Back
As England Roses lifted the Rugby World Cup Barnes 1st XV edged out OA's in top of the table clash
Saturday was momentous for England's Roses but also for Barnes as they took down OAs 22-21 at Barn Elms
A spectacular weekend saw not only England’s Roses lift the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham but also Barnes Men’s 1st XV pipping Old Albanians by a point 22-21 at Barn Elms, taking their unbeaten record in the process, and their 12 game run of wins, which stretched back to the last two months of last season.
Barnes are the only team now unbeaten in National League 2 East, and are well set in third place. However, it is already shaping up to be one of the closest seasons in this league, with any one of the teams capable of beating each other. Looking at the league table, it is highly competitive already, with 8 teams within 4 points of each other. In 8th place are new comers Oundle, our opponents this weekend. They have already notched up two wins, including an impressive away win against Bury, never an easy place to get a result. Early reports are that Oundle have a very big pack, so we will need to hold our own there to secure enough ball for our backs to attack and score. It is going to be a tough encounter, that is for sure.
Saturday and Sunday sees six Barnes adult sides take the field.
On Saturday our Men’s 2nd XV and the Occies are both at home against Blackheath 2’s and Dorking 3rd XV respectively, whilst the Outriders take on Hammersmith and Fulham again, their first ever opponents this season, it will be a good test of the progress they have made so far.
On Sunday both our Women’s 1st and 2nd XVs are in action, the 1’s are away at Eton Manor, whilst the 2’s are at home against Ealing 2’s.
Please do venture down to Barn Elms over the weekend, the players love hearing your support on the touchline, and you will get some fresh air and see some great rugby live!
Onwards and Upwards Barnow!
For Rugby! For Friendship! For Life!
Michael “Rhino” Whitfield - President Barnes Rugby Club
Full details of this weekend’s fixtures are below:
Saturday 4th October Fixtures
• Oundle RFC vs Barnes Men’s1st XV - 2pm KO
• Barnes Men’s 2nd XV vs Blackheath Men’s 2nd XV - 2pm KO
• Hammersmith & Fulham 2nd XV vs Barnes Outriders - 3pm KO
• Barnes Occies vs Dorking 3rd XV - 1:30pm KO
Sunday 5th October Fixtures
• Eton Manor Ladies vs Barnes Women’s 1st XV - 2:30pm KO
• Barnes Women’s 2nd XV vs Ealing Women’s 2nd XV - 2:30pm KO
What a weekend of girls rugby at Barnes - words by Boris Pomroy
It kicked off on Friday with the biggest ever turn-out at our mixed schools tag festival, including several girls-only teams.
A huge thank you to James Parker, for organising.
Saturday morning brought 25 girls together for Under 7’s to Under 11’s training, plus the arrival of Laura, our new coach.
The afternoon’s open ‘Intro to rugby’ saw several new recruits join for the first time and were welcomed by our brilliant senior Barnes women players, who came to help out.
Later that day, a watch party for the Red Roses ensured the clubhouse was rocking, while about 30 of our girls and parents were at Twickenham to cheer England on to World Cup glory in person.
And the rugby just kept coming. On Sunday three age groups (Under 12s, Under 14s and Under 16s) fielded four teams at Cobham, while our Under 10s shone at the Weybridge Vandals festival with skill and spirit.
All told, it might just be the biggest, and best, weekend of girls’ rugby the club has ever seen.
Looking ahead, the good news just keeps on rolling!
On Saturday 4th October Barnes, will host Rugbyfest at the BEST pitches opposite the clubhouse, and we’re thrilled to announce that both Marlie Packer and Rosie Galligan, fresh from their World Cup victory, will be there in person – how brilliant is that?
Marlie and Rosie will be meeting our players, answering questions, taking photos, and joining in the fun. A fantastic chance for our girls to be inspired by two England’s finest players, and of course Rugby World Cup winners, did I say that?
Bring sisters, daughters, and friends. It’s the perfect day to give rugby a try.
For more info, please contact Boris Pomroy: GirlsRugby@BarnesRFC.org
Barnes Men’s 1st XV 22 – 21 Old Albanians Men’s 1st XV - words by Honorary Secretary Richard Fenech
Old Albanians poor discipline teaches them a painful lesson
Big clashes often make for a spectacle, which this wasn’t, but it did become a real nail bitter!
Pristine autumnal conditions, and a well-travelled Old Albanians, with an equally pristine unbeaten playing record this season, showed early on just how effective their backline is, and why they have started this season so well, following on from their excellent end to last season.
Barnes patiently absorbed an energetic attack from OAs before winning the first scrum, unleashing our backs with the hard-working Joe Henry scoring and Harvey Graham converting.
For much of the first quarter, Barnes simply couldn’t convert hard earned territory, and were camped inside OA’s 22, only to allow OA’s to counter with an opportunistic break, to score and convert and take the lead 0-7.
OA’s high tackles saw two yellow cards in the first half, and the rest of the half became a arm wrestle in the set piece. Despite OA’s larger pack, Barnes kept challenging them and maintained parity.
In the final minute of the first period, our lineout delivered perfect ball which forced more OA’s penalties, eventually resulting in the excellent Ollie Walker scoring a try, which was not converted, resulting in a half time score board that read 12-7 to Barnes.
OA’s started the second half with the same power and pace that they opened the contest with, but Jacques Birch, last year’s try machine at Barnes, marked his debut this season in the 1st XV with a well worked try from another Barnes lineout with Graham adding the extras.
OA’s dug deep, and showed just why they are a force to be reckoned with this season, scoring two more converted tries in the last quarter, looking the more likely team to win the match.
But it was Barnes composure, combined with excellent discipline and defence, and excellent refereeing from Mr Marshall, that made sure we remained calm under the OAs final assault and pipped a formidable, but ill-disciplined and not clinical OAs side.
As worthy man of the match and industrious Skipper, Spencer-Jones said afterwards, “Barnes did just enough” - but we will need to do better than that in the many challenges that are ahead in this long season.