NCA AWARDS OCTOBER

 

NATIONAL TWO

 

COACH of the MONTH

Tim Fourie – Sedgley Park

After two really good seasons in National Two Sedgley Park are looking for promotion to National One and have made the perfect start with a 100% record after six matches.

Fourie has been in charge now at Park since joining the club in July 200 in which time the club have had great success. In his first season in Three North he took them to runners up spot and in the play off they overcame Launceston to reach National Two for the first time ever. In their first season they finished a superb third and last season sixth and this season is the promotion push season with the division looking wide open and no clear favourites. Since taking over Park have won 63 out of 83 league games whilst playing at a level which a few years ago seemed a pipe dream. 

 

PLAYER of the MONTH

Sam Howard – Rosslyn Park

The much travelled Sam Howard seems to have settled down at Rosslyn Park and after a relatively “easy season” last year when they took Division Three South by storm, this season they are finding it a bit tougher. Howard has come to the fore and as well as kicking his goals he is running in the tries and showing great leadership as Park try an re establish themselves in National Two.

On hearing about his award Howard commented “Firstly I'd like to thank the NCA for this award.
I came to Rosslyn Park at the start of last season when I moved to London to
take up a teaching post. I knew Mike Friday because of our 4 years at
Blackheath together, and his ambition for the club and his enthusiasm
persuaded me to join Park. We had a great season last year getting promoted
at the first time of asking, and whilst we have only won two out of five
this season, our aim is stability in the top half of the table, and
hopefully we can use that as a springboard for the future”

 

KICKER of the MONTH

Ben Harvey – Stourbridge

29 year old Ben Harvey picks up the October Kicker of the month award after ending the month with an impressive 86.7 average with 13 of his 15 kicks being successful.

His kicking was instrumental in the 31-28 home win over Rosslyn Park where he kicked eight penalties and a conversion in a 26 point haul and missed just one of ten kicks in the afternoon.  

He has recently broke three Stourbridge scoring records and passed 1000 points in league rugby. He has set new record for career points, conversions and penalties with 687, 104, 128 all records, which were previously held by Chris Mann. His 8 penalties against Rosslyn Park equalled the club record for a match held by Steve Baker set back in 1991 v Hereford.  

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL THREE SOUTH

COACH of the MONTH

Fraser Thomson – Westcombe Park

After three relatively successful years in National Three South Westcombe Park suffered a bit of a blip last season and a dreadful run at the end of the season saw them lose five on the bounce and slide down the table to end up 11th and just a point off relegation so it was important that this season got of to the best start possible. The summer loss of their points scoring machine Derek Coates did not help but they have responded really well. October saw them win all three league matches with home success over Southend and Tabard and an away win at Old Colfeians and they have seven points out of ten to start the season.  

 

PLAYER of the MONTH

Mark Sharp – Tabard

Tabard have made a great start to the season in National Three South at leading the way is hooker Mark Sharp. He has already run in seven tries in just six matches and beaten his previous best for a season of six set back in 2001/02.

The 34 year old who has also had a spell at Bedford and helped them to the National Division Three title in 1994. He did play a few games for them again in the 2000/01 season but nearly all his rugby in recent seasons as been at Tabard.

He made his Tabard debut in 1996 v Cheltenham in this division and has played over 100 games for the club. He started his career at Bletchley, his home town, whilst at school.  

 

KICKER of the MONTH

Derek Coates - Blackheath

After a 70.59 return in September Derek Coates saw his average jump up to 83.33 with 20 of his 24 kicks finding there way between the posts.

Coates left Westcombe Park in the summer to return to Blackheath where he had a brief spell in the 98/99 season but most of his rugby has been at Park where is a legend, although with his summer departure that will be put to the test.

With Blackheath looking at a serious challenge in National Three South this season the one thing they needed onboard was a quality goal kicker that in tight matches can prove invaluable and Coates fitted the bill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL THREE NORTH

COACH of the MONTH

Kevin McCallion - Halifax

After making a 100% start to the season following on from their success last season, their first at this level, the club have high hopes for the season ahead and Kevin has been instrumental in this success.  

He re-joined Halifax five years ago as Director of Rugby, and during that period, the Club have won three promotions, as well as winning the Powergen Intermediate Cup at Twickenham in 2002, where we beat Gosport & Fareham (43-19) in the Final. In addition, in 2002 we also won the Sport England Yorkshire Club and Team Awards.
Kevin has also coached the Yorkshire RFU County Championship team (forwards) for the past two years.
During the last five years at Halifax, Kevin would be the first to acknowledge the excellent support he has received from Tony Price (Senior RFU Coach), who was appointed along with Kevin at the same time. This season, the Club have also appointed Craig Emmerson who we signed from Leeds Tykes as a player/assistant Coach, and his work during the past five months has also been excellent and very much appreciated.

 

PLAYER of the MONTH

Oliver Viney – Preston Grasshoppers

19 year old Viney has started this season where he left of last season and already he has run in seven tries in just five starts. The exciting prospect, who can play both full back and wing, scored an impressive 19 tries in 25 appearances in his debut season in senior rugby and looks to have a great future ahead of him.

He went to Lancaster Grammar School and is now at Lancaster University studying Marketing

 

KICKER of the MONTH

David Dalrymple – Blaydon

Blaydon’s excellent start to the season has also seen the kicking fortunes of David Dalrymple improve and in October he picked up the kicker of the month award for the division. 

In September he was runner up to Anthony Birley with an impressive 87.5 but in October he has scooped the award with 73% with 13 of his 18 kicks being successful.

Having returned to the club full time now he has made the fly half position his own after odd appearances over the previous two seasons when he was away studying.