GOOD afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls andwelcome to our second home league game of the 2008 - 2009 season. As you will all be aware, Bicester were promoted back into the Southern Counties League North at the end of last season and today we aredelighted to be entertaining our friends from Buckingham for the first time since the 12th March 2005, when our visitors earned an emphatic 52 - 17 victory. As part of our Diamond Jubilee celebrations, we are staging a special luncheon for both vice presidents and former players before the match, and we hopethat you will all have a mostenjoyable afternoon.
I will begin these notes with a very brief sketch of the 2007 - 2008season. Firstly, skipper Steve Risbridger. Steve led the 1st XV to promotion in his final year as captain, and congratulations in advance for your wedding to Kim next year! Although Bicester finished in 2nd place, they defeated champions Chipping Norton on 2 of the 3occasions that they clashed during the season. The 2nd XV werechampions of the BB&O Division 2 North, whilst a newly formed 3rd XV are playing in BB&O 2 North. Ourveterans side won the Oxon Veterans County Cup, beating Chinnor 16 - 6 in a high quality final at Oxford RFC. The senior Colts XV won 7 out of 9 league matches, whilst the Under 12’s won the Banbury tournament. Five of this age group were members of the County Development squad. The Under 11’s won silverware at the Oxon Festival of mini rugby, and the Under 8’s and Under 7’s were bothunbeaten in the Supermarine 50th Anniversary tournament. To sum up, the 2007 - 2008 season was a hugely successful one for Bicester Rugby Club and our thanks and appreciation go out to all the players and officials who contributed to this spectacular success.
The Oxford Harlequins club, who now play their 1st XV home games at the Southern Bypass, have announced that the Oxford University Director of Rugby, Steve Hill, will be helping out with their forwards and defence. Witney have promoted Martin Moran to their Senior coaching staff andcentre Aaron Justin has joined them from Chipping Norton. Former American football team player John Gerring has signed for Grove. Bicester, now captained by Anthony Lewis, have so far registered 10 new players, including former Chinnor Academy player Alec Warriner. Craig Smith’s father Alec is now Chief Coach at Gosford All Blacks, while No 8 Simon Brand captains Banbury RFC. Anton Oliver, the ex New Zealand hooker heads the Oxford University line up on new recruits. Former England head coach Brian Ashton is working in aconsultancy role, as the Dark Bluesprepare for the Varsity match.
The 53rd A Plan Abingdon Sevens Tournament was won by Kamikazee from South wales. Having overcome Abingdon 44 - 0 in the semi finals, they beat Pony Smackers 42 - 12 in the final. Oxford Harlequins defeated Chipping Norton 40 - 12 in the Plate Final. Debbie Gorfod, the Witney Angels lock forward, celebrated her 60th birthday on September 18thand the RFUW (Rugby Football Union for Women) has confirmed she isthe oldest registered player in the county. Debbie was once aninternational sailor and Olympictrialist for Great Britain! Continued on page 8Henley Hawks earned a comfortable 29 - 7 win over Newport Saracens in a pre season ‘friendly’. They opened their National 3 South League programme, with a nail biting 12 - 12 draw at Barking, before proving they are still Oxfordshires leading club with a 22 - 14 away success at newly promoted Chinnor. Then, last Saturday they crushed Bridgwater & Albion 43 - 20 . Chinnor bounced straight back to win 23 - 19 at Barking after suffering their second defeat 45 - 3 away to animpressive London Scottish. Oxford Harlequins conceded 4 tries in 17 minutes to lose 44 - 25 at Old Patesians, and as a consequence of last week’s 41 - 25 home defeat by Clifton, they now occupy the bottom spot in South West 1.
Meanwhile, the Wallingford success story continues. Trailing 21 - 3 at half time, they went on to beat Henley Wanderers 25 - 21 away and made it 2 wins from 2 with a 28 - 12 victory at home to High Wycombe.
In the Southern Counties League Alex Warriner celebrated his birthday by scoring the winning try in Bicesters 13 - 8 victory at home to Beaconsfield, but last Saturday our boys went down to a 34 - 15 defeat at Aylesbury. With only 7 minutes of the game left, Bicester needed a converted try to earn a draw, but then Aylesbury scored twice to register a victorymargin which did not reflect our gutsy performance. After losing at home to Buckingham, 27 - 10, Witney then crushed Swindon away 25 - 14. Chipping Norton withstood some late pressure to edge past Slough 20 - 17, but they werehammered 42 - 8away at Milton Keynes. Grove lost 31 - 25 also to Milton Keynes and their visit to Windsor ended in another defeat 26 - 15.
Harwell opened their BBO Premier programme with a fine 29 - 15 win away at Swindon College OB, but went down at home to Amersham & Chiltern 47 - 27. Oxford likewise, lost at home to Newbury Stags 53 - 7, but triumphed away at Phoenix 22 - 17. Phoenix however, outgunned Gosford All Blacks 27 - 0 and the All Blacks were then forced to forfeit theirfixture at Stow-on-the-Wold due to a lack of front row forwards. Both Wheatley and Abingdon lost their opening 2 matches. Banbury have made a somewhat erratic start to their Midlands 3 East programme.A heavy 50 - 0 defeat at home to Old Northamptonians preceded a 48 - 3 rout of Aylestone St. James, also at Bodicote Park. Oxford University began their season with a 53 - 7 victory over Henley Alliance at Dry Leas. Oxford bowed out of the EDF Energy Senior Vase, away at Gloucester Old Boys 36 - 27, whilst Harwell conceded a walk over to Drybrook. Bicester play Spartans or Cirencester away in the 2nd round of the Vase on October 28th.
The next home game is on October 11th when we play Swindon. See you all then!
Paul Chrisp.
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