MUMBLES
RUGBY CLUB
‘BETWEEN THE POSTS’
May 2017
Welcome
to Mumbles Rugby Club and the monthly newsletter ‘Between the Posts’. There is news of what is going on in and around
the club as we come to the end of the season. Make sure you note the dates for
the important social events coming up in May and June, they will be great
nights you won’t want to miss!
ON THE PITCH
The
1st XV continued their good form since the turn of the year but
suffered some agonising defeats during April with just bonus points as
consolation. The last home game was against Hendy and the final score of 12-25
was not a true reflection of how well the boys played. A midweek trip to
Carmarthen followed and again despite 8 changes from the team who played Hendy
it was another good performance and another bonus point from a 23-25 defeat.
Tycroes away was next up and despite a great first half performance the boys
just came up short again going down 15-22 but another bonus point! So the
season comes to an end this weekend with the long trip to Fishguard coming
almost a month after the Tycroes game! Don’t ask; let’s just say the WRU seem
to have something against Mumbles when it comes to sorting out issues which are
completely out of our hands. Anyway the game is on Saturday and it would be
great to see you come along to support the boys. Meet in the club at 9.30
a.m. with the bus leaving at 10.00 a.m.
The
Youth have had a difficult season but have battled on and had a tremendous
finale to the season which I had the pleasure of watching. South Gower away was
always going to be a test and despite dominating the game it looked like they
were going to come up short. But never give up has been the plan this season
and a last play move gave the boys a try to win the game 8-7! Next up was
Vardre which should have been played at Underhill but because of the ground
work going on had to be played midweek up in Vardre. Again the boys dominated
the game but found themselves level at 12-12, Vardre scoring a try with time up.
There was just time to restart the game and suddenly the Ref gave Mumbles a
penalty but on the halfway line! Up stepped Captain Mark Cotterall and with no
apparent nerves thumped the kick between the posts for a magnificent 3 points
and a well-deserved victory! Although they are 2 games short of completing a
full fixture list the boys finished third in their division, a tremendous
effort.
JUNIOR SECTION
Like
the Seniors and Youth the Junior teams enjoyed a good season. A combined U15/16’s
hosted a tour party from The Hague and came out 42-24 winners in a very
entertaining game. Well done to John Benson for getting the game on despite the
tourists being 2 hours late due to a few problems as the bus dropped the party off
at Mumbles Cricket Club! The good news continues for the Juniors as we were able
to present them with £1,000, the proceeds from the Alun Wyn/Geoff Wheel
evening. This figure was matched after a very generous donation from Swansea
Building Society. So £2,000 in the coffers for the Juniors, great news!
BAR 1887 and LOUNGE
As I mentioned in the last issue we are pressing ahead
with the refurbishment of the outside area of the club and documents have been filed
with Swansea Council seeking planning permission for the refurb to be done.
Work will start as soon as we get the go ahead and hopefully you will be able
to enjoy a nice glass of wine or a pint or two sitting outside during the summer!
AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS
The
WRU have told us that orders for tickets for the Autumn Internationals matches
must be with them by Friday 19th May
2017.The games/ticket prices are as follows:
Sat
11th Nov Australia ko 17.15 Tickets
£45 under 16's £15Sat 18th Nov Georgia ko 14.30 Tickets £20 under 16's £10
Sat 25th Nov New Zealand ko 17.15 Tickets £75 no reduction for under 16's
Sat 2nd Dec South Africa ko 14.30 Tickets £45 under 16's £15
Please let Clive Davies know asap if you want any tickets but in any case before 19th May!
100 CLUB
Congratulations to Peter Blyth the winner of the £50 March
draw and Peter Ebenezer winner of £50 for April. Why not join the 100 Club,
which will run throughout the close season. For just £5 per month you will be
entered in the draw with a chance of winning £50, while every 4th
month there is a super cash prize of £500! See club steward Skinny and complete
an application form. You have to be in
it, to win it!
CLUB WEBSITE
John
Benson continues to work hard updating the club website but is keen to hear
from you our members and especially the Juniors who we hope will post news, reports,
pictures and fixtures for their team. I’m sure you have pictures of the boys on
tour that could go on the website. Please get in contact with John via e.mail: johnd.benson@ntlworld.com
SOCIAL EVENTS IN BAR 1887
Where
else could I start but the Alun Wyn Jones/Geoff Wheel evening which was an outstanding
success with a packed club entertained by two legends from different eras of
Welsh rugby. Alun Wyn, who only three days earlier had been named in the British
and Irish Lions tour party to New Zealand gave us a great insight of a Lions
tour, whereas Geoff revealed the reason why he was withdrawn from the Lions
tour party in 1974 due to injury despite having a letter declaring his fitness
to tour! It wasn’t all serious and Geoff had us in stiches when telling us
about the Wales tour to Canada when someone chucked his Ukulele over Niagara
Falls only for it to turn up the next day in his room!
We will
soon be into the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand and we will be
showing the entire tour live in BAR
1887! Obviously these will be morning games and a poster is displayed both
in the club and on the noticeboards outside with dates and k.o. times and when
the club is open. Before the tour starts we have an Evening with a former British
& Irish Lion Andy Powell, which you will remember we had to postpone in
March. Tickets are now on sale and going fast, so get yours now!
Saturday 13th May – Players
Presentation Evening 7.30 p.m. – This is the annual awards
night for the 1st XV and Youth Players. Dan Evans from the Ospreys will
be presenting the awards, there will be a buffet and a Live Band to round off what
I know will be a superb night! Everybody is welcome and I know the boys are
keen to have your support on the night as we announce the Player of the Year
and many more awards.
Friday 19th May – MRFC Golf
Day Langland Bay Golf Club – I’m delighted to say our
annual Golf Day is sold out with 24 teams competing, let’s hope the sun shines!
Friday 2nd June – An Evening with Andy
Powell – The next in our series of Rugby evenings is a night in
the company of former Wales International and British & Irish Lion Andy
Powell and Host/Comedian Phil Howe who are both very funny, so it is sure to be
a great evening! Tickets are just £5
each available from the bar.
SPECIAL OFFER
As you
probably know Bistrot Pierre are opening their new restaurant in Oyster Wharf next
week. They are offering 50% off meals booked on the following dates:
Sunday
4th June – Thursday 8th June, Sunday 11th June – Thursday 15th June, Monday
19th June – Thursday 22nd June
This
is for MRFC members only so you need to come through me to book your meal.
Well
that’s about it for this month, a busy time ahead. Be sure to book your tickets
for the Andy Powell evening on 2nd
June. In the meantime I hope to see you on Saturday night in BAR 1887, toasting
success for Mumbles RFC!