WALKING RUGBY AT PORTSMOUTH RFC
The next session will be on Wednesday, 30th August at 7pm at Rugby Camp.
Before you look to participate, please message John Vaughan on 07881 383 387 to confirm your attendance and then turn up suitably attired on the day.
WHAT IS IT?
Walking Rugby is one of England Rugby’s non-contact formats of the game. There is no tackling involved, instead a touch on the armpit or below are used. Played on a half pitch, participants must be walking at all times.
WHO CAN PLAY?
Walking Rugby can be played by everyone men and women; however, it is generally played by older players (55+). All skill levels can play together.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
A welcoming, laid back, social environment is the core experience of all Walking Rugby sessions. Players should arrive dressed for the playing conditions and introduce themselves to John and Paul when they arrive. Each session is unique so be sure check-in with John prior to joining.
PORTSMOUTH RFC – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2023 – TUESDAY 4th JULY
Fellow members
Second Calling notice – Portsmouth Rugby Club – AGM 2023 – Tuesday 4th of July at 20:00
The meeting will begin at 8:00 on Tuesday 4th of July and members are requested to sign in by 7.45
The agenda is as below
Herewith the Agenda for the meeting.
1. Attendance and apologies
2. Minutes of AGM July 2022.
3. Chairman’s Report
4. Financial Report and Appointment of Independent Examiners
5. 1st team Captain’s address
6. Player’s Rep. Address
7. Election of Officers.
Nominations
President N. Morgan
Chairman J Whitehouse
Vice Chairmen S Cameron /M Caspall
Hon Treasurer M. Twells
DOR TBC
Hon Sec C Richardson
House Manager J Dixon / D Knight
Players representatives: TBC
Media & Development Simon Newsham
Junior Section Gemma Skinner
Women’s DOR Fred French
Social Secretary Ollie Simpson
Membership Secretary R Tyrrell
6. Captains – to be announced
7. Questions and answer session
8. AOB – NOTICE from Pete Smout – This month’s 100 club will be £500
Many thanks Roger Highgate
TOUCH-JUDGES REQUIRED FOR SEASON 2023/2024
For many years now, retired PRFC Vets have been running the line for all 1st XV’s matches, home and away. These ageing dinosaurs require some fresh young blood to come in and supplement their numbers and if you are a former player and would like to give something back to the club, please volunteer to join our merry band from next season.
At the moment, touch-judges attend three matches each a season but obviously, with more numbers, this could reduce to one or two Saturdays.
If you can spare a couple of Saturdays from September to March, please contact John Vaughan on 07881 383 387.
Reflections on season 2022/2023 by Matt Wake – Head Coach
As I sit and reflect on the last season of rugby at the camp I’m reminded why I coach .
It’s the people, always the people. I’ve met tremendous people at Portsmouth and have been and continue to feel enormously welcomed. I’m still in awe of the number of volunteers that all do something, either large or small so that 15 blokes (and ladies) can chase an egg shaped bag of wind round a muddy field in the freezing cold.
I’m pleased to have been able to support the development of the players with a number of colts and senior players receiving county call ups this year.
The business end for me is training the team and performances on Saturdays. We’ve been buoyed by some great numbers and engagement at training and some top end performances in home victories against Basingstoke, petersfield and Eastleigh – but if I could bottle one performance it would be away at havant. What performance from the players and a great occasion to be involved in.
Coaches and managers have been planning for next season for some time with priority always to be retaining the playing squad from last year and integrating the colts int to the adult set up. We are seeking to add to the squad but only in positions where we either lack depth or can significantly improve.
Pre season is fast approaching and I’d just like to remind all the players that gym time isn’t mandatory …. But neither is game time. 
Matt
HAMPSHIRE RECOGNITION FOR u17’s PLAYERS
Congratulations to Portsmouth RFC players, Edward Frazer and Henrie Thorne (No’s 4 & 1 shirts), who made their debuts for Hampshire under 17’s away at Surrey on 14th May. Despite losing 26-24, the new-look Hampshire squad were playing together for the first time and could have won the match!
Also represented, was Will Balch (No 14 shirt), son of one of PRFC’s main sponsors and former player, Mick Balch of L&S Waste, who was representing Ryde School on the Isle of Wight.
Well done also to PRFC under 15’s player Teddy Skinner who once again represented London Irish under 15’s in their match against Bristol Bears on the 14th.
RICKY LIDBETTER – PRESENTATION
After sixteen seasons, Ricky Lidbetter has decided to step down from his role as club physiotherapist to devote his time and efforts to his growing commercial practice and young family. During his tenure, Ricky looked after the senior men’s 1st XV but also provided cover for all our senior teams. He will be missed!
Earlier this month, club president, Nigel Morgan, presented Ricky with a glass tankard as a token of our gratitude for all his hard work and time over the years.
1st TEAM PITCH – SUMMER MAINTENANCE
The 1st XV pitch is out of action until further notice while Portsmouth Council undertake routine maintenance. Please do not cross the pitch but go around it instead.
If there is training or matches, no players are to use this pitch, either to play on or to get to another pitch.
The club is paying for this work and we don’t want to waste our money!!
MATCH REPORT – PORTSMOUTH 2nd xv Ventnor RFC – Saturday, 10th December
By captain Zac Eyley
On a very cold December afternoon Ventnor travelled over to Portsmouth for a frosty fixture.
Ventnor won the toss and elected to start at the clubhouse end of the pitch with Portsmouth choosing to recieve the kick.
The match started well with some hard carries and tackles in the midfield from Rusi, Zac and Tim forming a formidable pod running onto clean ball from the back of an exceptional lineout.
After a few phases Tim found himself in support of the backs and was put into space outside the opposition 22, the second row galloped in and scored before the full back could catch him.
Despite our linesman giving the conversion the referee sided with the opposition and called it short.
5:0
Unfortunately Ventnor came prepared with an excellent scrum and outclassed the Portsmouth pack driving us off the ball multiple times. Despite some tweaks and changes we were unable to challenge them and struggled to get clean ball.
After a couple of phases and penalties in the Ventnor half the backs put on a masterclass of handling and got the ball to George Taylor who ran around the outside of Ventnor’s last defender to score out wide.
Unfortunately too wide for the conversion to come off.
First half ended 10:3
The second half restart gave Portsmouth a chance to put Ventnor under immediate pressure in the second half, with Ventnor kicking the ball to our back three giving last minute swap Josh a chance to run right bacl at them, drawing in defenders and creating huge gaps in their defence.
The penalty count from both team was high throughout the game, and unfortunately after some unseen old school rucking and fisty cuffs, Ventnor 13 punched our scrumhalf and some scrappy afters led to yellow cards for both of them.
Shortly after a penalty was awarded to Portsmouth inside the Ventnor half, Fly Half Tommy Hare spotted a chaotic disorganised defence and took a quick tap and danced through the defenders to score our only try if the second half.
15:3
Ventnor clawed back an unconverted try, after a well organised rolling maul sucked in Portsmouth defenders leaving gaps for a hard runner to score.
15:8
With 8 minutes left on the clock Portsmouth were awarded a penalty in front of the sticks, with Tommy slotting the 3 points to put Portsmouth 2 scores ahead.
18:8
Despite an attempt from a driving maul and some close range attempts Portsmouth defened their lines well to the end.
Result 18:8 for the first home win this season.
This result marks a huge improvement in defence and specifically the line speed, spearheaded by Scott Weatherhead who put in a brilliant shift.
Motm awarded to Tommy Hare for his vision in loose play and game management in the second half to close the game out. Unfortunately he was conveniently driving so the post game award went to Scott Weatherhead, once again bailing his fly half out by putting his body on the line.
The team objective is to win every home game this half of the season, so far so good, I’m a happy captain this week!
Roll on Gosport and Fareham 2s away next week, we cannot wait to get our revenge for the reverse fixture earlier in the year.
Fareham Heathens RFC vs Portsmouth RFC 2nd XV
Captain Zac Eyley reports:
‘The 2s travelled the short journey to Fareham Heathens this week, marking the halfway point in the league. With no win so far this season a lot of pressure was on to make this a game to remember, and boy was it! An excellent display of physical dominance and set piece execution from the pack set a brilliant platform for the backs to run off of.
It did not take long to get across the whitewash, and it didn’t stop all game with Brad Jewer, Will Dalziel and Scott Weatherhead all getting a try each. But the dream combination of a Tommy Hare cross field kick and Sam Olie’s sexy footwork was the highlight of the day with three cracking tries for Sam. The forwards had their say too with a Matt Hoban special smashing through most of the home team and Ian Skinner fell over the line at the back of a rampaging maul. Two conversions from TH10 were the only points from the boot today, but as always, the magic man at 10 set the pace of attack and used his liquid rugby to unleash his team mates superbly.
Joby Walsh was denied a try from close range as Carl Darnley was penalised for pushing one of the Heathens defenders over off the ball. Portsmouth needs to improve the penalty count as Will Dalziel picked up a yellow for not rolling away at the base of the ruck following a number of team infringements at the breakdown. Matt Hoban also took a 10-minute time out for a high tackle. Man of the Match was awarded to Scott Weatherhead for scoring on his return after a long spell out through injury. DOTD went to Jas Solanki who turned up at the Heathen’s club house for a social after receiving DOTD for his 1st team performance. Fareham also made him DOTD for the same reasons.
Portsmouth 2s travel away to Guernsey next week hoping to keep the gravy train going (calm down Ticker it’s not a real train!)’