If you need more information about any of this please contact Tom Hodgson on 07876527049

Pre-season training has been excellent with a great turnout each week (20+). Anyone who is interested it getting involved and ready for the new season can turn up at 7pm on Thursdays, usually at Castleton playing fields. For further information contact Tom.

In addition to this we have some summer warm-up events coming up:

Matlock 10s & Beer Festival

Yes, that really is a beer festival and a rugby tournament, together at last, with music and entertainment in the evening.

This is happening on Saturday the 7th of August and anyone interested in playing, or supporting/drinking should come along. Contact Tom if you want to play as we will have to sort out the squad in advance or if you want further information.

Hope Valley vs Bakewell @ S. Anslems School

As part of the S. Anslems School rugby fun day we will be playing Bakewell.

This is happening on Saturday the 14th of August – if you can play then please get in touch with Tom ASAP.

Thursday July 1st
7pm
Castleton Playing Fields

All existing players should make an effort to attend. If anyone else is interested in getting involved with the club, please just turn up for a run out – we don’t bite!

For more information contact Mike Woodhouse on 07793 844684.

For those that don’t know, the three peaks challenge is to climb the highest peaks in Scotland (Ben Nevis), England (Scarfell Pike) and Wales (Snowdon) inside of 24 hours. You can find more information about it here

Having done it before personally I can say it is not easy but definitely worth it, and you’ll be raising money to support us through the coming season.

To get involved, or for more information, contact Mike Woodhouse on 07793844684

Josh

The club has also appointed Nigel Winder as 2nd team captain with a view to running a regular social/vets side. Whilst the club wants to continue its progress up the leagues, we also want to keep on being a friendly local community rugby club and are looking forward to our 31st season.

Hope Valley are holding an extraordinary general meeting on Thursday 17th of June at The Peaks Inn, Castleton, starting at 7pm. Everyone interested in the club can attend. This will formulate our plans for next season, including pre season training and club development. Anyone interested in playing for the club is more than welcome , and can contact Club Captain Tom Hodgson on 07876 527049.

Cue ultra-flattering photo

The committiee would like to thanks every single person who came and helped to make it such a special evening (for those of use who stand a chance of remembering it, John Boy). We would also like to give even more thanks, if thats even possible, to everyone who helped to organise the night – you know who you are.

The following awards were presented:

Player of the Season: Steve Boundy
Players Player of the Season: Dean Ancell
Leading Try Scorer: Steve Hudson (34)
Captain: Tom Hodgson
Vice Captain: Dave Warren
Most Improved Player: Dave Ryder
Front Row Try Scorer: Gary Allen (7)
Golden Boot: Ric Spencer
Life Membership: Steve Richardson & Ric Spencer
Andy Hague Memorial Trophy: Matt Eyre

Once I have got them confirmed, I’ll also update this with the rest of the try scorers etc for the year.

Roll on 2010/2011!!

Josh

Edit: As promised, the complete scorers table for the season:

Adam Russell – 1 try
Andy Woodall – 2 tries
Dave Ryder – 13 tries
Dave Warren – 18 tries , 7 conversions
Dean Ancell – 23 tries
Gary Allen – 7 tries
James McGuigan – 7 tries
John Eyre – 4 tries
Jonny Elliott – 1 try
Joris Gladstone – 2 tries
Kasey Blackwell – 1 try
Lee Hutchinson – 4 tries
Luc Charmasson – 4 tries
Martin Spencer – 6 tries
Matt Johnson – 7 tries
Mike Shires – 3 tries
Mike Woodhouse – 2 tries
Paul Nicholls – 6 tries
Richard Mosley – 4 tries
Rick Spencer – 6 tries, 135 conversions, 2 penalties
Rory Williams – 9 tries
Steve Boundy – 5 tries
Steve Hudson – 34 tries
Tom Hodgson – 31 tries
Tommy McGuigan – 9 tries, 4 conversions, 1 drop goal
Will Wain – 2 tries

The results from the league last year are available here.

The final league table is available here.

Tries:
Tom Hodgson – 2
Rory Williams – 2
Lee Hutchinson – 1
Matt Johnson – 1
Steve Hudson – 1

Conversions:
Ric Spencer – 3

Match Report:

This end of season game was to be the curtain raiser to Hope Valleys 30th Anniversary Dinner, and so an early kick off was agreed. Richard Spencer at scrum half showed early intent by stealing the ball from the back of a Stockport scrum. The Hope pack took some time to settle, with an experienced home front five taking advantage. Initial Valley attacks, with some good running from Hudson, came up against strong defensive tackling. Martin Spencer showed strength in stealing the ball from the home side and set up a Hope forward surge, only for Stockport to kick clear for a Valley lineout on the 22. Infringements here gave Richard Spencer a chance to kick at goal which went just wide.

Another attack from Hudson fed McGuigan who kicked for the corner. Martin Spencer stole the lineout, and the ball was fed out to Hodgson who powered over to score, unconverted 0-5. From the restart Valley ran at the hosts, with Ryder being forced into touch. Further pressure caused Stockport to conceded a penalty, with Ancell running through from a quick tap, feeding Hodgson who crossed for his second, 0-10 unconverted. Valley stepped up a gear, and a kick deep into Stockports half was followed up by Ryder and Ancell to force a penalty for not releasing. The ball was passed down the line for winger Johnson to score, unconverted 0-15. Match assessor Mr. Briggs felt unable to comment on Valley’s goal kicking thus far in the game. From the restart Stockport won a penalty, kicking 10 yards from Hope’s line. This was duly won, and several missed tackles saw the hosts get on the score sheet, unconverted, to make it 5-15 at the break.

Valley replaced Winder, Ryder, Hudson and Elliott with Gladstone, Williams, Berry, and Hutchinson. The second half started scrappily, with errors disrupting the flow of the game. Stockport won a penalty, and kicked close to Valley’s line, but Martin Spencer leapt yet again to Hope’s rescue. The ball was kicked long, and Warren and Johnson were up quickly to pressurise and turnover, sending the ball down the line for Williams to score on the wing, finally converted to make it 5-22.

Good work from second rows Gladstone and Hutchinson at the restart gained more ground. Max Horslen replaced Boundy at full back, and Valley were now harrying Stockport in all departments as the heat began to tell. Stockport were penalised repeatedly, and a quick tap penalty saw the ball worked out wide for Hutchinson to score, converted 5-29. Hudson was now back on for the injured McGuigan. Hope won a scrum, and the ball was passed out wide, with Horslen joining the line and braking through to feed Hudson for his 34th try of the season, 5-36 after the conversion. Stockport kept at it , kicking for a lineout ten yards out, but Valley spoiled and Josh Berry kicked clear. Steve Boundy replaced the excellent Martin Spencer, and the home side conceded a penalty 10 yards inside their own half. The ball was run through the backs firstly down the left then back right for Williams to get his second, unconverted, to finish the game 5-41.

Hope Valley awards for the season included Player of the Season to Steve Boundy, Player’s Player Dean Ancell, Leading Try Scorer Steve Hudson on 34, and Most Improved Player to Dave Ryder. Richard Spencer and Steve Richardson were made Life Members at a packed 30th Anniversary Dinner with record attendance. Tom Hodgson and Dave Warren remain in charge for next season in Division 4 following this seasons triumph as Miller Homes 5 East Champions, played 20, won 19, points for 1082, points against 79, plus 1003 points for the season.

Tries:
Dave Warren – 1
John Eyre – 1

Conversions:
Ric Spencer – 2

Match Report:

Following Mondays win over Aldwinians, Valley travelled to Buxton for a friendly fixture with the sun beating down. Due to injuries and unavailability the side was made up of only fifteen, including six front row players. Despite the heat, the game started at a frenetic pace, with Buxton’s pack putting early pressure on the visitors both in the lineout in the scrum. Good work from Martin Spencer, secured the ball for Hope, but the initial phases of the game failed to provide flowing rugby. Valley won a scrum on their own 22, and Ric Spencer kicked into the heart of Buxton territory, with hooker turned winger Eyre gathering the ball to feed fly half Warren who raced through to score under the posts, converted by R Spencer 0-7.

Valley again kicked into Buxton territory, with good chasing from Johnson on the wing, but the ball was cleared for a Buxton line. This wasn’t straight, giving Hope a scrum, and scrappy play and handling errors meant that the forwards from both sides were hard at work in the set pieces. Following a high tackle Valley won a penalty, with Spencer kicking for the line. Buxton cleared the danger, giving a lineout to the visitors, who were then awarded a penalty, but the kick went wide. Scrappy play continued, despite good work from M Spencer, and Buxton got on the score sheet, kicking a penalty 3-7. From the restart Valley made ground through Warren and Hudson, with support from Ancell, Eyre and Hodgson, but a penalty was conceded and Buxton cleared to the halfway. Hodgson broke strongly from the back of the scrum, but again stoppages halted the flow of the game. R Spencer and a Buxton flanker were yellow carded following a Buxton chip through, making it 14 a side for the remainder of the half. Pressure from Williams and Hudson failed to produce any dividends before half time 3-7.

Buxton, with plenty of replacements to chose from, replaced their whole pack at half time. Valley won an early penalty, opting for a lineout 10 yards out, with a good drive from Ancell supported by Hudson, but again handling errors allowed Buxton to attack from a scrum. Their progress was halted by good tackling from Eyre. Buxton knocked on, but the scrum was taken against the head, and the hosts passed the ball down the left and right before breaching Hope’s defence, converted, to make it 10-7. Valley attacked close to Buxtons line, and Hudson caught the clearance kick to make good ground, and Buxton handled in the ruck to give the visitors a penalty. Spencer took a quick tap, and chipped through for Ancell to gather and pass wide to Eyre who scored, converted by Spencer 10-14.

Buxton attacked back, only to be stopped by strong tackling from Hodgson, but the ball was recycled wide and Buxton scored their second try, unconverted 15-14. Buxton’s fresh legs began to show, both in the pack and in the back line, and an attack from a home scrum again resulted in a try out wide to the backs, unconverted 20-14. Buxton attacked again, but knocked on to give Valley the scrum. Spencer at scrum half broke from the back, but was halted by foul play from a Buxton player who received a yellow card for his efforts. Valley ran at Buxton through Ancell, gaining ground. Progress was halted by a Buxton penalty, closely followed by a Valley penalty, and pressure from Warren and Johnson, again chipping through. Buxton again handled in the ruck, and Valley counter attacked, but could not overturn the deficit before the final whistle. 20-14. Thus ended a hard-fought game with lots of effort between two local sides.

Tries:
Tommy McGuigan – 2
James McGuigan – 3
Tom Hodgson – 1
Luc Charmasson – 1
Dean Ancell – 1
Dave Warren – 1

Conversions:
Ric Spencer – 6

Match Report:

Hope Valley pressurised from the kick off in this top of the table clash, and took an early scrum against the head. The ball was passed to Ancell who drove at the visitors line, passing inside to Tommy McGuigan who slipped through to score, converted by Ric Spencer 7-0. From the restart the home side won a scrum, with Warren kicking clear, with Hudson chasing.

Aldwinians kicked back, winning a scrum after a Valley knock on. The visitors errors allowed Hope to clear again, but they were awarded a penalty, the kick going just wide. From the restart the home pack again were dominant, and ran at Aldwinians, with Warren again kicking tactically and good running from Hudson and Williams. The visitors conceded a penalty but the kick went wide. Valley continued to press in the scrum and in the loose, forcing Aldwinians to concede penalties in dangerous positions. Martin Spencer took a quick tap penalty, passing to T McGuigan who again jinked through the defence to score unconverted 12-0. From the restart Aldwinians pressurised on the Valley 22, and won a penalty which they kicked to make it 12-3. Another penalty to Hope again gave the home side the chance to run at the visitors, but they couldn’t capitalise further before the half time whistle.

The Aldwinians pack started strongly, gaining ground with a rolling maul, but Valley halted this and took the resulting scrum against the head, then winning a penalty. Another quick tap and run by the backs saw James McGuigan slice through the visitors defence to score, converted, to make it 19-3. Aldwinians hit back, but robust tackling from Warren stopped them in their tracks. Again the home three quarters attacked, with good handling from Shires, J McGuigan, Boundy and Spencer. Another penalty was conceded, and Ancell broke through to score, unconverted 24-3.

Aldwinians again pressurised, but the ball was turned over and Woodhouse, on as a replacement, made a good break to set up J McGuigan for his second try, converted 31-3. Valley were now on the front foot, driving through via Hutchinson, with fly half Warren then chipping over the defence to gather and score a well deserved try, converted 38-3. Again the home back line surged at Aldwinians, with Shires breaking through to set up J McGuigan for his hat trick, converted 45-3. Next the Valley pack got in on the act, driving forward through Boundy, with the backs then supporting them. A further run by Moseley out wide then set up Charmasson to score 50-3. Skipper Hodgson rounded the scoring off with one of his trademark bulldozing runs, with Ric Spencer kicking his sixth conversion to end the game 57-3.

Hope Valley confirmed their place as Champions of Milller Homes League 5 East on 73 points, scoring 1041 points for, and only conceding 74.

Man of the Match: Dave Warren and Richard Mosley