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Dinner, Dance, Awards 2024
1st June 2024
"What a night!"
The unedited, undeleted and untouched photos are here in all their glory.
Mike Thomas Memorial Trophy
5th May 2024
"A day to remember"
This charity day began with a junior section tournament at 12 noon, which was well attended and a successful start to the "Be More Ben" charity day.
Clevedon RFC Vets were playing Pontycymmer RFC Vets for the Mike Thomas Memorial Trophy. They warmed up (was there any need?) on the hottest day of the year and looked done in before the game kicked off at 15:00.
It was decided beforehand that the game was only going to be an hour long with a drinks break every 15 minutes. The players took this literally as water and sport drinks took second place to port and beer!
The ferocity of the tackling surprised everyone, including the players on the pitch and after a few tries from both sides, the Clevedon vets ran out the winners.
The skill levels were moderately high and enough to entertain the enthusiastic supporters. Those that hadn’t played in a while (years) were suffering in the heat and it took a long while for them to recover in the bar afterwards.
The formal part of the day began after the Bears match and Alan Crane, Club President opened proceedings to explain about the Mike Thomas Memorial Trophy and the achievements of the past president, who died in January 2022.
He really must learn how to use the microphone! His bawling and shrieking wasn’t for the faint hearted. Eventually, he managed to finish his not very well rehearsed speech to hand over to the more accomplished vets captain, Tom Thie.
Tom started with the MOTM awards and then he spoke about the "Be More Ben" charity and why it was set up and was important to the club. He was then presented with the trophy and a glass equivalent by the president and gave a rendition of "We are the boys from Clevedon RFC...", which went down a storm.
The Pontycymmer boys looked a bit bemused before their tour chairman said a few eloquent and heartfelt words about recent, sad events in their club and about the charity the club was supporting. He presented a slate plaque to the club as a momento of the day and said how chuffed they were to be in Clevedon again!
The BBQ cooked by chefs Boldison and Nicholls (he's from Wales you know) was sponsored by an anonomous donor and people were asked to donate to the charity in return for a burger or hotdog, with or without onions!
The garden party atmosphere was enhanced by Bob Irwin's live music and kept the thronging masses entertained until Joe Malik arrived for an 80s night in the clubhouse.
The party continued until midnight with the Ponycymmer boys then having to find their way back to Warrens. They couldn't get a taxi and rumour has it that they were spread far and wide on the streets of Clevedon until a good Samaritan began shuttling them back.
What a good bunch of lads(?) they were and the club would like to thank them for helping us raise £1234.43 for "Be More Ben" and for their own generous donations.
Congratulatons are in order for Kerry who organised the event, Emma and her bar and kitchen team and of course everyone who helped make the day such a successful one.
THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!!!
P.S. Please tap the photos for the full gallery.
Mike Thomas Memorial Trophy
5th May 2024
"BMB Charity Day"
Clevedon RFC Vets will be playing Pontycymer RFC Vets at 15:00 on the 11th May for the Mike Thomas Memorial Trophy, in memory of our esteemed past president of 18 years.
Prior to the vets game there will be a junior section tournament at 12:00 to warm up the crowd, organised by Grant Cherrington.
This is also a day to support the "Be More Ben" charity, which is the club's designated charity for the year and with a full programme of events to help do this. There's a raffle for a wheelbarrow of wine, wheelbarrow not included, live music thoughout the afternoon and evening and a BBQ kindly cooked by our resident Cheese Club captain, Martin Boldison.
There will be collection and donation buckets dotted around the clubhouse, so bring down some cash (raid your piggy banks!) as they won't have any chip and pin, although that facility will be available. 😉
Come on down to The Vale and sample the charity day atmosphere, which promises to be entertaining and one not to forget.
If watching vets rugby isn't your scene, then you can always stay in the clubhouse and watch the Bristol Bears match on the gert big screen.
Reneeqa Bonner
2nd May 2024
"Bristol Bears and England U20"
The club are very proud of you Reneeqa and so we should be. It's a great achievement to represent you country - keep it going!
Noosa Dolphins Down Under
2nd May 2024
"Seasiders settling well"
Kipp Comrie and Ethan Thomas at Noosa Dolphins.
Kipp Comrie (centre) and Ethan Thomas (right) have settled well to life on the other side of the world as they made their debuts for Noosa Dolphins RFC against Maroochydore Swans in the Sunshine Coast Friday night competition.
Kipp and Ethan have travelled as part of an exchange programme organised by Clevedon RFC director of rugby Tony Dauncey, following a path he travelled himself in 2001.
Dauncey said "This is a great opportunity for the boys to go and get a taste of rugby away from the distractions of Clevedon. Noosa are a great club and it's a great place to live.The standard of rugby is good and the Dolphins are always well coached and a very competitive side".
The boys have hit the ground running, with their second training session being taken by Wallaby legend George Smith.
Both players made their debut on Friday night with Ethan picking up the MOTM award.
They were both promoted to the reserve grade game vs Caloundra Lighthouses on the 27th and the game was live streamed here on youtubeand is still available to watch.
Go well boys!
Season Over
28th April 2024
"Two Draw Scores"
Clevedon's first team season ended with a whimper.
With two home matches left in the league, Clevedon were awarded two draws against Cinderford and Clifton seconds, leaving them second from bottom in this eleven team league.
In the end, time ran out and the league organisers decided to call a halt and end the season.
Clevedon got 4 more points, Cinderford got 4 and won the league, with Clifton receving 3 points and the speculation is that these points were decided by some sort of algorithm!
The downside of these two non-played draws is that the home match bar take wasn't what it should've been, by a long way.
Nevermind, we move on as they say, and await next seasons league structures and fixtures.
See you at The Vale in September.
Gordano II 12 Clevedon II 24
20th April 2024
"Local derby in the sunshine"
Clevedon seconds travelled to Gordano for their last match of the season and came away victorious.
A mixture of colts, young 'uns and old boys put on an entertaining game, which Gordano, also fielding the same range of players, did as well.
The game was played on the first team pitch with Gordano firsts playing on the pitch below against Trowbridge in the Cup.
With former Clevedon first team captain and speed merchant, Matt Honour, playing for the opposition, they couldn't capitalise on their larger pitch that seemed suited to the young whippets in Clevedon's side.
A deserved win at the end of a tough season has hopefully lifted them away from relegation.
Captain Wozza, who led his team well, deserves a mention for keeping the side together throughout the season.
Good job, Woz!