Alnwick RFC
Alnwick RFC is an amateur rugby union club based in the town of Alnwick, Northumberland in north-east England. The club play in North Premier, a level five league in the English rugby union system and are the most northerly rugby union club in English league rugby, (Berwick RFC like the towns football team play in the Scottish rugby union system).[1] Alnwick regularly field three senior sides, all of which play competitive league and cup rugby. The club also has a junior section running teams from under 7's through to under 18's and a girls section.[2]
| Full name | Alnwick Rugby Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Northumberland RFU | ||
| Founded | 1960 | ||
| Location | Alnwick, Northumberland, England | ||
| Ground(s) | Greensfield (Capacity: 1,200 (200 in stand)) | ||
| Coach(es) |  James Hamilton, Peter Moralee | ||
| Captain(s) | Peter Moralee (1st XV)
Andrew Ord (2nd XV) | ||
| League(s) | North Premier | ||
| 2019–20 | 11th | ||
| |||
| Largest win | |||
| Alnwick RFC 83–0 Redcar RUFC (2010) | |||
| Largest defeat | |||
| New Brighton FC 90-5 Alnwick RFC (1995) | |||
| Official website | |||
| www | |||
League history
The 1987/88 season saw the formation of rugby union leagues in England[3] which placed Alnwick in level six then known as North 2. They remained in that league until the 2002/03 season when they were relegated to level seven, Durham & Northumberland 1. The winners of Durham & Northumberland 1 are automatically promoted, with the second placed team going into a play-off promotion game against the second place team from Yorkshire 1.
The 2003/04 campaign saw Alnwick finish in second place in Durham & Northumberland 1, meaning they faced the second placed team from Yorkshire 1, Pontefract RFC in the play-off for promotion. The game saw Alnwick claw back a 10-18 deficit to claim a thrilling 25-18 victory, with 5 minutes remaining the score was 17-18 in Pontefract's favour. Alan Moses' late 40-yard drop goal and a last gasp try from Jon Snaith sealed the victory and promotion back into level six then known as North 2 East.[4] They remained at this level for two seasons. At the end of the 2005/06 campaign Alnwick were relegated back to Durham & Northumberland 1 after finishing the North 2 East campaign in 10th position.
After a four-season rebuilding period in Durham & Northumberland 1 Alnwick produced a young team, captained by the prolific try scoring wing Andrew Shell. The 2010/11 season saw the club finish in third position in Durham & Northumberland 1. The following campaign saw Alnwick go one better and finish in 2nd place,[5] and face Keighley RUFC who finished 2nd in Yorkshire 1 in a play-off for promotion. Alnwick went into half time with a 16–3 lead. The second half saw Keighley fight back to win 18–16 and seal promotion to the restructured level six league North 1 East.[6]
In 2012/13 Alnwick were promoted to level six, North 1 East. They clinched promotion by finishing as champions of Durham & Northumberland 1 with a 10–28 victory against Medicals RFC in the final game of the season.[7]
The 2013/14 season resulted in Alnwick finishing the North 1 East campaign in 11th position and narrowly avoiding relegation back to Durham & Northumberland 1 on the final day of the season. This was the first time since Northern and Team Northumbria in the 2010-11 season, that a newly promoted club from Durham & Northumberland 1 had avoided relegation from North 1 East.
Alnwick's 2014/15 season, the second back in level six resulted in a creditable 7th-place finish. The 2014/15 campaign proved to be more comfortable for Alnwick in comparison to the 2013/14 relegation battle with more games being won than lost, some notable performances and a terrific victory against Northumberland neighbors Percy Park.[8]
2015/16 season Alnwick pipped West Hartlepool to 3rd in North 1 East after a convincing 10-43 victory at league champions Doncaster Phoenix in the last game of the season.[9]
2016/17 season Alnwick finished 4th in North 1 East where a chance at promotion, faded in the last two months of the season.
The 2017/18 season finished with Alnwick as champions of North 1 East, Alnwick sealed the North 1 East title with a 10-34 victory against local rivals Morpeth, on the final day of the season. Alnwick gained promotion to the North Premier, the highest league level the club has ever competed at.
The 2018/19 season finished with Alnwick in midtable of North Premier. Alnwick comfortably adapted to life at Level 5 and were never in relegation danger. Alnwick won more games than they lost, the most impressive victory coming away against Harroagte, in the first meeting between Alnwick and the prestigious Yorkshire club.
| Season | League | Level | Position (League Size) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | North 2 | 6 | 5th (11) | - |
| 1988–89 | North 2 | 6 | 5th (11) | - |
| 1989–90 | North 2 | 6 | 6th (11) | - |
| 1990–91 | North 2 | 6 | 4th (11) | - |
| 1991–92 | North 2 | 6 | 8th (11) | - |
| 1992–93 | North 2 | 6 | 6th (13) | - |
| 1993–94 | North 2 | 6 | 5th (13) | - |
| 1994–95 | North 2 | 6 | 10th (13) | - |
| 1995–96 | North 2 | 6 | 5th (13) | - |
| 1996–97 | North 2 | 6 | 5th (12) | - |
| 1997–98 | North 2 | 6 | 9th (12) | - |
| 1998–99 | North 2 | 6 | 10th (12) | - |
| 1999–00 | North 2 | 6 | 5th (12) | - |
| 2000–01 | North 2 East | 6 | 8th (12) | Fixtures not completed due to foot in mouth |
| 2001–02 | North 2 East | 6 | 6th (12) | - |
| 2002–03 | North 2 East | 6 | 10th (12) | Relegated to Durham/Northumberland 1 |
| 2003–04 | Durham & Northumberland 1 | 7 | 2nd (12) | Promoted after winning playoff against Pontefract 25-18 |
| 2004–05 | North 2 East | 6 | 4th (12) | - |
| 2005–06 | North 2 East | 6 | 10th (12) | Relegated to Durham/Northumberland 1 |
| 2006–07 | Durham & Northumberland 1 | 7 | 5th (12) | - |
| 2007–08 | Durham & Northumberland 1 | 7 | 7th (12) | - |
| 2008–09 | Durham & Northumberland 1 | 7 | 3rd (12) | - |
| 2009–10 | Durham & Northumberland 1 | 7 | 5th (14) | Fixtures not completed due to bad weather |
| 2010–11 | Durham & Northumberland 1 | 7 | 3rd (14) | - |
| 2011–12 | Durham & Northumberland 1 | 7 | 2nd (14) | Lost playoff against Keighley RUFC 16-18 |
| 2012–13 | Durham & Northumberland 1 | 7 | 1st (14) | Promoted as champions |
| 2013–14 | North 1 East | 6 | 11th (14) | - |
| 2014–15 | North 1 East | 6 | 7th (14) | - |
| 2015–16 | North 1 East | 6 | 3rd (14) | - |
| 2016–17 | North 1 East | 6 | 4th (14) | - |
| 2017–18 | North 1 East | 6 | 1st (14) | Promoted as champions |
| 2017–18 | North Premier | 5 | 9th (14) | - |
Local rivalries
Each season Alnwick play against local rivals Berwick, Northern and Morpeth for a trophy (as well as league points in the case of Morpeth in the 2019/20 campaign).
The annual Alnwick v Berwick fixture contested for the Claret Jug[10] takes place on the traditional derby date of boxing day. The venue for this fixture alternates between the clubs each year and often attracts the largest attendance of the season. The fixture is deemed as a special occasion by both sets of players and supporters alike, despite being local rivals the two clubs play in separate league structures meaning the clubs will never meet in a league fixture. This results in the boxing day clash being a fiercely contested game often settled by a single point.[11]
Cup Competitions
Alnwick have featured in 9 Northumberland Senior Cup Finals, winning the cup on 3 occasions.
| Season | Winners | Score | Runners Up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972/73 | Gosforth | 21-9 | Alnwick | Northumberland County Ground |
| 1977/78 | Gosforth | 38-3 | Alnwick | Northumberland County Ground |
| 1979/80 | Gosforth | 21-9 | Alnwick | Northumberland County Ground |
| 1982/83 | Gosforth | 24-6 | Alnwick | Northumberland County Ground |
| 1983/84 | Alnwick | 6-4 | Gosforth | Northumberland County Ground |
| 1998/99 | Tynedale | 24-10 | Alnwick | Tynedale Park |
| 2016/17 | Alnwick | 11-7 | Morpeth | Sutherland Park |
| 2017/18 | Percy Park | 21-16 | Alnwick | Ellington Road |
| 2018/19 | Alnwick | 39-3 | Morpeth | Scremerston |
In the 2016/17 season Alnwick reached the Northumerland Senior Cup final. They faced local rivals Morpeth in the fixture staged at Novocastrians RFC ground, Sutherland Park. A strong wind on the day helped Alnwick to a 6-0 lead at half time. Morpeth took the lead in the 2nd half via a converted Try, leading 7-6 with 5 minutes to go in the match and a strong wind behind them. Alnwick managed to turn the ball over in the Morpeth 22 area allowing James Warcup to score a dramatic unconverted try and give Alnwick an 11-7 lead. Strong defence during the last plays of the game allowed Alnwick to hold on for the victory and lift the Northumerland Senior Cup for the first time since 1983/84.[13]
Before professionalism came in to rugby union, the Winner and the Runner from each County Cup Competition in England competed in the National Cup Competition, now known as the Anglo-Welsh Cup. Alnwick qualified for the 1st round of the National Cup Competition in each of the following seasons.
| Season | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980/81 | Alnwick | 0-12 | Broughton Park |
| 1983/84 | Flyde | 43-21 | Alnwick |
| 1984/85 | Alnwick | 0-34 | Wakefield |
| 1999/00 | Stourbridge | 20-8 | Alnwick |
Facilities
Greensfield, the home of Alnwick RFC has 3 Rugby pitches. The 1st team Pitch has a small grandstand on the touchline, the pitch is floodlit. The clubhouse overlooks the dead-ball area behind the posts at the north eastern end of the pitch. Greensfield is often chosen by the Northumberland Rugby Union to host fixtures in the County Championship fixtures. Greensfield hosted the first home fixture Northumberland played after the closure of the Northumberland County Ground in 1988.[14]
A major overhaul of facilities took place in 2012 resulting in new changing rooms being built along with a gym, improved toilets and showers, enhanced car parking, flood defense work and new advertising boards for the 1st team pitch. The project cost £240,000, which was made up from £130,000 in grants and a fundraising campaign which raised £110,000.[15]
The new facilities were officially opened by the president of the RFU, Bob Reeves on 19 October 2013 before the North One east clash: Alnwick 14 Wheatley Hills 8.[16]
Honours
- Northumberland Senior Cup (3): 1983–84, 2016–17, 2018–19
- Durham/Northumberland 1 v Yorkshire 1 promotion playoff winners: 2003–04
- Durham/Northumberland 1 champions: 2012–13
- North 1 East champions: 2017–18
Notable former players
References
- "Berwick RFC". www.pitchero.com/clubs/berwick. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- "Alnwick RFC Junior". www.pitchero.com/clubs/alnwick. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- "English Premiership". espnscrum.com. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- "Alnwick Rugby Club gain promotion". northumberlandgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- "Durham/Northumberland 1". www.rugbyroundup.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- "Alnwick 16 Keighley 18". chroniclelive.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- "Champions!". northumberlandgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- "Alnwick avenge their loss at greensfields". percyparkrfc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- "MATCH REPORT". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- "Berwick RFC 12 Alnwick RFC 11". northumberlandgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- "Berwick RFC 12 Alnwick RFC 11". northumberlandgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- "Berwick are stuffed". northumberlandgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- "Alnwick v Morpeth: Northumberland Senior Cup Final 2017". youtube.com. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- "Match Report - Northumberland 34 Eastern Counties 6 (at Alnwick, 18th May 2013)". NorthumberlRugbyUnion. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- "Rugby club unveils revamped facilities". northumberlandgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- "Hills conquered, but mountain to climb". northumberlandgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2013.