WIVELISCOMBE Rugby Club’s 2024/5 season came to a conclusion with their end of season dinner/dance and presentation of awards at their clubhouse at the Wiveliscombe Recreation Ground, writes Roger Bellamy.
The event was well supported with every ticket sold - with about 150 attending. Chairman Garry Sharland presented the awards, opening with a special award to the Colts coaches Mark Barrington and Dan Stanbury who are developing some useful lads for the future.
An award last presented in 2019 for the most improved Colt of the season went to George Wolf, Coaches Colt of the season went to Sammy Croft with Jack Lee the all-round Colt of the season.
Senior players have responded well to the the coaching set up in the club resulting a respectable middle league table position. Mark Chatterton proved a valuable addition bringing his vast experience to the club, while Rob Weaver was the backbone of the overall coaching set up in both the men's and women's teams. Alex Westott was ever present throughout the season at training and matches supporting the coaches and early season recruit Tom Pearce brought the experience needed on the pitch on match days.
Wiveliscombes 1st XV had a satisfactory league campaign finishing in mid table - in sixth position. They won twelve of their twenty two league fixtures - improving very much on the previous winter - scoring five hundred and thirty seven points and conceded four hundred and thirty nine.
Physio Carman Taylor was given a special mention for her work on match days and mid week keeping players fit for games ahead.
Wiveliscombes second fifteen enjoyed an excellent season, losing just one game in the Counties Three Somerset South League and drawing one. They scored 847 points for and conceded just one hundred and eighteen. They played eighteen league games, winning seventeen and drawing one with just one defeat - against the runners-up in the division Martock. They are promoted to Somerset two next season.
Special mention went to second team officials Jamie Cook, Des Corfield and Vince Carrington. Three players had special mention for the seconds, Dan Strong, Paddy Ruell and Josh White - all had excellent seasons.
Wiveliscombe’s women’s rugby deserves a big mention at the club after an excellent season and join the seconds in being promoted.
The ladies, coached by Rob Weaver and players from the men's fifteens, have produced some excellent results this season, losing just two matches. An award of the Stanley T Holt Cup for the best playing club members went to Jess and Emma Weaver. The Ladies most improved player of the season went to Amie Smith with players player of the season was given to to Anna Delridge.
Additional special mentions for the season were the Len Lloyd cup second team player of season to Dave Audemard, Most improved senior player of the season Gaga Hayman, Trevor Coates cup for break through player of season went to Will Ruell, Alex Westott received the Sid Woodbury cup for non playing member of the season.
Coach Mark Chatterton was voted the volunteer of the season and Fiona and Rodney Thorne voted supporters of the season. Finally the Wiveliscombe Rugby Club players player of the season went to club captain Will Ellis who helped steer the lst XV to a very commendable position in their division..