Woodrush RFC
Club Colours:
Shirts -  Emerald Green and White hoops    
Shorts - Black
Socks - Black with Green and White top band
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Woodrush
RFC.........

First Team Squad.....

Season
2009-2010

(latest photo on the way)

(Our new kit will be on display ASAP and if you would like a replica shirt please speak to John Board or Brian Smart over the coming weeks to place your order. (Price to be confirmed shortly, approx £25.00)
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Woodrush continued their recent form with a solid display of team rugby full of pace, fitness and power play..... A determined passionate first half display somewhat surprised a Southam side looking for a win to maintain there decent start to the season.....Steve Smart got the show on the road when in his usual fashion spotted a gap to burst through Southams backline and finish under the post on just 3 mins (7 v 0). This was just the start Woodrush were looking for and from then on they controlled most of the play.
On 25 mins John Anderson was next on the score sheet when he finished off another try from a superb rolling maul, now a regular feature in their game plan to lead 12 v 0. ....Southam huffed and puffed but were unable to breach a solid defensive line and it was no surprise when in form Jacko Maddocks burst through to score yet another try to add to his hatrick last week against K.N (17 v 0). With half time approaching a confident pack produced a try from a rolling maul this time was finished off by Paul Moppett and Smart adding the extras (24 v 0) half time.
.... Woodrush's first half performance was another display of powerful classy rugby that is now producing good results, with a high number of tries and limited points against.
The second period was one of control, good defence and another 2 tries one from Ed Lerna,  who had just come on the field as replacement for Lee Wainwright, Ed has just returned from Italian international rugby league duty where again he performed well, this time in a winning side in a play off match down at Bridgend against Serbia and the win retained Italy's status for next season. Back to his try, he was Jonny on the spot when he finished off a quick tap and go by Steve Smart to dive over from close range (29 v 0)
With the match in the bag Mark Buckey came on for Paul Moore who was dafted in to start just before K.O and turned in yet another solid experienced display. However Southam were determined not to leave without any points and took adavntage of a penalty to take the score to 29 v 3.
....Dean Bryant also came off the bench introduced into the squad not long before K.O and replaced Gary McGrann who again had another good performance. Woodrush still had another score in them and on 74 mins John Anderson got his second of the match to crown a fine individual performance and leave the final score on 34 v 3.
......A great team display on a wet and windy day, moving us into third place jumping above Redditch who received a 66 v 3 mauling from league leader Dunlop.

Team sheet: 1. John Anderson, 2. Paul Moppett, 3. Uri Shutkever, 4. Paul Moore, 5. Jack Connolly, 6. Lucas Hooper, 7. Gary McGrann, 8. Rob Hill, 9. Titch Thomas, 10. Steve Smart, 11. Jacko Maddocks, 12. Andrew Poole, 13. Paul Witham, 14. John Board, 15. Lee Wainwright, 16. Dean Bryant, 17.Mark Buckey, 18. Ed Lerna.

HERE are some recent photos to view, click the links below ...... 

 Long Buckby - 1  and   Long Buckby - 2

Click on Fixtures or Results for all the latest Mids 4 West (south) league information

Click on Redditch Advertiser or Redditch Standard for full reports & latest local rugby news. 
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Fixtures for 2009 / 2010 season

Woodrush Senior Rugby Structure for the coming season 2009 / 2010

Mids 3 West South........ 

Congratulations to Jamie Maddocks Club Captain for this term with Mark Buckey as Vice Captain,  John Roulston continues as 2nd team Captain and Keith Bagby takes on Chair of Rugby....
Matt Elwell rejoins us as Head Coach, Keith Bagby continues as forwards coach and Steve Smart continues as player/backs coach.

A formidable team for 2009- 2010 season.

We wish everyone a successful and enjoyable season and long may it continue.

Anyone out there looking to get involved with a young and exciting rugby club please come along to one of our Tuesday or Thursday traning sessions and introduce yourself to one of the above.
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This seasons match reports

A 10 try rout , seven in the second half, showed how far we have come as an all round unit, with a competitve pack and an outstanding set of backs leaving K.N wondering where the next score was coming from.

Woodrush 1sts enjoyed a tremendous day with a 3 v 65 demolition of Kings Norton, taking us up to 4th in the league and rewriting the record books.

However the first 20 mins proved to be a tight affair even though Jacko Maddocks had finished off an opportunist break from inform stand off Steve Smart to lead 0 v 5 after 10 mins.
K.N bounced back and having missed a couple of penalty opportunities finally converted one on 15 mins (3 v 5).
Woodrush were slowly getting to grips with the K.N pack with the impressive Paul Moppett at Loose head and Gary McGrann at tight and new comer Rob Hill playing at eight, back from a season with Camphill was showing some of his pace, power and line out skills, continually breaking through a static K.N defence and on 32 mins Paul Witham raced in with the first of his two scores the other on 38 mins (3 v 15) half time.
....A worrying pelvic injury to Woodrush Captain Jamie Maddocks was the only blow to Woodrush on the day having to be stretchered off and looking to be in a great deal of pain, however he managed to get on his feet after 20mins of physio treatment and will no doubt be looking to feature this coming Saturday.
....The second period started with with a drop goal from Steve Smart (3 v 18) and this seemed to be the catalist for a try fest with the Woodrush backs ripping through a demoralised K.N back line. Titch Thomas again having an outstanding match at scrum half and his quick thinking spotted a gap for him to tap and go from10 meters to dive over, Smart converting (3 v 25).
The remainder of the half was now damaged limitation for K.N but the tide was relentless and with Andy Poole also in fine form, Titch Thomas, Lee Wainwright, John Board and another two from Jacko Maddocks, who had a fine game on the left wing, completed the action taking the final score to (3 v 65).
A superb team performance, with good discipline and a complete array of pace, power and high skills completed a very satisfying display and also moved us into fourth spot in the league, we can look forward to this Saturdays visitors Southam RFC to Woodrush.

Our 2nds also managed a fine victory over Old Saltleans RFC 12 v 5.
.... However It proved to be a week of frustration for Captain John Roulston after all the hard work assembling a side he had Kings Norton cry off on Tuesday night so John Board managed to get Redditch out of the poole only for them to cry off on Friday. Enter Keith Bagby who managed to secure a fixture against Old Salts on Friday evening, but it didn't stop there, N.Mids couldn't offer us a referee so our own Jason Smith stepped in to the breach on the day.... At least a good result made it all worth while 
Jeff Hughes has now offered his help regarding fixture / ref problems so as to resolve what appears to be a weekly dilema for John.  

Saturday 31th October - Woods 1sts maintained their form to turn over a high flying Shipston side by 39 v 10 .....

A superb first half team performance left our supporters well pleased with the afternoons rugby.... reaching half time 27 v 5.
A drop goal from fly half Steve Smart began the scoring on 10 mins (3 v 0) and set the pattern of play for the rest of the match. A fine individual try from right wing Lucas Hooper quickly followed on 11 mins, intercepting a loose ball to turn and race in, with Steve Smart converting from wide on the right (10 v 0).
....Shipston were struggling to get any attacking play going and on 15 mins Steve Smart ran in our second try with a conversion to totally bemuse Shipston (17 v 0).
.....Woodrush were now in total control of the game and Shrek McGrann was having a fine game at eight, bolstered by Jack Connolly and Anton Taylor who were a constant menace to Shipston. On 23 mins Steve Smart punished Shipston yet again when he converted a penalty (20 v 0).
Left wing Ed Lerna back from international duty with the Italian rugby league team was revelling in the action and contiually puched holes in a struggling Shipston defence.
It continued to be a very diffficult afternoon for a Shipston side who have only suffered one defeat this season but a second was surely on the cards especially when the rampant Steve Smart followed a quick tap ball from the influencial scrum half Titch Thomas who off loaded for Smart to race in under the posts. (27 v 0). The only flaw in an almost perfect performance was when Shipston ran in their first try on 38mins from a line out to take the half time score to 27 v 5.
.....There appeared to be no way back for Shipston and after just 2 mins of the restart the ever improving John Anderson finished off a fine forwards rolling maul, Steve adding the extras and take his tally on the day to 24 points (34 v 0).
A very strong substitutes bench was now brought into action Mark Buckey, Toby Smith and Paul Moppett replacing Glenn Todd, Titch Thomas and  Anton Taylor to continue the domination. On 55 mins Willow McGrann crowned a fine personal performance when the dived over to finish off another fine move (39 v 5).
....Shipston facing their 2nd defeat continued to play and they were rewarded on 77 mins with the final try of the match to close out a smashing display from Woodrush, final score 39 v 10. 

Saturday October 24th- EDF Senior Vase round 2.... Woodrush RFC 24 v 13 Long Buckby RFC.

A close match throughout was settled by the much inform Steve Smart who again ran in a brace of excellent tries to secure a well deserved result.
....An early penalty for the visitors on 10 mins (0v3) was quickly followed by a try from Woodrush when Smart broke free to finish off a fine break from centre Paul Witham and add the 2 extras (7v3).
....Both sides were suffering from numerous injury unavailabilities and it was a first start for veteran stalwart and ex Captain Paul Chance, drafted in on the wing when Andy Poole, Lee Wainwright, Andy McGrann, Gerry Connolly and Jacko Maddocks all failed to make the starting lineup, Toby Smith came in at stand off and Smart moved to full back with Lucas Hooper on the right..... Our forwards also had to regroup without regulars, Lee Frogatt, Paul Moppett, Matt Playford, Stuart Caley and Marcus Elwell all out. 2nd row Phil Peirsaegale move into the front row alongside John Anderson and hooker Liam Wallace.
However it was good news as Gary McGrann started at No6 alongside Anton Taylor and Gleen Todd and Jack Connolly was on the bench, both Jack and Shrek back after long injury problems. Paul Moore and Uri Shutkever also on the bench.
....On 28 mins Smart extended Woods lead with a penalty to take the score to 10 v 3 at the interval.
The second period began with an early try after 5 mins from Long Buckby (10 v 8). With the match evenly contested on 54 min inform John Board scored from close range and Steve Smart added the extras (17 v 8).
....Full back on the day Steve Smart, stole the show on 62 mins with one of his classic tries when he picked up the ball deep in his own half to weave his way through numerous tackles and dive over under the posts, also adding the extras (24 v 8).
....Not to be completely out done Long Buckby managed a late try on 75 mins and finish off a very enjoyable game (24 v 13).
A much needed win was just what we required to take us into this weeks league fixture at home to Shipston-on-Stour RFC.

....A big thank you to Long Buckby who had travelled up by coach and stayed on to create a cracking evening at the club, bringing their obvious social skills to the occasion.... all the best for the rest of your season. 

Saturday 17th October.... Woods 1sts suffer surprise defeat away 28 v 22 to newly promoted Harbury RFC in league match No 5.

Saturday October 10th.... Woodrush RFC 33 v 5 Redditch RFC. league game No4

A master class from stand off Steve Smart left Redditch realing to consecutive defeats following their brace of early victories in Mids West 3 (south)
...... A 15 minute delayed kick off due to one or two Redditch players running late a player injured in the warm up proved not to be the best preparations for them on the day......The match was evenly contested for first 12 mins until inform Steve Smart burst from the half way line to outpace a surprised Redditch defence and finish under the posts + his conversion (7 v 0)..... The game was proving to be a closely contested one with both sides having plenty of ball but one or two unforced errors kept the scorline down.
However on 35 minutes it was Captain and second row Jamie Maddocks who popped up to cross the try line, doing well to support and finish off for his first try of the season, Smart adding the 2 extras (14 v 0) at the break.
.....The second period mirrored the first with Woodrush starting to get to grips with a solid Redditch pack and new boys Stuart Caley at tight head and Glenn Todd No 8 demonstrating their wealth of experience and eventually on 52 minutes left wing Ed Lerna finished off a tremendous move including a massive wide ball from Steve Smart for Italian rugby league international Ed to dive over wide on the left (19 v 0).
....At this point Redditch began to look like a side lacking inspiration and alas it was Steve Smart again who raced clear to finish off another excellent backs move on 60 mins + the conversion to condemn Redditch to their second defeat in as many weeks (26 v 0).
...With the match now won Woodrush could relax so Titch Thomas, John Anderson and Lee Frogatt were replaced by Toby Smith, Phil Peirsegaele and Andy Mcgrann helping see out the remaining 17 minutes. However further punishment had to come from Steve Smart who again seized onto a ball in broken play to race under the posts completing his hatrick and rattling up a 23 points haul on the day with a man of the match performance.
Redditch found some concellation when on 75 mins thay ran in a try of their own. but not enough to spoil a fine Woodrush victory (33 v 5) final score.

Woodrush 2nds also demoralised a Redditch side, this one on their own turf with a 5 v 46 victory in the Merit Table....Great day for Woodrush 

Saturday 3rd October .... Woods are off the mark with a 13 try demolition at Edwardians to gain our first league win this term with a 0 v 77 points haul.

.... Ed Lerna stole the show with a personal tally of 5 tries, Paul Witham and Lee Wainwright each with 2, Steve Smart, Anton Taylor, Jacko Maddocks and Andy Poole with 1 a piece and Steve Smart with six conversions.
..... A well deserved victory full of determination and classy fast backs play completely destroyed a troubled Edwardian side still seeking their first league win for quite a while.
.... Unfortunately the match was marred when after 12 minutes an Edwardian player suffered a nasty injury to his forearm and the match had to be suspended for a good 45 minutes before the ambulance staff could remove him from the pitch.
.... Woodrush were in no mood to let the stoppage deter them from the targeted victory and reached the half way stage with a lead of 0 v 36.
Woods new boy Glenn Todd starting at eight had to also leave the field with a nasty cut over his eye, receiving one or two stitches later back a the club.
The scoreline could have been even greater if not for some sloppy handling and unsure decision making cost a probable 5 more scores.
..... Well done boys a solid team performance that will take us into Saturday's big game at home to local rivals Redditch for the first derby of this term, with a lot of confidence.
Redditch have started their campaign with 2 wins but went down 55 v 3 last Saturday to Persore.

Unfortunately Woodrush 2nds suffered a 0 v 65 mauling at the hands of Worcester Wanderers in the Merit Table, Captain John Roulston was well impressed with very good opposition, but having to cancel our last two fixtures couldn't have helped.
....However this Saturday they can bounce back when they also play Redditch,  away in the Merit Table...3.00pm.

October 26th....League game No 2..... Woodrush 27 v 40 Pershore RFC.
Another frustrating game similar to the previous Dunlop away fixture with two totally different performances in each half, Pershore winning the first 10 v 25 and Woodrush turning it round in the second period with a gutsy, skilfull display to win it 17 v 15, however the overall result of 27 v 40 was a fair reflection on the game and kept Pershore unbeaten this term.
Two superb tries, one in each half, from in form back row Anton Taylor and one from Lee Wainwright with Steve Smart adding the rest from the boot nearly proved to be sufficient for a victory in a pulsating second period fight back. 
Debutant Glenn Todd who joined us from Dunlop RFC in the week, had a fine second half, coming off the bench to play in the back and looks to be a very good addition to our squad. 

Sep 01..... Silhillians 12 v 19 Woodrush..... This annual warm up fixture was a much needed runout after 7 weeks of pounding around the training area. We managed to take 20 players over to Sils and came away with a well deserved victory with a display that would have pleased both Keith Bagby and Steve Smart on the night.
Ian Maye ran in the first try of the evening after a well worked move starting with Toby Smith's tactical kick wide to the right just from his twenty two for Steve Smart to collect, burst forward and off load to Ian who sprinted past a flayling defence to finish in the corner (0 v 5).
Steve Smart was next to follow with a mazzy run, jinking and powering past numerous players to score under the posts (0v12). Sils not to be outdone managed a score to bring it back to (5 v 12).
John Board was next to score when he finished off a tremendous jinking run by Gerry Connolly from the half way line, for John to dive over. (5 v 19). With only minutes left Sils again managed to breach a solid Woodrush defence and take the final score to (12 v 19)

Saturday Sep 5th.... Woodrush season's underway with a fine, hard fought win in the North Mids Cup over Veseyans 3 v 12. John Board and Anton Taylor with the tries and Steve Smart converting one.

Saturday Sep 12th.... league season underway .... Woods 1sts go down to one of the probable league favourites Dunlop 33 v 21.
A game of 2 halves witnessed Dunlop enjoy much of the possession rattling up a resounding 30 points to 7 in the first half, Lee Wainwright diving over from close range to set up a possible 2nd half revival for Woodrush.
This proved to be the case and Woodrush will look back with a great deal of satisfaction running in 14 points to Dunlops 3 (33 v 21) and also demonstrating a superior level of fitness.... Steve Smart moved to stand off for the second period and again demonstrated his pace and power with two tremendous tries.

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Ed Lerna earns his international shirt representing Italy in a recent European tri nations rugby league competiton featuring Germany and the Czech Republic.

Ed paid for his travel over to Itlay back in July and after two days of training with the squad he was selected to represent them in both internationals, scoring against the Czech Republic and helping Italy to go on and win the tournament.

Well done Ed ..... not many players go on to acheive international status.

Thanks also for donating your shirt to the club.

"What we are about"..........................

Our 1sts play their rugby in Mids 3 West (south) and our 2nds in Herefordshire and Worcestershire Merit Table division 1.

Training evenings are  Tuesday and Thursday 7.00pm until 8.30pm with use of an all weather surface and flood lighting  for those winter evenings. We also boast a well fitted weights room complete with showers and toilet. 

Come and join a young ambitious rugby club. We now believe we are in a strong position to take our club up the rankings over the next few seasons

Contact us on 01564 822878 or leave a message in our guest book if you require more information. 

Please stop by again. Thank you for your interest!