Both our Men’s and Women’s 1st and 2nd XV’s were in action, the Men’s 2nd XV the only one of the 4 to emerge victorious from the 4 games, over coming Richmond Saxons 31-22 in a rip-roaring contest.

The Women’s 1st XV took on league leaders Eton Manor, and once they had run off 4 weeks of inactivity, competed well, but not well enough ultimately, losing 19-36. Their 2nd XV had a tough time at Ealing, going down 4-5. On Friday night the Originals faced a frisky Chiswick in a jolly romp 41-17 under the lights.

On Sunday, our Colts went down 15-25 against a very well drilled Chobham side in the Waterfall Cup.

And finally, our Men’s 1st XV faced league leaders Old Albanians in the away fixture and nearly sneaked an unlikely win at the death but for a crooked throw in on the oppo’s line in the dying minutes – so close but yet so far.

This weekend we face Oundle, the second placed side in National League 2 East, arguably the more likely contenders to win the league than OAs. We got outmuscled by them at their place earlier in the season 31-26, another one of our games that could so easily gone our way but didn’t - but on the occasion of our annual Vets lunch this Saturday we will be looking to get revenge and turn them over this time!

We are pleased to share with you Jack Heald’s recent podcast with Rugby Weekly, all about why toughness in rugby is misunderstood, a good listen when you have time, you can find it here: Jack Heald on Rugby Weekly podcast

With 4 other fixtures to enjoy this weekend, 3 at home, please do get down and support your club, it means so much to the lads and lasses. Details of all the fixtures, and match reports from last week are below.

Onwards and Upwards Barnow!

For Rugby! For Friendship! For Life!

Michael Whitfield – President Barnes Rugby Club

Here are the details for all this weekend's games:

Saturday 24th Fixtures
• Barnes Men’s 1st XV vs Oundle RFC 1st XV - 2pm KO
• Barnes Men’s 2nd XV vs Oxford University- 2pm KO
• Battersea Ironsides vs Barnes Occies - 2pm KO
Sunday 25th Fixtures
• Thamesians Women's 1st XV vs Barnes Women’s 1st XV - 2pm KO
• Barnes Women’s 2nd XV vs Belsize Park - 2pm KO

Barnes Colts 15 – Chobham Colts - words by Coach Paul Spencer
Barnes Colts continued their campaign in the Surrey League, Twickenham Cup, against Chobham Colts last Sunday.

Chobham are undefeated in the league this year, so we knew the challenge ahead was a big one.

From the kick off Chobham ran hard at Barnes, but some heroic last gasp defence repeatedly held them out, with Ricky even scoring a break away try against the run of play for Barnes to lead 5-0.

Chobham then scored, but Barnes were not ready to throw the towel in with Max securing a catch off a cross field kick to score and take the lead 10-5.

The next period was dominated by Chobham who, despite one more try from Barnes, secured the win, 15-25.

Barnes are learning quickly this year, and losing 4 tries to 3 is no disgrace.

We will lick our wounds, learn and come back stronger next weekend away to Old Cranleighians.

Barnes Women’s 1st XV 19 - Eton Manor 1st XV - words by Co - Captain Kitty Robinson
Coming out fresh for our first game of 2026, Barnes Women’s 1XV welcomed Eton Manor to Barn Elms. Eton Manor sit top of the table, yet to lose a game. Having played them away in September and suffered a 41-10 defeat, we knew we had a stiff challenge ahead.

Eton Manor started strong and big ball carriers picked holes in the Barnes defence.

The month without a game was perhaps showing in Barnes’ sharpness, in contrast, Eton Manor were coming off their 7th straight win just 7 days before.

Despite some huge tackles and a big defensive effort, Eton Manor ran in 5 tries unanswered in the first half.

After a regroup at half time with some constructive feedback from the coaches, there was a renewed effort in the second half.

Finally getting some ball in hand, Barnes were on the front foot. Dominant carries from the forwards, coupled with a string of penalties from Eton Manor resulted in Barnes finding themselves up in the Eton Manor 22. The forwards kept it tight and picked over the line. Try was scored by co-Captain Jess McLean-Wright and converted by Liv Ponsford.

Barnes continued to keep possession and a yellow card to Eton Manor created space for Noor Limmer to cut through and score an impressive try, also converted by Liv Ponsford.
Unfortunately, the Eton Manor backline was still full of running and slid in for another try.
There was a brief pause in play as an Eton Manor prop suffered a serious injury, as she was tended to by the fantastic medical teams from both sides, play resumed on an adjacent pitch.

Not phased by the move, Barnes were soon on the scoreboard again with Liv Ponsford finishing great backs try out wide.

Eton Manor hit back quickly and finished the game running in another quick try before full time.

Final Score - Barnes 19 - Eton Manor 44.

We send our very best wishes to Sophie from Eton Manor as she recovers.

The coaches awarded their player of the match to Jeanette for her huge defensive effort; she must have made 100 tackles!

Forward of the match went to Fiona, the coaches gave her specific instructions to carry hard and she definitely achieved that.

Back of the match went to Noor, great in attack and defensive, she was a standout player in the backline.

Ealing Women’s 2nd XV 43 - 5 Barnes Women’s 2nd XV - words by Co-Captain Molly Taylor
Barnes Women 2nd XV faced a tough challenge away at Ealing, who came out firing and were determined to defend their home turf from the opening whistle. The hosts brought the game to us early, applying sustained pressure and dictating much of the first half.

Despite a huge defensive effort from Barnes, we were unable to convert opportunities and went into halftime without getting on the scoreboard.

Barnes returned to the pitch in the 2nd half with a renewed energy, showing real grit and resilience. A quick tap and go from Angie lead to an incredible break, backed up by a full team effort which led to a well earned try - finally putting Barnes on the board and shifting the momentum of the game.

The conversion was narrowly missed, striking the crossbar, but it did little to dampen Barnes’ spirit as they continued to compete until the final whistle.

Despite the final score of 43-5 Barnes left the pitch with their heads held high, and with plenty to build on ahead of next weekend’s fixture.

Chiswick Vets 41-17 Barnes Originals - words by Honorary Secretary Rich Fenech
Barnes Vets faced Chiswick Vets in a contest that ultimately told two very different stories. Chiswick were sharp from the outset and dominated the opening quarter, exploiting early gaps and racing into a 21–0 lead inside the first 15 minutes. Barnes were slow to settle and paid the price against a well-organised and clinical side.

To their credit, Barnes responded superbly. Once the early pressure was absorbed, Barnes began to play with width and ambition, moving the ball well and committing defenders. The middle period of the match belonged firmly to Barnes, with some excellent running rugby and a far more cohesive performance across the park. That spell was reflected on the scoreboard, with Barnes outscoring Chiswick to bring the game back to 21–17 and very much back in contention.

However, as the match entered its final stages, Chiswick’s greater numbers and squad familiarity began to tell. Barnes lost players to injury and yellow cards. Chiswick remained structured and ruthless, pulling away late on to secure a 41–17 victory.

Despite the scoreline, Barnes can take real positives from the middle half of the game, where the quality of rugby on show demonstrated what this side is capable of! Special mention to the Occies players who helped out and added a lot of bite to our play.

Old Albanians 28-22 Barnes Men’s 1st XV - words by Rhino
This was yet another one of those games that we have played this season where it was a case of so close but yet so far.

For a change we started much faster than of late but failed to sustain that for most of the game after Will Nicholson slotted an early penalty and Angus Farqhar went over for a try to take an 0-8 lead.

For the rest of the half, it was all OA’s and they went into the break 14-8 up after scoring two converted tries.

The second half started badly for Barnes with the OAs star player Alex Noot adding a further try which was also converted to extend their lead to and Barnes at that stage were staring down the barrel of a largish defeat. But Barnes, being Barnes, were having none of it and on the hour with Matt Branfield bursting through the line to score, Nicholson converted to reduce the home team’s lead to 21-15. OAs scored again, their lead now 28-15, but Barnes hit back through the prolific try-scoring winger Jacques Birch, the score now 28-22.
With only a couple of minutes left Barnes had the opportunity to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

With the lineout drive having been one of our most potent weapons over recent years, an unlikely win seemed possible, only for the lineout throw to go awry and OAs booted the ball away to huge relief.

Barnes Men’s 2nd XV 31-24 Richmond Saxons - words by Coach Tommy Burkett
A chilly Saturday afternoon, brightened by a token ray of sunshine (and the promise of a pint afterwards), set the scene for another local derby on the Barnes First Team pitch. Barnes, boasting a strong home record against Richmond Saxons, were keen to right the wrongs of last week’s away day at Blackheath and remind the neighbours whose patch this really is.

Barnes lined up with a proper arsenal in the backs, supported by several exciting young Outriders, and welcomed new prop signing Ethan Hurst for his home debut — a man who would later prove both durable and mildly indestructible.

From the kick-off Barnes wasted no time earning a penalty, which was absolutely leathered into touch, missing the club’s Veo camera by mere centimetres (apologies to the analyst). Richmond pinched the lineout and went on the offensive, camping themselves on the Barnes line until James Smith intervened to restore order and escort play back into safer territory.

Richmond had clearly started the sharper of the two sides and were first to trouble the scoreboard. An overlap on the near side and a couple of missed tackles allowed them to stroll in under the posts, adding the extras for good measure.

0–7 Richmond.

Barnes, however, responded quickly. Sustained pressure followed and JJ sold the Richmond 13 a dummy so convincing it probably still owes him change, gliding through to score.

Game on.

Unfortunately, Richmond then enjoyed a spell of dominance, pinning Barnes deep in their own half. A textbook catch-and-drive resulted in another try, pushing the visitors ahead once more.

Barnes 5 = Richmond 12.

The next ten minutes were proper derby fare — scrums, lineouts, and plenty of grunting in the middle of the park. On 35 minutes, a Barnes lineout five metres out saw Pat just get a fingertip to a quick throw. The shove was on. What followed was nine phases of zig-zagging, edge-of-your-seat rugby before Pat sliced through a valiant Richmond defence to score under the posts. Extras added.

Half-time: Barnes 12 – Richmond 12.

The second half began, much like the first, with Richmond flying out of the blocks. Two tries in quick succession had the Barnes back line looking slightly shell-shocked by the pace and precision of the Saxons’ attack.

Barnes 12 - Richmond 24.

But Richmond had unknowingly poked the Barnow bear.

Five minutes after their last try, Cam Ruddock took a knee, allowing debutant Toby Graham to enter the fray for Barnes 2s. On just his third lineout, and after Barnes won a penalty for holding on, Toby delivered a dart so accurate it could be framed. The pack rumbled, the shove was on, and over the line went Toby himself — first try, first game, no pressure.
Barnes 17 – Richmond 24, with ten minutes left and the crowd suitably stirred.

Barnes now turned the screw. Wave after wave of pressure followed until club stalwart and all-round legend James Smith took matters into his own hands. Picking up from the back of the scrum, Captain Fantastic chipped the near-side winger and regathered to score a superb solo try.

24–24. Heart rates rising.

Amid the chaos, debutant Ethan Hurst briefly exited with a nasty cut below the eye, only to reappear minutes later looking like he’d simply lost an argument with a hedge. With five minutes remaining, Barnes sensed blood.

Then Malcolm Nimmo decided enough was enough.

Awarded a penalty, the air was pierced by the unmistakable roar of our resident Scotsman. Finding another gear entirely, Malcolm smashed through two Richmond defenders to score the decisive try — calmly adding the extras himself for good measure. Ice-cold. Game over.
A remarkable comeback, sealed in dramatic fashion and made possible by the tireless effort of the young Outriders who stepped up when it mattered most.

Final Score: Barnes 31 – Richmond Saxons 24

Man of the Match: Malcolm Nimmo