David, Max and the Venables family have done a great job and truly contribute to the community, and they’re always hard games.
The honours have been pretty even since we first played them, but their win here last season was one of the best by an away team.
They are the best supported team in the league – they had more than 2,000 for their game with Birmingham Moseley recently – but we are also growing and hoping for a bumper crowd today.
As numbers continue to grow, I urge everyone to get behind the team but also remind fans rugby prides itself on the fairness of its supporters, probably more so than any other team sport.
So please show respect for everyone at the ground.
‘Andy Lynch is everything good about rugby’
I’m incredibly grateful to Duncan Lynch for sponsoring today’s game.
Andy has been a soulmate on this Rams project, more like a brother than a great friend nowadays.
People have no idea how much effort him, his family and the business put into the club, like the Venables at Plymouth.
Andy’s son Greg is an ex-player, his daughter Hannah is on the board and sponsorship manager, Matt (son-in-law) coaches, the grand children play, and the company build most of the facilities which have enhanced the ground so much.
The club would be nowhere near where it is without Andy, but beyond that, he’s highly respected at Twickenham, by the National League executive and in Berkshire.
He epitomises everything which is good about rugby and his wife Alison is also there to help with anything as well!
A couple of Happy Birthdays
Also helping bolster what is a sell-out lunch is Graeme Hobbs from Wokingham Positive Difference, who is celebrating his 60th birthday along with three tables of guests at lunch today.
He’s a big Rams supporter who promotes us among all local businesses – and it’s a testament to him and us he’s chosen to celebrate his milestone at OBR.
And a happy 50th to Mike Boardman as well!
Come and support the Colts tomorrow
On a busy weekend the Colts host Windsor in the last 32 of the National Cup tomorrow and it would be brilliant to have a large crowd for that.
They lost a league game for the first time in three years last Sunday so will hope to bounce back, and while everyone involved with the squad will be disappointed, it’s a reminder of how competitive OBB Division One is.
It’s also a great lesson for the players and how you can learn more about yourself in defeat than victory.
I remember Frank Dick saying the most difficult youngster to coach in athletics is the 18-year-old who’s never lost, because losing is inevitable in any competitive sport.
You must learn how to lose to become a winner, and the real winners in life are the ones who take the lessons from defeat.
Furthermore, I’d add a further message to all the youth section – keep up with Tewkes’ programmes, because if we’re going to produce players from our own ranks to reach National One, so much is down to the quality of the coaching.
It’s an incredibly difficult level to get to and we shouldn’t underestimate the skills from any team in the division – it takes not only talent but great endeavour to achieve it.
Get well soon Andy!
Finally, on behalf of everyone at Rams I would like to wish Andy Anderson a full and speedy recovery after he suffered a stroke last Friday.
It also shows how important the community aspect of Rams is because it was him not turning up to The Friday Club which triggered his friends to go round and check on him.
I shudder to think what could have happened if they hadn’t, and full marks to Steve Ogles for wading in when someone was in need, as he always does.
He’s fantastic like that and I’m pleased to say Andy is improving already – Andy Lynch went to visit him on Tuesday and all he wanted to talk about was how he will be up to fix the scoreboard as soon as possible!
