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Old Albanian RFC Match Programme 5th Jan 2019

Old Albanians vs Barnes

Saturday 5th January 2019

The club’s website states that it was established in Barnes in the 1920s. For many years the club played at the Harrodian Club before moving to its Barn Elms location in 1987 when the grounds were sold to form a school. Barnes RFC first XV has been promoted eight times since being positioned in Surrey Division Three in 1987.

In 2002, the club’s website claimed continuity with Barnes Football Club, stating that the earliest recorded match was November 1862 versus Richmond, played at Barn Elms. Barnes won that match and the replay that followed. For many years they played as Harrodians RFC before moving to their Barn Elms location in 1987. In 2005, this claim was amplified in a Daily Telegraph article by BBC sports presenter John Inverdale. Inverdale, who stated that he was “for reasons that I’m not altogether clear about, one of a number of vice-presidents” of Barnes RFC, wrote that “in 1839, according to the club records, Barnes RFC were born, playing fixtures against a whole mish-mash of teams of which no match results have been kept”.

In 2008, the rugby club’s website weakened this claim, stating only that “Barnes Rugby Club is a club with a rich history and was established in Barnes in the 1920s. Although there are indeed possibilities that our earliest recorded match was in November 1862 versus Richmond and played at Barn Elms, it is from the 1920s that our true history is clear”.

Previous Match - 15th Sept 2018 - Barnes 24 - Old Albanians 33 (Away)

Old Albanian RFC & Barnes RFC

Club Main Sponsor

President's Welcome

On behalf of OLD ALBANIAN RFC I extend a very warm welcome to you all today in particular the Players, Management, Officials & Supporters of BARNES RFC BARNES come to us sitting 12th in the League with 6 wins so far this term. Their last outing, just before the Christmas break, saw them lose a very close game against high-flying Henley 17-24 & like us, when we visited Henley the week before, Barnes were leading at half time ! After a good run of 4 wins on the trot in October/November we have come up short losing three out of our last four outings. When we met at Barn Elms back in September we just got the better of Barnes in an extremely exciting game by 33 points to 24. So, with both Teams needing to pick up points, it’s going to be another “cracker” !

Let’s all hope today’s game is played in the best possible rugby spirit, free from any serious injury.

In addition to welcoming BARNES & their entourage this afternoon, I also warmly welcome our VICE PRESIDENTS along with many of our Sponsors, Benefactors, Supporters, Friends & Guests to our 2nd VICE PRESIDENTS’ Lunch of this Season. The third & final VICE PRESIDENTS’ Lunch of this Season is on 30 March prior to the game against Canterbury. Please mark your diaries now !

Huge thanks go to MAJESTIC WINES who are generously sponsoring today’s Match & Match Ball. Thank you Henry Wisson for your ongoing & most generous support.

There are no other games here at Woollams this afternoon so our ROMANS, generously sponsored by Peter Blake-Turner, along with our GLADIATORS, generously sponsored by R & R Enterprises, and our GRIZZLIES, generously sponsored by Peter Buttle of Buttle plc, are all having an extended rest !

Tomorrow our glorious SAINTS, generously sponsored by IHS Markit, currently top of their League, the Women’s Championship South East 2, by two clear points, are away playing with their Counterparts from HAMPSTEAD, who currently sit in fourth place just 4 points below us. Our SAINTS would love your support … so, if any of you are near Hampstead tomorrow, please go along … kick-off 2:00pm.

Tomorrow, here at Woollams, sees our 900+ Minis & Juniors take to the pitches from 10:00am on. Do come along and watch & support our Stars of future years. It’s always a great morning of rugby activity.

In addition to wishing you all a Very Happy, Healthy & Fulfilling 2019 I wish you all a most enjoyable experience here at Woollams, the home of OA Rugby.

Richard Milnes, OA RFC President

Head Coach's Preview

Happy New Year to all our supporters and we are very much looking forward to kicking off 2019 with a home fixture at Woollams.
Our last outing away at BSE was a disappointing way to end 2018 with a last minute defeat and unfortunately the fixture also see us pick up substantial injuries to Ben Calder, Ned Warne and Jamie Townsend which will see us re-jig the squad for tomorrow's fixture.
Traditionally the fixture returning immediately after Xmas has always been a tough fixture which can be a little disjointed as players aim to get themselves back into match intensity so our focus will be very much on our performance, limiting mistakes and ensuring we build our performance on executing the basics of our game very well.
Barnes are always a tough side who play the game in an expansive manner and ran 2nd placed Henley very close in their last outing so will be in a confident mood to get the New Year off to a good start also.
We have a few changes in the squad with returns for several players from injury and unavailability and we are very much looking forward to seeing how the players gel quickly and implement some of the exciting attacking rugby we have displayed recently at home.
We look forward to seeing a good home support at Woollams to cheer the boys on.

Gavin Hogg, Head Coach

Match Day Team Sheet

Team sheet vs Barnes - 5th January 2019

1st XV League Table

National League Two South, 5th January 2019

1st XV Fixtures & Results

1st XV Fixture List - 2018/19

22nd Dec 2018

Bury St Edmunds 24

Old Albanians 22

Match Report

Well it was in many ways a rousing pre-Xmas jaunt but it will have left Gavin Hogg’s men somewhat short on seasonal bonhomie. Once again short in various departments Albanians looked to be doing enough to control this fixture only to see it snatched from their hands with the last kick of the game. Thoughts of the fat lady and whether it’s all over or not are perhaps unkind at this time of year.

A somewhat tentative opening phase saw the hosts into the lead after ten minutes when Fin Sharpe found space on the left. Seven points adrift OAs fought to get themselves a foothold and Watt’s penalty found the spot six minutes later. Further Albanian pressure gained possession and position before a somewhat aimless Bury clearance kick went only as far as flyer Lloyd Anderson. All he left behind was a vapour trail!

The process continued as the visitors continued edging tight play and were not found wanting in broken field, so much so that Alex Ricci was one of several who waited in line for the clever cross kick just on the break. Watt’s conversion was a joy to behold.

The third quarter was not a happy time for OAs who first of all allowed Dave Coutts to charge over off the back of a well-executed maul for a converted try. Then lock Will Scholes was ushered to the line from fully forty metres for the try which, with the conversion, took Bury to a 21-15 lead with twenty to go.

Counter attacking once more the powerful Albanian scrum took possession inside the Bury 22. Chris West drove for the line and, with his route blocked, he delivered an inch perfect pass to Anderson who dotted down by the flag. Watt’s magnificent conversion gave his side the lead once more and silenced the roisterous crowd.

All OAs had to do was run the clock down for two minutes and it is more dangerous to attempt this deep in your own half than the other side of half way. A minute remained when the referee raised his hand in favour of Bury and fly half Cam Ritchie had the daunting task of a forty metre kick to win the match. Ritchie’s nerve held!

Here’s to the Xmas break and may we wish you all a great Xmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year. Barnes visit Woollams first Saturday in January. Kickoff 15.00hrs.

Team – Morgan, White Martinez, Chamnaoui, Hamilton (c), Bond, Illston, Scopes, West, Calder, Starling, Warne, Watt, Watson, Anderson, Ricci | Subs – Townsend, Forrest, West, Hill, Holdsworth, Lewis, Bond

Brian Quinn, Press & Publicity

Recent Results & Upcoming Fixtures

Senior Club Results, Fixtures and Pitch Allocations
Woollams Playing Field Pitch Map

#KnowYourOAs

Over the summer we've been running a feature on Social Media introducing players, coaches and officers of the club to the wider OAs family. We're going to be recapping them in our match day programmes. If you'd like to see more, please click the link below.

Tosin Segun

  • Year Joined - 2018/19
  • Previous Clubs - Cambridge
  • Position - Winger
A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning!

OAs through history

We introduced #ThrowbackThursday on Social Media this season and are now including it in our Match Day Programmes.

Old Albanian RFC

Founded in 1924, Old Albanian RFC is an English Rugby Union Club playing in National League Two South for the 2018/19 season. We are a fully open and inclusive community club based at Woollams, the club’s home ground in St Albans, Hertfordshire offering some of the best playing and social facilities in the UK.

The senior club runs four men’s teams and an Adult Ladies side all playing in competitive leagues, in 2018 the club also launched an Academy for 17 to 23 year olds.

The junior club is one of of the largest and most successful Mini’s & Junior’s sections in the country with nearly 1,000 members playing week in week out between Under 5 and Under 18s, including a growing Girls section operating at 3 age groups; Under 13, Under 15 and Under 18.

Old Albanian RFC, Woollams Playing Field

2018/19 1st XV Coaching Team

Bruce, Gavin & James
Simon, Tom, Jordan and Leo

2018/19 1st XV Squad

1st XV Squad - 2018/19

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