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President:

Chairman:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

1^st XV Captain:  Dave Oaksford

Vice Captain: Lewis Allan.

Team Manager Ian Tibble.

Coaches Simon Litster and Pud Cowburn.

Player of the year:  Billy Hayne.

Players’ player of the year:  Billy Hayne.

Most points:  Alex Toms (115).

Most tries:  Andy Bowditch (13).

Forward of the year:  Kevin Leatham.

Back of the year:  Lewis Allan.

Tackler of the year: Kevin Leatham.

Newcomer of the year: Luke Beynon.

Most improved player of the year: Jason Hoskins.

Played 20, Won 9, Drew 1, Lost 10.                                                                                                       

Win Ratio: 47.5%.

After the successful finale to last season and with Simon & Pud still coaching the squad there was justified optimism for a better season.  It was unfortunate that the pre-season friendlies had to be cancelled due to lack of support but we attended the Bridport 10’s and accounted for ourselves in a respectable manner.  Dave Oaksford, who was partly responsible for last season’s great escape, took over the captaincy as Dan Bowditch was waiting for surgery on last season’s injury.  Callum Guest finally made his 1^st team debut but being in the Navy was unable to play on a regular basis.  James Cooper made his 1^st team debut at home to Dorset Dockers a game that saw Lian Berry come out of retirement as there was a shortage of props for the game.  We welcomed Harry Boccio from Swanage & Wareham and he made his debut against Bridport in January.  Hywell Davies from ??? and James Ritchie from Dorchester.  Ryan Keeble Kinsella was able to commit to playing regularly on Saturdays after a job change.  Craig Barter and Joe Gibson played occasionally after extended lay offs and Tom Nixon transferred to Puddletown as it was nearer to home for him.  Scott White made his debut at home to Oakmeadians and scored his maiden try a week later at Puddletown.  Jason Hoskins went one better and scored on his debut at home to Bridport, while Matt Lang had a difficult debut in the last fixture of the season at Bournemouth 3^rds.   Cameron Avant, Dean Blanning, Ryan Harris, and Rory Legg were all either newcomers or returnees from University.  Ian Dixon retired.

The league season got off to a good start with a comfortable victory at home to Bournemouth 3^rd XV and a draw at Bridport but inconsistency in player availability and form saw the fortunes rise and fall throughout the season.  In mid-season Luke Beynon joined the Club from Birchgrove RFC in Swansea and he proved to be a very reliable centre.  The selectors had to use a total of 43 players throughout the season, especially as Lian Berry was unavailable due to work commitments and George Carter only made a single appearance after leaving Wimborne and ending his career at his home club.   At one stage we were 4^th in the league and finished the season in 6^th but unlike the previous season we were never in danger of being relegated.  Lewis Allan had led the try scoring until the last game of the season with 12 tries but was pipped at the post when Andy Bowditch scored a brace.   

Unfortunately the season ended on a sour note when a formal complaint was made to the Club by a player about the running of the 1^st team.  The committee upheld the complaint (unwisely in my opinion) which left Simon with no option but to resign.  Pud was undecided as to whether to continue coaching or stand down in support of Simon but any decision was taken out of his control when the committee appointed Rich Bament as head coach without even discussing it with him.  At the annual awards evening our President thanked Simon and Pud for all they had done for the Club in the last two seasons, especially halting and reversing the downhill slide that the 1^st XV had experienced.