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FREE MATCHDAY MAGAZINE<br />
MAY 13 th <strong>2017</strong> | KO 7pm<br />
PRINCE OF WALES STADIUM<br />
ALL GOLDS vs. NORTH WALES CRUSADERS<br />
BEST OF THREE<br />
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:<br />
• CRUSADERS PREVIEW<br />
• MATCH REPORTS<br />
• WEST OF ENGLAND<br />
www.allgoldsrugby.com
ALL GOLD<br />
CONTENTS AND INFO<br />
04 WELCOME<br />
06 CRUSADERS HISTORY<br />
08 CRUSADERS PREVIEW<br />
10 CLUB DIRECTORY<br />
12 CRUSADERS BACK IN TOWN<br />
14 ALL GOLDS MATCH REPORTS<br />
16 CHELTENHAM JUNIOR RL<br />
17 THE ARMY GAME<br />
18 FLAME OF THE WEST<br />
20 FIXTURES & RESULTS<br />
22 SQUAD LINE-UPs<br />
CLUB INFORMATION<br />
UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE ALL GOLDS<br />
Home Ground: The Prince of Wales Stadium, Cheltenham<br />
Offices:<br />
Oxstalls Campus, Longlevens, Gloucester. GL2 9HW<br />
Telephone: 01242 714468<br />
Email:<br />
allgolds@glos.ac.uk<br />
Official website: allgoldsrugby.com<br />
PRESIDENT<br />
Lionel Hurst LL.B<br />
ADVISORY BOARD<br />
Krista Woodman, Ken Stone,<br />
Kevan Blackadder<br />
GENERAL MANAGER<br />
Patrick Evans<br />
HEAD COACH<br />
Lee Greenwood<br />
ASSISTANT COACHES<br />
Anthony Murray,<br />
Dan Poulton<br />
S&C COACHES<br />
Nick Lane, Joe Festa<br />
TEAM MANAGER<br />
Martin Lovegrove<br />
KIT AND LOGISTICS<br />
David Friend<br />
CLUB DOCTOR<br />
Phil Cox<br />
HEAD PHYSIOTHERAPIST<br />
James Clapp<br />
SPORTS THERAPIST<br />
Katy Stephens<br />
NUTRITION PARTNER<br />
Nutrition X<br />
SKY TRY AND<br />
COMMUNITY MANAGER<br />
Kane Krlic<br />
BUSINESS AND SPONSORSHIP<br />
Sophia Wood-Jenkins<br />
MATCHDAY CO-ORDINATOR<br />
Bethany Dixson<br />
MEDIA MANAGER/EDITOR<br />
Chris Wilson<br />
SOCIAL MEDIA & JOURNALIST<br />
Patrick Baines, Jack Conlon<br />
PHOTOGRAPHERS<br />
Lewis Mitchell, Glenn Watts<br />
ALL GOLDS TV<br />
Jeremy Power<br />
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Craig Paul Design Ltd<br />
06<br />
CRUSADERS<br />
HISTORY<br />
08<br />
CRUSADERS<br />
PREVIEW<br />
14<br />
YORK<br />
REPORT<br />
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The views expressed in this programme are not<br />
necessarily those of the University of Gloucestershire<br />
<strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong>, the Editor, or Craig Paul Design Ltd.
WELCOME TO THE ALL GOLD<br />
WRITTEN BY CHRIS WILSON<br />
4<br />
It was interesting to hear<br />
Wigan warriors coach Shaun<br />
Wane recently say that his<br />
ambition was to win a Grand<br />
Final with a side comprising<br />
solely of players who have<br />
come through the club’s junior<br />
development programme.<br />
It’s the same philosophy that<br />
powered the famous Lisbon<br />
Lions of Celtic to European<br />
Cup glory in 1967 with a team<br />
that, it was said, all lived within<br />
20 minutes’ walk of Celtic<br />
Park.<br />
Wane’s aim is being tested<br />
this season as injuries eat<br />
into his resources. However,<br />
players like Josh Woods, Josh<br />
Ganson, Liam Marshall and<br />
Tom Davies have all stepped<br />
up to the plate. So much<br />
so that the likes of George<br />
Williams, Joe Burgess and<br />
Sam Powell are considered<br />
old heads despite their<br />
relative inexperience.<br />
Some have had Championship<br />
and even League 1 experience<br />
– Powell played for South<br />
Wales against the <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> in<br />
2013 – thanks to the dual reg<br />
system and that has ensured<br />
they have the mettle to shine<br />
at the top level.<br />
The <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong>’ philosophy<br />
is similar to that of Shaun<br />
Wane with a desire to build a<br />
conveyer belt of rugby league<br />
talent that would sustain<br />
the club as it aims to be a<br />
competitive Championship<br />
side.<br />
This is why the work in<br />
schools that has culminated<br />
in the 1908 Cup over the past<br />
ten years is so important<br />
for the <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> and the<br />
game of rugby league<br />
in Gloucestershire. It is<br />
extremely disappointing to<br />
hear that the competition is<br />
not likely to take place this<br />
year.<br />
The trick is to effectively<br />
follow up the event and keep<br />
the kids interested and active<br />
throughout the summer and<br />
beyond. The Community<br />
clubs are playing their part<br />
with Cheltenham Phoenix<br />
leading the way and there<br />
is more information on how<br />
you can get involved on<br />
page 16.<br />
Following the successful<br />
running of the West of<br />
England 9s – and congrats<br />
to Swindon St George<br />
who lifted the trophy –<br />
the league action begins<br />
this weekend with the first<br />
round of matches and we<br />
have a round-up of the<br />
latest news from our local<br />
clubs as they prepare for<br />
the big kick-off.<br />
There is also coverage<br />
of the work going on to<br />
secure a presence for the<br />
game in Dorset with former<br />
Gloucestershire Warriors<br />
and UGRL coach Steve Lee<br />
sending us an update on<br />
a friendly match that took<br />
place last month.<br />
Added to that, George<br />
Cowburn’s look at the ups<br />
and downs of the <strong>Crusaders</strong><br />
and Jack Conlon’s insightful<br />
analysis of the men from<br />
Wrexham make for another<br />
fine issue of the <strong>All</strong> Gold.<br />
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THE UNBEARABLE UNCERTAINTY<br />
OF BEING A CRUSADER<br />
WRITTEN BY GEORGE COWBURN<br />
6 “The Cru” have experienced a rollercoaster ride<br />
over their short existence since entering National<br />
League 2 in 2006.<br />
Originally based at the Brewery Field Ground<br />
in Bridgend South Wales the Celtic <strong>Crusaders</strong><br />
finished a respectable third in their first season.<br />
Under coach John Dixon life started with a<br />
friendly match against the Harlequins Rugby<br />
League Academy side. (The Harlequins were a<br />
descendant of the original Fulham Club, now<br />
the London Broncos) and their first competitive<br />
match was a 50-10 victory over Hemel Stags -<br />
then an amateur club - in the Northern Rail Cup.<br />
Another interesting opponent was Moscow<br />
Locomotive, one of two Russian sides invited into<br />
the Challenge Cup competition.<br />
Coincidently the <strong>Crusaders</strong> drew them again in<br />
the 2007 competition. Having dispatched the<br />
Russians 64-4 the <strong>Crusaders</strong>’ interest in the cup<br />
ended with a 32-8 defeat at Rochdale Hornets in<br />
the next round.<br />
At the end of the season Australian Jace Van Dijk<br />
was named NL2 player of the season and fellow<br />
countryman Tony Duggan finished League 2’s<br />
top try scorer<br />
2007 was even more successful as the club<br />
finished top of League 2 with 60 points and<br />
won promotion to League 1. With Welsh legend<br />
Jonathan Davies installed as Club President<br />
highlights included a shock 26-22 win at Leigh<br />
in the Northern Rail Cup and a friendly against<br />
the world famous Brisbane Broncos who were<br />
in Britain to play St Helens in the World Cub<br />
Challenge.<br />
The Cru suffered just one home defeat in the<br />
League that season – against Oldham – in a match<br />
that commemorated the Roughyeds’ visit to<br />
Merthyr in 1907 as the first Northern Union team<br />
to play a competitive game in Wales (Oldham<br />
won that day, too).<br />
The 2008 season saw a second place finish<br />
behind Salford with a losing appearance against<br />
the Red Devils in the League 1 Grand Final, despite<br />
registering a brilliant 44-18 win at Salford in the<br />
qualifiers.<br />
In following year, the <strong>Crusaders</strong> were granted a<br />
three year licence in the expanded Super League<br />
(no promotion and relegation then) and duly took<br />
their place at the top table.<br />
It was not a happy first year however as the club<br />
finished bottom with only three wins.<br />
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With, firstly, Clive Griffiths and<br />
then a certain Anthony Murray<br />
as coach the Cru continued their<br />
rollercoaster ride.<br />
An eighth-place finish in 2012<br />
was followed by a happy 2013<br />
when the club finished as<br />
Champions with a Northern Rail<br />
Bowl Final victory over London<br />
Skolars as well. Unfortunately<br />
a restructuring of the leagues<br />
after the 2014 season meant<br />
that the <strong>Crusaders</strong> although<br />
finishing eleventh were one of<br />
five clubs relegated from the<br />
Championship.<br />
The six players deported for visa irregularities in 2009 (clockwise from top left): Damien<br />
Quinn, Jace Van Dijk, Darren Mapp, Josh Hannay, Mark Dalle Cort and Tony Duggan<br />
Storm clouds were gathering<br />
however. The UK Border Agency<br />
discovered six <strong>Crusaders</strong><br />
overseas players were in the<br />
country illegally due to visa<br />
problems and they had to leave<br />
immediately.<br />
The RFL was not best pleased<br />
with the adverse publicity<br />
this caused. After persistent<br />
rumours of financial difficulties<br />
owner Leighton Samuels pulled<br />
out adding further problems.<br />
To improve matters Brian Noble<br />
(now spearheading Toronto<br />
Wolfpack’s entry into the<br />
rugby league) was appointed<br />
coach for 2010 with Iestyn<br />
Harris as his assistant and the<br />
club announced the signing of<br />
Welsh rugby union star Gareth<br />
Thomas.<br />
a six point deduction for the 2011<br />
season.<br />
In July 2011 the <strong>Crusaders</strong><br />
withdrew their application for a<br />
further three year Super League<br />
licence (much to the relief of<br />
Wakefield Trinity who looked<br />
like losing theirs) and the Club<br />
was wound up in September<br />
2011.<br />
Invited back into Championship<br />
1 (third tier) for 2012 North<br />
Wales <strong>Crusaders</strong> began life in<br />
the lower leagues.<br />
Fireworks greet Celtic <strong>Crusaders</strong> at<br />
Bridgend’s Brewery Field as they run out<br />
against Hull for their first ever home Super<br />
League fixture in 2009<br />
Cup success came in 2015 with<br />
a victory over Swinton in the<br />
League 1 Cup Final at Blackpool<br />
and in 2016 <strong>Crusaders</strong> were<br />
losing finalists in the League 1<br />
Shield Final against Newcastle<br />
Thunder.<br />
With a move to the Queensway<br />
Stadium in Wrexham this<br />
season and our old friend Mike<br />
Grady as coach, a League 1 Cup<br />
Final appearance at Blackpool in<br />
the bank (can’t remember who<br />
they beat in the semi final!) who<br />
knows what the next 12 seasons<br />
will bring for the <strong>Crusaders</strong>?<br />
One thing about being a<br />
<strong>Crusaders</strong> follower is for sure -<br />
life is never dull!<br />
7<br />
With new owners, the club<br />
dropped the word Celtic<br />
from their name and moved<br />
to Wrexham, sharing the<br />
Racecourse Ground with the<br />
town’s football team. Despite<br />
finishing eighth and in the playoffs,<br />
financial problems persisted<br />
and in November 2010 the club<br />
went into administration, getting<br />
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8<br />
ALL GOLDS vs. CRUSADERS<br />
MATCH PREVIEW<br />
WRITTEN BY PATRICK BAINES<br />
The <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> host North Wales <strong>Crusaders</strong><br />
for the third time this season on Saturday<br />
evening.<br />
The home side won the first meeting in<br />
February, a comfortable 36-18 win saw<br />
Lee Greenwood’s side book a place in the<br />
fourth round of the Challenge Cup. However,<br />
the <strong>Crusaders</strong> gained their revenge just a<br />
fortnight ago with a 37-28 triumph in the<br />
semi-final of the League 1 Cup. With both<br />
teams in desperate need of league points<br />
the importance of Saturday’s game cannot<br />
be underestimated.<br />
The <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> could be without a number of<br />
first team players after several were unable<br />
to finish last Sunday’s game against York.<br />
Josh Ward, Joe McClean, Phil Cowburn and<br />
Graham O’Keeffe all suffered knocks during<br />
the game and are doubtful for Saturday<br />
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along with long term absentees Ben Stead<br />
and Alex Gaskell.<br />
<strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> head coach Lee Greenwood says<br />
he wants to see a better performance from<br />
his young team, after two disappointing<br />
efforts on home soil. He said:<br />
“We certainly haven’t been<br />
anywhere near our best in<br />
the last two performances.<br />
We know when we play<br />
well that we can beat most<br />
teams in this division but<br />
the last two games we’ve<br />
been poor.<br />
“We’ve got a number of<br />
players who could miss out<br />
on Saturday. I’m not too<br />
concerned though because<br />
the lads who could come in<br />
are good enough and will<br />
want to prove a point. We<br />
went up to Workington with<br />
a fair number of players<br />
missing and managed to<br />
beat them so we won’t be<br />
using injuries as an excuse.<br />
“Of course the last couple of games have<br />
been disappointing. It’s probably a mark of<br />
how far we’ve come that we’re disappointed<br />
to lose to a strong side like York last<br />
weekend. As bad as we’ve been the last<br />
two games there’s still signs that we can<br />
be a decent side. Myself,<br />
Anthony and Dan will have<br />
a look at what we can do as<br />
coaches to help the players<br />
and we’ll look forward to<br />
Saturday. <strong>Crusaders</strong> are a<br />
strong side and we know<br />
we’ll have to be at our best<br />
to beat them.”<br />
Like the <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong>, the<br />
<strong>Crusaders</strong> have saved most<br />
of their best performances<br />
for the cup competitions.<br />
They had impressive away<br />
wins at York and Newcastle<br />
before their semi-final<br />
win over the <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> a<br />
fortnight ago and will face<br />
unbeaten high fliers Barrow<br />
Raiders in the League 1 Cup<br />
final later this month.<br />
9<br />
Lee Greenwood after North Wales <strong>Crusaders</strong> League-1 Cup Defeat<br />
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UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE ALL GOLDS<br />
CLUB DIRECTORY<br />
HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE ALL GOLDS WE HAVE A NUMBER OF<br />
OFFICIAL PARTNERS AND SPONSORS THAT HEAVILY SUPPORT THE CLUB AND, AS AN<br />
ALL GOLDS FAN, WE ARE SURE YOU WILL FIND THIS CLUB DIRECTORY VERY USEFUL.<br />
If you are interested in contacting any of our partners or sponsors but you feel that you need<br />
more information then please don’t hesitate to call our Commercial Department on<br />
01242 715297 or email allgoldsbusiness@glos.ac.uk<br />
10<br />
PLAYER SONSORS<br />
www.allgoldsrugby.com<br />
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TODAYS OPPONENTS<br />
NORTH WALES CRUSADERS<br />
WRITTEN BY JACK CONLON<br />
12<br />
After beating us 37-28 in the League 1<br />
Cup semi-final a fortnight ago, <strong>Crusaders</strong><br />
were downed 36-26 by Hunslet last week,<br />
with the South Leeds side putting in a<br />
convincing performance. Before that, their<br />
form was pretty steady. After strong wins<br />
over York and Newcastle, Mike Grady’s men<br />
went down 80-0 to Toronto, the Wolfpack’s<br />
biggest winning margin so far. The Canadian<br />
outfit dominated the first half, going in<br />
60-0 at the break, but a stubborn defensive<br />
performance in the second period was<br />
a real positive to be taken away from the<br />
game. Previously, they had made a shaky<br />
start to the season, losing 50-8 to Keighley<br />
and 44-8 to Doncaster, but will be focusing<br />
on improving their consistency.<br />
1 Tommy Johnson<br />
2 Corey Lee<br />
3 Simon Atherton,<br />
4 Earl Hurst<br />
5 Dale Bloomfield<br />
6 Andy Moulsdale<br />
7 Ryan Smith<br />
8 Jonny Walker<br />
9 Lee Hudson<br />
10 Alex Davidson<br />
11 Alex Thompson,<br />
12 Stephen Bannister<br />
13 Ryan Millington<br />
14 James Dandy<br />
15 John Cookson<br />
16 Luke Warburton<br />
FORM<br />
SQUAD<br />
17 Kenny Baker<br />
19 Dan Price<br />
20 Andy Unsworth<br />
21 Dean Thompson<br />
22 Andrew Joy<br />
23 Richard Joy<br />
24 Jack Houghton<br />
25 Matt Davies<br />
26 Jack Hansen<br />
27 Aaron Moore<br />
28 Callum Mulkeen<br />
29 Josh Simm<br />
30 Blake Turner<br />
31 Warren Thompson<br />
32 Joe Bate<br />
BACKS<br />
The midfield trio of Tommy Johnson, Jack<br />
Hansen and Ryan Smith are North Wales’<br />
biggest threat. <strong>All</strong> three are good ballplayers<br />
and are constantly looking to provide<br />
opportunities for the men out wide. These<br />
include Earl Hurst and former <strong>All</strong> Gold Callum<br />
Mulkeen in the centres, and ex-Rochdale<br />
wingers Corey Lee and Dale Bloomfield on the<br />
flanks. Back<br />
Rower Alex<br />
Thompson<br />
can also<br />
deputise in<br />
the centres<br />
if needed,<br />
making just<br />
as much of<br />
an impact as<br />
he does in the<br />
forwards.<br />
FORWARDS<br />
The North Wales forward pack can certainly<br />
make and impact, giving the side plenty of<br />
size and power. Alex Davidson is yet another<br />
familiar face to <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> fans, after spending<br />
two years at the Prince of Wales. He and<br />
Jonny Walker form a formidable front row<br />
pairing, while Lee Hudson and James Dandy<br />
interchange at dummy half. Ex-Widnes second<br />
rower Jack Houghton has made a huge impact<br />
since arriving at the club in November, scoring<br />
three tries in ten appearances, and earning a<br />
consistent starting spot. Saturday could also<br />
see new signing Joe Bate make his debut, after<br />
the former Rochdale and St Helens prop was<br />
brought in to add more forward depth.<br />
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KEY MAN<br />
ONE TO WATCH<br />
Left centre Earl Hurst didn’t play in our last<br />
clash with <strong>Crusaders</strong> so he, more than most,<br />
will be looking for a big performance. Hurst is a<br />
real athlete out wide, boasting size and speed<br />
that make him a real handful for defenders. He<br />
is almost like a forward in the way he is built,<br />
with a strong upper body that allows him to<br />
drive forward and make yards in all areas of the<br />
field, while his burst of pace makes him a great<br />
threat. While he missed out two weeks ago, he<br />
did cause problems for the <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> defence<br />
when the two teams met in the Challenge<br />
Cup in February, even crossing for a try. And<br />
with proven try scorer Dale Bloomfield on his<br />
outside, <strong>Crusaders</strong>’ left flank poses a real threat<br />
in attack.<br />
13<br />
Former St Helens Academy fullback Tommy<br />
Johnson ran riot at the Prince of Wales<br />
stadium two weeks ago, racking up 20 of<br />
their 37 points. ‘TJ’ has become part of the<br />
furniture at the Racecourse Ground, after<br />
joining in their inaugural League 1 season in<br />
2012. In just four years he has set the record<br />
for club appearances, and recently surpassed<br />
1000 club points. As far as reliable fullbacks go,<br />
you can’t look too far past Johnson in League<br />
1, while he is undoubtedly one of the best goal<br />
kickers in the competition. He persistently<br />
probes around the ruck and has a superb<br />
support game, making him a potent attacking<br />
threat.<br />
STATS<br />
HIGHEST SCORE:<br />
82-6 v West Hull, 6/4/2013<br />
HIGHEST SCORE AGAINST:<br />
4-98 v Wigan, 15/4/2012<br />
MOST APPEARANCES:<br />
129 – Tommy Johnson 2012-present<br />
HIGHEST POINT SCORER:<br />
1004 – Tommy Johnson 2012-present<br />
HIGHEST TRY SCORER:<br />
97 – Rob Massam 2012-2016<br />
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ALL GOLDS MATCH REPORT<br />
14<br />
WRITTEN BY CHRIS WILSON - IMAGES BY RICHARD LONG<br />
ALL GOLDS PUT TO<br />
SWORD BY KNIGHTS<br />
ALL GOLDS 10-56 KNIGHTS<br />
SUNDAY 7 TH MAY | PRINCE OF WALES STADIUM<br />
If a turning point can come early in a game then it<br />
came in the first tackle of this match. Harrison Elliott<br />
returned the kick-off into the York defence and was<br />
promptly driven back from whence he came, ending<br />
up in the in-goal area conceding possession to the<br />
visitors.<br />
As a statement of intent it was unarguable and the<br />
Knights proceeded to ram the point home at every<br />
opportunity. And they were given plenty as the<br />
<strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> turned in a lacklustre first forty minutes<br />
conceding half a dozen tries with just a lone Steve<br />
Parry score in reply.<br />
The second half was little better, though all the<br />
scoring came in the first 20 minutes of the period,<br />
the last quarter being scoreless, though dominated<br />
by the visitors.<br />
“We were nowhere near good enough in any<br />
facet of the game,” said <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> head coach Lee<br />
Greenwood.<br />
“One thing we needed to do was to start well, but<br />
unfortunately we were 18-nil down within a quarter<br />
of an hour and the very first play of the game set<br />
the tone for both teams. When your front row gets<br />
driven back ten metres over your own line in your<br />
own in-goal you can probably sense what sort of an<br />
afternoon its going to be and that were the case.”<br />
The York side’s line-speed was on the money and<br />
their intensity in attack and defence was simply too<br />
much for the <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> who didn’t help their cause<br />
with simple errors.<br />
The visitors came with a strong side many of whom<br />
had experience in the Academies of a number of<br />
Super League sides. Nick Rawsthorne impressed,<br />
crossing for four tries and having a hand in another<br />
while Liam Harris stepped up when halfback<br />
partner Harry Tyson-Wilson left the field injured to<br />
score a fine individual try and lead his side with an<br />
accomplished passing and kicking game.<br />
With York firmly in charge, the scoring began in<br />
the third minute as Josh Ward raced out of the line<br />
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seeking an intercept and Rawsthorne ran through<br />
the hole to send Joe Batchelor strolling over under<br />
the posts for Tyson-Wilson to add the extras,<br />
Soft hands from Chris Siddons presented Ronan<br />
Dixon with an easy second try five minutes later and<br />
shortly afterwards, Rawsthorne glided through the<br />
defence to touch down.<br />
The opening salvo launched, York’s game got<br />
scrappy and a forward pass gave the home side a<br />
chance which Parry accepted, burrowing over for a<br />
try converted by Ward.<br />
Ash Robson then extended the lead before Chris<br />
Barlow spilled a steepling kick and Tommy Saxton<br />
sent Will Jubb in. Harris added the extras in the<br />
absence of Tyson-Wilson.<br />
York were still on the attack as the hooter went for<br />
the interval and Rawsthorne squeezed in at the<br />
corner from David Foggin Johnston’s offload.<br />
York started the second half with the same intensity<br />
as they had the first and Harris broke through the <strong>All</strong><br />
<strong>Golds</strong> left edge to run half the length of the field to<br />
touch down, adding the goal himself.<br />
touch down before Ed Smith pinched the ball from<br />
Barlow’s grasp after he had fielded Harris’ high kick<br />
to the corner to bring up the half century.<br />
When Rawsthorne crossed for his fourth try after<br />
being given an acre of space to work in by Harris’<br />
pass it looked like the <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> were set for a real<br />
drubbing with a quarter of the game remaining.<br />
However, it didn’t materialise as the home side<br />
were the next to score through Brad Kislingbury<br />
who showed neat footwork to beat the first line of<br />
defence and stretch over for the final points of the<br />
game.<br />
The Knights pressed hard for more points but errors<br />
crept into their game and the <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> held out until<br />
after the final hooter as play continued and Foggin<br />
Johnston went over but Rawsthorne’s pass was<br />
ruled forward.<br />
ALL GOLDS: Steven Nield; Mo Agoro, Phil Cowburn,<br />
Brad Kislingbury, Chris Barlow; Josh Ward, Kieran<br />
Hyde; Ollie Purslow, Steve Parry, Harrison Elliott;<br />
Graham O’Keeffe, Joe McClean; Chris Worrall;<br />
INTERCHANGE: Billy Brickhill, Lewis Reece, Harry<br />
Kidd, Malikhi Lloyd-Jones<br />
Rawsthorne went over for his hat-trick score four<br />
minutes later stepping through the defence to<br />
15<br />
Lee Greenwood after <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> 10-56 York City Knights<br />
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JUNIOR RUGBY<br />
LEAGUE<br />
AT CHELTENHAM PHOENIX<br />
16<br />
Cheltenham Phoenix are running<br />
junior rugby league programmes at<br />
two separate venues in Cheltenham<br />
this summer. The six week<br />
programme is designed to introduce<br />
boys to the sport of rugby league<br />
with all sessions being led by a level<br />
2 coach. No prior rugby league (or<br />
rugby!) experience is necessary.<br />
Venue one:<br />
Cheltenham North RFC<br />
Sunday mornings 10.30 - 12.00<br />
June 11th - July 16th<br />
Open to boys U14 and U15<br />
(school years 9 and 10)<br />
Venue two:<br />
Cheltenham North RFC<br />
Wednesday evenings<br />
5.00 - 6.00<br />
June 7th - July 12th<br />
Open to U14 (school year 9) only<br />
For more information please contact<br />
Mike www.allgoldsrugby.com<br />
Hughes on 07833 030987 or email @<strong>All</strong><strong>Golds</strong> facebook.com/<strong>All</strong><strong>Golds</strong>Rugby<br />
mikehughes.ets@gmail.com
THE ARMY GAME<br />
WRITTEN BY DEVONIAN<br />
Army Vets/Dorset Giants 44 – 42 Devon County<br />
On Sunday 19th March <strong>2017</strong><br />
Devon County made a trip to<br />
Weymouth Rugby Club as part of<br />
their promotion of “Supporting the<br />
troops” to play a combined team<br />
Army Vets and Dorset Giants side.<br />
At the end of a pulsating 80<br />
minutes, the Army/Giants prevailed<br />
44-42.<br />
Devon started the better with an<br />
early try from Shaun East followed<br />
by a powerful effort from Andrew<br />
Smerdon for an 8-0 lead but two<br />
tries in as many minutes gave the<br />
Dorset side a 12-advantage thanks<br />
to two conversions.<br />
There was a period of stalemate<br />
before Dorset extended their lead<br />
with an unconverted try followed<br />
quickly by six more points to look<br />
quite comfortable 22-8 ahead.<br />
Jon Ross forced his way over for a<br />
County score converted by Jack<br />
Keiller to cut the margin to eight<br />
points at the break.<br />
Both sides looked weary at the<br />
break and Dorset were more<br />
relieved of the breather as the<br />
County looked to have the<br />
momentum.<br />
They were first to register points<br />
as the second half got underway<br />
and Troy Willis scored in the corner,<br />
Keiller adding a fine goal to make<br />
the score 22-20.<br />
A short kick into the in-goal on<br />
the next set was swooped upon<br />
by Jack Sweeney and County<br />
had the lead. They extended it to<br />
eight points with Ross’ second try<br />
converted by Keiller and looked to<br />
be in control of a fast and furious<br />
match.<br />
However, Dorset hit back with two<br />
tries, one converted, for a 32-30<br />
advantage and it was game on.<br />
Two more unconverted tries took<br />
the home side out to a 40-30 lead<br />
with 20 minutes remaining.<br />
County regrouped and shook off<br />
their tiredness to run hard and<br />
strong to give Ross his third try,<br />
again Keiller was on the mark with<br />
the extras to make the score 40-36.<br />
However, as a County player lay<br />
injured on the pitch, there was<br />
confusion over numbers and<br />
County were forced to withdraw a<br />
man giving Dorset the chance to<br />
take advantage of the confusion to<br />
score in the corner.<br />
The try went unconverted and once<br />
things were sorted out and both<br />
sides had the requisite numbers<br />
on the pitch, Chris Phillpot darted<br />
across the line, Sweeney adding<br />
the conversion to make the score<br />
44-42.<br />
In the final few minutes, Kye<br />
Munslow had a try disallowed for<br />
County and Dorset went close<br />
themselves before County had one<br />
last chance with two tackles and 90<br />
metres to go but they couldn’t do<br />
the impossible.<br />
17<br />
There are plans for two more<br />
encounters between the sides this<br />
summer. The two dates pencilled in<br />
are 1 July in Devon and 19 August at<br />
Swanage & Wareham RFC.<br />
Further details will be published on<br />
the Devon County Rugby League<br />
and Dorset County Giants Rugby<br />
League’s Facebook pages.<br />
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FLAME OF THE WEST<br />
WRITTEN BY CHRIS WILSON<br />
THE BIG KICK-OFF<br />
18<br />
With the West of England 9s over, this weekend<br />
the league splits into two Pools to begin the<br />
contest to reach the Grand Final on August 12.<br />
With new teams in Bath RL and Swindon St<br />
George’s second string there is a fresh look to<br />
the league especially as the Pools have been<br />
redrawn into a more geographic spread than<br />
was the case last season.<br />
Pool 1 opens with a trio of enticing fixtures.<br />
There is the Gloucestershire derby between<br />
the Warriors and the Forest Bulldogs at Bream<br />
RFC. The Bulldogs made a decent fist of their<br />
first season in the competition last year and<br />
will be looking to make steady improvement<br />
by challenging for at least a place in the Plate<br />
play-offs.<br />
Gloucestershire Warriors are hoping for better<br />
fortune than last season when they won just<br />
three games. With a new coaching team led by<br />
Tony Kipling and a new home at Old Cryptians<br />
RFC on Tuffley Avenue, the Warriors face the<br />
Bulldogs with optimism this weekend before<br />
entertaining Cheltenham Phoenix on 20 May<br />
in their first home game. Captain Ash Lewis<br />
said: “We’re looking forward to the season. It’s<br />
a rebuilding season for us this year. We want<br />
to get everyone back on track and enjoying it<br />
again.”<br />
Cheltenham Phoenix have recruited strongly in<br />
the off-season with a number of last season’s <strong>All</strong><br />
<strong>Golds</strong> Conference League South side signing<br />
up. New captain Adam Dommett leads them<br />
into their first game, which is a trip to Swindon<br />
where they have not had the best of results<br />
over the years. Swindon themselves are looking<br />
strong as a club this year and the game should<br />
be a closely fought contest.<br />
The other game in the Pool is a clash between<br />
Bath Romans and Somerset Vikings at<br />
Corsham RFC’s Lacock Road ground. After a<br />
title-winning debut campaign in 2015, results<br />
did not always go the Romans’ way in 2016 and<br />
it remains to be seen what effect the second<br />
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Bath team will have on their<br />
playing strength.<br />
The Vikings have put in a<br />
lot of effort off the field and<br />
have secured a new club<br />
partnership with Hornets RFC<br />
in Weston Super Mare that<br />
allows them access to the<br />
rugby union club’s impressive<br />
facilities including the artificial<br />
pitch.<br />
They have also inked a twoyear<br />
sponsorship deal with<br />
Aspen-Waite who will be the<br />
Vikings’ main sponsor and<br />
support partner for <strong>2017</strong>/18.<br />
“This is a welcome boost<br />
to the club,” said secretary<br />
Bob Blainey who also<br />
announced that the Vikings<br />
will be raising awareness<br />
and funds for Cystic Fibrosis<br />
Trust and Andy’s Man Club.<br />
“Both help save lives and are<br />
causes close to our club,”<br />
Blainey added. “There will be<br />
collection buckets and charity<br />
days throughout the season<br />
and we hope to raise some<br />
much needed money.”<br />
In Pool 2, reigning champions<br />
Portsmouth Seahawks host<br />
the side they beat in the<br />
Grand Final, Swindon St<br />
George, in a mouthwatering<br />
start to their title defence.<br />
“Hopefully, with what I have<br />
personally achieved over a<br />
short period of time since<br />
coming to rugby league, I can<br />
show my team-mates there<br />
are lot of opportunities if you<br />
give 100 per cent.”<br />
His side face a stern test<br />
from a Bristol Sonics outfit<br />
determined to do well this<br />
season. Head coach Dom<br />
Swann has big plans for <strong>2017</strong><br />
and has set his side the task<br />
of getting to the Grand Final,<br />
after the 2016 season ended<br />
with a limp play-off semi-final<br />
loss to Swindon St George.<br />
He said: “Last season was a<br />
missed opportunity, but in<br />
hindsight we got what we<br />
deserved in the semi-final. To<br />
compete for honours we<br />
need a bigger squad and<br />
more players at training. I will<br />
pick players on merit due to<br />
their performances in both<br />
training and matches. Any<br />
new players that come down<br />
to training will have as much<br />
chance of making the team<br />
as those who are returning<br />
from previous seasons. I urge<br />
anyone who fancies playing<br />
to come down to training on<br />
Wednesday night and stake<br />
their claim for a place in the<br />
team.”<br />
Elsewhere there is a re-run of<br />
Last year’s Plate Final when<br />
the holders, Oxford Cavaliers<br />
take on the Southampton<br />
Spitfires at Harcourt Hill.<br />
19<br />
Newcomers Bath RL have<br />
named 21-year-old half-back<br />
or hooker Tom Plance as their<br />
captain for the <strong>2017</strong> season.<br />
Plance, who plays for<br />
University of Bath Broncos<br />
and has also played for<br />
Scotland Students and South<br />
Wales Scorpions, said: “It<br />
is an honour to be named<br />
captain of a new club with a<br />
professional environment.<br />
Fixtures Saturday 13 May<br />
Pool 1<br />
Swindon St George A vs. Cheltenham Phoenix<br />
Bath & Wiltshire Romans vs. Somerset Vikings<br />
Forest Bulldogs vs. Gloucestershire Warriors<br />
Pool 2<br />
Bath RL vs. Bristol Sonics<br />
Portsmouth Navy Seahawks vs. Swindon St George<br />
Oxford Cavaliers vs. Southampton Spitfires<br />
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ALL GOLDS FIXTURES & RESU<br />
DATE K.O. OPPONENTS RES FULLBACK WING CENTRE CENTRE WING STAND OFF<br />
Sun Feb 19 14:00 A Hemel Stags (L1CupR1) 12-48 GASKELL 1T AGORO 1T COWBURN KISLINGBURY 2T BARLOW STEAD 1G<br />
Sun Feb 26 14:00 H North Wales <strong>Crusaders</strong> (LCCR3) 36-18 GASKELL 1T AGORO 1T COWBURN KISLINGBURY 2T BARLOW HOUGHTON<br />
Sun Mar 5 15:00 A Hunslet (<strong>KPL1</strong>) 10-06 HOUGHTON AGORO BRICKHILL WILLIAMS KISLINGBURY STEAD 1G<br />
Sun Mar 12 15:00 H Keighley Cougars (<strong>KPL1</strong>) 46-22 GASKELL AGORO 4T COWBURN KISLINGBURY BARLOW MITCHELL 1T<br />
Sun Mar 19 15:00 A Doncaster (LCCR4) 48-22 GASKELL AGORO COWBURN KISLINGBURY 1T BARLOW 1T MITCHELL<br />
Sun Mar 26 15:00 A Workington Town (<strong>KPL1</strong>) 54-22 GASKELL AGORO 1T COWBURN 1T KISLINGBURY BARLOW 1T MITCHELL<br />
Sun Apr 2 14:30 A Workington Town (L1CupQF) 22-30 MITCHELL AGORO WILLIAMS COWBURN 2T BARLOW 1T FALLON<br />
Sun Apr 9 15:00 H London Skolars (<strong>KPL1</strong>) 22-24 COWBURN AGORO 2T BRICKHILL NIELD BARLOW FALLON<br />
Fri April 14 15:00 A South Wales Ironmen (<strong>KPL1</strong>) 30-36 NIELD AGORO 3T COWBURN 1T KISLINGBURY 1T BARLOW WARD<br />
Sun April 30 15:00 H North Wales <strong>Crusaders</strong> (L1CupSF) 28-37 MITCHELL AGORO 1T COWBURN KISLINGBURY 1T BARLOW 2T WARD<br />
Sun May 7 15:00 H York City Knights (<strong>KPL1</strong>) 10-56 NIELD AGORO COWBURN KISLINGBURY 1T BARLOW WARD 2G<br />
Sun May 14 15:00 H North Wales <strong>Crusaders</strong> (<strong>KPL1</strong>)<br />
Sun May 21 15:00 A Coventry Bears (<strong>KPL1</strong>)<br />
Sun Jun 4 15:00 H Newcastle Thunder (<strong>KPL1</strong>)<br />
Sun Jun 11 14:00 A Whitehaven (<strong>KPL1</strong>)<br />
Sun Jun 18 14:00 A Hemel Stags (<strong>KPL1</strong>)<br />
Sun Jun 25 15:00 H Oxford (<strong>KPL1</strong>)<br />
Sat Jul 1 18:30 A Barrow Raiders (<strong>KPL1</strong>)<br />
Sat Jul 8 12:00 A Toronto Wolfpack (<strong>KPL1</strong>)<br />
Sun Jul 16 15:00 H Doncaster (<strong>KPL1</strong>)<br />
THE KEY | Home games appear in bold | <strong>KPL1</strong> = Kingstone Press League 1 | <strong>KPL1</strong>S = Kingstone Press League 1 Shield<br />
LCC = Ladbrokes Challenge Cup | L1Cup = League 1 Cup | Sin-binned Red Card (Sent Off) | T = Try | G = Goal | DG = Drop Goal<br />
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LTS <strong>2017</strong><br />
SCRUM HALF PROP HOOKER PROP 2ND ROW 2ND ROW LOOSE FWD SUB 1 SUB 2 SUB 3 SUB 4<br />
HYDE 5G PURSLOW PARRY (C) 2T WALTER WORRALL McCLEAN 1T ELLIOTT 1T HOUGHTON WILLIAMS 1T LLOYD-JONES KIDD<br />
HYDE 2G PURSLOW PARRY (C) 2T ELLIOTT WORRALL McCLEAN 1T BRICKHILL MITCHELL ANDRADE LLOYD-JONES KIDD 1T<br />
HYDE PURSLOW PARRY (C) KIDD JONES McCLEAN ELLIOTT MITCHELL ANDRADE 1T LLOYD-JONES WALTER<br />
HYDE 5G PURSLOW PARRY (C) 2T KIDD WORRALL McCLEAN BRICKHILL WILLIAMS ELLIOTT 1T FALLON 2G WALTER<br />
HYDE 3G PURSLOW PARRY (C) 2T KIDD McCLEAN WORRALL BRICKHILL WILLIAMS ELLIOTT ANDRADE WALTER<br />
HYDE 3G PURSLOW PARRY (C) ELLIOTT WORRALL McCLEAN 1T BRICKHILL LLOYD-JONES ANDRADE WALTER KIDD<br />
HYDE 5G KIDD 1T PARRY (C) 1T WALTER ELLIOTT McCLEAN WORRALL STEPHENS O’KEEFFE PURSLOW LLOYD-JONES<br />
HYDE 3G KIDD PARRY (C) 1T WALTER ELLIOTT McCLEAN 1T WORRALL LOBWEIN JONES PURSLOW LLOYD JONES<br />
HYDE 6G ELLIOTT 1T PARRY (C) PURSLOW MCCLEAN WORRALL BRICKHILL LOBWEIN O’KEEFFE WALTER ANDRADE<br />
HYDE 2G PURSLOW PARRY (C) 1T KIDD 1T WORRALL McCLEAN BRICKHILL FALLON O’KEEFFE ELLIOTT LLOYD-JONES<br />
HYDE PURSLOW PARRY (C) 1T ELLIOTT O’KEEFFE McCLEAN WORRALL BRICKHILL REECE KIDD LLOYD-JONES<br />
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ALL GOLDS<br />
HEAD COACH:<br />
LEE GREE<strong>NW</strong>OOD<br />
<strong>NW</strong> CRUSADERS<br />
HEAD COACH:<br />
MIKE GRADY<br />
22<br />
MO AGORO<br />
CHRIS BARLOW<br />
BILLY BRICKHILL<br />
HARRISON ELLIOTT<br />
DANNY FALLON<br />
KIERAN HYDE<br />
HARRY KIDD<br />
BRAD KISLINGBURY<br />
MALIKHI LLOYD-JONES<br />
JOE MCCLEAN<br />
JACK MITCHELL<br />
STEVEN NIELD<br />
STEVE PARRY (C)<br />
OLLIE PURSLOW<br />
LEWIS REECE<br />
BEN STEAD<br />
LUKE STEPHENS<br />
JAMES WALTER<br />
CHRIS WORRALL<br />
SIMON ATHERTON<br />
JOSEPH BATE<br />
DALE BLOOMFIELD<br />
ALEX DAVIDSON<br />
JACK HANSON<br />
JACK HOUGHTON<br />
LEE HUDSON<br />
EARL HURST<br />
THOMAS JOHNSON<br />
COREY LEE<br />
RYAN MILLINGTON<br />
AARON MOORE<br />
CALLUM MULKEEN<br />
DANIEL PRICE<br />
RYAN SMITH<br />
ALEXANDER THOMPSON<br />
WARREN THOMPSON<br />
BLAKE TURNER<br />
JON WALKER<br />
REFEREE: T. GRANT | RESERVE: D. WARD<br />
TOUCH JUDGES: S. DANIEL, T. SCOTT | MATCH COMMISSIONER: A. BARNBY<br />
UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE ALL GOLDS<br />
Oxstalls Campus, Gloucester, GL2 9HW<br />
www.allgoldsrugby.com<br />
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Tel: 01242 715332 | Official Website: www.allgoldsrugby.com