Sunday, 1 January 2023By Roger Holmes
As 2022 draws to a close lets a have a quick look back on the years highlights and lowlights.
January was a bittersweet month for the CRUFC family as we mourned the loss, just before the year end, of our Immediate Past President Colin Silcock.
The numbers of Club members at the funeral was a testament of his high standing within our Club.
Never forgotten.
February saw the 1st XV’s brief interest in the 1st Div Shield competition finish before it had started at Tyldesley. Also a ‘massive’ snow storm later in the month prevented travel to Burnley for a league fixture.
Meanwhile a good away win for KK’s 2nd XV at Bolton in the mud was notable for a try by Nick Good – his first since 2008. Consistent.
March and April were almost ones to forget for the senior teams with a couple of unpleasant reverses but at least the 1s redeemed themselves with a draw at Burnley to maintain the unbeaten run against them. The 2’s wrapped up their season with a good win over Garstang.
Meanwhile the Colts reached the semi final of the Halbro Colts Junior Plate just being pipped by Tyldesley. This was the end of junior rugby for the lads after going on 10 years together; but as predicted many of them are now gracing the senior maroon and gold teams.
The Annual Bun fight – sometimes known as the Annual Dinner was excellent; speeches...plenty of them[!], tall tales, cheese incoming, red wine, etc
Early May – and Presidents Day was up to the usual standard of exciting running rugby with a Colts exhibition game as warm up. Father and son referees in the Barraclough boys – thanks chaps.
TOUR! Off to bonny Scotland with pied piper Struan Robertson leading us to Haddington RFC. A great night out in Edinburgh and a tough game after a dip in the North Sea for all. Waddy loved it. As for the rest of the details….stays on Tour! Or ask a tourist...or better still sign up for this years trip to Swansea.
The end of the season saw a changing of the guard in the coaching dept. Lead Coaches Luke Loveridge and Ross Chamberlain stepping down after a few years of hard work and laying the foundations for the future. Thanks Chaps.
After a bit of R & R the blistering hot summer was upon us and all of a sudden it’s pre season time.
New season, new coach and new captain[s]. Mark Walton stepped into the hot seat as head Coach, ok for a Yorkshire person.
And a first for the Club – joint 1st XV Captains [taking of from James Dickinson who had steered us through the ‘Covid years’ with aplomb, props Bicky]
Nick Roberts and Nathon Burns sharing the skippers armband.
August. A sudden interest in Commonwealth Games judo, as Nathon Burns grabbed a Bronze medal in the -66kg class. [obvs should have been gold – he was robbed by a dodgy judge’s call!].
Haddington RFC paid us a visit for a warm up and took three club members back to Blackpool with them on their bus. Only two returned.
September. The new league set up. Mostly the same faces.
First league game was a toughie. Colne away. Blood spilled, but no points conceded. Set the tone.
The next week. First home game and an epic and emotional day. The newly renamed Silcock Park followed by continuing the hex on Burnley.
The 2’s took a bit to get going but a great win over Burnley [who else?] set them on for 3 in a row ‘W’s
October; and the 1st XV steamed on, unbeaten into November. Then Ashton at home popped the bubble by sneaking a one point win.
Meanwhile the 2’s did the double over Hoppers – a rare treat.
1st XV return match at Burnley continued our success over our local rivals at the beginning of December
Then for the latter part of December we were all frosted off on the pitch.
At the year end both teams were well placed . The 1s lead their table and the 2’s are 4th in 3N.
Almost hard to fit in all the other top quality items at our Club; Sportsmans Dinner with Dean [Deanoo] Richards, Former Players Do, Curry Night, Christmas Do, Halloween Bash - the list goes on.
So a contrasting year of lows and highs. But the Club is still in great heart and with great men like Wombat leading the socials, Struan in Tour leader mode and Chairman Bob doing his stuff plus all the rest of the committee and members getting stuck in, we can look forward to a fantastic 2023.
Silverware? Possibly. Promotion? Maybe. Great craic and good rugby – almost certainly.
Bring it on.
Happy New Year
