Between The Posts

    MUMBLES RUGBY CLUB 

    

    

 

   ‘BETWEEN THE POSTS’

    March 2024

Welcome to Mumbles Rugby Club and the March edition of the monthly newsletter ‘Between the Posts’. There is news of events both on and off the field so plenty to read about this month. 

SAD NEWS

It is with great sadness that I start this month’s edition of the Newsletter with the news that former Chairman Martin Bottomley suffered a fatal heart attack last Monday. A proud Yorkshireman, Martin took on the role of Chairman at a very difficult time for the club and pulled us through with some very astute decisions including the start of match sponsorship which generated much needed income and saved the club. He will be sadly missed. The funeral arrangements are 2.00 p.m. at Llanelli Crematorium on Monday 8th April.

 

ON THE PITCH

Since the last issue the 1st XV have played three games all away due to the pitch in Underhill being waterlogged, not surprising really, when you consider there has been record rainfall during February! The boys made the long trek to Milford Haven in what can only be described as almost monsoon conditions with wind and rain driving in from the Irish sea. Without several key players, the youngsters stepped up and put in a magnificent performance winning 15-8. Next up was a visit to Amman Utd after the fixture was reversed with Underhill unplayable. Again, key players were missing and with the pitch just about playable it was going to be a tough afternoon. But the boys once again put in a shift and came away with another win 17-11. The third away game on the trot was at Pontyberem, always a difficult place to visit. A spirited home team searching for points to avoid relegation proved a hard nut to crack but the boys came through with a bonus point win 34-30. This win moved Mumbles up to 5th in the table and although not mathematically safe, with still six games to play, one more win should secure Division 2 rugby again next season! 

The 2nd XV played a strong Skewen team at Bishopston and came away with an outstanding result winning 31-10. The game had to be pulled up early due to a serious injury to one of the Skewen players, but the game had gone far enough for Mumbles to secure a bonus point win. 

Next up for the 2nd’s was a friendly under lights against Dunvant who play two divisions higher and are likely to be completing in the National League next season. But this didn’t bother a young team who took the game to the hosts. An end-to-end encounter gave the Mumbles supporters a very entertaining Friday night rugby feast. Although the boys suffered a 12-29 defeat two of the Dunvant tries came in the last 8 minutes and didn’t reflect on the magnificent performance by the boys. On this form it should be a great end to the season for both the 1st XV and 2nd’s.

Not to be out done the Youth are also on for a great season. Having already secured the Ospreys Cup it was back to league duty with a trip to Taibach. The boys put in an outstanding performance but were just pipped in the end going down 29-31 picking up 2 bonus points. Next was another away game at Britton Ferry and a great win this time coming out victorious 33-17.  

Forthcoming fixtures for the 1st XV, 2nd XV and Youth are as follows:

            1st XV            2nd XV            Youth

Sat 23rd March    St Clears (h)        No Game        Waunarlwydd (h) (Bish)

Sat 30th March    Fishguard (a)        Vardre (h) Cup     Kenfig Hill (h)

Sat 6th April         St Clears (a)        T B C            T B C 

Sat 13th April     Tycroes (h)        T B C             Glynneath (a)

Sat 20th April        Loughor h)         T B C             Morriston (a)         

 

JUNIOR SECTION

All Junior teams continue to field big numbers at all age groups, so much so that it’s giving coaches some challenges to give everyone a game! The AWP is proving to be a big asset, long may it continue!

Away from rugby, Kian Bolam and Theo Oshisanya who both play for Mumbles U16’s have both been selected to represent Wales U16’s Basketball Team at a four nations tournament in Dublin. To represent your country in any sport is a real achievement, well done boys, everyone in the club is proud of you, good luck! 

 

MUMBLES LADIES

Mumbles Ladies and Girls recently held their first in depth training camp and a very successful day it proved to be! Using both grass pitches and the AWP, the morning covered basic contact training followed in the afternoon with mini games and skills practice. All this under the expert eye of the legend that is Mel Berry! The next training camp is on Monday 25th March in Underhill Park Well done girls, a group of players who are really making a mark in Ladies and girls rugby. 

 

SOCIAL EVENTS

It was great to see the clubhouse packed out for all the Six Nations games and the one 1st XV home game in February when Mike Ruddock’s band played in the evening, a great night was had by all!! A big thank you to Phil Rees for his sponsorship on the day. Please look out on the club social media platforms for more events we plan to hold in the clubhouse very soon.

 

 

UNDERHILL PROJECT

It is almost 9 months since the Underhill development was opened to the clubs and the public, followed by the opening of the AWP in November, to provide the community with much needed first-class facilities. I think it’s safe to say that although the facilities have been a game changer for the club in so many ways, the Trustees of MCA are still finding their feet in providing a facility that meets everybody’s needs, which are wide and varied! One of the problems the rugby club have come up against, is the use of the AWP for matches with the restrictions of footwear imposed by the manufacturer, the stumbling block. MCA are very keen to try and resolve this issue and a meeting with all parties involved has been scheduled for early next month. I will let you know the outcome of these discussions.   

 

FINANCIAL CHALLENGES

As a club we are still confronted with very challenging times and the Directors and committee are working very hard to keep the club in the black. On the field we are doing well, with all sections bringing in new players with the Seniors fielding two teams plus a strong Youth squad all playing on a Saturday. The Juniors have full squads in every age group from U6’s through to U16’s and the introduction of a Ladies and Girls section this year means the club is definitely bucking the system on the pitch. However, you are probably aware that we have the costs of two facilities to cover. The clubhouse incurs utility bills which are going through the roof, staff costs, rising food costs and the general maintenance costs of an old building. Then we have the costs of Underhill which has further utility bills for use of the changing rooms albeit these are split between rugby, football, and MCA. Add on use of the AWP and grass pitch permits and you can see that these costs are also quite substantial. 

Obviously, we have funding from the WRU, but this barely covers the hire of pitches and certainly not all the essential running costs. We have had great support with sponsorship but again with all teams throughout the club requiring kit any sponsorship is soon swallowed up.

So, what is the answer? Well, this is what the Directors and committee, as I have said, are working extremely hard on. We are indebted to you our supporters, for your support and I can assure you, we will consult you at every stage as we come up with a business plan that we believe will sustain our future for years to come.

 

Well, that’s it for this month. I am sure the club is going in the right direction. We have a young and enthusiastic group of players male and female and a hard-working committee all on the same page. There are some tough decisions to be made but Mumbles Rugby Club will be shining bright for many years to come, both on and off the pitch, of that I am certain.

 

Martin Rodwell                                             e.mail: martinrodwell123@btinternet.com