During the months of September, October and November 2021, Berkshire Banshees Wheelchair Rugby team took part in the GBWR Wheelchair Rugby 5s League held at Stoke Mandeville Stadium Aylesbury, known worldwide as the “Birthplace of the Paralympic Movement”.
As a new club the Banshees were participating in League 1 playing against Brighton Buccaneers, Dragons, Saracens, and Saracens Wolfpack, playing each team three times to decide who would be crowned League 1 Champions for 2021.
Having won three out of four games in the September tournament, Banshees managed to win all four games in the October event, meaning it was all to play for in the November tournament.
On Saturday 27th November Banshees played Dragons in a competitive opening game winning 23 – 15. Next up were Brighton Buccaneers, another very capable team challenging the Banshees right to the wire – Banshees ended up winning 19 – 15. Game three we played Saracens Wolfpack, and after a tight first half Banshees played some excellent rugby, ending up winning 31 – 9. The fourth and final game was against Saracens, who were the only side to beat us in Round 1, so the winner of this game would win the league.
Saracens are a competitive, talented team and we knew we were in for a hard-fought game – which it was! Half time the score was 13 – 7 to the Banshees. After the break, the teams were matching each other try by try, eventually the Banshees got a stranglehold on the game by keeping their nerve and sticking to their game plan, ending up winning 22 – 15. An enjoyable, exciting game of Wheelchair rugby, which was end-to-end action throughout the game. Great credit to both teams.
So, the Banshees were crowned League Champions and now look forward to playing in the Championship league next time around.
The squad that played on the day all had game time, the players that were unavailable or were not picked this time around were supporting us from home and were all part of our success. Over the three tournaments, sixteen players represented the Banshees, of these – six new players joined us having witnessed the GBWR Gold medal success in Tokyo, which was brilliant news.
So, what next for the Banshees? We continue with the training sessions at Reading Blue Coat School, Sonning on Saturday afternoons 1 – 4pm. In the New Year we are booking friendly matches with teams we have played during the WR5s tournament, as well as other clubs not played before.
NEW YOUTH WHEELCHAIR RUGBY TEAM
As part of the ongoing success and growth of wheelchair rugby we are looking to develop our own Youth team for children aged 8 – 16 years, initially collaborating with schools – mainstream and SEND – who have children with physical disability to demonstrate this sport, and then encourage the players and families to come and join us on Saturdays after the adult training sessions end.
We will be delivering 6-week blocks of wheelchair rugby into partner schools; sessions will be delivered by CH Rugby coaches supported by the Banshees – hopefully starting in January 2022.
Support & Sponsors
To help us, we are reaching out to the Business Community to ask for funding support for youth wheelchairs, facility hire, kit, transportation and to help fund 6-week programmes into schools. If you or your company would like to discuss this further, please email berkswr@gmail.com or call Craig Hunter on 07798844202.
