Grassroots Teams of the Season announced
Grassroots Teams of the Season for 22/23 have been confirmed using Electronic Match Card data.
Electronic Match Card allows everything from tries and points scored to best defensive performance and kick percentage record to be viewed for every team from level three to 12.
Congratulations to the Teams of the Season for 22/23...
Sedgley Park
Men's Level 3 & 4
Sedgley Park take the Team of the Season title after topping the highly competitive National League 2 North. They finished on 118 points after winning 24 of their 26 games, registering one loss and one draw on the way.
Having finished in the top four multiple seasons on the bounce, the objective for the 22/23 campaign was to gain promotion, and they got off to a fine start registering 19 consecutive victories. Though they dropped points along the way, a victory at Hull Ionians was a huge step toward the title for the Manchester side.
Rhys Henderson scored 23 tries for Sedgley Park, and Stephen Collins 211 points. The team averaged 35.81 points per game, and their largest winning margin came by 75.
"The team has been outstanding all season," said captain Matt Riley. "The numbers at training, not just the 20 lads that play, we get 40 plus every Tuesday and Thursday, and the lads that aren't getting picked on a Saturday or who are disappointed not to be in the first team are still turning up every week, and it means we can do so much more."
Sedgley Park stats
Wimbledon
Men's Level 5
Wimbledon cruised the Regional 1 South Central title, making them Team of the Season for level 5. They were in competitive fixtures throughout the season, the likes of Havant and Bracknell running them close, but their sole loss came at the hands of Camberley (25-20) at the beginning of the season, though they won the return fixture 26-24.
Oliver Kitton was their leading try-scorer with 20, and Edward Morgan ended the season with a points haul of 260, putting him inside the top 10 points scorers in England.
"The statistics will show that it has been a fantastic season," said Director of Rugby Collin Osborne. "But perhaps one of the most significant statistics that might go unnoticed is that we used 41 players in the 22/23 campaign.
"The fact that so many were able to step up and perform without us having to change the way we play is testimony to the way the whole group has trained together. It truly has been a massive, whole squad effort to achieve the outstanding results and, equally important, in the style that they were achieved."
Wimbledon stats
Marlborough
Men's Level 6
Marlborough claim Team of the Season for level 6 after a 100% win record in Regional 2 Tribute South Central.
They scored try bonus-points in all but two of their matches, and Akariva Seruvatu was responsible for 34 of them, making him the sixth most prolific finisher in England. It’s no surprise his 170 points topped the team’s charts, with William Reeve coming in behind him with 123 points.
Malborough scored 1,074 points in total, conceding just 224, and their largest margin of victory was by 98.
Their coaching team commented: "A huge congratulations to all the senior players that pulled on the club jersey this season. They gave their all week-in-week-out regardless of the challenges we faced on and off the field of play. Their belief in themselves, team and club made us rightly proud. They are a group of players who have written themselves into our club's long history."
Marlborough stats
Saffron Walden
Men's Level 7
Team of the Season for level 7, Saffron Walden cruised to the Counties 1 Eastern Counties league title with a perfect 22 wins from 22. Their closest match was a four point swing against Southwold in January, otherwise their route to number one spot was relatively unchallenged.
Kevin Lock scored 16 tries for them, and Mark Kimberley 130 points. Saffron Walden topped the league’s stats across the board, registering most home points (481) and away points (350) whilst conceding the least (239).
"Im very proud of what we achieved this year, but it is a result of a few years developing and culture forming," said Director of Rugby Neil Gaffan. "I hope the guys stick together and continue the hard work next year at level 6.
"Winning is a habit built from a strong culture. Building a robust environment is key and allowing the players to build a positive culture makes the hard work and standards easier and player centred."
Saffron Walden stats
Ryton
Men's Level 8
Ryton take Team of the Season for level 8 after a sublime campaign where they lost just one league game.
That was to Bishop Auckland, who beat them 19-15 last November, but Ryton were able to bounce back in spectacular fashion registering a 32-18 reverse in February and taking control of Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland.
Of their 1058 total points scored, 547 were scored away - putting them third in the country for this stat. Matthew Robson was their most clinical finisher with 22 tries, and Ryan Crocker was their top points earner with 283 - putting him sixth in England for most points scored.
"This season has seen over 15 years of hard work and development of our youth set up really start to bear fruit with over 80% of our current first team having come through our youth system with the 1st team having an average age of only 23," said Head of Rugby Phil Lax.
"We intend to continue to build on the success of this season looking to recruit in the right areas with a young energetic coaching team led by Rob Scott, with ex-England international Mark Wilson heavily involved in our coaching development into the 2023/24 season."
Ryton stats
Guernsey II
Men's Level 9-12
Guernsey ll are named Team of the Season for levels 9-12 after winning all 22 of their Counties 3 Hampshire games this season.
They scored 1152 points en route to the title, and the most tries in England (177). Conceding just 280 points. Kieran Creber was their top try-scorer with 24, and Matt Lomas their top points scorer with 172.
Their largest winning margin was by 107, and their smallest, a single point - against Winchester ll’s - a game captain Matt Lomas credits as the season highlight.
“It was a very tight game with both sides playing good rugby considering the atrocious weather conditions,” he said. “Our boys stuck at it securing victory, and showing we had the determination and camaraderie to go on and win the league.
“This has been an amazing season. Credit goes to all our players, our brilliant coaches and to all involved with the team to make the season as successful as it was.”
Guernsey stats
Newbury Women
Women's Level 2 & 3
Newbury Women are named Team of the Season after a 100% win rate in Women’s Championship South West 2. In winning all 16 of their league matches, they scored 538 points (an average of 33.63 per game) conceding just 157. Their largest winning margin was by 90 points.
"Everything just happened at the right time for us this year," said head coach Niki Paton-Robinson. "The close knit coaching team with Adam Reeves, Hywel Price-Richards and myself has helped us to evolve every training session, the players buy in to the processes and the team this year is something special.
"The support of the back room staff and club has also exceptional. It's a very competitive league and we've come up against some great teams this season, but the grit and determination of the players have shown on the pitch to win narrow games, where the odds are against us has made us the team we are."
Newbury stats
Barnes Women
Women's Level 4-6
Barnes Women were beaten 57-5 by Wasps FC Amateur in October last year, but the west Londoners pipped them to the Women's NC 1 South East (West) title and have been named Team of the Season as a result.
Lily Baskerville and Eleanor Russell share the spoils when it comes to points scored - both with 75 - or 15 tries a piece. Barnes notched up 665 points in total, conceding just 179. Their largest victory coming by 91.
"Cohesion and unity this year is what made us such a formidable force on the pitch," said coach Chris Rolfe. "We have been hugely supported by the One Club ethos at Barnes RFC, the wider club has demonstrated an ever growing commitment to the women’s game and we can’t wait for this to continue next year.
"The whole squad should be proud of their outstanding achievements this season. Their hard work and dedication have paid off, and they have proven to be a force to reckoned with in the league. With this success, they have paved the way for future generations of women rugby players at the club, and their achievements are a true testament to the commitment and ability within the squad."
