Awards for Aspatria rugby players

A large throng of players and supporters assembled at Bower Park for Aspatria Rugby Club’s annual awards ceremony.

Master of ceremonies duties for the occasion fell to Jack Clegg, who peppered his opening remarks with several anecdotes from the season just gone, but laughter aside, his main message was a rallying call to play with a smile, enjoy every high and never dwell on the lows that the game inevitably delivers.

Jack’s words had a particular resonance with the relatively young squad now assembled at Aspatria, given that in September he will start his 21st season with the Black Reds and is now well past a 400-game played milestone.

In terms of league position, Aspatria endured a nervous season. Only a final day win was enough to avoid relegation.

However, Jack and later head coach Andy Brown put this into context. Both pointed out the impact on playing strength caused by retirements at the end of the previous campaign, followed by an early-season run of serious long-term injuries that kept key players out for the duration.

Despite all adversity, the Black Reds found a way to salvage their place in the Regional 2 North league. The bonus is that they start next season with a clean slate and valuable experience of what it takes to win in this highly competitive competition.

Before the main awards were handed out, two players were singled out for their 100% playing records. No mean feat in this hard game. The two, both forwards, Riley Thwaites and team captain Jack Gaskell.

This year’s presentation saw only a single retirement and that from one of the coaching team.

The club said a fond farewell to Graham Andrews, who, due to work and family commitments, is relinquishing his position as forwards coach.

Graham was an outstanding player for both Aspatria and Cumbria before taking up his coaching role.

He will be missed on the touchline but has promised to continue airing his views from the terraces.

Club president Alan Bowes indicated that the club’s 150 years of rugby celebration were far from over.

Events are planned for the early part of the new season to commemorate this landmark, involving everyone associated with the club.

A final surprise was when Alan produced a plaque presented to the club by the British and Irish Lions ahead of their tour to Australia.

The plaque, to be displayed in the clubhouse, honours Tom Holliday and Fran Handford, two former Aspatria players who represented the Lions in years gone by.