Big weekend at Woollams

Centurions ones and twos were in action on Saturday at Woollams and both were victorious. In National League 3, Cents ran in 10 tries in there 56-8 demolition of Huddersfield Underbank Rangers and now need only one point to confirm 3rd place minimum and a home tie in the 1st round of the play offs. The defeat leaves Underbank a lot to do to squeeze into the top six and it now looks likely that Warrington Wizards, Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks and Hemel Stags will fight it out for 4th to 6th spots. Cents made a poor start trailing 6-0 within the first 5mins but pulled things around to go in at the interval 20-8 and then winning the second half 36-0. Man of the Match was Centurions prop Faron Mahoney closely followed by Nick Surtees two try effort fresh from his exertions with Scotland last week (who beat the English amateur Lionhearts) and Richard Louw, whilst classy backs Long, Miller and Warner each bagged a try. Geoff Huson continues his rugby league development bagging two tries in a very powerful display. The game marked the end of the Centurions experience for versatile half Brendan Potts whose stint with the club has now ended as he heads back to Sydney. His parents, Robert and Sharon watched on proudly as he put in another good display although his perfect kicking return was only marred when he missed from in front of the sticks with the last kick of the match. Coach Baker was rightfully pleased with the team's performance and with Donny Lam and Roger Teau returning to the fray the squad was nearly back to full strength. Only Luke Baxter, Eugene Thompson and Gus Sione remain injured and with the imminent arrival of club stalwart Rocky Edwards from his winter stint with French Elite league club Carcassone, things are shaping up well for the Cents.

1st team line up 1. K Warner 2. A Long 3. D Miller 4. D Lam 5. N Bourke 6. S Rampling 7. J Malin 8. R Dube 9. A Wheeler 10. F Mahoney 11. R Louw 12. N Surtees 13. R Smith subs 14. R Teau 15. G Huson 16. T Williams 17. B Potts

The reserves clinched the Eastern Regional Championship with a fine display of attacking rugby league against Cambridge Eagles, 46-12. The unbeaten Cents found it very tough going early in the game but their greater experience, fielding Kwong, Millar, Molyneux and Wortley who all have first team experience, shone through. Brian Molyneux took the Man of the Match award. Andy Weldon has done fantastic job with the team over the summer and was justifiably proud to receive the trophy, only the second piece of silverware in the clubs 10 year history. The win puts the Cents reserve grade into the national quarter finals with a home tie against either Haringay Hornet or Kingston Warriors who were involved in the Southern Regional Championship. Weldon will be hoping that he can maintain the majority of the squad for the concluding weeks of the season to challenge for the title, albeit there are some very tough sides still in the hat.

Reserves squad: G Ellis, B Molyneux, A Kwong, D Wortley, A Weldon, A Millar, J Malifa, D Poulter, M O'Shea, P McGavin, J Labuschagne, A Young, M Aristizabal, D Bell, R Lamb

Pictures coutesy of Exiled Townie, can be used for press publications:

Dream Team of the Decade

So who would you have in your Centurions Dream Team of the decade ? The club can boast some absolutely excellent players in its 10 year history and a selection panel have the unenviable challenge of selection the best XIII. They will be helped by set selection criteria, the primary one being that a player must have played a minimum of 10 games for the club. It is sure to promote some great debate and the side will be announced at the end of season event on Saturday 10th September. Watch this space .....

Annual Awards evening confirmed

Centurions end of season awards night has been confirmed as 10th September at Woollams, following the National League 3 game with Coventry Bears. The event has proved a real draw for the past few years and this year promises to be no different. The event is very much focused on the Club and players, both junior and senior are invited to bring along partners, friends and parents to what has been a really enjoyable evening for all. The usual array of awards will be up for grabs with the highlight being the Man of Steel. More details of awards to be announced. The event falls 10 years, almost to the day of the Centurions first ever game against a Hemel Stags development side at Cotlandswick and one extra dimension to this years event will the announcement of the Centurions Team of the decade. Some intriguing choices to be made by the selection panel !! More details of the event can be on web site.

Why not make the effort and get along this year ? To reserve a place / table at the end of season awards please contact us now.

http://www.stalbanscenturions.net