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End of season review

End of season review

Natalie Davidson31 May 2015 - 10:30
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The 2014/15 season had its ups and downs but it has been incredibly positive for Guernsey RFC

The 1st XV showed real grit and determination to overcome the challenge of a huge number of injuries in the first half of the season with an impressive turn around after Christmas to win eight out of the last 12 games and ensure survival in National 3.

The 1sts XV also provided 10 players for Hampshire representation at the end of the season: Cameron Craine, Tom Ceillam, Lewis Hillier, Matt Thomas, Robin Le Cocq, Glen Walters, Blair Campbell and Matt Hema with Ned Brown and Nick Merrien on standby to cover injuries.

The JRA league title was the reward for the 2nd XV's hard work, the first time a Guernsey team has won the CI League.

Congratulations to this season's award winners, which were presented at the Annual Dinner last weekend:

1st XV
Players Player: Lewis Hillier
Coaches Player: Malcolm Barnes
Most Improved Player: Dave Davison

2nd XV
Players Player: Dale Martin
Coaches Player: Leon Gardner

Click here for photos

The Ladies' debut league season saw them win their NC South East South 2 league and retain the Siam Cup for the fourth year in a row.

The Ladies were competing (and partying!) at the Bournemouth 7s at the weekend, where both their teams made the semi finals and they will present their awards at their end of season dinner in June.

The RBSI Academy's end of season presentation came at the end of a campaign in which 11 players were chosen for Hampshire county honours, another strong indication that the club are still churning out a steady flow of promising young players. In addition, to that 11 there were trials for seven other players.

The Hampshire representatives were:
U20s – Matt Chammings
U18s – Dominic Rice, Ben Honour and Harry Finch
U17s – Matt Armstrong
U16s – Alfie Penney with trials for Dan Rice, Theo Cross and Brett Hewlett
U15s – John Le Noury and Will Mason
U14s – Matt Creber and Cody Simms with trials for Morgan Camp, Tom Yarwood, Will Gray and Phil Le Noury

League placings:
Colts Winners Sussex Championship League
Under 16 4th Hampshire Division 2
Under 15 5th Hampshire Division 1
Under 14 5th Sussex League 2
Under 13 4th Sussex League 2 East

All age groups from U7s travelled to festivals in Jersey, Hampshire, Sussex and for the first time this season a little further afield to York and Manchester.

All in all over 188 fixtures were played by the Academy, up from 122 in the previous season.

This season also saw the introduction of TOTS rugby for the U5s.

Never before have so many Colts have been deemed strong and able enough to play up into the senior 2nd XV with Giles Quigley, Charlie Scott, Jacob Smith, James Parr, Harry Finch, Dom Rice, Tom Veillard, Gearoid Lee, Ben Honour, Matthew Armstrong, Taylor Quate and Owen Poynder all making their senior debuts.

And, of course, one – Dominic Rice – got a run-out in the first XV pack, scoring a try on his debut.

Naturally, there are outstanding individuals in any age-group squad, while others make steady progress over the course of a season. To recognise such players, a Most Improved trophy was awarded alongside the Player of the Year award in each age-group.

The full list of trophy winners read:
Player of the Year and Most Improved Player

U7s – Charlie van Katwyk and Isaac Keys
U8s – Louis Mayor and Connor Ballard
U9s – William Creber and Dylan Kidd
U10s – Jacob Mayor and Edward Brady
U11s – Finn O'Reilly and Jack Webber
U12s – Ollie Evans and Blaze Vile
U13s – Bradley Jordan and Callum Spinney
U14s – Matt Creber and Howard Joyce
U15s – John Le Noury and Toby Meller
U16s – Piers Holbrook-Sanderson and Brad Webb
Colts – Dominic Rice and Matt Armstrong

Further reading