The club has enjoyed phenomenal success on the field since last August. At a senior level, both the first and second XV have been promoted from their current leagues, the third XV have won all their matches, the veterans won the OXON county vets cup, and the colts too, have performed consistently well in the local colts league. Whilst managers and coaches must take a lot of the credit for the high quality rugby which has been served, the enthusiasm, team work and dedication of so many players has, without any doubt, been a crucial factor in producing some impressive statistics.
First XV
Bicester 1st XV have once again been led by popular scrum-half Steve Risbridger, who has been quick to praise the immense contribution made to the ultimate goal of promotion by long-serving flank forward and vice-captain, Anthony Nightingale. Quite apart from their leadership and the tremendous support and organisational talents of manager Michael Hutchinson the squad have benefited enormously from the regular Tuesday night training sessions led by fitness coach James Shields.
Of course, no coach, captain or manager can succeed without full cooperation from the players. It is therefore a joy to report that our 1st Xv, reinforced by members of the 2nd team and senior colts side, have attended both the Tuesday and Thursday training sessions with gusto throughout the league programme, even on those nights prior to the Christmas and Easter holidays. Long may the spirit continue!
Bicester began with an impressive 7-7 draw against High Wycombe, who plays in a division two levels higher than our own. Martin Linstrom scored the Bicester try, and Wycombe only equalised just before the end. After last weeks final game against Phoenix, Bicester have won 21, drawn 1 and lost 5 of their 27 matches, comprising 22 league, two “friendly” and three cup games. Four of the five defeats took place before Christmas, the first of which was away to Gloucester side Old Richians in the EDF Energy Senior Vase. The following week, we beat Abingdon here at Oxford Road 35-16, in our opening league match. Our first encounter with Chipping Norton ended in their favour 28-10, but another emphatic victory was earned away at Farnham Royal 55-3, before a below-par performance ended in a 16-10 reverse at Oxford. Further league wins continued, away at Stow, at home to Wheatley, and away at Broadmoor.
Bicester completed the double against Gosford All Blacks before Christmas, as well as accounting for Drifters and Phoenix both at home. Centre Chris Nash, was nominated man of the match for the Phoenix game on November 24. The final defeat of 2007 occurred on December 1 away at Swindon College O. B. (10-9), where the referee ended proceedings at least seven minutes early.
Bicester began the New Year with a well-earned 30-7 away win at Drifters. Man-of-the-match Daniel Spencer later celebrated his birthday in the clubhouse. Brother Adam crossing with two tries. A thrilling victory followed, away at Chipping Norton in the first round of the Oxon County Shield (18-0). In the words of manager Mike Hutchinson: “All we did was put on a game of basic rugby, concentrating on the line-out, scrum and defence,” and “as a team performance that was our best of the season”. Two more decisive triumphs ensued, against Broadmoor and Wheatley, before a below strength Bicester side went down 12-8 on their own turf to invitation side Blue Boar in the semi-final of the Oxon County Shield. However, their cup exit only made Steve Risbridger’s boys all the more determined to win promotion to the Southern Counties League (North, winning all of the league matches to be played since. Chad Ward scored four tries in Bicester’s 27-5 win over Stow, and skipper Steve Risbridger was named Man of the Match by club president John Deeley after the 23-17 home win against Oxford. Bicester then annihilated Farnham Royal 66-0 also at home, with Daniel Spencer kicking eight out of nine conversions. Away victories followed at Chipping Norton 10-9, and Abingdon 37-3. Chipping Norton were ahead 9-5 until late in the second half, when Mark Malins set up a superb driving maul from a line-out, and Man of the Match hooker James Davies was driven across for the winning try. It was Chippy’s first league defeat of the season. A stunning tackle by Anthony Nightingale ensured the Bicester try line remained intact at Abingdon (37-3) and two weeks later on April 12, Bicester crushed Swindon College O. B. 68-7. Paul Leverton scored a hat-trick of tries, and Will Morris two, in the 11-try romp.
In a ceremony after the Swindon game, President John Deeley presented the club heraldic shield to Michael Hutchinson, who in turn gave a framed colour photograph of the team to captain Steve Risbridger. Vice Captain Anthony Nightingale also received a photograph of the team, from Steve Risbridger, whilst the Captain’s Player of the Year award went to John Rollason. Will Morris was named the Most Improved Player of the Year and Anthony Lewis received the Player’s Player of the Year trophy. Other awards were received by touch judge Tom Abernethy and myself!! I presented two awards: to Mark Malins and Nick Kenny.
Second XV
Bicester 2nd XV have even managed to upstage their 1st XV colleagues, by finishing their season as champions of the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Division two North. They will be playing in Berks, Bucks and Oxon Division One North next year. They have won all but one of their 18 matches amassing a total of 655 points, and conceding 134 points. The side have been astutely managed by Steve Coogan and captained by prop Pat Zdyrko. Their only defeat was away to a strong Amersham and Chiltern 3rd XV on April 12, the last game of their campaign. Of the more notable earlier triumphs, the 2nds beat Winslow away 48-26, and Chipping Norton 2nds at home 50-14. Andy Blacklock scored a hat-trick in the first, and a brace of tries in the second game. They went on to crush Witney 4ths, 75-7 at Witney and achieved the double over runners – up, High Wycombe 3rds, before Christmas. Chris Nash touched down four times in the Witney game, whilst George Williams scored a hat-trick in the 37-24 home win over Wycombe. In the return fixture at High Wycombe, Bicester won 41-0, with Jon Barnes and George Williams both bagging a brace of tries. They began the New Year by thrashing Bletchley 3rds 54-0 and winning away at Stow, 39-0. The double was completed over Chipping Norton 2nds with an impressive 52-0 victory at The Greytones. Other doubles included a 29-7 home win over Milton Keynes 3rds and a 44-5 success against Aylesbury 3rds also at home. The return fixture with Winslow resulted in a narrow 20-17 win for Bicester 2nds. The only setback occurred during the home game against Milton Keynes when flanker Adam Willmore had the misfortune to rupture a kidney. He was rushed to the Churchill Hospital where he spent several days in the intensive care unit. Adam is making an excellent recovery and is on course to hopefully resume his playing career with Bicester next season.
Third XV
Bicester 3rds won all 14 of their friendlies with a total points aggregate of 73 for and 35 against. They began last October with a 12-8 win away at Chipping Norton and continued before Christmas with a 10-5 victory over Oxford Harlequins 4ths here at Oxford Road. Winger Chris Stone scored both tries against Harlequins and both he and scrum half Stuart Venning scored in the 25-5 win over Farringdon played on the Chesterton pitch. Number eight Dave Brind notched a hat-trick in the latter game and Chris Stone was in action a week later contributing a brace of tries as Bicester won the return fixture at Oxford Harlequins 26-17. Nigel Cox also scored twice and conversions came from the boots of Ian Mann (2) and Chris Stone. Simon Ellison and Paul Davies were the try scorers in the Chipping Norton game with Stuart Venning adding one conversion.
Veterans XV
The Bicester Veterans topped off the season by winning the Oxon Vets Cup last week. They crushed Grove 69-19 at Banbury in the first round. Martin Linstrom and Chris Austin both recorded hat tricks while Adam Wade, Dave Brind, Steve Coogan, Geoff Woolloff, and Will Deeley scored one try apiece. Stuart John kicked six conversions and Steve Coogan converted his own try. The semi-final against Witney was a far closer affair but Bicester’s overall superiority was clearly evident from the outset. They finished 12-5 victors with tries from Lee Boulter and Dave Brind. Stuart John converted the winning try. In the final at Oxford RFC Bicester defeated Chinnor in a close game 16-6. A Stuart John penalty opened the scoring before Dave Brind crossed for Bicester to lead 8-0 at half time. In the second half after an exchange on penalties (Adam Wade slotting for Bicester) Chinnor pilled on the pressure, pinning Bicester to their own line. But Chinnor could only come away with a penalty and as time ran out Justin Hitchcock crossed in the corner to seal the win. Captain James Davies collected the trophy whilst Dave Brind was named man of the match.
Colts
Not to be outdone by their senior brethren, today’s ‘home team’ Bicester colts have likewise enjoyed resounding success. Aided by highly professional organisation comprising coaches Chris and Dan Kimber and Steve Coogan, manager Keith Nash, and skipper Joe Macaneany. They have won seven, lost won, drawn one and had one walkover in their nine league matches. The Ox, Berks and Bucks colts league programme began with a 5-5 draw away at Banbury and a 24-0 away win at Oxford Harlequins. Following the Aylesbury walkover Bicester gained victories over Buckingham 24-17, and Wallingford away 17-18. Matt Flegg bagged three tries in the Buckingham match here while Joe Macaneany scored twice at Wallingford. Their only defeat occurred at Stow in January where they went down 13-7. The colts then proceeded to win all their last four matches at home. First they edged past High Wycombe 13-12, next they beat Beaconsfield 14-0, and after a thrilling 20-17 success against Reading they defeated Windsor 31-22. In the latter game Jack Briggs and Joe Macaneany both crossed the try line twice. They also made it to the final of the Oxon County Sevens losing narrowly to Chinnor 9-7, with Joe Macaneany crossing.
Niall Morrow scored two tries as Bicester accounted for Banbury 32-15 in the national colts cup second round, but they lost 12-0 to Long Levens away at Gloucester in the third round. They then went down 18-5 to Newbury in the national plate before crashing out of the Oxon county cup 27-10 away at Witney. However, Bicester’s league success was matched by their record in friendly fixtures. Despite playing away from home on all three occasions, Bicester won at Wallingford 12-0, Cirencester 21-15 and Windsor 42-14.
Mini and Junior
The results this season of the mini and junior section have likewise mirrored those of the senior club teams. The under-17s recently trounced Abingdon 41-0, whilst earlier this year a below-strength Bicester under-16s achieved and excellent 26-24 win over Banbury. Jimmy Mcphee with two tries was nominated Man of the Match. Centre Elliot Nicklin ran in four tries as Bicester under-14s routed Oxford Harlequins 55-0 in the Oxon cup. Last year’s county champions Bicester under-13s won the Banbury tournament trophy scoring 102 points in five matches and conceding only 10. They saw off Brackley, Wallingford, Oxford Harlequins and Henley in the group matches, before triumphing 29-3 over Witney in the final. Dougie Haynes was the principle hero with a hat trick of tries aided by Dan Rowland who touched down twice. The Supermarine 50th anniversary tournament featured teams from Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, and whilst Bicester under-12s lost 5-0 to Abingdon in the semi-final, both the under-7s and under-8s went through the day unbeaten. The Bicester under-7s scored a total of 37 tries conceding only 17, whilst the under-8s scored 49 and conceded 19.
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