Alnwick RFC
| Logo | |||
| Full name | Alnwick Rugby Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1960 | ||
| Location | Alnwick, Northumberland, United Kingdom | ||
| Ground(s) | Greensfield (Capacity: 200 in stand, unlimited standing) | ||
| Coach(es) |  Mark Watson
Nick Willings | ||
| Captain(s) | Andrew Shell (1st XV)
Ben Boothman (Vice Captain) | ||
| League(s) | North 1 East | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| www | |||
Alnwick RFC is an amateur rugby union club based in the town of Alnwick, Northumberland in north-east England. The club play in North 1 East, a level six league in the English rugby union system and are the most northerly rugby union club in English league rugby, (Berwick like their football team play in the Scottish rugby union system).[1] Alnwick remain a strictly amateur club with all players paying annual and weekly match subscriptions.[citation needed] Alnwick continue to regularly field four senior sides, all of which play competitive league and cup rugby. The club also has a junior section running teams from under 7's through to under 18's and a girls section.[2]
League history
The 1987–88 season saw the formation of rugby union leagues in England[3] which placed Alnwick in level six. They remained in that league until the 2002–03 season when they were relegated to Durham & Northumberland 1. The winners of Durham & Northumberland 1 are automatically promoted, with the second placed team going in to a play-off promtion game against the second place team from Yorkshire 1.
The 2003–04 campaign saw Alnwick finish in second place, meaning they faced Pontefract RFC in the play-off for promotion. Alnwick won the fixture 25–18 and were promoted back into North 1 East . They remained at this level for two seasons until the 2005–06 season when they were relegated back to Durham & Northumberland 1 after finishing the campaign in 10th position.
After a four season rebuilding period in Durham & Northumberland 1 Alnwick produced a young team, captained by the prolific try scoring wing Andrew Shell. The 2010–11 season saw the club finish in third position in Durham & Northumberland 1. The following campaign saw Alnwick go one better and finish in 2nd place,[4] and face Keighley RUFC who finished 2nd in Yorkshire 1 in a play-off for promotion. Alnwick went in to half time with a 16–3 lead. The second half saw Keighley fight back to win 18–16 and seal promotion to North 1 East.[5]
In 2013 Alnwick were promoted to North 1 East. They clinched promotion by finishing as champions of Durham & Northumberland 1 with a 10–28 victory against Medicals RFC in the final game of the season.[6]
Local rivalries
Each season Alnwick play against local rivals, Berwick, Northern and Morpeth for a trophy, (as well as league points in the case of Morpeth and Northern in the 2013/14 campaign). The annual Alnwick v Berwick fixture contested for the Claret Jug [7] takes place on the traditional derby date of boxing day. The venue for this fixture alternates between the clubs each year and often attracts the largest attendance of the season.
- Alnwick v Morpeth - Silver Horse and Dave Routledge Trophy (For Man of the Match). Current holders Alnwick and James Hamilton (Alnwick) [9]
- Alnwick v Berwick - Claret Jug. Current holders Alnwick
Current standings
Template:2013–14 North One East Table
Honours
- Northumberland Senior Cup: 1983–84
- Durham & Northumberland 1: 2012–13
Notable former players
References
- ^ "Berwick RFC". www.pitchero.com/clubs/berwick. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Alnwick RFC Junior". www.pitchero.com/clubs/alnwick. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "English Premiership". espnscrum.com. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ^ "Durham/Northumberland 1". www.rugbyroundup.com. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Alnwick 16 Keighley 18". chroniclelive.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Champions!". northumberlandgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ^ "Berwick RFC 12 Alnwick RFC 11". northumberlandgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ^ "1st XV 15 - 13 Alnwick". northernfootballclub.co.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ "Alnwick run in three tries against local rivals Morpeth". northumberlandgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2013.