The first session involving six clubs was held at Northolt RFC on Thursday 1^st July Pinner arrived not only keen to play but in great numbers; eighteen of the first team turned up after travelling through some horrible rush hour traffic on a particularly hot and sticky evening. The were a band of Pinner followers on the touchline who also made the drive over to UB6 It was a shame however when there was no opposition to play! Only two players from Sodom RFC came along for what should be a great six way training session leading to a mini touch tournament on the 5^th August at Sodom RFC

The RFU was represented by Martin who will be running weekly training sessions at Pinner RFC on Tuesday evenings for players from the mini and youth sections throughout August and the touch rugby sessions organiser Ronnie Barry.

The evening session took place with the two players from the other club joining in with Pinner. The session was not only about fitness, trying out new skills but importantly having fun. With so few of the opposition turning up it was left to the usual suspects to provide the humour and banter and it was especially great to see Adrien BOUE over from France for a quickie!

Next weeks venue has been changed and Pinner will be hosting so pop down (with kit) and get a little touch from Ollie!

Just a reminder for those who are unaware:

Pinner have entered the Slough 7’s tournament on Saturday 3^rd July, things start around 10.30 and yet again we have a full squad so if you can make it come along – you wont miss us; dress code is enforced – white y fronts, white vest, red head band and red cape, someone thinks there are some superheroes amongst us!!!

The well attended AGM was the first of its kind to combine the senior club and the Youth and Mini rugby sections. The enthusiasm in the club ensured that all posts, both administrative and playing, were filled for the coming season. The President, Dave Hiles, praised the work of all concerned in making sure that Pinner was a club moving forward.  He singled out the Club Captain Reza Sibilant and the Hon. Secretary of the Mini section Jo Talbot for their out standing contributions.  He also thanked all the committee for their support and efforts and noted the improved relationship with the London Borough of Harrow in securing a fifteen year licence on the pitches and a thirty years renewal of the lease on the pavilion site.  The recent drainage work carried out on the lower pitch covered by grants totalling over £40,000 from the RFU and sports matched to £6000 by the LB of Harrow was evident for all to see.  Another recent innovation is the Mini Rugby Academy, which now operates on Sunday mornings throughout the summer, and is for 2 to 5 year olds to learn some basic ball and exercise skills.

The Club’s objectives for the near future are to aim for a third successive promotion, to create a regular 2^nd XV and Vets team, to move the youth rugby up to U14 level, to increase the participation in all mini-rugby age groups, to set up liaison relationships with local schools with the possible reintroduction of girls rugby and to improve the changing facilities. Touch rugby and light training is on-going at Shaftesbury Playing Fields on Thursdays at 7 pm. Summer fitness / training for 6-12 year olds every Tuesday 6-7.30pm.

New members are very welcome.

We are always looking for sponsorship and partners to extend our thriving community rugby club

Club Sponsors

www.haroldbenjamin.com

020 8422 5678  Fax: 020 8864 7530  email: enquiries@haroldbenjamin.com
Harold Benjamin Solicitors
Hill House
67-71, Lowlands Road
Harrow, Middlesex
HA1 3EQ
Widely acknowledged as being one of the UK’s leading law firms specialising in national and regional residential commercial property development, we have grown steadily over recent years to incorporate additional specialist departments in dispute resolution and litigation, corporate and commercial, private client, family and employment.

1^st XV Team Kit Sponsor

Vintage Wine Bar

36 High Street
Pinner Middlesex
HA5 5PW
020 8866 6133  email vintagecocktailbar@gmail.com
Situated on the High St it offers a reprieve from today’s stressful climate with its luxurious interior and elegant service-style. With decadent dark and lush interior decor, Vintage has the relaxed feel of stepping into a close companion’s living room, mixed with its subtle use of aromatherapy, scented candles and essential oils cleverly designed to welcome, invite and relax.

Youth Section Team Kit Sponsor

75B Granville Road

Hillingdon

UB10 9AE

01895 239816  mobile:  07956467311

email: john@honebuilders.co.uk

Extensions, loft conversions and general building/repairs. From garden walls to whole house builds. All services including bricklaying, plumbing, tiling, plastering, electrics, painting, carpentry& roofing.

Mini Section Team Kit Sponsor

4 Brook Trading Estate
Deadbrook Lane
Aldershot
Hants GU12 4XB

01252 333601 email: sales@mannmcgowan.co.uk

Mann McGowan has been at the forefront of intumescent seal technology for over 32 years.

2^nd/Vets/Pelicans Kit Sponsor

www.bixdesignstudio.co.uk

07507 412897 email: choice@bixdesignstudio.co.uk / jcbinteriors@hotmail.com

Design Choice Peace of Mind Kitchens for the 21st century

At jcb interiors we specialise in un-fitted and fitted kitchens in contemporary and traditional styles. We offer bespoke kitchens and shaker kitchens in maple, beech, cherry, oak, painted and other styles in stainless steel, matt laminate & high gloss laminate. Worktops are available in granite, stainless steel, glass, wood, Minerelle and laminate.

We are always on the look out for more sponsorship; if you feel that you can contribute to Pinner & Grammarians RFC please contact

David Hiles, Club President: david@thehiles.co.uk

Current partners:

Raring2go! The definitive guide of what to do and where to go for you and your children magazine for all Harrow children, our rugby club is a feature advert each issue

Launch session takes place at:

Pinner & Grammarians

Rugby Club,

Shaftesbury Playing Fields,

Grymsdyke Road,Pinner

HA5 4PW

www.pinnerrugby.com

Come and win our ” Lenny the Lion” mascot

Enjoy the Bouncy Castle, Raffle and BBQ

We have great prizes for our raffle in support of Barnardo’s

Childrens Charity donated by local businesses in Pinner and Hatch End

Food for Thought Event Caterers Starbuck’s Photoplace

Saryan Picture Framing & Art

Pinnora Photography Andrik Stationery Roomers

Monkey Business Hilton & Family Butchers

Mission Statement:

To create an energetic and fun environment, giving children the opportunity to develop core motor skills whilst focusing on Rugby specific activities.

The classes have been specifically designed to encourage children to use core skills like co-ordination, balance and agility. It is also important that the children begin to develop social skills and the habit of regular exercise. We encourage our children to share, take turns and work together to complete activities, this enables them to build friendships and become part of a team. We use Mini sized balls, Foam balls and cones to ensure the children’s safety at all times. The smaller children’s session lasts 30 minutes and includes parent participation. The session includes passing, catching, try scoring, and cone kicking. Please remember though the whole idea is for the children and parents to have fun. The senior class concentrates more on basic motor skills and to start looking at the more specific skills used in Rugby. We have designed games and tasks to teach children to find space, pass the rugby ball backwards, score a try and much more. We use size 3 rugby balls for this class so the children can get used to the weight and feel of a proper ball. The senior class lasts for approx 45 minutes.

What Happens at our classes

We all have fun, this is the most important aspect of the Little Rugby Academy.

We Run, Jump, Pass, Kick, Fall over, Score a try, Cheer, Laugh and everything children do when they are enjoying themselves.

The class is a structured play session which involves a warm up, multiple skills and physical exercise. There is a multitude of educational skills such as colour recognition, counting, taking turns but the most important one of all is FUN!

2 – 3.5 year olds, the session lasts 30 minutes

3.5 – 5 year olds  the session lasts 45 minutes

Overview of the sessions

Week 1 : Introduction (Fun)

Week 2 : Running and Jumping (Fun)

Week 3 : Passing (Fun)

Week 4 : Running and Passing (Fun)

Week 5 : Hoops and Colours (Fun)

Week 6 : Overview (Fun)

We advise you bring refreshments for your child, especially a drink for during and after the session.

We advise your children to wear the clothes and footwear they feel most comfortable and confident in. You will receive your Little Rugby Academy Shirt when you pay for your full 6 week session.

There is no physical contact (i.e. tackling) in our classes. It is a play session based on key motor skills such as passing, kicking, catching, and running agility, awareness of space and balance.

More than anything we build confidence and character, so if its mini rugby, football, cricket or ballet they move on to we hope they are more comfortable in the environment due to their time with us. We are affiliated with Pinner and Grammarians Rugby Club so encourage the progression to Mini Rugby at the club.

Not only that but they were the only club from either the Herts/ Middx Divisions 3 or 4 to enter and, along with Ruislip, the only clubs across the county to enter two squads. Both teams were in the Vase competition for clubs in the Herts/ Middlesex Leagues playing all their matches against teams one or two divisions above them.

The first team, P&G 1, drew Hendon in the first match and were soon a try down but recovered to take the lead 7-5, when winger Chris Jepsom ran in from his own 22. Soon P&G were further ahead after winning a maul on the half way line and some fine inter-passing brought the score to 14-5. However an ill-advised kick ahead was fielded by Hendon and resulted in a converted try to give a half time score of 14-12 to P&G’s. The second half gave P&G’s several chances to develop scores by two errors, but an interception and a line-out mess-up gave Hendon victory by 24 -14.

The second match against Uxbridge saw P&G’s getting their act together running in four tries to win 28 -7.

Next up were Kilburn Cosmos who conceded 5 tries to the now well oiled P&G unit. Try scorers included Captain Reza Sibilant in the first half and fly-half Chris Hall in the second.’ The final score being 31- 14 to Pinner.

The final victims of the Pool rounds were the young Mill Hill side. Pinner were really in their stride running in no less than 8 tries, four in each half. Scorers included Bernie Richter [2], James Byrne, Reza Sibilant, Chris Jepsen and Dan Allen. The 54 – 0 win brought the P&G 1 points to 127 for to 45 against in their four matches scoring 19 tries conceding 7 the bulk of the points coming from scrum-half  Steve Griffiths. This placed P&G 1 only second to Hendon in Pool A due to the sloppy first match.

The second squad, P&G 2, playing against very strong opposition in Pool B got a bye in the first match when Harrow based Old Millhillians failed to show up. In their three remaining matches they faced first team squads from clubs in the higher leagues but showed considerable commitment. However, 7’s rugby is about pace and movement and a team comprising many forwards were always going to have problems. In the first game they conceded an early try to Belsize Park but immediately responded to tie the score at 7-7. Belsize eventually won 35-7.

The next match was against the mighty Wasps FC who out classed all teams in the Vase competition and were the final winners. They were able to field two International 7’s players and over 75% of the team are working towards playing for the well known Wasps Premiership team. Despite this, Pinner did not lose a scrum during the match nor in fact a line out. P&G 2 lost 45-0 and were beginning to lose heart going down 41- 5 to Worth Old Boys in their last game. They ‘They had given a good account of themselves when other more senior clubs had failed to enter even one side giving further evidence of Pinner’s re-emergence as a developing club.

By becoming ‘runners-up’ in Pool A, P&G’s contested the Jug Final with Belsize Park who had occupied a similar position in Pool B. The fact that it was P&G’s forth match whilst Belsize had played only three soon told.  Some indifferent refereeing produced several penalties against the 3rd division team who then found it difficult to retain possession, which is fundamental to successful 7’s play. Belsize managed to score 4 tries in the first half and 3 in the second.  In many park games the last team to score wins but this was not the rule at Richmond. Although Pinner scored a consolation try at the end Belsize ran out winners by 32 – 7.  Captain Reza Sibilant received a County Shield for being Jug runners-up.

Report D Hiles

And now for something different!!!

The squad for the tournament

Reza ‘Lomu’ Sibilant, Bullet, Griff, Graeme, Josh, Dillon, Danny ‘I don’t feel too good’Allen, Brenie ‘honey’ Richter, Hans, Sam (V1), John K, Jim, Lee, Mark ‘Hugh Grant’ Razzle (V2) Steptoe and son AKA; Dickenson and McFly Braithwaite, Martin, Jeps, Chris Chris Hall Hall, Duncan(?)Les, Sat Nav (finally found it!), Byrnsy, with of course Lyndsey

P&G ‘groupies’ – D Hiles, Brad, Spud (me)‘Honeywife’, ‘MrsReza’ also special thanks to Dave Manning and Zain Sibilant who came along before they went off to find a sailor at the army versus navy game at Twickenham.

This is probably the last report of the season and after following the squad this season taking photos, watching and shouting from the touchline, running the touch, writing match reports, pumping up the match ball, general team bitch and drinking partner to one or two I would like to thank them – cheers

Special mention should go here for some great individual play – seen and reported from the touchline:

“the injured Mark Razzle who valiantly took on the role of P&G 2 squad director/coach/manager during the tournament was heard screaming at the defence – yet again it might have been that hamstring causing him some jip”

“a covering run, nay sprint, by Neill ‘Bullet’ King covering a very quick 35 metres prevented another certain try from the opposition”

“despite facing two Internationals Martin Goodwin secured the ball and made a beautifully flighted ball to Josh Reed”

“cheered on from opposition team players Martin calmly placed the ball down for a superbly worked try”

“screams of ‘Honey are you alright?’ came from the touchline as Bernie bulldozed through and completely knocked the guy off his feet and into the past, of course he was, but being called ‘honey’ on the pitch is a different matter indeed!”

“a classy combination of J Kirby and Sam’s (V1) defensive moves yet again stopped the opposition shirts in their tracks”

more on the way

The first match saw them against Hammersmith & Fulham RFC who they beat at an earlier fixture in February. From the first pass it was a fast paced game with crunching tackles and quick passes, which saw a breakaway try from a H&F fullback. Pinner responded quickly with a great display of forwards pressure, a driving maul allowed Kai Gordon to get hold of the ball and run in a try from two metres. Half time saw the match level at 5 all. H&F started the second half and immediately ran the ball into touch, leaving a slightly dazed Pinner side who had not yet got into their stride after the break. The teams worked hard to get the ball moving out the wings but continued great defending from both teams cancelled out any further score. The game finished 10-5 to H&F

The second game of the pool was against Twickenham, a team that Pinner has played many times both in tournaments and friendly fixtures, this was noticeable as each team were able to remember the names of players they had played against. The friendliness put aside until the end of the game, the match continued with some excellent tackling, running and passing. Twickenham managed to put points on the board; attaining two tries in quick succession. At half time the score was 10-0. Starting the second half with a player down, and having no substitutes Pinner responded with a period of dominant possession close to the opponents try line culminating with a tremendous team effort to get Brendan Machell in a position to finally place the ball down for a well deserved try. Playing with only 8 players Pinner found the extra player Twickenham had made the difference, despite some excellent individual tackling they were unable to stoop the third try from being scored. The game finished 15-5

The final match was against the hosts; Staines RFC. The team, carrying several injuries by this time were determined to leave the tournament with heads held high. With the sun blazing down and the now very dry and hard playing surface the Pinner boys gave everything into trying to prevent Staines from scoring; photographs show that there were some great tackles made by both sets of players causing at times an almost stalemate situation. It was only when the ball was passed to a fast footed player deep into the Staines that they were able to score a brilliant try running ahead of a chasing defensive pack. This unfortunately this was followed moments later with an almost identical try. The team spirit never waivered and this culminated in an excellent passing phase which gave scrum half Sam Marchant the ideal opportunity to score a well earned try just seconds before the final whistle. The final result 10-5

Pinner under 10’s should be very proud of their performance as it exemplified the ethos of this club; which promotes team spirit, fair play, fun enjoyment of playing the game of rugby. It is very difficult to single out individual players but special mention to Ben Stone and Brendan Machell who displayed great enthusiasm and commitment in the games.

Team: Brendan Machell, Sam Marchant, Kai Gordon, Ben Stone, Dylan Kelly, Jacob Talbot, Findlay Schofield, Luis Quisbert-Davies, Iain Wheeler

First up was Buckingham. With the matches only lasting 10 minutes, possession was paramount and a couple of missed tackles led to an early 10 – 0 deficit. A well-worked try, scored by Harrison Davies, was the culmination of some fine team work and was a just reward. Despite conceding 3 more, the boys fought back and an excellent solo run from Bradley Stevenson made 50 yards and a fine supporting run from Callum George led to him scoring one of our most impressive tries this season. Despite losing 25 – 10, we were all optimistic for what lay ahead.

Sadly, the excellent work of the first game was not repeated and led to defeats of 25 – 0 by Beaconsfield and 20 – 0 by Ampthill.

Following an hour-long wait for our final match, against tournament favourites Aylesbury As, the boys had nothing to play for but their pride, and play they did! Although Aylesbury ran out 25 – 0 winners, the score belies a titanic contest that we held our own in for much of the time.

The day brought some real heroes. Jonathan Hill showed his usual bravery by tackling anyone and everyone, despite picking up a nasty bump in the 2nd game. Adam Rees played with style and tenacity, as always proving such an asset despite his stature and Dominic Seiler, playing for every minute the team did, tackled and battled with his customary stoicism but two others deserved special praise. Making his Pinner debut and with scant experience under his belt, David Wilkinson showed what an enormous asset he will become to the team. He tackled, he rucked, he made ground and was utterly fearless throughout. Great things beckon with David in the team! However, man of the day was Ryan Beaumont. He competed for every ball and showed energy reserves none of us knew he had! With 10 Ryans, Pinner would certainly have been in the final!  A credit to everyone, he led by shining example and proved that forwards can run!

A great learning curve for us all that will hopefully lead to greater success in the future.

Brad Seiler

TEAM: Adam Rees, Ben George, Bradley Stevenson, Callum George, Daniel Villamil, David Wilkinson, Dominic Seiler, Harrison Davies, Jamie Benevedes, Jonathan Hill, Lewis Hughes, Matthew Andreon, Oscar Perillo, Piers Marx-Carr, Ryan Beaumont.