The final curtain came down on the rugby season at Priory Park on Saturday when the club hosted the North Group final game in the Bill Beaumont County Championship between Cheshire & Lancashire.
Both sides were unbeaten up to the clash but on the day it was Lancashire who took advantage of two crucial yellow cards to Cheshire players scoring fifteen points whilst they were down to fourteen men and eventually winning by 37-17, a score line which flattered them somewhat but nonetheless best of luck to them in the Semi Final on Saturday when they travel to play Hertfordshire for the right to meet either Surrey or Dorset & Wiltshire in the final the following week. Hopefully the Northern side will be eventual winners.
Cheshire RFU President – John Taylor – a Macclesfield member will have been proud to see his grandson Tommy Taylor (Sale Jets) turning out for Cheshire in this one as well as several other Blues in the forms of Jack Moorhouse, Charlie Mulchrone, Evan Stewart & Matt Owen who were also in the squad as were former Blues player Fergus Mulchrone and a couple who will be coming to Priory Park next season in the forms of Gavin Woods (Caldy) and Martin Kent (Coventry & formerly Macclesfield). Fergus is presently unattached to a club and it will be interesting to see where he plays next season after a season at Edgley Park with Sale.
In the Lancashire squad were no less than eight players that the Blues will be facing next season from the Fylde club and the dangerous Ollie Brennand showed he has lost none of his pace with a couple of tries, one a stunning ninety meter effort. Add to them the fact that Evan Stewart who has just got a teaching job in Lancaster will be also turning out for them next season after two hugely successful seasons at Priory Park. Whilst I will be sad to see him leave, and always will when a player of his quality moves on, one must wish him well in the move both career and sporting wise. His replacement in the Blues back row will have big boots to fill.
It is the Annual General Meeting of the club on Wednesday evening (25th) at Priory Park come 7.30.pm. and I trust that there will be a good turnout of members following the clubs successful season at all levels.
The format of National One for next season will be known at around 4.pm. on Saturday when the play off between Jersey & Loughborough Students is known and soon after that I will expect to see our fixtures for the campaign published. Watch this space.
Finally a word about the Charity Fundraiser this coming Sunday at Priory Park between the Balls play the Boobs in a tag game to raise funds for Everyman (male cancer) & East Cheshire Hospice. Admission just £3. Bar open and there will be face painting, bouncy castle and a raffle with excellent prizes. The event is sponsored by Ronnies and all proceeds will be shared between the charities.
Kick Off is 3.pm. Do come along and support this venture as well as all the other events planned at Priory Park during the Summer which will hopefully give the club much needed cash to form the base for next season for ALL club sides.
That’s it until July – enjoy your Cricket – I will!! Clubman
