Champions Caldy claim lion’s share
BEN JAYCOCK canvassed the views of the National One directors of rugby, head coaches and reporters to compile The Rugby Paper’s
2021-22 Team of the Season
National One champions Caldy dominate the Dream Team this season with six entries. Gareth Davies’ Merseysiders won promotion to the Championship for the first time in their history but had to fight off stiff competition from Sale FC and Rosslyn Park – who finished second and third – and both have one inclusion each.
Caldy are one of 10 different clubs to have at least one representative in the Dream XV, with only Rams, Bishop’s Stortford, Birmingham Moseley, Blackheath and Tonbridge Juddians missing out.
After National One’s twoseason hiatus due to Covid, no players from The Rugby Paper’s 2018-19 Dream Team return for this year’s edition.
15. Elliott Gourlay (Caldy)
Gourlay has enjoyed his season on loan from Sale Sharks and has proven to be a safe pair of hands in the 15 jersey. The versatile 20year-old speedster can play across the back three and chipped in with eight tries this season. Gourlay was ran close by Taunton’s Greg Kitson who was impressive throughout the season and excellent under the high ball.
14. Nick Royle (Caldy)
A consistent try scorer who is described by our reporters as ‘simply the best at creating something out of nothing’. The former England Sevens and rugby league flyer scored a team high 12 tries and will look to make his mark on the Championship next season at the age of 38. Royle’s closest competition was Bishop’s Stortford’s Joshua Stannard, who scored 15 tries.
13. Fergus Mulchrone (Sale FC)
Mulchrone is Sale FC’s solitary entry, but the outside
centre has impressed coaches and journalists across the league with outstanding displays. He scored eight tries this season and was a key figure in a Sale side that pushed Caldy to the final game of the season in the title race. Rams’ Connor Hayhow narrowly missed out on the 13 jersey as he showcased his brilliance in both attack and defence.
12. Matt Hema (Cambridge)
Heema may not have scored the tries of previous seasons, but his defensive contribution was crucial to Cambridge often turning defence into attack. The Cambridge centurion has been described as a “a veritable human wrecking ball!” The dynamic threat of Rosslyn Park’s 20-yearold Brandon Jackson, who is part of Saracens’ academy, earned
him a number of votes but Hema held on.
11. Alex Ducker (Plymouth Albion)
A ‘flying machine’ who utilised his blistering pace and is the highest scoring back in the division with 18 tries this season. Plymouth finished a disappointing 11th but Ducker was a shining light in what was an underwhelming campaign. Ducker was ran close by the league’s top points scorer – Caldy’s Ben Jones.
10. Jack Walsh (Taunton Titans)
A fly-half with a great kicking game who is dynamic, always looking to attack and never takes a step back. The 22-yearold Exeter Chiefs loanee scored an impressive 149 points, including nine tries, this season. Chinnor’s versatile James Bourton gained a
vast number of votes at both 10 and 15 after he scored 195 points, including 11 tries.
9. Jack Gash (Rosslyn Park)
A great distributor who has been described as a ‘proper pest’, which can only mean a compliment for any scrumhalf. A Rosslyn Park veteran who surpassed 150 appearances for the club this year. A special mention must go to Cinderford’s Mike Austin who had an outstanding season after moving up from the 2nd team this year.
8. JJ Dickinson (Caldy)
‘Captain fantastic’. A talismanic figure, devastating ball carrier and an all-round leader that led Caldy to the title. Dickinson has been affiliated with the club since he was 12-years-old and has seen the current highs as well as the lows. Also impressive was Rosslyn Park’s Hugo Ellis who scored 16 tries from the back of the scrum.
7. Will Jones (Darlington Mowden Park)
An old-fashioned openside who outplayed many people’s
openside of the year, Rams’ Tom Vooght, when the two faced off earlier in the season. Jones is a menace at the breakdown and one of the best jackalers in the division.
6. Willie Ryan (Chinnor)
Chinnor’s lone selection but a strong ball carrier who has caused havoc at every ground he’s played at this season. The former Ealing and Doncaster back row is a wrecking ball at 6ft 4 and 114 kg. Ryan was ran close in the voting by Taunton’s Ratu Vakalutukali who lost out by one vote overall.
5. Sam Dickinson (Caldy)
Runs an outstanding set-piece at Caldy and is a powerful man. The former Northampton Saints lock has enjoyed returning to his boyhood club Caldy, playing alongside his brother JJ in the twilight stage of his career at 37. Gareth Baxter was a key part of Cambridge’s formidable front five and was unlucky to miss out on a place in the team.
4. Jake Brady (Leeds Tykes)
Described as ‘indomitable’, Leeds captain Brady is an excellent second row who is a real heartbeat of the side and was a key contributor in them avoiding relegation this year. Similar to his teammate Baxter, Kieran Frost will feel aggrieved to have missed out after also impressing in the second row.
3. Nathan Rushton (Caldy)
Rushton was almost an everpresent this season, playing an incredible 27 games for the champions, and was a key figure in Caldy’s formidable pack, winning many scrum penalties. A special mention must go to Cinderford’s
tighthead Tim Brockett who is one of the most destructive scrummagers in the league.
2. Nathan Taylor (Cinderford)
‘The best goal hanger the league has ever seen’. Taylor enjoyed a tight try scoring battle with Cambridge’s Ben Brownlie, another outstanding hooker who led the campaign the majority of the season. However, Taylor scored two tries in the last game of the season to steal the crown. An excellent lineout operator who has a great eye for the try line.
1. Adam Aigbokhae (Caldy)
Aigbokhae possesses a strong all-round game and was part of a Caldy tight five that was peerless this season. Scored the only try in the title-winning match at home to Sale on the last day of the season. Another loosehead who enjoyed a stellar campaign is Blackheath’s strongman Tom Williams, who managed to win numerous penalties at scrum time throughout the season.