UCLan Men’s 1sts 14

Manchester 2nds 15

A first half, eleven-point lead wasn’t enough to prevent the Men’s Rugby Union 1sts from slipping to a disappointing home reverse against Manchester 2nds on Wednesday.

The hosts made a superb start, hit Manchester hard in every tackle and got their first try of the afternoon after just five minutes.

A quick-ball from a UCLan lineout went through the backs and after working the opening, centre Johnny Hyde went over under the posts. Ben Marshall had the simple task of converting to give his side a 7-0 lead.

Manchester fought back strongly and began to put some heavy pressure on their hosts with a series of barnstorming runs and heavy tackles. It was only a matter of time before the visitors had points on the board and they did so through a Will Carter penalty on 13 minutes after UCLan were guilty of being off their feet.

The momentum was swinging one way then the other and Marshall hit the post with a penalty before UCLan extended their advantage on 19 minutes.

Manchester were pushing over the hosts’ 10-metre line and as they swung the ball out wide, home captain Daniel Scott intercepted the pass and ran the length of the field to score a wonderful solo try. Marshall added the extras to put UCLan into a commanding 14-3 lead.

Lying down was not going to be an option for the visitors and they struck back ten minutes later with a well-worked score.

After building up a head of steam down the right-hand side, Manchester moved the ball quickly and despite Scott’s try-saving tackle on one visiting player, Johnny Whittle was on hand to dot down and put his side back into the game. Carter dragged his conversion to the right of the posts but it was certainly game on at this stage.

Four minutes before half-time and Manchester managed to edge their noses in front thanks to a try that was more about brawn than it was about brain.

The visitors took in a lineout just five metres from the UCLan line and as the forwards powered over, Jack Dennison was the player receiving the congratulations from his teammates.

Carter knocked over a superb conversion from the touchline and it was the away side who held a one-point advantage at the interval.

The second half was a tight affair, just as the first had been, and it was UCLan who had the first scoring opportunity. The referee deemed that Manchester had entered the ruck at the side but from the resulting penalty, Marshall dragged his kick to the left of the posts.

Manchester began to have more of the ball in the home side’s territory and were looking for the score that would kill the game off.

UCLan weren’t going to give an inch and were terrific in defence as they kept the visitors out and put themselves in with a chance of stealing a result.

With only ten minutes left on the clock, Marshall had chance to redeem himself as UCLan were awarded another penalty after a Manchester flanker was caught not releasing the ball. This time the UCLan fly-half drifted his kick agonizingly to the right of the sticks as his teammates looked on.

Following that missed kick, the hosts couldn’t find the pivotal score that would have given them the result they craved and Manchester were left celebrating a vital victory away from home.

UCLan captain Daniel Scott said afterwards: “We started the game really well but, unfortunately, we just couldn’t continue that throughout the 80 minutes.

“We lost our mindset and our concentration a little bit and that has cost us in the end.

Our defensive play was terrific today but we’ll need to work on our communication in training this week before our tough cup game with Manchester 3rds next week.”

Well on top: UCLan 2nds were too good for Manchester Met. Photo: Gracy Cappy

UCLan Rugby Union 2nds 25-7 Manchester Met 2nds

A strong defensive performance gave UCLan Rugby Union 2nds a solid win at the UCLan Sports Arena, as they recorded a 25-7 win over Manchester Metropolitan 2nds.

The home side had eight players missing from the main squad, however they strived forward with the players they had to maintain a very impressive 16 month unbeaten home record.

The game started edgy, with both teams trying to work an opening and with the ball being played in the middle of the park for some time before the first real opportunity arose.

Both teams kept battling away, and a bit of pressure from Man Met forced a penalty. UCLan’s Simon Lomiiko was caught offside but the ensuing kick was a poor one and the score remained 0-0.

The momentum had soon shifted to the home side four minutes later, as UCLan’s Joe Stanley opened the scoring following some great build up play. Unfortunately Phil Beard failed with the conversion, so the score was 5-0 with 15 minutes still left to play in the half.

The good spell of possession was to continue, and with less than a minute left in the half, UCLan were awarded a penalty. Phil Beard duly converted to send the 2nds into an 8-0 half time lead.

The away side kicked to UCLan to start the 2^nd half, and they were soon on the defence, as the home side came charging forward with a kick that gave them good field position. Simeon Doyle then powered forward to score another try for the home team, but the conversion was missed.

Man Met tried to get back into the game, and were dominating the midfield like they did for the most part, but they could not find the vital breakthrough they needed to get back into the match.

A scintillating pass and move play by Lomiiko and James Farnsworth, set up Ross Mellor-Clark to burst through the middle of the Man Met defence and score yet another try for the home side, to further emphasise their control.

The resulting conversion was good, and UCLan led 20-0 with just over fifteen minutes to play.

An action packed last five minutes would result in both teams scoring a try, with Mellor-Clark nearly heroic at the other end of the pitch, making a brilliant try saving tackle. Nevertheless it wasn’t to be, as the away side scored seven with a close range try and a brilliant conversion.

The 2nds wrapped up their impressive display in style, when Danny Frost mirrored the Man Met try just minutes after to give UCLan a notable 25-7 victory.

Captain Simon Webb was ‘delighted’ with the performance:

“I was happy with the lads that came in and played their first game today.”

After commenting about the team’s lack of possession, Webb said; “The team’s strongest point is actually the defence!”

By Chris Kynoch

Try Scorers:

Joe Stanley

Simeon Doyle

Ross Mellon-Clark

Danny Frost

UCLan team:

1. Ady Sutherland
2. Simon Webb
3. Phillip Shimmin
4. Jason Dyson
5. Danny Frost
6. Greg Barnes
7. Joe Stanley
8. Simeon Doyle
9. Sam Cotter
10. Phil Beard
11. Simon Lomiiko
12. Max Sturgess
13. Ross Mellon-Clark
14. Adam Murphy
15. James Farnsworth
16. Josh Large
17. Arron Sullivan
18. John Gitau
19. Bradley Ellis

Men’s Rugby Union 1sts lost for the first time this season despite a great late comeback and eventually went down to Manchester Met by 24 points to 19.

Despite losing 7-24 with 15 minutes to go, the team managed to fight their way back in to the game to make it 24-19 and they had a chance to win the game but sloppy work at the lineout let them down and this summed up the game for UCLan.

In a scrappy game, the first score went to Manchester Met with their hooker fending off a couple of tacklers and scoring in the corner with the conversion then being added. Things then went from bad to worse after that with the Manchester fly-half making a jinking run to beat the defence and scoring under the posts which made the score 0-14.

UCLan briefly got back into the game in the first half after a superb try which started from a lineout.  The ball came off the top and was passed to the fly-half Josh Purnell, who provided a great pass to Harry Reddick and he used his pace and strength to beat defenders and score. Purnell then added the extras to make it 7-14. However, Manchester Met got on top again with a loose ball resulting in one of their backs scoring in the corner.

After half time, there was almost an immediate response by UCLan with a scrum in the Manchester 22 with the impressive Connor Murphy charging forward, offloading to the full-back Ben Marshall who then passed to Andy Smith but Smith just knocked the ball on.

Manchester Met then went on to score the defining try of the game. With scrums dominating the play at this point, Manchester Met pushed their way over at the scrum and the No. 8 grounded the ball.

The comeback started however with Alex Zavallis-Roebuck scoring a try after driving his way over in the corner. After this, the team was gaining momentum with the fiery James Smith influencing heavily as a replacement.  The final try of the game came from Jack Thomas after a grubber kick through by Purnell which ended up under the posts and Thomas grounded. Unfortunately, it proved too little too late for the 1sts.

Daniel Scott said after the game: “The set piece cost us today. The lineout and scrum need to be worked on in training this week. However, the aggression was the best I’ve seen all season and we’ll try to improve next week.”

By Stephen Thomas

Mens Rugby Unions 2nds 34-3 Manchester Met 2nds

UCLan Rugby Union 2nds continued their 100% start of the season with a dominant victory over Manchester Metropolitan 2nds.

They ran in six tries to record a third successive victory in a dream start after promotion last season, with Man Met, who had also won their opening two matches, managing just a solitary penalty in reply.

Leading 12-3 at half time, UCLan blew away their opposition with a devastating spell of three tries in ten minutes at the start of the second half to secure a victory which could have been more resounding.

Man Met never seriously threatened the home side’s line, a single penalty all they had to show for their efforts as they struggled to make any impression on the game.

UCLan captain Joe Stanley admitted he never expected such a convincing victory: “It was completely unexpected. We went into it expecting it to be the hardest game of the season from their reputation; we’ve always had trouble with Man Met, both 1sts and 2nds.

“We got pumped for it before the game but coming into it I was being a bit negative, almost expecting a loss, but we pulled through and we’ve kept them in second place.”

Phil Beard got the ball rolling in the fifth minute, a fine solo run down the wing before touching down in the corner.

The second try was more of a team affair, the forwards turning over a scrum in the Man Met 22 before Danny Frost forced his way over, with Edward Brown converting.

Man Met got on the score sheet with a penalty just before the interval but their hopes of a comeback were short lived, as UCLan came out with a three try blitz after the break.

First Ross Mellor-Clark went over from short range, before Beard grabbed his second of the day, getting on the end of a fine break from Brown.

The home side were running riot, and with another flowing cross field move, ending with Simon Lomiiko scoring in the corner.

Vee Sambhi should have extended the lead, but twice dropped the ball when inches from the line, the second time with no Man Met player to be seen.

However they weren’t to be denied a sixth try, and with the last play of the game James Farnsworth went over to put the seal on the victory.

By Ciaran Thomas

UCLan Men’s Rugby Union 1sts secured their second win of the season and kept their 100% per cent record with a comfortable 27-3 victory over Manchester 3rds at UCLan Sports Arena.

In a dominant display by the home side, winger Jack Thomas put UCLan ahead after just five minutes with a well-worked try.
The ball was moved quickly through the backs and Thomas was on hand to go over in the corner to give his side the perfect start. Alex Zavallis-Roebuck was unlucky as his conversion attempt came back off the post.

The hosts extended their lead through a Zavallis-Roebuck penalty after Manchester were guilty of not rolling away after making a tackle.

Then the combination that brought about the opening try was at work again as fly-half Zavallis-Roebuck’s superb cross-field kick found Thomas out wide and the winger controlled the ball well and scored in the corner once again. Zavallis-Roebuck added the extra two points to put UCLan in complete control.

Manchester then put a decent amount of pressure on the home side shortly before half-time and had opportunities to score a try of their own. They couldn’t find the elusive score and only came away with one successful penalty which left UCLan with a commanding 15-3 lead at the interval.

The home side built up some good phases of play early in the second half and when the ball came to Connor Murphy, he made no mistake and powered through the Manchester defence to score. Zavallis-Roebuck pulled the conversion attempt wide but UCLan had still hit the 20-point mark.

The game was finished as a contest when Andy Smith went over for UCLan’s fourth try of the match. As the ball came out from a scrum, Smith was on hand to race down the wing and score the best try of the afternoon. Scrum-half Josh Purnell was successful with the conversion to give UCLan a 27-3 lead.

Chances were then at a premium for both sides as Manchester pushed to grab a consolation try but were not clinical enough to threaten the UCLan line. The hosts saw out the remaining minutes to ease to a 27-3 win and seal their second win in as many games.

This was a solid performance from a side that is still a work in progress and they will be hoping to make it three wins from three when they visit MMU Cheshire on October 26.

By Ashley Lambell

With limited numbers but emerging talent, the UCLan Women’s Rugby Union team seeks to build on the successes and near misses of the previous campaign.

The team recorded their best season last term with a fourth-place league finish and a Northern Conference cup final to boot.

However, a distinct lack of numbers could damage the foundations built last season.

Rachel Kerr, Chairperson of the team, highlights how stereotypes surrounding the sport limit her ability to recruit fresh talent: “we are struggling to recruit new players due to the stigmatism of rugby; people feel it’s a male sport.”

Despite this drawback, Rachel is confident that a combination of expert coaching and talented individuals can bypass this predicament.

The ruthless Danielle Nash and top try scorer from last season Katie Doney will be accompanied by what she describes as “impressive talent” from this year’s fresher’s intake.

A successful season starts on the training ground and it is exactly what the team needs to take them to the next level.
With the appointment of a new coach has come inevitable change.

Additional training days have been added, focusing purely on fitness, along with the introduction of Rugby Football Union development sessions, designed to enhance the player’s technical attributes.

Once more the factor of low turnout further tarnishes these fresh measures. As things stand the team does not have the required numbers to successfully enter this year’s BUCS league, rendering all the team’s training efforts to date useless.

Issues of membership have clouded over the team’s pre-season so far with the departure of graduates. But what will not depart the team is the ‘never say die attitude’, which is evident from select performances last season.

The long standing rivalry which fuels the fixture between UCLan and Lancaster offered even more to a match which already had so much on the line, considering that a place in the Northern Conference cup final was at stake.

A victory there and a valiant effort in the final against Sheffield Hallam showed how there was a lot more to this team than individual talent.

Newly appointed captain Catherine Morley rated the semi –final performance in particular as a “true team performance.”

She believes that if the membership issue is resolved, the player’s attitude can inspire the team to another successful campaign: “depending on the number of members we have, our performance from last season could be matched”.

By Ryan Baxter

Both UCLan Men’s Rugby Union teams are targeting promotion this season after promising campaigns last year.

2010-2011 was an incredibly successful year for both the 1st and 2nd teams as they both mounted strong league campaigns and the 1sts enjoyed a extended cup run. Chairman Sean Taylor said: “The main highlight for the club last year was the 2nds getting promoted and going unbeaten through the whole league campaign”. For the 1st team it was so nearly the same story but in the final game of the season a last minute try by Lancaster meant the title went to them instead of UCLan. The 1sts were also beaten in the BUCS cup final, a tournament they won in 2010.

Taylor is adamant however, that both teams can build on these successful campaigns this time around: “This year we are aiming to get both teams promoted again as we feel we have the strength in depth to do so and also get the 1sts to win the cup again”. The chairman also hopes to set up a 3rd team with the additional players they have recruited this year, “I would say there are about 50 new faces so we are looking to develop a third team which will just play friendlies this year and if successful go into the BUCS league next year.”

This year the 1st team will compete in the BUCS Northern League 2A whilst the 2nd team will play their games in League 4A.

Taylor is happy not only with the quantity of players afforded the club but also the quality, although he was unwilling to single players out: “We have many good players at the club with a number of them playing across the National League 2 with teams like Preston Grasshoppers, Caldy and Stockport. With these types of players, it can only help develop the club as a whole. However all our players are key and Rugby Union is a sport that relies heavily on the whole squad.”

Chairman Taylor was keen to stress the importance of the freshers and new players to the squad saying: “We hope to keep as many of the new faces as possible to boost the squad numbers and morale throughout the season.”

The 1st team start their season away against Salford, with the 2nd team travelling to Chester. Both teams will play their home games at the UCLan Sports Arena this coming season.

By Andrew Bunting

A strong second half performance gave UCLan Women’s Rugby Union team a 31-5 victory as they recorded just their second league win of the season, over Bangor at UCLan Sports Arena.

UCLan are currently fourth in their division having lost their last two games against Chester and Lancaster although they are in the quarter finals of the BUCS cup.

Due to injuries, Bangor were only able to field thirteen players and so the teams played thirteen a side for most of the game.

The home side started the game strongly attempting to get the ball into wide areas but a number of handling errors and penalties led to Bangor crossing over for the opening score. The visitors making good use of their pack’s obvious weight advantage made the game difficult for UCLan in the early going winning every ruck and scrum against the host’s lighter pack.

Soon, however the home side got on the front foot with good movement in the midfield, Katie Doney and Stacey Agnew made some good runs and almost broke through the defiant Bangor defence. Moments later and UCLan had broken through, a good burst of pace from Doney led to Amie Plant breaking through and levelling the scores at 5-5.

From that point on the home side gathered momentum and another  great piece of play from Doney and Agnew led to Doney sprinting forty yards before touching down under the posts to give the hosts a deserved lead. UCLan added the conversion to stretch their lead to a commanding 12-5.

As Bangor picked up more and more injuries to key players, UCLan became more and more confident as Alex Early picked up the ball at halfway and broke for a huge gain before being hauled down by the desperate visiting defender, Danielle Nash picked up where Early left off as she sprung through a number of tackles to touch down for the third try of the game and UCLan increased their lead to 17-5 at the interval.

As the second half kicked off it became clear that Bangor were keen to control possession with their strong, imposing forwards whilst looking vulnerable to any of UCLan’s quick counter-attacks. The visitors seemed unable to break down UCLan as the game slowed down as both sides became tired by the initial pace of the game.

Fortunately, UCLan were able to use their replacements whereas Bangor was forced to struggle through with the same players. The hosts soon became reenergised and once again terrorised the visiting defence with some scintillating backs play.

Scrum half Joey Edwards sprinted down the flank to score under the posts after some poor defensive play from Bangor, Stacey Agnew kicked the conversion to further UCLan’s lead to 24-5.

Minutes later Edwards was involved in another try, this time passing the ball off to replacement Kate Stothert who sprung down the left touchline easily outrunning the defence before finishing the move wonderfully. The hosts once again completed the conversion sailing into a 31-5 lead.

Bangor attempted a number of times to break down UCLan’s stubborn defence but found themselves unable to make their pack count when it mattered and the hosts held on for a well deserved 31-5 win.

After the game captain Jess Lane said “We were a bit shaky in the first half but when we played a backs game it was a hundred times better. If we play like this there is no reason why we can’t win the cup.”

UCLan Rugby Union Women’s next game is against Manchester Metropolitan in the quarter finals of the BUCs Cup.

Should they progress, they will face the likes of Lancaster or a rematch with Bangor.

 By Andrew Bunting

The Men’s Rugby Union 1sts’ dominant forward pack paved the way for a comfortable 43-0 win against MMU Cheshire 1sts.

Alex Redfern scored two of UCLan’s seven tries, while five other players got on the score sheet as the side kept up the pressure on the top two in the league.

The performance by the hosts’ pack held the key to success; overwhelming the visitors in the scrum as MMU Cheshire rarely threatened the UCLan line.

The pattern of the game was set from the very start as the home side enjoyed early territory, but struggled to find a breakthrough after a five metre scrum was held up just short of the line.

The opening score wasn’t long in coming and arrived on the ten minute mark. Alex Zavallis-Roebuck moved the play wide to Redfern and the winger cut inside before forcing his way over.

Ben Marshall put the conversion wide, a penalty suffering the same fate a few minutes later.

Even as early as the 20^th minute, UCLan’s dominance in the scrum was obvious causing the MMU Cheshire players to hope for uncontested scrums.

A double strike extended UCLan’s lead before half time.

Zavallis-Roebuck and Redfern combined again to send the latter over in the corner for his second try before a quick ball was spread wide to Adam Smith to cross over in a similar position.

An excellent conversion from Marshall gave the hosts a 17-0 lead at the interval.

The visitors came out fired up and had their first spell of territory inside the UCLan 22, however, the home defence stood strong to keep them out.

Redfern came close to completing his hat-trick with a stunning effort, running from his own 22 to well inside the MMU Cheshire half, the visiting full back retreating just in time to collect Redfern’s kick to himself.

The power of the UCLan pack proved to be too much for the visitors, their scrum disintegrating to allow the home side to score three tries in ten minutes.

Jack Walker powered over the line after a five metre scrum was overturned before, arguably, the move of the match.

Replacement forward Harry Avent surged forward before handing off to Jason Ward who’s inside pass sent Mark Polson in to score, before Ady Sutherland went over in the corner.

Marshall also found his form with the boot, slotting over two of the conversions while another hit the post.

The scoring was completed with five minutes remaining as Patrick James waltzed through the defence to score.

Despite a clean sheet and the margin of victory, Captain Walker was reflective afterwards: “I still think we didn’t play very well.

“We haven’t played since Bangor away on 15^th December and have a few new faces, but we stuck at it and didn’t concede a point so I’m happy.”

By Ciaran Thomas

A rugby union social event has led to an investigation by UCLan’s Students’ Union following a complaint of racism.

An offended student – who wishes to remain anonymous – contacted the university after seeing the rugby players wearing dark face paint, designed to portray them as Jamaican.

The student confronted the group during their social event in a bar off campus to express disgust at the group’s attire, and was “flabbergasted” when told it had been “taken it the wrong way.”

The student said that it was “outrageous that this even had to be discussed in 2011,” drawing comparisons to the process of “blacking up, used in late 19th and early 20th century theatre as a form of social discrimination.”

The members of the rugby union team had dressed up to participate in a “treasure hunt” around the city centre. The event, organised by the team’s social secretary Brad Tuff, also involved players dressed as Scottish, Australian and French people.

The fourth group’s attire was an idea apparently formulated by a black member of the rugby union team, in reference to the Jamaican bobsled team who participated in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.

Following the 1993 film “Cool Runnings,” based on the Jamaican bobsled team, they became part of popular culture and the attire was meant as an iconic reference to this with “no offence meant,” according to Brad Tuff.

He also stated the men’s rugby union team were “not a racist club” and said the team has a multicultural membership including players who are black, Fijian and Asian.

Following the student’s complaint, an investigation was launched by the Students’ Union activities and participation officer (APO) Ross Herridge to determine whether the rugby union team’s actions were deliberately offensive.

A meeting was called between both parties on in order for the student to convey why they were offended, and for the teams chairman, social secretary and captain to apologise formally on behalf of the team.

Following the discussion, the offended student said: “I am relieved the situation had been resolved. The team were very apologetic and realised the gravity of their action.”

The student also stated their belief that the social event and attire was “very on the edge” and said to the team that their attire could have also offended others, describing the whole situation as “wandering into troubled waters.”

The team’s social secretary Brad Tuff said: “As a team we were a bit naive, we made a mistake and were aware of this now.

“No offence was meant and we apologise to those who were offended and felt our actions were inappropriate.”

The Students’ Union APO Ross Herridge said: “The meeting went well. A misunderstanding between the student and the team has occurred; they have met up and solved the issue between them. The university will not be taking the issue any further as both parties are happy that the issue has been resolved.”

The men’s rugby union team at UCLan are famed for fancy dress during their social events, having previously dressed as Robin Hood and his merry men and many more comical outfits.

The university has in the past investigated similar complaints filed by offended students due to fancy dress, the most significant being a student dressed as missing child Madeline McCann last year, which resulted in serious disciplinary action against the student.