Oban Lorne Autumn Newsletter
Nov
It has been a very difficult and challenging start to the season for Oban Lorne in many ways.
Firstly there have been the untimely and very sad losses of the following club stalwarts: Donald MacDonald and Dave Petrie. Now this has been followed more recently by former young player Calum Thomson being tragically killed in a road accident. Our thoughts have gone out to each of them and their families in these difficulttimes. Going forward the club would like to find a way to remember them through the sport they all enjoyed.
1st XV
Due to injuries and player unavailability the squad have really struggled to field a team on 3 occasions already this season. This has led to 3 points being deducted by the West league management committee for non fulfilment of a league fixture which has the club has appealed. It looks like we are starting to pull through this period but I would appeal to players and club members to encourage new players and those who have just slipped out of the rugby habit to come along to training. This continues to be from 7-9pm every Tuesday and Thursday at the club. The team managed a cracking result last Saturday when they held on to win 13-3 at Wigtownshire with a depleted team in what was a huge defensive effort towards the end. This Saturday 05 November we have league leaders Cambuslang as visitors to Oban in what should be a cracking match. Kick off is 2 pm, let's have a large and rousig support to be the 16th man!
Ladies XV
The Ladies continue to have god results and are targeting a top 4 league finish, they have recruited new players and again I would encourage everyone to continue looking for more. Training is every Wednesday from 6-8 at the club. This Sunday the team have a home match against Lismore, kick off 2pm. Let's come along and support the ladies and their entertaining style of play.
Youth Rugby
We have the combined and Oban teams below involved at the following age groups:
Argyll and Bute U-18 Boys
Argyll and Bute U-18 Girls
Argyll and Bute U-16 Boys
Argyll and Bute U-15 Girls
Oban S1/S2
Summary of recent activities:
YOUTH RUGBY - ARGYLL U16
Lost at Cartha Queens Park yesterday, good performance by a very young U16 team.
Home match this coming Sunday 6th November against Strathaven.
SCOTTISH SCHOOLS BOWL - U16
Playing Bishopbriggs HS away. In the WEST REGIONAL BOWL COMPETITION. If they win theywill play St Maurices in the SEMI_FINAL.
SCOTTSH SCHOOLS PLATE - U18
Have defeated Lenzie Academy and Bearsden/Douglas Academy in the plate this year. They now face Kelvinside Academy away on Tuesday 1st November.
GIRLS U15 and U18
Both girls teams played in the WEST CUP QUALIFYING tournament held at Cartha. The girls played 3 matches each and were undefeated on the day. The U18 girls team has now been undefeated for over a year!
Oban High has been recognised as a "School of Rugby" by Scottish Rugby. This means they have given their own budget under the control of Murray Hamilton to spend in the way which will most benefit rugby development in the region.
Argyll and Bute Rugby Development Officer.
DO Allan Wright is now employed directly by Argyll and Bute RFC. The funding for this post is provided by the following clubs and organisations:
Argyll and Bute RFC
Islay
Mid Argyll
Mull
Oban
Argyll and Bute Council
Community 2012
Leader
Sportmatch
Scottish Rugby
Allan is being supported by the services of 2 full time SVQ's:
Emma Roxburgh - Argyll and Bute
Fergus Mathieson - School of Rugby.
Among the many rugby activites organised, the following is an extract from the "Rugby World Cup Tag" theme held at the club.
"Very successful Tag Tournament held today at the club. Over 180 players from the Oban area took part in almost 50 games throughout the day.
Lochnell who were representing Nambia lifted the P4/5 shield, while Park (Italy) beat Dunbeg (Ireland) to lift the P6/7 shield.
Hopefully this will boost the mini Rugby at the club which has had a very encouraging start to the year!
Mini Rugby:
As above we have a lot of young players involved now both in Oban and Taynuilt with around 70 participants. It is a credit to both sets of coaches and parents that we are seeing these groups develop.
Fundraising:
The next event to follow on from the highly successful auction night is aRace Night on Friday 11 November at the clubhouse from 8pm. This event is primarily to raise funds for the 50th Anniversary Committee to assist with merchandising and hosting events. The main event will be a weekend of rugby on 01-2 September 2012 which co-incides when the club was first formed. There will be a festival of rugby, an exhibition match against a select side and a Dinner at the Argyllshire Gathering. So far we have Bill Nolan and John Beattie confirmed for the Dinner. There will be other events including the Pencoed tour to Wales in February ( 10-13th) 2012 to co-incide with the Wales v Scotland match. We would like this to be well supported so that we can play a tour match against our hosts. Contact John MacEachen or Sandy Rokitta for more details of any of the above events.
Membership:
Subscriptions are now overdue and we would encourage all members to pay these promptly now. We still have the Atlantis Gym membership deal in place where you can have unlimited use for £30 per yea! Please see Billy Thomson regarding membership or just pay at the clubhouse bar.
Rates:
Family £45
Full £35
Associate 325
Junior/OAP £10
Atlantis£30
Merchandise:
We have new dress shirts (blue) in all sizes with the Oban Lorne crest available at £20 each.
Waterfront lightweight jackets with the Oban Lorne crest are available from £10.
Argyll and Bute replica team shirts are available from Billy Thomson's Sports shop at £40 each.
Please contact Darrell Williams or ask at the clubhouse bar.
As you can see there is a lot of activity at the club from Minis up to the Argyll Vet's team, if you would like to get involved then please just let us know.
Hope to see many of you at the club this weekend.
