the Leamington eight and they developed into an increasingly formidable unit as the season progressed. Steve Hersey was a powerful force at No.8 and with Danny Birks and Pete Blunt injured for much of the season, Scott Conduit, Tony Rose, Lewis Kelsey and Danny Ruyssevelt all played regularly. Lewis received the Most Improved Player of the Year award. Ciaran Price, a former junior returned to the club after Christmas and added to the front row roster which included Nick Maxwell, Marcus Pask, Terry Curran, Matt Timlin and Danny Phillips, who although he was out of action after Christmas with a broken hand won the Young Player award. With Rob Butler leaving we were short at second row alongside Simon Harry, but Neil McMillan slotted in after Christmas to take the pressure of the creaking knees of Alan Roberts. The success of the team was recognised by the selection of Mark Warrilow, Steve Hersey, Adam Preece, Ciaran Price and Lewis Kelsey who all played for Warwickshire at the end of the season.

This season saw the introduction of a new Warwickshire League structure for second and third teams, with the idea of providing a more competitive environment below first team level. It was split into three divisions, with the first division comprising the second teams of the bigger clubs, the second division the second teams of the smaller clubs, and the third division, mainly the third teams of the bigger clubs.

Gareth Eastham captained the Extras, supported by team manager (and match secretary) Bryn Evans and they played in Warwickshire 1. They opened their season with a unique double header against Nuneaton Old Edwardians, having drawn them as our opening opponents in both the new Warwickshire League and in the Warwickshire 2nd XV Cup. It was agreed to have a winner takes all game, rather than play each other two weeks running, but unfortunately it was the Old Eds who took it, winning by 46-3, having blitzed us in the first half. The Leamington side in this first ever league game was - Derek Jones, Matt McLachlan, Ben Pithouse, Kieran Harris, John Cooper, Peter Davies, Matt Davies, Gareth Eastham, Chris Timms, Terry Curran, Gez Robinson, Ryan Howell, Phil Evans, Jamie Hives, Ezz Pointer

After that poor start the side picked up well and competed strongly with 12 wins from the next 17 games, but after a 21-21 draw at Spartans, when they had led 21-0, their form dropped off in the final matches and they finished fourth. Pete Salmon was top try scorer with 10, closely followed by Matt Davies and Dave Moroney, with 9 apiece. Matt Davies was player of the year and Paul Troman the most improved player. Dave Ward's Spartans played in Warwickshire 3 and they had a much better start to their league career with a 35-0 win over Coventry Welsh, with evergreen Simon David scoring a hat-trick of tries. The Spartans went on to challenge strongly for the new championship and won all their games before Christmas, the highlight being a 117-0 win against Old Coventrians in November, the second highest score in the history of the club. The line-up (plus try scorers) for this 19 try romp was: Matt Dale (4 tries), Mark Jones, Simon David (3), Dudley Turner, Richard Watkins (2), Derren Nisbet (1), Stuart Chamberlain (1), Ian Gascoigne, Ian Oliver (1), Phil McGaffin, Paul Troman (1), Andy Thomas, Joe O'Meara, Dave Ward (1), Roger Crockford (2). Replacements - Andy John, Dave Thomas, Jordan ...........(2), Ross Dewey, Ali Speight, Andy Richards, Shaun Smith

Joint top with Broadstreet at Christmas, the two sides met at Leamington in January and in a game we dominated, a dubious try in the last few minutes resulted in a 14-13 win for Broadstreet. Although we remained in contention for a while longer the form of the side dropped off at the end of the season as some of the old legends ran out of steam and we lost the last four games to finish third. The Spartans then formed the basis of the end of season touring party to Alicante and in the only match played did not distinguish themselves as they lost to a Gibraltar 2nd XV by over 50 points, despite our hosts only having 13 players. Oh for the days when tourists could drink and still perform on the field of play! Fielding a young side the Colts won 8 out of 18 games and in the unofficial Warwickshire merit table they finished half way, a record which would have been better if we had been able to play more of the lower placed sides, who cancelled most of our games against them. In what was a fairly young side composed more or less equally of under-18, under-17 and under-16 players they showed great enthusiasm against what were usually older sides.

This season marked the 40th anniversary of the club's move to Moorefields in 1970. Sadly, Lol Smith and Ianto Moody, two of the club's great stalwarts and Honorary Life Members, who both played key roles in the move, passed away during the season. Lol joined the club on leaving school and he made his first team debut in 1951-52. He was a regular in the side for the next ten years. He became Rugby Chairman in 1969 and finished playing in 1972. He later became Club Chairman and Honorary Secretary and was a regular spectator, both home and away. Ianto joined the club in 1954/55 whilst stationed at RAF Gaydon and was an outstanding player at scrum half or wing forward. He was club captain in 1957/58 and in 1964/65 became the club's first coach. He was Honorary Secretary from 1967 to 1977. From the other side of the bar we also said goodbye to Les Woodfield who retired after serving for 18 years as the club steward and staffing and managing the bar reverted to being a mainly volunteering activity.

Midlands 1 West- If promotion was not enough in 2008/09, the RFU kindly gave us a second step up, but in name only, when they increased the size of the leagues to 14 teams and re-designated our new league as Midlands 1 West. The extra games meant that clubs at this level were excluded from the national cups, as there was no room for these in the programme. After leading the side though most of the previous campaign and more than 10 years in the first team, Nick Maxwell took over as first team skipper. Several players moved on - Mark Warrilow and Kieran Price to Rugby and James Hersey to Broadstreet. We were also to be without winger Simon Magill for the season as he recuperated from knee surgery. There were some newcomers however - John Raby returned after a spell with Kenilworth and brought with him Matt Cooper, a powerful wing-forward. Another back-row acquisition was Ben Pirie from West of Scotland who unfortunately struggled with injuries.

We were straight into league action in the first week of the season and in an exhilarating display we ran visiting Solihull off their feet to win 43-0. Tom Secher orchestrated the game from fly-half, kicking 18 points and there were tries for Pete Blunt, Marcus Pask, Simon Dudley and John Raby (2). Away at Stoke on Trent in the second game, we dominated the play with our mobile pack running the heavy opposition forwards around the field but it took a brilliant break by Secher to clinch the game, running the length of the field before setting Adam Preece up for a try and we won by 24-10. Our first local derby with Stratford for three years provided a stiff test and after falling behind after an exchange of penalties, a try from Ben Pirie on his debut proved to be decisive in a 10-6 win. Hopes of making it 4 in a row were dashed when we visited Sutton Coldfield and fell victim to some crucial referring decisions in a game we dominated. Pirie was again a try-scorer, but a late try secured the game for Sutton by 27-18, with two Leamington men in the sin-bin.

Tries by Secher and debutant Matt Cooper took us into an early lead against Walsall, but two more yellow cards enabled them to pin us back in defence until Pirie relieved the pressure by selling an outrageous dummy and racing through to stretch the lead. After that it was plain sailing and another try from Pirie and two from Tom Williams wrapped up a 43-10 win. With 4 wins out of 5, we had started well but we were about to be tested against co-leaders Bourneville and Burton with a rapidly growing injury list. Bourneville proved to be a real handful with a big pack and excellent backs and we conceded six tries against two from Cooper, in going down 15-38. Burton were in brilliant form and took us apart with the best exhibition of running rugby seen at Moorefields for some years scoring 8 tries and 50 points by just after half-time. We were looking at a real hammering but helped by the referee kindly disallowing a couple of scores we halted the flow of points and scored a consolation try through Raby. If the 53-5 score-line was not bad enough, a broken leg put centre Tom Williams out for the season and we were later deducted two league points for fielding an unregistered player in the game, due to an oversight.

We had the perfect start at Camp Hill when a breathtaking run by Secher set up Cooper for a try in the opening minutes but despite putting the home side under constant pressure we conceded two tries before half time to go behind by 7-12, and with several players carrying injuries we could not turn the game around and there was no further score. It was back to winning ways with the visit of struggling Cheltenham North, who suffered a first half onslaught as backs and forwards combined in a series of sweeping moves to score 5 tries in the opening 25 minutes. The injury situation was getting worse and worse with a dozen front-line players now out of action. The remnants of the squad travelled to Dudley Kingswinford and went down heavily by 14-68 to a very good side and hopes were therefore not high for the visit of fourth placed Whitchurch. After defending for 20 minutes we went ahead through a Northover penalty in our first attack and it was on the stroke of half-time before Whitchurch got on the scoreboard with a pushover try as two of our forwards were yellow carded when desperately protecting our line. But it the second half it was our turn to attack and Northover set up try for Blunt which he converted and then added 2 pens to clinch a vital 18-8 win.

First XV 2009-10 - Alex Carroll, Danny Phillips, Lewis Kelsey, Jim Robertson, Nick Maxwell (captain), Alan Roberts, Simon Harry, Terry Curran, Scott Conduit, Gordon Jackson, Neil McMillan - Matt Cooper, Patch Northover,Tom Secher, Marcus Pask, Simon Dudley, Danny Ruyssevelt, Jon Raby, Adam Preece

Constant rain reduced our pitch to a quagmire for the visit of Nuneaton Old Eds which suited their powerful pack. Despite us leading for most of the game the visitors came back from 8-18 down to score two tries from close range and a late penalty to nick the game by 20-18. Our first ever league encounter with Old Halesonians was also played in wet and heavy conditions although we applied constant pressure in the second half to try and overcome a first half deficit, we let them off the hook and lost 16-21. We were now slipping down the table at an alarming rate. Solihull, who had lost all of their games, dropped out of the league and their results were declared null and void. This meant that they were relegated and two other sides would go down. Stoke were one of the strugglers and they were our first return opponents in December. We were now getting back to strength and looked to be heading for an easy victory through tries from Curran and Raby, but handling errors cost us several good chances and we were made to pay as the visitors amazingly turned the game around in the second period and penalty and a try put them a point ahead with 10 minutes to go. There was still time to rescue the game but a missed penalty in front of the posts consigned us to defeat by 9-10.

Bad weather either side of Christmas caused five successive weeks to be lost due to frost and snow. We were back into action with the visit of second-placed Bourneville in late January and took the lead with a penalty-try. Another from Carroll put us ahead and when a try from Secher made it 17-11 the game appeared safe only for Bourneville to rumble over from close range in the sixth minute of injury time and score a try that spectators close by claimed wasn't touched down. A difficult conversion silenced the home crowd and we had lost by two points or less for the fourth game in a row.

Our first half showing at Burton was as good as any all season as we matched the home side point for point. Unfortunately we couldn't keep it up and two 3-try bursts in the second half sent us down to a 15-41 defeat. Relegation was now looking a real prospect and our next game was the return at Stratford and after an even first half we totally dominated the second period with the back row of Pirie, Cooper and Blunt running constantly at the home defence and although we couldn't add to Simon Dudley's first half try we ran out well deserved winners. After this confidence boost the visit of Camp Hill gave us a huge opportunity to start moving up the table, but in a poor game, where the forwards struggled and nothing went right in the backs, it was the Birmingham side who came out on top by 9-3, all the points coming from penalties. Twice postponed due to the bad weather, our opening tie in the Warwickshire Cup was against Dunlop. The game was eventually played in midweek under lights at Keresley, and being in between two vital league games, we fielded a mixed team of first and second XV players and lost 15-8 in a tight game.

We were again badly hit by injuries and unavailability when we entertained Sutton Coldfield. Our depleted pack was up against a big set of forwards but played with tremendous spirit. Sutton were leading at half- time and exerting constant pressure to finish us off before a double sin-binning reduced them to 13 men and gave us some respite. Opportunities to go ahead were missed whilst our opponents were short-handed but we continued to press when they were back to full strength and were gifted an interception try by Jim Robertson which put us 14-10 ahead and two more glorious chances were missed to seal the game. Having been let off Sutton finished strongly and went back in front with five minutes to go and two more tries in injury time took the score to 14-31, which was a poor reward for our efforts. We were more or less back to strength for the visit of Dudley Kingswinford and we went into a 10-3 lead but then failed to play the referee and 14 penalties in the first half resulted in three yellow cards. Dudley punished us for this with tries either side of the break to go 20-10 in front but a Robertson penalty put us back in the game and when Blunt touched down with five minutes to go a kickable conversion would have put us level, but typical of our luck Robertson hit the post and few moments later a penalty to win the game sloped just wide and yet again we had gone down to a narrow defeat, by 18-20.

Wondering where the next win was going to come from, a surprise victory at Whitchurch almost ensured our survival with three games to go. The lead changed hands several times before we clinched the game through tries from Dudley (2) and man the match Gordon Jackson. As before, yellow cards cost us dearly with four in the match and we were down to 13 men at the end, with Northover sent off for a receiving two of them. After several weeks of dry weather the heavens opened to ensure a typically heavy pitch and wet conditions for our visit to Nuneaton Old Edwardians. In a lackluster display the home forwards stuffed the ball up their jerseys and piled up the points and again we fell foul of the referee with three yellow cards. Only a late converted try by Jon Raby made the score respectable at 10-20.

With Stoke losing to Camp Hill, our survival was effectively secured and we were able to go into our penultimate game against Old Halesonians in a relaxed mood. On a good surface we turned on the style and tries from Conduit, Preece (2) and Cooper put us 24-7 ahead at the break and the game was clinched with two special scores. A breakout from behind our line by Carroll found Ruyssevelt in support who slipped the ball to Northover to finish a length of the field move in the corner. Minutes later Secher turned the Halesonians winger inside out before stepping on the gas to score under the posts. After that it was plain sailing as Ruyssevelt (2) and Raby added further tries to round off a 53-7 win.

Our final game was against Walsall on Easter Saturday and this turned out to be a thriller. Trailing by 4 points, Secher scored a try and then charged down a clearance kick and Cooper used his pace to outstrip the defence and score another - unfortunately the referee was unsighted and disallowed it. But Matt wasn't to be denied and shortly after he intercepted a wayward pass on his goal line and raced the length of the field to score under the posts and put us ahead. But with a man short due to injury and well into overtime Walsall scored again to win 32-29.

It was fortunate that our fate was not dependant on the Walsall game as it was in so many ways a microcosm of the whole season - brilliant running, weakened by injuries and losing narrowly in the final minutes. Throughout the season we suffered from yellow card fever and continually put ourselves under pressure playing with two men short. This and the lack of a top class kicker cost us dearly in the many of the close games that we lost by one or two points. Despite everything, the team played with great skill and spirit throughout and we finished in 10th place (of 14) and but for the two points forfeited would have been a very creditable 8th Patch Northover was ever-present and he was chosen as Player of the Season. Matt Cooper was top try scorer for the first team with 10 and was the Young Player of the Year. Danny Ruyssevelt who was equally adept at wing-forward or wing three-quarter was the Most Improved Player Inspirational coach Alan Roberts won the Clubman of the Year award. At the end of season, the traditional official club tour was reintroduced after many years and we went to Bournemouth where we defeated local side Oakmedians (who play at the same level as us) by 60-3. The club also started to take sevens seriously again with Jon Raby organising our side which reached the final of the Earlsdon event, losing to Silhillians who were mainly Worcester players.

Gareth Eastham again led the Extras. Playing for a second season in Warwickshire 1, we finished in fourth place but never seriously challenged for the title, which was won by Broadstreet. There were many high scoring games, some in our favour and others not, but two of our best performances were a 60-11 win over Barkers Butts and a 62-14 win against Kenilworth, who had earlier cried-off the reverse fixture. We also played Kenilworth in the second team cup and unluckily lost 27-29 to a penalty in the last minute, despite 4 tries from winger Simon Tyler. Simon scored 17 tries, including hat-tricks in two other games, as well as being a reliable goal-kicker. He was club top scorer with 17 tries. The side suffered the knock on effect of first team injury crisis before Christmas and after the bad weather break in mid-winter found it hard to get going again and there was a high turnover in the side. Overall they had an even record winning 13 and losing the same number.

The Spartans had a fairly good year season with 9 wins and the same number of losses and finished a creditable third in Warwickshire 3. After a bright start, winning their first five games, they lost to the top two sides, Manor Park and Newbold, but despite the injury crisis these were the only defeats before Christmas. However, after the winter break they found it difficult to get into their stride again and won only three more games, although these were against league winners Manor Park, Bedworth and Kenilworth in the Dave Reeve memorial game at Easter, for which there were plenty of substitutes available (pictured above) This was a season of transition, with Richard "Wiggy" Watkins taking over as captain, with the old guard of Ward, David, Chamberlain, Gray and co. fading into retirement with the Kenilworth game their supposed swan song, although there were still a few games left in them.

Matt Dale was top points scorer with 75 and Johnny Phillips & Aaron Hunt were top try scorers with 6 each. In what is probably unique in the club's history the three Hunt brothers (Aaron, Matthew and Oliver - sons of Kevin, pictured right) played in the same side against Shottery in December.

Bill Dalton and Paul Ford continued to look after what was a very young Colts side. It was a challenging year for them with a limited number of players available, but although we managed to have a full squad almost every week unfortunately our opponents often didn't. At one stage five consecutive matches were cancelled, all at the last minute. Clubs such as Stratford, Shipston, Broadstreet and many others struggled to field a side and eventually gave in and the whole of Warwickshire could only muster nine colts teams. We played only 12 matches, compared to 18 the previous year, and although we failed to register a win we still finished in lower mid-table in the Warwickshire Colts Merit Table due to its eccentric points structure. After Christmas we were augmented by under-17 players and the squad started to develop and show promise for the future. We entered the Moreton Morrell sevens tournament and narrowly failed to make the semifinals (on a dubious "points scored' decision) after having won 3 of the 4 pool matches. Charlie Gray captained the side and he was the Colt of the Year. Sam Nunn was the Young Colt and Andy Hart won the Fire in Your Belly Award (the "players' player" trophy) which was presented by Kate Smith in memory of Lol, who had always supported the side.

Off the field the club made an overall operating profit of over £4,000 and there were hopeful signs that with the mortgage on the gymnasium now finally paid off and reduced staffing costs on the bar we were in a more stable financial position than for some years. However, with the clubhouse and ground now 40 years old and showing their age there was an expanding list of refurbishment issues that needed to be dealt with and were likely to swallow up any spare cash, particularly in relation to electrics, water drainage and sewage and repairs to the driveway.

Spartans 2009-10 - Stewart Nunn, Mark Jones, Andy Scott, Adam Dewsbury, Harry Gooch, Chris Morley, Dave Thomas, Matt Hunt, Matt Harris, Dave Johnson, James Gaynor, Richard Watkins (captain), Oliver Hunt - Andy Siddle, Jon Phillips, Chris Grant, Nick Waters, Andy Hart, Sam Nunn - Aaron Hunt