Steve Wake reports on Berkswell & Balsall Rugby Club’s emphatic Midlands West 2 play-off victory against ‘Old Salts’ on Saturday 28th April 2012, which saw them earn passage to Midlands West Division One. Berkswell’s season will have taken many by surprise, having kicked off on minus 15 points, thanks to a stiff penalty levied by league officials in consideration for a mass-brawl during a league encounter the previous season.
Berkswell’s achievement has been widely noted in the sporting press, with the play-off victory seen by many observers as the icing on the cake after an almost impossible achievement.
Old Saltleians – 3 Berkswell & Balsall – 27
Midlands West 2 (Play-off)
A determined Berkswell earned the right to celebrate their excellent 30th anniversary season in style with a winning performance in this play-off match to see who would earn passage into Midlands West Division 1. Berkswell’s 15 point pre-season points deduction was not enough in the end to deny this determined squad from continuing their remarkable ascent through the divisions.
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Berkswell & Balsall Common Rugby Football Club travel to Old Leamingtonians RFC to face Rugby Lions for the Warwickshire Cup Semi-Final this Sunday 18th March. The big match kicks off at 2.15pm and entrance is £2 per person, all available support will be gratefully received.
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Steve Wake reports on Berkswell’s Midlands West Division 2 (South) encounter just over a week ago at Pershore on Saturday 25th February 2012:
Pershore – 19 Berkswell & Balsall – 18
Berkswell somehow contrived to dominate the first hour of this trip to Pershore, before throwing it away in the final quarter, as they allowed Pershore to overhaul a previously unanswered 18 point lead with three late tries to win by one point. Disaster might still have been averted, but for a kickable missed penalty in the last minute. This was a game where both sets of backs played some flowing, expansive rugby, with Pershore edging the try-count by three to two.
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Berkswell & Balsall Rugby Football Club (BBRFC) was founded in 1981 by Les and Steve Edwards. The club progressed from modest beginnings borrowing space at the Heart of England School, to fielding three regular senior sides, as well as an occasional Veterans side. (As at 2012) The senior squad currently plays a good standard of rugby in the Midlands West Division 2 (South).
The club also has a thriving youth section, including girls rugby.
For anybody interested in playing or coaching with the club contact Club Secretary Lesley Fahy:
Email: Lesley@bbrfc.co.uk
Tel: 07881 942616
Web: Berkswell & Balsall Rugby Club
Steve Wake reports on Berkswell’s difficult Midlands West 2 (South) trip to Droitwich on 18th February 2012:
Droitwich – 35 Berkswell & Balsall – 10
Berkswell were caught cold on their trip to Droitwich following an unwanted three week enforced break, due to recent freezing conditions, Berkswell. Coupled with the challenge of having to field a weakened side, with six regulars injured or unavailable, B’s held an impressive home side for most of the first half, before suffering a comprehensive defeat. Droitwich made good use of significant possession and territory throughout the second-half to score twenty unanswered points. Inexperience and injury no doubt contributed to this defeat – influential flanker Joe Cart went off at halftime – as did the usually dominant front eight who were unable to impose themselves.
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Berkswell returned to league action this weekend after qualifying for the semi finals of the Warwickshire Cup the weekend before. Steve Wake reports on another success in Berkswell’s battle to overcome the handicap of a 15 point deduction from their 2011/12 league campaign, a punishment meted out by the league for a pitch battle that errupted during a home game last season.
Midlands West Division 2 (South)
Berkswell & Balsall – 19 Banbury – 8
An opening try from Berkswell’s flying winger Phil Allport and two penalty-tries were enough to give the Bs victory, but not enough for an additional league bonus point. Berkswell found their performance a little flat throughout the game, as they came up against a Banbury side who had obviously improved since their previous meeting in October. Neither side could be accused of a lack of effort shortage of effort, but handling errors and poor ball retention left any concerted pressure in the opposition half lacking.
Despite overall dominance in the first half Berkswell turned around at the break only nine points ahead. Banbury came back stronger after the break without putting the result in any great doubt, although Berkswell did have some nervous second half moments.
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Steve Wake reports on Berkswell & Balsall’s Warwickshire Cup Quarter Final victory over Silhillians on Saturday 21st January 2012:
Silhillians – 17 Berkswell & Balsall – 34
Berkswell eased into the Warwickshire Cup semi-finals with an emphatic victory at league rivals Silhillians. After completely dominating most of the first fifty minutes in cruising to a 27-0 lead, B’s allowed the home team to fight-back in the second half. 17 unanswered points from Sils saw a comfortable lead reduced to a nervous one, before B’s reasserted their advantage in the final quarter.
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Steve Wake reports on Berkswell’s hard fought victory over Barkers Butts on Saturday 14th January 2012 in their West Midlands Division 2 South encounter. Berkswell’s remarkable season won official recognition as their first XV have flown up the table having begun the season with a 15 point handicap, punishment meted out for their involvement in a mass brawl during a game last season:
Barkers Butts – 7 Berkswell & Balsall – 8
As the score-line suggests, this was a tight game full of tension, from which Berkswell, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire’s latest rugby Team of the Month, emerged with the narrowest of victories. There wasn’t a great deal between the sides; Barkers were probably the more creative and had more possession, but Berkswell’s pack handled the Barkers front eight well, providing a strong barrier to Butts’ attack and attacking options from home territory. A red card for Berkswell Flanker Mark Connors with 12 minutes to go created extra pressure for the Bs, in the last few minutes of which Butts squandered three kickable penalties. Eventually the single point lead was enough for Berkswell to secure their second victory at their local rival’s ground this season – having already beaten them in the Warwickshire Cup.
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