Centenary Weekend as it happened
Read how the weekend evolved and browse the pictures.
Friday evening 10-a-side touch rugby tournament
We kicked-off, literally, with a combination of Senior, Colts and U16 players involved in a touch rugby tournament on the main pitch. Thrills, spills and bar bills followed as the mixed squads played what is a very fast, even frenetic, version of rugby. The whole event also served to rejuvenate the Colts v Ex-Colts match played to honour the memory of Joe Osmond (you can see his bust in The Murley Room), so look out for a similar match at the end of next season.
Team Captains Mike Dauwalder, Aiden Gill and Phil Dauwalder represented the players in a formal presentation of Joe's stick by Marcus Olsen, before the group photo on the pitch heralded the match play. The scores: there was a fair degree of bragging amongst the squads who all declared they won, but it wasn't about winners, it was about comaraderie and fun. Examplified by Aiden Gill's closing comments praising and thanking the Colts and U16s. He, plus Senior coaches Gareth Blackborrow and David Thorpe, overcome by emotion, promised to keep their playing boots clean until they had the opportunity to turn out in the Seniors' colours with some of their new teammates.
Centenary Dinner
Saturday evening saw the highlight of the Centenary Year with a Gala Dinner in a large marquee at the Clubhouse where 230 guests in Black Tie or Posh Frock, after Reception drinks, gathered for a four course meal and some entertaining speeches. Richard Larcombe, Club President, began the evening with particular thanks to Trethowans Solicitors and Chemring Countermeasures for their generous sponsorship of the dinner. He then introduced Tim Stimpson who played for Leicester, England and the British and Irish Lions and was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, and Nigel Owens MBE the guest speaker.
Richard Hill, Salisbury’s own international rugby star, also popped in to support the club for part of the evening and is seen in the photo callery with Nigel Owens (Guest Speaker) and Richard Larcombe (Club President).
Tim Stimpson engaged the guests with, as they say, wit and repartee, but on a serious note, also touched on the current issue of head injuries in rugby. Appropriate because all proceeds from the Club’s Centenary Year will go to the Rugby Football Union’s Injured Players’ Foundation.
Then of course he introduced Nigel Owens as our Guest Speaker. Nigel, a proud Welshman, has recently retired as probably the best rugby referee in the world ever and Salisbury RFC was privileged to welcome him to their club. He then entertained the audience with glimpses of his life as a young man in West Wales and then of his career as an international referee. He held the whole audience effortlessly with humour, emotion about aspects of life and rugby that he feels strongly about, and of course a number of very amusing rugby refereeing stories. After nearly an hour, he received a standing ovation.
Freddie Tuilagi, a former Leicester and Samoan rugby player, also entertained the guests with his Gin bar, his own Tuilager beer and his muscles!
Minis and Juniors
Then, on Sunday morning at the Club, to close out the Centenary weekend over 200 5-18 year old Minis and Juniors boys and girls came together for a day of activities including an assault course, all completed in glorious sunshine.
The highlight of the day was the presentation of the Rory Walworth Players' Player of the Season awards for each age group. Rory was a Salisbury Junior player when he sadly passed away in 2009. Every year a match is played on Boxing Day in his memory, and any money raised donated to the Junior Section of the Club for equipment and training courses. This year Rory’s family decided that they would like to present an award to each age group in memory of Rory. Rory always liked the team spirit of rugby so the Players' Player award (voted for by team mates) seemed the perfect way to remember Rory.
So, an enjoyable year, culminating in an excellent weekend to celebrate 100 years of Salisbury Rugby. As a result, at the beginning of next season the club will be able to present a substantial cheque to the RFU Injured Players Foundation…watch these pages.
There are many more photos on the club's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/salisburyrugbyclubofficial
Report: Richard Larcombe, SRFC President
Photos of the Gala Dinner: Spencer Mulholland
Photos of the 10-a-side tournament and Minis-Juniors Fun Day: John Palmer
