As we enter the festive season, a time for families, friends, parties and hopefully relaxation, I find it useful to look back over the year at lessons learnt, high points achieved, and difficult low experiences endured.

We, as a club, have been doing the same, particularly trying to learn from our mistakes, building on our successes and where possible reducing or preventing potential difficulties. We have similar pressures as households with energy costs, rising food bills, transport and medical costs leading to greater pressures on our finances. Measures have been taken to support our budget and we look forward to an exciting second half of the season both on and off the park.

Many thanks to all our members, volunteers, partners, sponsors, bar and catering staff and my colleagues on the management team. We have some exciting plans coming along the road, a little too soon to expand on here but hopefully news by the summer.

To all our players across all areas of the club, and their excellent coaches, we look forward to more excitement watching you play but hope you all enjoy your rugby as our great game needs you now more than ever with ever-increasing pressures put on our great game.

I would also like to send our thoughts and best wishes to those families which have suffered bereavement during the year. Their losses are also felt deeply by us.

May I finish by thanking you for your support and wish you all on behalf of the management team a great Xmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Harry Cornforth
Chief Executive