Well, that’s another season over bar the shouting and we’ve had a great year as a club across the sections.
Men’s Rugby saw some cracking games at the Jack Williams ground and the 1ss XV finished a creditable 5th in Counties two, a good performance which sets us up nicely for next season. We managed to blood a few youngsters from the academy during the year and hopefully more will be added as we look to restart preseason training on the 13th June. The second XV competed well but unfortunately were unable to contest for the Kent bowl which has been held by this team for two years, which was a massive shame. The two’s are a cracking squad and deserve some luck as we move into next season, and we are looking for a 2nd team manager to help make this happen if anybody wants to put their name forward for this very important role. Billy Corbett can help you out with what would be required if you’re interested.
Men’s Rugby saw some cracking games at the Jack Williams ground and the 1ss XV finished a creditable 5th in Counties two, a good performance which sets us up nicely for next season. We managed to blood a few youngsters from the academy during the year and hopefully more will be added as we look to restart preseason training on the 13th June. The second XV competed well but unfortunately were unable to contest for the Kent bowl which has been held by this team for two years, which was a massive shame. The two’s are a cracking squad and deserve some luck as we move into next season, and we are looking for a 2nd team manager to help make this happen if anybody wants to put their name forward for this very important role. Billy Corbett can help you out with what would be required if you’re interested.
The annual Tim Panter Memorial cup match will also be held on the Saturday the 25th with a 1.00 Kick off. Anybody that wants a game should turn up and will be allocated a team on the day. Its team Verivalu vs Team Hay, and we’ll be finished in time to watch the Champions cup final on the screens in the clubhouse. You can play for 10 minutes or the full 80, its’ up to you. It’s a chance to have a beer with your mates and celebrate the lives of some former ‘Bulls’ who are no longer with us.
The Ladies section for me had two highlights this season, the win away in Guernsey and the fabulous Allumni lunch which saw a lot of old faces return to the club and gave us a chance to celebrate Ladies rugby as a club. The team had a difficult season, but this event put this to one side, and it was a joy to see the strength and vitality that the Ladies bring to the club. The RFU made a video on the day which you can find on the website and is well worth a watch. Long may this buzz continue around the club as we build for the challenges ahead next season.
Just a note for your diary, Ladies and girls touch rugby starts on the 22nd May and we have our very own Red Rose Rosie Galligan attending to make sure this gets off to a flying start, so spread the word and get as many down, new and old, as possible.
It never ceases to amaze me that we continue to produce such excellent junior sides across both boys and girls rugby. I put this down to the excellent commitment of our junior team coaches who give up extraordinary amounts of time and effort to bring out the best in our young people. Just looking at what has been achieved this year makes my eyes water. The under 18 girls won the league and cup double, and then added the Kents 7’s trophy for good measure. We have to thank our friends from Sevenoaks RFC who made up the other half of our team. National honours went to two of the girls and no doubt more representative honours will follow. The Under 16 girls not to be outdone made the final of the under 16 Kent trophy unfortunately losing out at the last.
On the boys side I can only but stand in awe at our magnificent Under 15’s and under 16’s sides. I don’t know what thy feed them but the get bigger and better every year, and this years trophy haul from these two sides includes league and cup success as well as adding 7’s trophies at the end of the season. I can’t wait for next season to see these two sides in action and I would encourage anybody who wants to see great rugby at the club to come and see them as they step up, the 16’s to the academy and the 15’s to the top Junior side.
Not to be outdone, the under 14’s went one stage further taking the County 7’s trophy with every boy in the 12-man squad scoring a try.
The 12’s and 13’s enjoyed good seasons and will continue their rugby development as we move forward into next season. I can honestly say that Junior rugby at the ‘Bulls’ is thriving and is in fine shape as we move forward to next season.
On the boys side I can only but stand in awe at our magnificent Under 15’s and under 16’s sides. I don’t know what thy feed them but the get bigger and better every year, and this years trophy haul from these two sides includes league and cup success as well as adding 7’s trophies at the end of the season. I can’t wait for next season to see these two sides in action and I would encourage anybody who wants to see great rugby at the club to come and see them as they step up, the 16’s to the academy and the 15’s to the top Junior side.
Not to be outdone, the under 14’s went one stage further taking the County 7’s trophy with every boy in the 12-man squad scoring a try.
The 12’s and 13’s enjoyed good seasons and will continue their rugby development as we move forward into next season. I can honestly say that Junior rugby at the ‘Bulls’ is thriving and is in fine shape as we move forward to next season.
The academy also reflects this with over 80 young people making up the cohort. The work being done in the academy both on and off the field is exceptional and I can only thank the team coaches and academy managers for the excellent work they do. The development shown by the young people at this age group level is a real beacon for the club as a whole and with the move through to hopefully play adult rugby will bring success in the future of Aylesford Bulls.
The minis section thrived during the season despite the inclement weather we enjoyed for most of the winter and this culminated in the annual minis tour to Butlins at the end of April. The teams competed against many senior clubs at the Leicester Tigers tournament and gave a good showing, representing our club in true Bulls style. I believe the parents who attended also upheld this tradition if the pictures I have seen are to be believed.
The minis section thrived during the season despite the inclement weather we enjoyed for most of the winter and this culminated in the annual minis tour to Butlins at the end of April. The teams competed against many senior clubs at the Leicester Tigers tournament and gave a good showing, representing our club in true Bulls style. I believe the parents who attended also upheld this tradition if the pictures I have seen are to be believed.
We are always on the lookout for people to help out and we have two pressing vacancies for volunteers, both in safeguarding capacity. So, if you think you can help at either mini or youth team levels in this capacity then talk to Jayne and she will talk you through the roles and what is required
The club has much to look forward to as we close one season and head towards the next. We have exciting development plans for the clubhouse and grounds and hopefully we will see some of this work come to fruition over the course of the next 12 months.
We cannot do any of this without an excellent management team and scores of volunteers who make our club what it is, the ‘Bulls’ family, so thank you all and lets look forward to the summer Touch rugby, the golf day in June, the new seasons training regime and more good times ahead.
Andy Smith
Honourary President
Aylesford Bulls RFC
May 24
The club has much to look forward to as we close one season and head towards the next. We have exciting development plans for the clubhouse and grounds and hopefully we will see some of this work come to fruition over the course of the next 12 months.
We cannot do any of this without an excellent management team and scores of volunteers who make our club what it is, the ‘Bulls’ family, so thank you all and lets look forward to the summer Touch rugby, the golf day in June, the new seasons training regime and more good times ahead.
Andy Smith
Honourary President
Aylesford Bulls RFC
May 24
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