south- west champions
All the league winners in the South-West
haul and wing Kalif Barnes top point-scorer. A strong, experienced core and promising youngsters benefited from Cornish Pirate Jamieson’s influence.
Dorset & wilts one ( s) YEOVIL
Captain Rob Burnell
Coaches Kris Shore (DoR), Neil Pitman (head), Simon Chubb, Pete Beard Inspirational No 8 Burnell led from the front as top try-scorer with 25-plus. A talented set of players emerged through the ranks, which testified to their youth system. lock Tom Sims was first on the team sheet while Alex Gillies played in almost every position in the back-line.
Dorset & wilts two ( n) AVONDALE
Captain Joe Vowles
Coaches Kevin Moggridge (head), Chris Hobbs, Steve Phillips (backs), Andrew Ball (forwards) Moggridge’s return revitalised team spirit and a young squad were in a class of their own, winning 21 of 22 games and drawing the other. Fly-half Steve Grant was top point-scorer ( 117) while centre Ciaran O’Connor led the tries. Flanker Jack Regnard, 20, stood out.
Dorset & wilts two ( s) NEW MILTON II
Captain Russell Earley
Coaches David Dunn (DoR), Brendan Treacey (head)
Not to be outdone by their table-topping seniors, the reserves had a storming season of their own to mark the club’s 90th anniversary. No 8 Earley was the motivator while some excellent displays from his squad, notably from brothers lee and Dalton Thomas, helped them to stay unbeaten at home.
Dorset & wilts Three ( n) SWINDON COLLEGE OLD BOYS II
Captain Adam Reeves
Coaches Martin lloyd (DoR), Mark lea (head), Andy Sear (forwards), Mark Williams (team manager) Togetherness and humility were strengths as the old boys’ second team made it a double league title triumph for the club. Prop Reeves brought stability and ever-present fly-half Dan Thomas, with 156 points, was a prime figure. lea said: “The gap in skill levels between the firsts and seconds has closed.”
Dorset & wilts Three ( s) NEW MILTON III
Captain Matt Wale
Coaches David Dunn (DoR), Brendan Treacey (head)
This completed a rare league triple for the Normans Way club with all three teams promoted, their first XV topping Hampshire One. With a committed side, the thirds headed the table by two points after a dramatic 25-24 final-day defeat of season-long rivals Blandford II.
BB& o pRemieR SWINDON COLLEGE OLD BOYS
Captain Gareth Davis
Coaches Martin lloyd (DoR), Mark lea (head), Andy Sear (forwards), Tom Birnie (team manager)
Charlie Grabe, Tucker Blinkhorn and Florin Placau all scored 22 tries en route to the title, kicker Grabe amassing 172 points overall. Veteran centre Greig O’Brien answered an SOS to play at ten and excelled until breaking an ankle.
BB& o championship LITTLEMORE
Captain Nick Tattersall
Coach Nick Todd
The Oxfordshire club finished 20 points clear after losing just once in 20 games. Results included an 84-7 home defeat of Harwell, with centre Jonny Williams scoring three tries and nine conversions and fly-half Stewart Beale plundering five tries. Prop Ben Symington (22) and Beale (21) headed the try count.
BB& o one CHINNOR III
Captain George White
Coaches George White, Tom White This side, aka the Wildboys, headed the table after a season-long battle with Maidenhead II. Centre Adam Draper, the top try-scorer with 24, benefited from a young and mobile pack. Powerful No 8 Max Williams flourished while fly-half Rob Nicholls was a game-changer. Most players emerged from the junior ranks.
BB& o two HENLEY III
Captains Andrew unsworth, Owyn Thatcher Coach Chris Parrott (player)
The title was decided on the final day, Henley clinching it by a single point to sweep back to BB&O One. A great team spirit enabled Parrott and his captains to field a strong core of players. Prop James Owen appeared in every game and wing Will James topped the points.
BB& o Three BICESTER II
Captain Jake Sawyer
Coaches Tony Staples, Paul Sullivan, Andrew Smith, Jake Holdsworth Early-season form carried them through but not before a huge title scrap with Bracknell III. The forwards were the squad’s strength, especially improved loosehead liam Corton and Iranian lock Ali Atashgah. Fly-half/centre Stevie Barrett was also a significant presence.
BB& o FOUR ( n) BANBURY WANDERERS
Captain Richard Jeyes
Coaches Dan Kelcher, Steve Mascall This third team was launched three seasons ago and all credit to founding member Kelcher, who injured a leg in early season and turned to coaching. Well led by No 8 Jeyes, they had an impressive flanker in Mascall and classy half-backs Connor Triggs and James Blake orchestrated the back-line.
BB& o FOUR ( s) READING ABBEY MONKS
Captain lee Buller
Coaches Buller, Peter Cooke Thanks to recruitment drives launched by Buller and Cooke, Abbey’s fourth team exceeded expectations in their first league campaign, with a mix of old heads and newcomers. Fly-half Tom Cummins was the top scorer for a side that had fantastic commitment, bonded well and enjoyed plenty of laughs.