Thomas Froggatt Memorial Match 2017 Thursday 28th December: Egremont RUFC With a crisp pitch, cold and sunny weather, a good-size crowd, and two large and eager playing squads all was in place for the third annual Thomas Froggatt (SH 03-10) Memorial Match at the Bleach Green home of Egremont Rugby Union Club. It is fair to say that the match did not disappoint. The Ex-St Bees XV took the game to their hosts from the outset, surprising everyone (including themselves) with the quality of their teamwork, given that they had only assembled an hour or so prior to the kick off. Their sharp start was rewarded with the first converted try of the game for a well-deserved 7-0 lead, with the St Beghians clearly keen to record their first win of the ongoing series of matches. However, the experienced Egremont XV shook off the early cobwebs and rallied strongly to dominate much of the next twenty minutes of play. The hosts drew level after a series of powerful forward drives and then added two further tries to their tally to take a firm grip on the game. Or so we thought. Back came the Ex-St Bees side with a further try of their own to leave the game finely balanced at half time. It should be noted that the match was played in four twenty minute quarters in order to take account of seasonal excesses! The second half of the game produced further highly entertaining rugby as both squads tired and mistakes increased. Following some inspired play from both teams, the ex-St Bees side clawed their way back into the match to draw level at 31-31 with minutes remaining. However, Egremont refused to accept the prospect of a tie and one final attack produced the game-clinching try, bringing delight and disappointment in equal measure to the absorbed crowd. A final score of 38-31 to Egremont left both sides feeling that they had fully earned their after-match refreshments, having produced the most enjoyable and well balanced game of the series so far. Thanks go to Jonathan Garrod and Simon Edwards for assembling such a willing and talented St Beghian squad, and also to Stuart McNee for his coaching prowess on the day. Thanks also go to the Egremont club for being such excellent hosts and to all those supporters who attended for ensuring that the festivities carried on late into the night. Most importantly, it should be noted that the nominated charity of Nick and Maggie Froggatt, the Calvert Trust, benefited from another superb fund-raising effort by all who attended the match. The combined total of the pitchside collection, the raffle, and the first ever auction was £1100 resulting in a very fitting tribute to the memory of Thomas. The fourth annual match will again fall on the 28th of December (2018), a Friday, and we are keen to see Old St Beghians of all eras making the trip to this increasingly popular and now firmly established event. We are also keen for feedback from the host of female OSBs who attended as to whether or not you would like a women’s sport to be included as part of the day. Please respond with your thoughts via Jonathan Garrod’s Facebook page and, should there be sufficient demand, we will be only too delighted to make the arrangements. Many thanks again for all those who supported the 2017 Thomas Froggatt Memorial Match so well, both on and off the field, and we look forward to welcoming even greater numbers in 2018. Huw Lewis.

Those playing in the OSB team (pink shirts) were: 1. Alfred Sherwen, 2. Simon Edwards, 3. Lewis Lindsay, Alex Mossop, 4. Niall Sandwith, David Garrod, 5. Henry Clarke (not an OSB, boyfriend of an OSB), 6. Isaac Morre, Ciaron Newland, 7. Dan Rhodes, 8. Jonathan Garrod, 9. Joe Greene, 10. Mark Reid, 11. Matthew Hutchins 12. Fraser NcNee, 13. Seb Wilson, 14. Albert MacKay, Hayden Taylor, 15. Thomas Pavey-Smith. Coach: Stuart McNee. Please click below for further photos by 'Jonny Reid Photography': Batch 1 Batch 2 Batch 3 Batch 4

 

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The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk