Choice Cuts 05

Editorial/Rugby News. Newsletter No. 30, 20th October 1972

The events of the past month or so have been such that we are breaking with tradition and putting the spotlight on the Rugby Club in this Newsletter. Many Old Boys and particularly the younger ones do not seem to fully appreciate either the strength or potential of our Club. Now in it's ninth season the Club has been running two sides for eight of them, but on many occasions the A XV has been under strength and has struggled with 12 or 13 men. Last season this problem seemed to have been solved with an influx of new players and the return of several others, but during the close season some 12 regular members no longer became available. The high prices of homes in the London area, the lure of better jobs out of the Capital's holocaust and the distractions of colour television have all played their part and a crisis has resulted in that there is now the worst ever shortage of players. Happily the problem looks like being resolved as people are rallying round, but it would be nice to see more school leavers more readily coming into the fold to strengthen the Club instead of playing for local College sides whose standard and fixture lists fall way below our 1st XV. Surely they are not afraid of making the grade!

Any Old Boy who has played Rugby at School and would like to take up the challenge of Club Rugby should please contact Roger Alleyne as soon as possible at 01-204 4421. If you don't think you are fit enough, training still goes on every Wednesday in the School Gymnasium from 7.30 p.m., a point a few of the current players could note!!!

There have as usual been early season Sevens and here in spite of our problems the 1st VII put up a tremendous display in reaching the National Old Boys' Finals at Richmond. To qualify for these the VII comprising Tom McLaughlin, Mick Owen, Nick Kohl, Mark Crane, Alan Morrison, Terry Burrells and Tony Westray had to reach the semi-finals of the North London Old Boys' tournament at Old Haberdashers ground, but they surpassed all expectations and went on to win the Blowfield Cup by defeating Old Rutlishians 18-16 in the final. They had beaten Old Windsorians II 29-0, Old Esthameians 18-4 and Old Gaytonians 10-6 in the earlier rounds. Then at Richmond the following Sunday the same VII came back from 0-16 down to beat Old Walcountians 20-16 after extra time in the first round, but in the quarter finals they went out 8-14 to Old Wirralians from Cheshire who went on to defeat Old Rutlishians 26-22 in the final. In the Haberdashers tournament the 2nd VII went out 12-14 to Old Blues in the 1st round and at Hamptonians the 1st VII with two changes defeated Orleans Former Pupils II 22-4, Old Hinchleyans 22-0 and Old Thamesians II 18-4 before falling 8-16 to the eventual winners Old Thamesians I in the semi-final.

The Club have now affiliated to the Combined London Old Boys' Rugby Football Club and it is hoped that some players will gain representative honours for this new Club.

Finally last Sunday, London Fire Brigade beat Kodak 20-4 in the first round of the Middlesex Cup and thus provide the opposition for the 1st XV in the 2nd Round on 12th November, the match to be played at Tolworth in Surrey!