1st July 2008
By Alan Jones
The Redingensians squad received the 2007/8 U16 Berkshire League trophy from the club’s Director of Rugby, Gary Reynolds. This was very apt, as Redingensians is committed to developing its own players through its strong Youth Section; many of these players are expected to feature in the first team in coming seasons.
This league victory culminated four seasons of Junior rugby, during which this team has been very much the dominant force in Berkshire rugby. The U14 season was a slight blemish, losing the title by a single try, but three titles in four years were won comprehensively. At U13s they conceded only three points in the six league matches, whilst scoring 287; at U15s they scored 49 tries, more than eight per game; and at U16s they finished nine points clear of the second-placed team. Perhaps the most impressive number of all is the 102 points conceded in 24 matches.
The team travelled far and wide for fixtures, seeking out the top sides in the south of England. Over the course of these four seasons Bath (Somerset), Blackheath (Kent), Bournemouth (Dorset & Wilts.), Brighton (Sussex), Henley (Oxfordshire), and Winchester (Hampshire), all serial winners of their counties’ championships, have all been beaten. Furthermore, they have played most of the top sides in Surrey and have beaten them all.
Next season they look forward to flying the Berkshire flag in the OBB U17 league, and hopefully beyond, into the National Knockout.
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