Playing for Pinner some of the reasons why

Playing rugby for Pinner Rugby Club has taken on a new dimension in the last couple of years. The club has gone strength to strength with the Seniors First XV winning two promotions in the last two years, currently sitting fourth in the Herts/Middlesex Div2 League. The introduction of the Pelicans this season has brought competition for places, brought back players from the past and a lot of new members wanting to play for Pinner. Vets have regularly played in fixtures with local clubs enjoying great games and a couple of victories.

The youth section is developing and the Under 14’s have increased their squad this season; again making places in the team no certainty. Next season sees the introduction of an Under 13’s squad and will be looking to increase numbers.

The mini section continues to grow and develop and recent performances at the Middlesex County Festivals is testimony to this. The Under 8’s were winners, The Under 11’s beat Rosslyn Park to become champions, the under 9’s and 10’s were losing finalists, it’s all looking good for next season.

We have a full and active social life at the club combining whole club social events; parties, BBQ’s  our own Summer Olympics, international evenings and squad trips to theme parks and other fun destinations including rugby tours, of course the seniors do indulge in a little alcoholic beverages at times!

Here’s another simple reason:

We met on Sunday I’m the Minis Chair of Rosslyn Park and my son plays in our U11 team who played against your boys as hooker on at the County Festival.

I wish to say congratulations to your team and the great  spirit with which they played in the fantastic and nerve racking last match of the league. Though sad to see our boys lose I thought it was fantastic to see the smiles and joy of your players on the final whistle – they were deserved winners. I must also compliment your players, coaches, parents for being very gracious in victory. I was also very impressed to see the all your players taking the time to shake the hands and thank opposite tem players, officials and coaches – you should feel very proud of them they were great ambassadors for your club and the sport.

Best regards

Graham Robson

You are currently on our website, have a look around and come down and join us

Pinner Pelicans versus Uxbridge match report and photos

Here are some of the images from the game, Pelicans lost but showed great improvement against an Uxbridge side who found them hard going; match report to be uploaded as soon as it received.. here it is

Pinner & Grammarians RFC: report on the 2^nd [Pelicans] XV match 12^th March

P&G’s, hosting a return fixture with Uxbridge, soon applied pressure with much of the early play in the visitor’s half.  As befits teams who do not play regularly together errors occurred and with the referee not allowing play to flow the game was rather stop-start.  Against the run of play Uxbridge were first to score but the extra points were not added.  Pinner responded with a try by no. 8 Angus Wilson which was converted by Paul James, playing this week at scrum-half giving the home side a 7 – 5 half time lead.

Several substitutions, both tactical and for injuries, further reduced the flow of the game in the second half. Once more Wilson was alert to opportunities when taking a quick penalty he crashed over for his second try. The conversion failed but Pinner had a comfortable lead of 12 – 5 only to see slack marking let in Uxbridge for an unconverted try to close the score to 12 -10.  The game was reduced to uncontested scrums as Uxbridge had no further replacement front row players available. This created openings for the backs to run the ball quickly and the visitors took advantage to score their third try wide on the left wing. Their fly-half put in a fine kick from the touch-line to give Uxbridge a 17 -12 lead.  With an injury to captain Les Chaffe and other key players Pinner began to tire. In injury time Uxbridge sealed the issue with a final converted try this time wide on the right to bring the score to 24 – 12 to the visitors.

With the continued success of the 1^st XV and many players, both new and returning, joining the club there is a real prospect of a regular 2^nd XV  and possible Vets teams at Hatch End. The £40,000 + drainage improvement paid for by the RFU with a contribution from Harrow Council has meant that both pitches have been usable throughout the season.  The club is looking forward to further success.

Pinner Pelicans 34-10 victory versus Harrow RFC 2nd’s Match report and photos

On a great day for Pinner RFC putting out two sides which hasn’t happened for a few years, Pinner Pelicans out played local rivals Harrow in an entertaining and muddy game of rugby. Currently awaiting the match report courtesy of ‘Sir’ Les but in the meantime here are some of the images from the game, thanks to stand in photographers Jo and JJ. Enjoy, many of these I feel will end up as profile pictures on FB! time is ticking; who will be the first!!

Here it is, hot off the press

Pinner Pelicans V Harrow 2nds/Vets 19^th Feb 2011

On a day when the heavens opened and was fit for the ducks, Pinner sent out two teams at home for the first time in years. A momentous day for the club.

The rain stopped about an hour before the Pelicans game was due for kick off, so it was decided that they would play a running game. Well that was the idea.

The ref had done all his briefing and the toss was made, Pinner Pelicans would kick off, with Harrow having to borrow a couple of Legends from the Pinner subs bench to make up a full 15.

Within the first few minutes the Pelicans went on the rampage with forwards and backs combining cleverly together to go over for the first try, debutant John Kelly scoring close to the posts. What a try; a real beauty. Was this a first taste of Baa Baas rugby for the afternoon?

Paul James narrowly missing the conversion. 5- 0

From the resulting kick off Pinner again collected and started passing the ball through the hands of the forwards and backs, Harrow had no answer at this stage of the game.

From a Pinner scrum and a big push scrum half Graeme Searle passed the ball out to the backs, Paul to Olly to John, forwards in support driving onwards to the try line,

The Pinner Pelicans got closer and closer to the Harrow try line and Graeme picked up the ball and threw the ball over the line for a try or was it. No video ref here boys, Graeme gets up and sees the try has been given, a wry smile says it all. Paul converts making the score 12 – 0. It looks as if it is going to be a cricket score but this was soon to change. The ref says that we will go into uncontested scrums as one of harrow props has hurt his neck.

Tactically very clever of Harrow, as Pinner had dominated all the scrums.

Now we realized why they had done this, they used the uncontested scrums for the No8 to try and power his way through the Pinner side, using his large hand palming off many tacklers he gave Harrow hope.

The game became a bruising encounter with rucks and mauls getting out of control, resulting in a bad cut for Mark, raking they shouted and they knew who it was, but hey this is a tough game, Pinner sub Ralph Carney sprinted onto the pitch for his 1^st game of the season. Harrow now had some possession, using their back row to create holes they moved the ball wide but powerful tackling stopped Harrows backs from crossing the line.

Pumped up Pinner drove forward and with a powerful play in the Harrow 22 moved the ball left, through the backs out to Les who passed to Josh, Josh took contact, but with the forwards there in abundance Andy Wright picked up the ball drew his man and passed to Sean Matthews who dived over the line. Great try. 17 -0.

Paul again narrowly missing the conversion.

The ref blows the whistle for half time.

Encouraging signs for Pinner, but they knew a battle was at hand. They gathered together for some rousing words.

2^nd half starts and what was to be a pulsating half with Harrow pounding the Pinner line for about 20 minutes with strong runs from their forwards, they were held up twice. Unbelievably strong tackling by Pinner was the only thing holding up Harrow. By now though the Pinner boys were fired up, the game became loose with handling errors everywhere because of the weather but once again clever play by the Pinner forwards resulted in a try. From a scrum the ball moved out to the backs then back into the forwards and Nick ran in for a try. Paul James converted 24 – 0. Pinner back on track? not really, Harrow barnstormed their way back, with some powerful play again with their No8 creating havoc only a huge tackle from Josh stopping him going over for a try. From the resulting ruck the ball went to Harrow’s No7 who went over for a try. The conversion was missed. 24 – 5

The game became tough, hard tackling, handling errors and brutal at times, but Pinner were never going to let this lead slip.

Harrow were winning most of the line out ball, so kicking was not going to work, so once again with ball in hands from a maul, Giles Hayward (Giggsy to his mates) managed to weave his way through a melee of players and scored in the corner. Great try (I’m sure he ran at least 50 metres for that one) Paul just missed the conversion, great try though. 29 – 5.

But Harrow were in no mood to give in, they bombarded the Pinner line again with some strong forward play, and then they released their backs for another try. Conversion hit the post and went the wrong way. 29 – 10 This try seem to give them more hope, but Pinner were not going to let them have this, more handling errors led to some exciting stuff, the ball bouncing all over the place.

Going into the final 15 minutes, Pinner new another try would clinch it, another powerful play from the front row, driving the ball forward, pick up and play from back row Gordon Morris, he collected the ball, moved it out to the backs went through the hands, with John held up, the ball went loose, Giggsy picked the ball up with one hand and once again set off for the try line, dancing his way through a couple of defenders he went over for another try, Pinner cheering him on. The conversion was missed 34-10.

One more thing to say about the game, in the final 5 minutes Pinner came up with the play of the game, an uncontested scrum in the Harrow half, the came out to Paul James who heard the screaming winger Glynn wanting the ball on his inside, a beautiful lateral pass sent Glynn in scoring under the posts only for the Ref to blow up for a forward pass. What a crowning moment that would have been.

Special mention goes to our friends from Uxbridge (If I have got your names wrong I did say that I would forget them after 5 minutes and this report was done on Sunday) and to Pinner Legends Gavyn, Jamie and Chris, for helping Harrow have a full team.

Final Score: 34-10

Well done everyone MOTM (Ollie) Cock Gordo

Team1/ Phil 2/ James 3/ Sean 4/ Ralph (Mark) 5/ Nick 6/ Andy (Tim) 7/ Giggsy 8/ Gordo 9/ Graeme 10/ Paul

11/ Josh 12/ Ollie 13/ John 14/ Niall (Glynn) 15/ Les

Pelicans v Old Isleworthians RFC

It must have been the first of the New Year – sunshine, clear blue skies and some keen rugby players wishing to remove a few of those festive pounds. Pinner Pelicans travelled to Old Isleworthians RFC for a friendly fixture. During the week many had replied to ‘Sir Les’ making themselves available to play, unfortunately many had to attend the training session back at P&G HQ in preparation for the 9 games on the trot coming up; shame as a run out would of blown away a few cobwebs and not left the Pelicans slightly embarrassed turning up to a fixture short of a full team. Being the nice sort that Vet players are and keen to get a game Pelicans ‘borrowed’ a few of the opposition to allow the game to go ahead.

After some shifting about and people claiming where they wanted to play the ref blew the whistle; the game, surprisingly started with blistering pace!  The first ten minutes had both packs trying to push through each other both sides cancelling it out with some great rucks and mauls. The centres were given much of the ball after this with Pelicans selecting to place long kicks deep into the oppositions twenty two – Paul James finding his kicking boot very effective at putting Old Isleworthians under the cosh many times. There was some terrific interplay between scrum half Graeme Searle coming back from an injury and Ollie Blazey who when he received the ball only had one thing in mind –to run forward at great pace leaving many of the older members having to dig deep into their memories of how they used to do that and try and catch up!

Pelicans defended the line brilliantly on a number of occasions but with increased pressure finally could not catch an Old Isleworthians on the wing and a try was given and not converted. The half ended with Pelicans having to work hard in their own twenty two and disappointedly let in another try.

The second half saw Pelicans facing this unusual thing called the sun; it was bright, warming and to be honest given the fact that most of the Pelicans players require the use of spectacles to see their hands at the end of their arms found it a little off putting (this is not an excuse about the second half play) but merely a comical interlude!

With a few changes to personnel,  the second half got under way. At this point special mention should be made to Richard ‘Muggins’ Hall who played in the second row with great effect, produced some incredible runs drawing the opposition every time and collected every ball at the line out he had a magnificent game. Despite his efforts and that of everyone else the second part of the half saw Old Isleworthians run in three tries and converted a couple of times.

It was great to see the Pelicans run out again and hopefully we will see more of it in the future.

Player of the match: Sir Les Chaffe outstanding tackling, covering the fullback (D Hiles lookalike in every way) and for breaking in his new padded shoulder skin!

C**K of the week: Ollie Blazey, who after committing a high tackle went back to the guy on the floor asked if he was alright and then told him and the ref he was a registered first aider if it was any help – oh dear!

Pelicans:  Graeme, Fat Paul, Lee, Gordy (Subs please), Sir Les, Muggins, Feed the Phil, Ollie, Heathcliffe, Gav the Griff, Jigsy and late arrival Dodge Davies. Supported by a few

Pinner Pelicans versus Uxbridge 2nds (photos)

Pinner Pelicans ventured over to Uxbridge RFC on Saturday 13th November for their second fixture of the season, match report to follow, but for the moment here are some photographs of the action…..

Pelicans versus SloughRFC (2nd/vets match) Saturday 16th October. (photos)

just for starters, some photos from the first Pelicans game of the season, match report to follow. Should mention here player of the match Angus, who played number 8 for the first time and apparently liked it! But enough text – here’s some pics

Calling all players!

Pinner RFC, after a very successful promotion for the second year running to the Herts/Middlesex league, invite players to join their Senior Playing Squad. We have in place a quality coaching team and experts in fitness and conditioning which will improve you as a player. The 1st XV is now challenging in the Herts / Middlesex Div 2.  This has a knock on effect to the senior squad and we now have a Pelican squad which incorporates second team and Vets players.

We wish to strengthen our senior squads for what will be an exciting year ahead.

We’re a really easy going, friendly bunch with one aim this season: to win our league!

Promoted 08-09 and 09-10 seasons and Cup Winners in the Middlesex Club 7’s

Players of all abilities will be welcomed with a smile. In the process there will be plenty of nights out, dinners and social events for the squad and their partners!

Training on Thursdays @ 7:30pm

June – Touch rugby, Thursday nights only at 7pm (first session June 3rd)
July – Fitness, strength and speed work Tuesdays and touch Thursdays at 7pm
August – Training on Tuesdays and touch/contact Thursdays, friendlies last 2 weekends on Saturday
September – Season starts

Club Captain

Reza Sibilant

07921 836 005 /

rsibilant@hotmail.com

Or for 2^nd /Vets Managers

Brad Seiler

07877 718889 

brad@theseilers.co.uk

Paul Talbot

07961 304740

paultalbot17@gmail.com

Alternatively: enquiries@pinnerrugby.com