CLYDEBANK RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

39^th SEASON 2007 - 08

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

We hope everyone had a good Christmas and Santa brought everyone what they wanted.  Lets hope he brought the club a present in the form of a little bit of success for the remainder of the season.

Remember we will be celebrating the New Year at the club so lets all get along and enjoy it. The function kicks off at 8pm so be there!

1st XV LOSE AWAY TO HAWKS 2nd XV GHK
A reasonable performance but lost 30-5.  Once again the ever inconsistent Hawks 2nds GHK bounce up and down the league and unluckily for Clydebank it looked like they were looking to bounce back up this week.  Maybe one day the SRU will stand up to this self deluded club and realise the practice of associated clubs is doing nothing for the game.  Good performances all round bodes well for the future but training is still lacking and players can only improve if they train.  Photos of the game can be viewed here.

1st XV LOSE AWAY TO STEWARTRY
A poor game, lost 66-7, not helped by the piss poor commitment from certain so called members who just didn't turn up.  Anyway, a predictable result that flattered the opposition was tempered by a good bus trip that returned to the base instincts with "arse spoons" being the highlight of the evening.  Photos are now available for this game here so please enjoy.

CLUB NOTICES
The club will once again arrange a New Years Eve party open to all including the little ones.  Please contact David Miller or Peter Watson for details.  Prices will be £7 per head with a £20 family ticket.

A club calendar has been prepared for 2007 and an example is now available for viewing in the bar at Whitecrook.  If members are interested in acquiring one then please let me know at the following email, gordon@albah2o.com .

CUP WEEKEND
The first XV travel to Stewatry this weekend in the next round of the cup.  All members are welcome to come along as a bus is arranged.  Meet will be at 9:30 at Whitecrook with the bus leaving at 10am.  Players should be there prompt as we do not want to be calling around trying to scrape a team together at the last minute.

1st XV WIN AT HOME TO OBAN
A fine 17-13 win after some poor results made this week a happier one.  Tries from David Smart, David Kirkwood and Graeme Kyle along with a single conversion from Ross Moffat combined to reek sweet revenge on the visitors.  Photos from this game can be viewed here.

PHOTO CATCH-UP
As a consequence of the recent downtime of the web site there have been a few events that have occurred which were recorded for posterity.  The following links will be updated as the photos of these become available.  However, first up is a set of photos from the recent Halloween dance, please restrain yourself when viewing these and as usual, if anyone would like one or more of these photos then please contact the webmaster for the original files.

     Halloween 2006

     Marr 4th Nov 06 (Lost 59 - 0)

     S2 vs Paisley 5th Nov 06 (Lost 37-7)

     Strathendrick 11th Nov 06 (Lost 0 - 50)

     U17 vs Cartha 12th Nov 06 (Lost)

WE ARE BACK UP AND RUNNING AND WILL RESUME NORMAL SERVICE IN DUE COURSE
Apologies for the recent lack of updates but due to unforeseen technical problems my puter was knackered and therefore could not update the site.  Some would say this was a good thing after recent results!

1st XV & 2nd XV LOSE TO STRATHENDRICK AT HOME
A second week of disastrous results, this time both the 1st XV and 2ndXV succumb to better more organised teams.  The 1st XV lost 0-50 with a second week without any points on the board.  Next week sees Oban visit Whitecrook for the start of the second half of the league campaign.  Photos can be viewed here.

1st XV LOSE TO MARR AWAY
A poor game with a disastrous result of 59-0, nothing more to say.  Photos can be viewed here.

1st XV WIN 2nd ROUND CUP GAME AGAINST BRAIDHOLM
A roller coaster ride of a game saw Clydebank finish 39-33 winners against a keen but inefficient Braidholm team  After a good start and fine support running David Bell opened the scoring and it looked like Clydebank would run out strong winners.  However, the usual failings resurfaced leading to the inevitable errors that gave Braidholm the chance to score.  The rest of the game went from the sublime to the ridiculous, back to the sublime and once more, the ridiculous appeared.  Scores from Graeme Kyle, Alan Cameron, David Kirkwood and James Roberts were each replied to by Braidholm off the back of dismal Clydebank mistakes.  Once again it took the reliable boot of Ross Moffat to make the difference in this game.  Ross completed four conversions and two penalties to give Clydebank the result that takes them into the next round.  Photos can be viewed here.

1st and 2nd XVs BOTH WIN LEAGUE GAMES
A fine display from the 1st XV against Cumnock resulting in a win of 11-9.  A full report can be viewed here.  Photos can be viewed here.

Next week sees a return to the Cup with Clydebank at home to Braidholm. 

The 2nd XV matched the success of the 1st XV and bettered it with a 5-31 win making them undefeated in the league and sitting top.  Three tries from James Roberts, two from Ronnie McKee and three conversions from Michael Starkey made it a happy day.  Next week sees the 2nd XV travel to Glasgow University to see if they can continue their winning form.

1st XV LEAGUE MATCH v LOCH LOMOND
A brace of wins for the 1st XV on the successive weekends and a first win in the league.  A full report can be viewed here with photos here.

Next week sees the 1st XV at home when they will take on Cumnock.

The 2nd XV were due to meet Oban Lorne this weekend who failed to raise a team and allowed Clydebank to take the points.  Luckily, a game was arranged with Whitecraigs who visited Whitecrook and left with a 7-57 win.  The points for Clydebank came from a try by Ronnie McKee in his new found role as centre with the conversion completed by Michael Starkey.  The 2nd XV have managed to complete a number of games so far which bodes well for the rest of the season.  The 2ndXV league table and future fixtures can be seen here.

U17 LOSE TO HELENSBURGH
The U17's lost 32-7 to Helensburgh on Sunday.  The latest fixtures can be viewed here.

1st XV CUP MATCH v COWAL
A long awaited win although not as convincing as it could have been against lower league opposition.  A single try from Peter Watson followed by a conversion and three penalties from Ross Moffat made it a 8-16 win.  However, a win is a win and the team enjoyed the celebrations.  Photos from the 1st XV game can be viewed here.

Next week sees the 1st XV travel to Dumbarton to take on Loch Lomond.

The 2nd XV made it a brace of wins by beating Loch Lomond 0-61 in their first league game.  The 2ndXV league table and future fixtures can be seen here.

S1&S2 MATCH v PAISLEY
A good game for the young Bankies that they unluckily lost eight tries to two to a much bigger, stronger and more intense team.  Photos from the game can be viewed here.

1st XV LEAGUE MATCH v WAYSIDERS
Another poor game lost 0-31 sees us at the bottom of the league.  Some good individual performances but still something missing from the team as a whole.  Special mention for U17's Euan Cuthbert and Michael Starkey who stepped in to help out the 1stXV who continue to struggle.

Next week sees the 1st XV travel to Cowal in the opening cup game.  The 2nd XV play Loch Lomond next week in their first league game of the season.

Photos from the game can be viewed here.

1st XV LEAGUE MATCH v UDDINGSTON
A crap game, we lost 12-27 and we were quite literally robbed.  Photos from the game can be viewed here.

U17 GAME vs GREENOCK WANDERERS
The U17 team went down 10-22 to a strong Greenock squad.  Tries from Euan Cuthbert and Ross Douglas gives a lot of hope for the future and with good turnouts at training from this squad it wont be long before some team are at the receiving end of a good hiding.  Photos from the game can be viewed here.

S1/S2 GAME vs UDDINGSTON
A good game with lots of tries and fine performances from the up and coming talent of Clydebank Rugby Club.  Photos from the game can be viewed here.

1st XV LEAGUE MATCH v GHK
A hard fought game and still signs of continued improvement throughout the team although it ended in another loss of 10-27.  A report should appear soon but photos are now available as usual by looking here.  Next week is away to Uddingston.

LEAGUE MATCH v CUMBERNAULD
A loss of 11-14 but a much better performance this week but still some cracks showing.  A more concerted effort at training is needed to get us out of this and start putting some points on the board.  A report should appear soon but photos are now available as usual by looking here.  Next week is another home game against the in form side, GHK.  After several hard games last season, this looks like it will be more of the same.

The 2ndXV however, opened their account for the season with a resounding humping of our close neighbours Loch Lomond.

LEAGUE MATCH v OBAN LORNE
A poor game resulting in a loss with a final score of 35-15 to Oban.  Clydebank started well by dominating the game in all phases and with a fine try from Graeme Kyle early on looked to be on the way to a first win.  However, a lack of concentration, or a mental breakdown, gave Oban the lead when they slid through the central defence to score an easy try.  This scenario was repeated on a number of occasions to allow Oban to almost invisibly swim past a lack lustre Clydebank back line to cross the try line five times in total.  A late spurt from Clydebank brought two further hard fought tries resulting from an impressive forwards effort off the line out.  Graeme Kyle crossed the line once more and when the ball was shipped out in a later move, Peter Watson focused his efforts to put earlier problems behind him and cross the line with several Oban backs hanging on unsuccessfully as he touched down.  Although this is a poor start to the campaign there were many positive aspects that can be drawn from this game and gives coach Euan McQuarrie a lot to work on in the coming weeks.   The team are shown below and further photos can be viewed here.  Next week sees Cumbernauld visit Whitecrook after a close win over Loch Lomond.

TRIAL MATCH AGAINST STRATHCLYDE POLICE
Another victory with a final score of 26-22.  Clydebank made it hard for themselves on a number of fronts but managed to gel at the right times to snatch victory from a big and much improved Police team.  The team are shown below and a host of photos can be viewed here.  The Strathclyde Police fan site (link) is another fine source of memories of this game.  A report is also included here.

Next week sees the start of the league season with the first game away to Oban Lorne.  All players are encouraged to make it to training and be available for next weeks game.  A hard game last year at Oban was narrowly lost 17-10 so we need to improve this year to come away with a victory this time.

TRIAL MATCH AGAINST ALAN GLENS 2nd XV
Apologies but the following is a correction from last weeks game.

A stuttering start to the day ended in a satisfying victory.  Those members that managed to make it enjoyed a 12-7 win over the Glens 2ndXV.  Tries came from Don Ross and Ian Starkey with Ross Moffat converting one.  The team are shown below and a host of photos can be viewed here.  A report is also included here.

TRIAL MATCH AGAINST CALDER
A better performance this week against Calder with the work at training showing.  However, still a long way to go after this was lost after several easy tries were gifted to Calder.  Tries did come from Paul Andrews (1), Don Ross (1) and Ross Moffat (2).  Ross Moffat added a brace of conversions and a penalty.

More photos can be viewed here (please note that all photos on this web site are the copyright of © Gordon McCombe and permission should be sought before using them).

DAVID LENNIE CELEBRATIONS
We would like to congratulate David and Anne Lennie on their recent 25th Wedding Anniversary which they celebrated in the Rugby club on 5th August.

All that attended enjoyed a fine evening and celebrated a great night with one of the most admired and liked members the club has ever had.

TOUCH TOURNAMENT
The first competitive venture of the new season was Sunday 30th July at the inaugural Glasgow Warriors Touch Tournament.  Clydebank took part bravely and put up a spirited display of running sideways and in circles.  The team that took part are shown below.

The team went on to take part in the tug-o-war tournie which they lost to the Fire Brigade in the first phase but due to a sudden call out they forfeited and had to leave giving Clydebank a pass to the next round where once again they were defeated.
However, everyone enjoyed themselves and had a chance to meet the Glasgow Warriors who are the face of Glasgow rugby to the rest of the world and deserve our support.
The event was very successfully attended and was won in the end by GHK.

A lot more pictures are available here to try and give you a flavour of the day.

OLD CROCKS
The Old Crocks was won once again by the mighty force known as the "Old Bastards".  Can the pups ever overcome the skill and grace of this band of experienced and youthful old men, I dont think so.  Anyway check out the photos and videos from this years game and meal here.

The Victors

The Losers

You can also check out photos from past Old Crock games for 2004 and 2005 by clicking on these links.

CLYDEBANK ?? - Strathaven ??

A good turn out for the U16 squad but couldn't match the strength and skills of the Strathaven team.  Match photos are available here.
You can view the U16 contribution to the Clydebank supporters club here.
Latest league table for U16 is available here.
Go to the Youth Pages for further details with links to match photos.

S1 & S2 (15th January 06)

Clydebank 2 tries - Cumbernauld lots of tires and promotion to their first XV

What looked to be a good game in prospect against Cumbernauld turned into a one sided affair for most of the game with the Cumbernauld U18's easily outstripping the Clydebank youngsters for pace, strength and yearly salary.  A well fed Cumbernauld outfit who despite their superior size still thought that it would be fairer if they fielded a full fifteen against the Clydebank thirteen, perhaps the Cumbernauld management felt their team would be lonely.
Anyway, the Clydebank team managed to show a good level of skill with fine performances all round.  A brace of tries against the Cumbernauld pensioners showed that skill can often defeat brute strength and size.
Match report will be available soon.  Photos and some excellent videos can be viewed here.