2nd XV Fixtures, Recruitment and the Midlands Premier League.

 

The Midlands West Reserve League , having successfully advanced National League 2nd XV rugby over the last two seasons, has now spread across the Midlands and incorporating more teams from the centre and the eastern flank of the region.  With the inclusion of Broadstreet and traditional Leicestershire opponents Syston and Hinckley for 2015/16 season, the Midland Reserve League has managed to add a lot more geographical balance to the fixtures alongside maintaining a high standard of opposition.  As an added bonus to the regular competitive league fixtures, Broadstreet will also be competing in the Midlands’ 2nd XV Cup, a cross-Constituent Body tournament which begins with the First Round against Syston on Saturday 6th February 2016. 

Chris Dodd

With an exciting season ahead, playing regular fixtures against other National League clubs similar to ourselves, Broadstreet 2nds will need a leader of strong C haracter, C ommitment and C harisma, a man of Q uality, Q uick wit and un- Q uestionable enthusiasm. Unfortunately we are yet to find that man…… Instead, we have a man of un-Quenchable thirst , former National League Three Player of the Season Chris ‘El Capitan’ Dodd , who will skipper for the 15/16 campaign. Number 8 Chris is third generation Broadstreet, with both his father and grandfather being former Club Captains, this choice for captain emphasises the Club’s desire to develop Broadstreet M&Js and create a strong Broadstreet identity from Colts through to 1st XV .

Jamie Dodd After changing jobs recently, Jamie ‘The Talent’ Dodd is looking forward to his first full season of rugby in a number of years, but is probably less enthusiastic about being led by his younger brother. Luke Truslove , another former 1st XV player, has made a full recovery from four years of injury and is hoping to play more games than his Dad, Kev , for the first time since the 09/10 season. He should be a forceful presence in the front row…..until his next injury! Neil Tatlow has re-emerged from retirement after a couple of years moonlighting as Uncle Fester at both Rugby Lions and Coventry Rugby .  His decision to commit to 2nd team rugby is based upon his desire to bolster up the front row and play a season with his young talented nephew Reece Williams (whilst Tats is still good enough to get picked in the same team). Reece will be playing his first season of adult rugby with us after an apprenticeship in Worcester Warriors AASE scheme.

Dan Staunton Piotr Wisniewski Back Row/ Second Row Dan Staunton ’s return from three years at Manchester where he has been playing University 1st XV rugby in the BUCS Premier North is another massive boost for the club and whilst he will start in the 2nds we can expect him to be pushing for a 1st XV place soon enough. Second Row Piotr ‘Pete the Pole’ Wisniewski , having made three National League Two North appearances for our 1st XV last season, will be hoping to add to that tally in 15/16 but will no doubt be a valuable contributor to the 2nds league campaign.

Jake Smith Broadstreet M&J / Colt players Jake Smith , Jack Barker , Connor Burnett , Taylor Smith and Matt Thrippleton who have been key components of the resurgent Henley College/Coventry Academy team over the last two or three years, have all re-joined the club. They will be hoping to convert excellent performances at age group level into the adult game. Matt Thrippleton and Taylor Smith definitely have the size for it, the two bulky front row players have great athleticism (anything that can be lifted in a gym has probably been lifted b y Taylor Smith ) and, in all seriousness, could become the cornerstone of Broadstreet’s scrum in years to come. Connor Burnett will be hoping for a number of appearances in the 1st XV squad this season as third choice Second Row and should gain a lot of knowledge under the tutelage of experienced 1st XV locks Matt and Andy Solomon . A similar prospect awaits the tenacious Jake Smith as he plays understudy to Club Captain and 1st XV incumbent scrum half Nick Thatcher whilst Jack Barker will be finishing a transition from Hooker to Back Row.

Worcester Warriors’ prospects and AASE scholars Stan Mayne and Sam Hollingsworth add yet more young talent to the squad. Centre/Wing Stan Mayne had a breakthrough second half to last season, scoring multiple tries in every game he played including two from his own half in the Coventry & Warwickshire Second Team Cup Final against Barkers' Butts in April. Sam Hollingsworth is the son of mercurial Broadstreet fly-half Carl Rogers , whose last season playing for the club was the 2002/03 National Two North campaign, I imagine that son Sam would love to pick up where his father left off and has one eye on the fly-half gap vacated by the departure of 1st XV regulars Ben Palmer and Ben Cooper .

Luke Truslove Centre Bill Holman and Winger Scott Truslove will be re-united for the first time since their Broadstreet M&J days and will reform their relationship in the back-line. Their successful age-groups had a utility back called Paddy ‘Glugger’ Hughes and he will be expected to carve up the opposition after sterling performances in the 3rd XV’s League and Cup winning season. Helping Chris Dodd and Luke Truslove marshal all of these young headstrong players (and old only by comparison) will be 26 year old Lee ‘Desert Rat’ Lighthowle r, Player of the Season for the last two campaigns and one hundred per cent committed, he will be integral in leading the 2nds forward, especially when considering the regular competitive opposition ahead.      

2015/16 Fixtures.

August 22nd – Pre-season Practice Match (H/A ?)

September 5th – Hinckley (H)

September 12th – Newport Salop (A)

September 26th – Nuneaton (H)

October 3rd – Old Halesonians (H)

November 7th – Syston (A)

November 14th – Old Patesians (H)

November 21st – Luctonians (H)

November 28th – Birmingham & Solihull (H)

December 12th – Bromsgrove (A)

January 23rd – Newport Salop (H)

January 30th – Nuneaton (A)

February 6th – Cup game versus Syston (H/A ?)

February 13th – Old Halesonians (A)

February 27th – Syston (H)

March 5th – Birmingham & Solihull (A)

March 12th – Cup Semi Final Weekend.

March 19th – Luctonians (Double-header on club coach with 1sts, plus social day)

April 2nd – Bromsgrove (H)

April 9th – Old Patesians (A)

April 16th – Hinckley (A)

April 30th – Cup Final Weekend

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