14 April Randwick Rugby Newsletter

Forthcoming events

Season Launch 20 April 6 pm Michael Clarke bats at Brook St    - join in and watch Michael Clarke field questions from the floor

Celebrate the first Home Game at Coogee Oval 23 April vs Easts

Randwick Hall of Fame Inductees Lunch 21 July @ The Hilton Sydney

The 2011 Randwick Rugby Hall of Fame Inductees Lunch will be flavoured with the spirit of the Rugby World Cup. The lunch will acknowledge Randwick Rugby's contribution  to the Australian Rugby World Cup squads and, in particular, honour Sir Nick Shehadie for his vision and long-term commitment to ensuring the success of Australian Rugby and for his legacy, the Rugby World Cup, now the third largest sporting event in the world of which he was driving force and instigator.

In this Rugby World Cup year, the contribution by Randwick rugby players to Australian Rugby World Cup squads will be in the minds of all who attend the 2011 Hall of Fame Lunch. Australia has competed in all six Rugby World Cups, and has won the World Cup on two occasions, in 1991 against England and in 1999 against France. Randwick Hall of Fame inductees Ewan McKenzie, David Campese and Simon Poidevin  together with Phil Kearns, George Gregan, Owen Finnegan, Chris Whittaker and David Knox are just a few of the many in Myrtle Green who have pulled on the jersey for a Rugby World Cup Tournament.  Not only have Randwick players made up the RWC ranks; leading from the front have been Coaches Bob Dwyer - Cup winning coach in 1991, backing up again in 1995 together with 1999 Assistant Coach and 2003 Coach Eddie Jones and Assistant Coach Ewan McKenzie.

The influence of the Randwick Rugby style of play on Australia's Rugby World Cup successes is significant. In the lead up to the Rugby World Cup kick-off on 9 September join Randwick Rugby Club on 21 July to reflect on this success, remember Randwick Rugby legends and welcome new players to the Hall of Fame inductees.  Given the depth and quality of the men in Myrtle Green, the Inductees Selection Committee headed up by Simon Poidevin, Ken Catchpole and Club Historian Bob Outterside has a tough task ahead allocating starting gate selections for the 2011 Hall of Fame.

More details and tickets

Coach's corner

Club Review against Parramatta

The Randwick Rugby grade sides improved on their first round performances last week when we travelled to Granville Park to face a Parramatta club that has enjoyed a resurgence in its playing ranks.

All grades won comfortably in the end marking a good day for the club championship points.

The 4^th and 3^rd grade once again put on a dominant performance showing their opponents little mercy through some skillful attack and support play, the hallmark of any good Randwick side. With plenty of points in the last two rounds, these sides are certainly setting the benchmark and their performance is indicative of the deep pool of talent that we have in our grade squad and the enthusiastic spirit that exists.

The Randwick Rugby fifth grade side is playing in the Meldrum Cup "subbies" competition in 2011 and have had two tough matches to begin with. They are looking for their first win when they play Dee Why at Latham on Friday night.

The Randwick second grade again improved on last week's performance but still took a long while to get going. It is a very youthful side with plenty of enthusiasm and once they get some real combination and continuity in their game, anything is possible.

Finally, First grade improved on the areas that we targeted, namely defence and turnovers. We scored some well executed tries whilst others came from good pressure in defence and turnover ball against a Parramatta side that was capable of anything if we gave them a sniff. Clinton Sills in particular showed real class in each of his five tries. The lessons of the previous week were well learnt and the side continues to focus on the basics of defence, support play and skill execution.

Randwick vs. Eastwood at TG Millner

This week is the acid test for our first grade side against the form team in the competition. A fairly even trial contest three weeks ago bears little resemblance to the two teams that will play this Saturday as we welcome back Antonio Halangahu to first grade. Once again, defence is key against the speedy Eastwood backs, but we have attacking threats right through our skillful backline. The speed of our forward pack around the park and the back row contest will hold the key to the match however. We will need to create the play and limit our mistakes against an Eastwood team that will punish our mistakes if we make them.

Please get out to TG Millner to support our boys and give them plenty of encouragement ahead of our first home game the following week against Easts.

Eastwood v Randwick at T.G. Millner Field SRU MEDIA RELEASE - 2011 Sydney Premier Rugby :: Round 3 Preview
With victories over Souths and Uni in the opening two rounds, Eastwood will be hoping to further reinforce their premiership credentials when they host Randwick at T.G. Millner Field.

The Woods are one of only two teams to have not only won their first two games but also taken bonus points away from both.

Randwick turned around a disappointing finish in round one to step into the winners’ list last weekend and will be strengthened by the return of inspirational skipper Nio Halangahu.

EASTWOOD v RANDWICK at T.G. Millner Field (ABC TV Game, 3:10pm)

Eastwood: 1. Simon Norris, 2. Bleddyn Gant, 3. Martin Plokstys, 4. Tom Alexander, 5. Josh Dunning; 6. Gareth Palamo, 7. Hugh Perrett [c], 8. Miles McCaffrey, 9. Nic White, 10. Pierre Hola,  11. Mark Frost, 12. Sione Piukala, 13. Tim Bennetts, 14. Cameron Mitchell,  15. Ben Batger.

Randwick: 1. Daniel Spencer, 2. Atonio Halangahu, 3. Steven Noriega, 4. Lai Vatadroka, 5. Geoffrey Ingram, 6. Tim Maxwell, 7. Tim McGann, 8. David Parsons, 9. Sam Bartlett, 10. Jai Ayoub,  11. Clinton Sills, 12. Toby Browne, 13. Tom Joseph, 14. Tom Tombleson,  15. Tim Wright [c].

Referee: Anthony Moyes

Stop Press:

Sam Rutherford and Patrick Hodgett, if selected, will be playing their 50th Club game this weekend

Colts

For all the news - click here

Fifth Grade Fervour

The Randwick 5^th GRADE play Dee Why this Friday night at LATHAM PARK at 7.30pm.

PLEASE COME ALONG AND GIVE THEM YOUR SUPPORT AS THEY CHASE THEIR FIRST WIN IN THE MELDRUM CUP.

Randwick District Rugby Union Football Club Rugby Camp for Juniors

The Rugby Football Club in 2011 has received very generous support from Jon Collins to employ a rugby development officer for 20 weeks. The club had no hesitation in asking Jim Dubos to return to his old stamping ground and attempt to spread the rugby gospel in the heartland.

The Easter holidays has provided an excellent opportunity for the Randwick District Rugby Union Football Club in partnership with the Randwick Council to provide  rugby camps at Latham Park free of charge to all Randwick Junior rugby players.

The numbers have been brilliant and we are delighted to have had on average 40 young men each day catching, passing, serving, stepping and learning the secrets of the scrum, lineout and maul at Latham. The future ‘Galloping Greens' have been on show.

Jim Dubos has coordinated the camps over the week but club legend Jeffery Sayle has been in attendance and the under 12 and 13 boys received expert guidance from Randwick Club Coach Craig Morrison.

What's on at the Rugga? Be there for Super Rugby and also for the ABC Match of the Day Randwick vs Eastwood at T.G.Millner 3 pm 16 April