Cumbria Rugby Union

The weather for the Finals night was quite breezy, with bright sunshine at times and thankfully dry following the deluges of the previous weekend and at times a little chilly. Having said that the rugby on display brightened up the spirits and certainly warmed up those playing, as well as the spectators who were in attendance to support the schools involved in the matches.

Many thanks to everyone for their participation in the four age group competitions that led to the Finals taking place on Wednesday evening and for the second time the Y11/U16 RWC Legacy 7 a-sides tournament. Penrith RUFC one again kindly hosted the Finals evening and allowed the CSRFU to make use of their facilities and the AGP (Artificial Grass Pitch). A big thank you as well to the catering staff who provided warming and much needed post-match refreshments to the players, coaches and officials.

In the Y9/U14 Plate there was a keenly contested game between Appleby Grammar School and West Lakes Academy, Egremont. West Lakes were in the ascendancy for a lot of the game dominating possession with the occasional burst out of defence by Appleby through the strong running of a number of their forwards. The determination as well as enthusiasm displayed by all the players involved was tremendous. Congratulations to West Lakes Academy who were victorious in this keenly contested game.

In the Y9/U14 County Cup Final the purposeful and direct UCC, Penrith team had a game strategy that was too much for their opponents and so defeated St Benedict’s High School, Whitehaven in a match where the commitment of both sides and never say die attitude was clear for all to see.

Due to a particular set of circumstances the Y10/U15 County Cup and Plate Finals were rearranged into a three-way tournament. In the first match for the County Plate trophy Nelson Thomlinson School and Keswick School were involved in a titanic struggle that ended with Nelson Thomlinson just edging out their opponents to retain the trophy that had been won by the school in the 2017/18 season. After a break Keswick School then played UCC, Penrith in an interesting game where Keswick gave a very good account of themselves and provided stern opposition for the UCC team who did overcome them with some free-flowing and direct rugby. In the final game of this three-way tournament UCC, Penrith overcame a determined Nelson Thomlinson side who were attempting to cause an upset having defeated UCC in a game earlier in the season as UCC were favourites to lift the trophy having had great success in the NatWest U15 Plate where they reached the quarter final of this National competition. The game was very keenly contested with no quarter asked or given but in the end the experience and power of the UCC team overcame a determined Nelson Thomlinson side.
Victory in the County Cup at Y10/U15 meant that UCC, Penrith retained their County Champions status following on from their exploits of 2017/18. Winning the County Cup in consecutive years at the Y9/U14 & Y10/U15 age groups means that this team has followed in the footsteps of QEGS, Penrith, QES Kirkby Lonsdale, Cockermouth School and St Benedict’s, Whitehaven who also completed this achievement. UCC Penrith also reached the 2018/19 quarter-final of the national NatWest Plate competition. Many congratulations to the team and their coaches for all the success that they have achieved this season.

This seasons Finals night had the added bonus of the Y11/U16 RWC 2015 Legacy tournament being played. Four schools competed in a round robin tournament and the schools involved were QEGS, Penrith, Keswick School, Nelson Thomlinson School and St Benedict’s School Whitehaven. The 7’s rugby played by the boys was exciting, skilful and full of purpose and energy. There was full commitment on display with aggressive running, determined defence and a desire to make use of the full width of the pitch. The result was the closest that was possible with the touch line adjudicator having to scrutinise the results of all the matches to determine the winner. St Benedict’s from Whitehaven were the successful team in this Legacy Tournament. A massive thank you here to Trevor Richardson for his assistance at tonight’s 7’s tournament as score keeper, recorder for the games and the adjudicator.

Congratulations to all the players taking part in the Finals - you were superb. The quality of rugby played was really good, the sportsmanship on display was first class and the commitment you all showed during the games was tremendous as was the generosity shown towards your opponents at the final whistle. The extensive crowd of parents and supporters in attendance were treated to a feast of quality as well as entertaining rugby and were extremely supportive in terms of encouragement of the efforts of all of the players.

There are a number of people to thank for their contributions. Firstly, a big thank you to the Cumbria RFU representatives, Mr Mike Neal, Mr John Heyworth and Mr Jason Gregory for attending the Finals evening and many thanks to Messrs Neal and Gregory for presenting medals to the Finalists and trophies to the winners. Thanks also to the referees who ensured that the games were free flowing and compelling to watch. Our referees on the night were Mike Firby ably assisted by his young touch judges, Garry Holmes, Liam Nicholls, John Pearson and a ‘young whistler’ called Alex Ryder from Queen Katherine School, Kendal. Many, many thanks for your officiating.

Thanks also to Penrith RUFC for the use of your facilities - a reasonably central venue with the Club house and changing facilities that you possess certainly enhancing the Finals evening. Also, many thanks to the County CRC's – Garry Holmes Graham Kidd - for their efforts. The use of the gazebo is particularly effective and made for a real focal point for the after-match presentations. Many thanks to Liam Nicholls, the County RDO, and also to Garry and Graham for your support in other ways through the refereeing of matches in previous rounds and the coaching that you have provided in a number of participating schools. Lastly, thanks to the CSRFU committee – Ian Skillen, Chris Hayes and Norman Foster – for all your help during this season.

That, as they say, is it for another year. The new season in September will once again offer further challenges in terms of consolidating the Age Grade Review regulations, implementing the Half Game Rule, arranging competition fixtures to be played in the reorganised Playing Windows as well as developing the girls game in schools and so, to that end I draw your attention to the Schools Development Day & AGM that are currently being organised and will be held on Wednesday 19th June again at Penrith RUFC. At the Development Day, the implications of the AGR will once again be considered and at the Schools AGM one of the agenda items will be a review of the 2018/19 County Cup & County Plate competitions and their organisation as will be the Half Game Rule and the impact of the restructured Playing Windows. Should you have any matters requiring discussion at the AGM or any ideas concerning the development of the game within the County then either communicate your thoughts to Ian Skillen or better still make certain that you attend the Development Day and AGM.
Details concerning the Development Day + AGM will be sent to you very early in the Summer Term as will information concerning affiliation fees payable to CSRFU/ESRFU that will be required for the 2019/20 season + an intention to enter document.

I hope that you have an enjoyable Easter and thanks to everyone of you for all your efforts with the County Competitions, Festivals and Tournaments for 2019/20.
Continue having an enjoyable and restful Easter break.

Garyth Orton
County Competition Organiser