|
| IMPORTANT Remember to read the rules of the board and abide by them when posting. |
End of season grades |
Post Reply 
|
Page <12 |
| Author | ||
dawson9 
Mini and Juniors 
Joined: 14 May 2025 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 8 |
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote Reply
 Posted: 04 Jun 2025 at 09:36 |
|
|
Big chief - my mistake- was highest points scored in the championship not finish! Completely misread that on the LS post about it!
|
||
 |
||
|
FHLH
World Cup Winner 
Cambridge Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Location: Cambridge Status: Offline Points: 5609 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Yesterday at 17:12 |
|
|
As my old friend, Eric Morecombe, would say: “What do you think
of the show so far?” As for my club, Cambridge, might say: “Rubbish!!” Earlier
this year, a contributor suggested we should spend more money on players, but as
Mr Micawber would say: “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure
nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual
expenditure twenty-pound ought and six, result misery.” That’s enough literature.
It has been a challenging season for Cambridge, their victory over Pirates gave me hope but it was not to be, perhaps the Augean Stables clear out will improve the situation. Most of the recent National One promotion teams are in the bottom half of the table with the exception of Hartpury (2016/17) who have nudged Nottingham into the lower half this season. In my opinion, there have been two key over achievers – newbies Chinnor and one of rugby’s stalwarts, Bedford. Budge Rodgers and my former schoolmaster, Pat Briggs, must be delighted. Chinnor’s success and Cambridge & Caldy’s comparative failures are a discussion point – funding, coaching, desire to succeed? Nottingham must be looking at their peformance with a similar view - what happened?g down into NationalOne, Rams and Rosslyn Park have had repeated attempts to make the jump but to fall of in the final weeks. Let’s not forget a selection of movers and shakers from prior years who were top of the National One table. Coventry promotion 2017/18, Birmingham & Solihill 2009/10 (ceased trading), London Welsh 2010/11 (ceased trading), Jersey 2011/12 (ceased trading), Ealing 2012/13, Doncaster 2013/14, Richmond 2014/15, 2019/20 & 2024/25, London Irish 2015/16 (only team to go on to the Premiership, but then ceased trading). Independent financial success and rugby are not good bed partners. Looking at the 2024/25 table, it's almost as it you could split Prem II in two: Prem - IIa (professional) and IIb (semi pro) – one half of the season within IIa and IIb and two teams promoted/relegated within those mini leagues at Christmas - but that's another story. Edited by FHLH - Yesterday at 17:34 |
||
|
"My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts."
|
||
|
||
|
Se7en
World Cup Winner
Joined: 18 Apr 2023 Location: Not given Status: Offline Points: 686 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Yesterday at 18:24 |
|
|
FHLH, I agree with your summary, and particularly your last paragraph regarding the notion of splitting the fully professional and semi-professional clubs, albeit a logistical headache. It is interesting to hear the views of a Cambridge supporter on this matter.
I hope that Chinnor can repeat this season's impressive efforts and even improve on them as I remember that Caldy had a stronger first season in tier 2 following their promotion but have yet to replicate or improve on this and have stagnated since. Cambridge have in reality not found any discernable rhythm or consistency since their promotion. With Worcester Warriors currently compiling an incredibly talented and experienced squad, I believe that the gulf in standards across the league will only increase next season.
Edited by Se7en - Yesterday at 18:25 |
||
|
||
|
Kimbo
World Cup Winner
Joined: 31 May 2007 Location: 'incleh Status: Offline Points: 6660 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 22 hours 4 minutes ago at 21:40 |
|
|
Indeed
It will be interesting to watch the moneyed-two fighting it out at the top. I wonder if both will be in a position to make the step up. I suspect the RFU will hope not.
|
||
|
Our Club |
||
|
||
|
islander
World Cup Winner
Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Location: jersey Status: Offline Points: 7907 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 12 hours 23 minutes ago at 07:21 |
|
|
Interesting analysis FHLH... altho' I'm certain London Irish never played in Nat 1
|
||
|
||
|
fatbear
World Cup Winner
Joined: 13 Sep 2013 Location: Thame Status: Offline Points: 3066 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 hours 23 minutes ago at 08:21 |
|
Richmond won Nat1 in 2015/16 not London Irish. Ealing won 2014/15 not Richmond !
|
||
|
||
|
backrowb
World Cup Winner
Joined: 07 Nov 2013 Location: Gods own county Status: Offline Points: 1699 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 hours 18 minutes ago at 08:26 |
|
|
Failure by Caldy and Cambridge?
2 clubs that run multiple teams and age groups and compete in the Championship. Hats off to them and Chinnor I say. Incredible achievements, and bring youngsters to the game.
|
||
|
||
|
Mark W-J
Coaching staff
Joined: 22 May 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3766 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 hours 15 minutes ago at 08:29 |
|
And London Welsh certainly didn't win Nat1 in 2010-11!
|
||
|
||
|
Se7en
World Cup Winner
Joined: 18 Apr 2023 Location: Not given Status: Offline Points: 686 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: 10 hours 6 minutes ago at 09:38 |
|
From what I understood FHLH was highlighting the 'comparitive' failure of Cambridge and Caldy to Chinnor, three clubs of very similar resources, playing pool, reliance on DR, journey through the leagues to tier 2 etc, rather than saying that Cambridge and Caldy were outright failures. No one doubts their achievements as (dreaded word) 'Community' clubs with minis, juniors etc, but rather their evident struggles at 1 XV level when trying to keep their heads above water against the more professional clubs in the league. This feeds back into what FHLH was summarising about some sides perhaps being better off in a league made up solely of semi-professional sides. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if Chinnor can kick on next season and become an established semi-pro tier 2 club like some others have managed to. Nick Easter has certainly brought a more all round professional air to Chinnor since his arrival, and they have reaped the benefits of this.
Edited by Se7en - 10 hours 3 minutes ago at 09:41 |
||
|
||
|
JZSmith
British and Irish Lion 
Joined: 27 Aug 2024 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 283 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: 8 hours 7 minutes ago at 11:37 |
|
Indeed and I believe they pay their debts as well!
|
||
|
||
|
FHLH
World Cup Winner
Cambridge Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Location: Cambridge Status: Offline Points: 5609 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 5 hours 32 minutes ago at 14:12 |
|
At last, a failure by my AI software. That will teach me to be lazy and assume computers are correct. RIRO
|
||
|
"My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts."
|
||
|
||
|
Big Eddie
World Cup Winner
Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Status: Offline Points: 5113 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: 3 hours 22 minutes ago at 16:22 |
|
|
I will give Caldy a B+, the position in the table was not where Caldy wanted to be but there were a lot of positives:
1. Over the season Caldy used circa 40 players in their match day squad. 2. The vast majority of Caldy's players are local players 3. A number of young players broke through from Caldy's 2nd xv to feature in the 1st xv including among others Sam Olyott, Callum Butler, Lucas Wiggins, Jacob Mitchell, Matt Rabbette, Dan Rabbette, Charlie Hyde, Dylan Carroll, Jack Wilson, Jack Ellam, Freddie Stevenson, and some others who I have probably inadvertently missed out. 4. Will Robinson and Matty Kilcourse who are both under 23 became 1st xv regular starters 5. Sale Shark's Tristan Woodman (who was one of a very small number of dual reg players for Caldy - typically in a match day squad there would be 2 or occasionally 3 young Sale Sharks lads) was a virtual ever present throughout the season and was an outstanding player and a top bloke 6. In the 2nd half of the season the average age of the backline (excluding 42 year old Nick Royle!) was around 23 years of age 7. The 2nd xv notched up its 125th unbeaten game in succession 8. Caldy successfully reintroduced its 3rd xv using significantly more than 50 players over the season 9. The 1st xv won 4 games and were within one score of a win another 6 times throughout the Championship season 10. Caldy's average crowd for a 1st xv game was more than 1,500 with Paton Field two or three times enjoying crowds of more than 2,000 11. Caldy's mini, junior and colts section is the third biggest in England 12. Caldy's "Off Pitch" choir won a prestigious award at the Chester Music festival 13. The average age of our volunteer ground staff the "Last of the Summer Wine has now crept up to 78 14. Caldy kept its full time head count stable .....at ONE! 15. We enjoyed the company of some great rugby people from all the other Championship clubs 16. Everyone enjoyed the rugby and had a great time at Paton Field ....and most importantly 'Win Or Lose We Were on The Booze' I think that deserves a B+
Edited by Big Eddie - 2 hours 2 minutes ago at 17:42 |
||
|
''The future isn't what it used to be''
|
||
|
||
|
tulip
World Cup Winner
Joined: 12 Mar 2012 Location: W Yorks Status: Offline Points: 2238 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 2 hours 38 minutes ago at 17:06 |
|
|
Playing in the Championship and running 3 senior teams with a thriving Mini and Junior section is some achievement Big Eddie. As a player you always want to play at the top level. I can understand that but for the couple of thousand supporters who turn up every week. Do you think they would prefer to see their team win more matches in National 1. There probably isn’t a definitive answer to that one. It’s
|
||
|
||
|
Big Eddie
World Cup Winner
Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Status: Offline Points: 5113 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: 2 hours 8 minutes ago at 17:36 |
|
|
Tulip,
Caldy supporters know that every game is David v Goliath. In terms of budget I very much doubt if Caldy's budget is even 25% of the next lowest budget. The Caldy supporters and the Wirral public are undoubtedly proud of the number of players Caldy produces and the fact that they are local lads. Caldy never planned to get into the Championship it just happened because a good squad of home grown and local players brilliantly coached by Matt Cairns, Richard Vasey, Andrew Soutar and the irrepressible Christian Jones and superbly led by DOR Gareth Davies just kept winning. At the lunch just before the last game of the season against Bedford, which the Blues were very fortunate to sneak the win with the last kick of the game, Head Coach Matt Cairns was upbeat about the exciting talent coming through and was very much looking forward to next season with the jeopardy of relegation. The players in the 1st xv, 2nd xv and some of the young players in the 3rd xv are at Caldy because they want a shot at playing in the Championship. Caldy's 2nd xv players could all pretty much be assured of a starting 1st xv slot in the local level 5 and level 6 clubs and get paid handsomely wheras at Caldy they get nothing unless they are in the 1st xv match day squad. These young players stay at Caldy for the high quality coaching and the shot at Championship rugby. They know if they work hard Caldy's rugby management and coaching group will give them that opportunity. I for one wouldn't want to see them denied that opportunity. If Caldy are relegated next year or in future years the culture of the club will remain as it is whether that is in National 1, National 2 or the regional leagues and many hundreds of young people will play on a pitch lovingly prepared by the geriatric Last of the Summer Wine and enjoy the camaraderie that rugby brings.
Edited by Big Eddie - 2 hours 7 minutes ago at 17:37 |
||
|
''The future isn't what it used to be''
|
||
|
||
|
Post Reply
|
Page <12 |
Tweet
|
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Topic Options
islander wrote: