Rugby Challenge Evening - 30/03/2017
Match report by Ian Ford of Horsham District Council
Touch Rugby became the latest sport to receive Set4Success treatment as five business based teams visited Horsham Rugby Club on Friday night to compete in a tournament organised by the club's touch rugby section, Horsham Tigers. Touch is a small sided, minimal contact, non kicking and mixed sex version of the sport. But if anyone thought it was going to be a gentile and comfortable experience they were soon having to rethink as what it lacked in tackling and booting it more than made up with running and ball handling. It was not for the feint hearted and once they'd been briefed on the rules and got into the swing of things all teams gave a good account of themselves to provide a highly competitive spectacle.
Each team was provided a mentor from the Tigers ranks and Horsham District Council had all six players without and rugby experience, so they certainly needed theirs. They managed to get on the score sheet in their first match against their leisure operator Places for People but unfortunately couldn't contain winger Brad Perkins who went on a scoring frenzy to see his team home 3-1. The next leisure contract that HDC settle with PFP might well do to stipulate Perkins is not allowed to play against them in this sport. HDC continued to improve but Kreston Reeves and Sony both registered 2-0 wins against them before they managed to register their first win in the basement battle with Durrants, 1-0 as a consequence of Jack Chalkey's rocket like dive through a hole in the removal men's defence.
For their part Durrants were left to reflect on a lack of goal scoring potency. Well organised in defence they never conceded more than 3 goals but in four matches they only scored one, making HDC with 100% more - 2 - look prolific.
There was very little to split the three teams at the top and any one of them could have won depending on the outcome of the last game that involved sides from the triumvirate. By the time of that game Sony had already gone unbeaten with 2 wins and 2 draws to accumulate 16 points with style that was not particularly expansive in attack but was frugal in defence.
The Kreston v PFP crunch match brought together two teams level pegging and both 3 points behind Sony. After beating HDC in their opener PFP inflicted a similar margin on Durrants before drawing one each in cracker with Sony. Kreston had started with a 1-1 draw with Sony but then its young speedsters go into gear by carving up HDC with two lightning strikes and then going one better over Durrants to advance their goal difference in case it was to be needed.
Something had to give and it did as Kreston put PFP to the sword 2-0 for their third win to finish on 18 points, two more than Sony and 4 more than PFP.
Thanks were extended to the Horsham Tigers who had done a fantastic job of organising the event to benefit the S4S charity which raises money to support talented young sports people in the Horsham District to achieve their dreams.
The next fun challenge is Golf at Horsham Golf and Fitness on Tuesday 25th April.
Bronwen Thomas signs professional contract - 02/02/2017
Bronwen Thomas signs professional contract
Congratulations to Set 4 Success award winner Bronwen Thomas who has just signed a professional contract with Brighton and Hove Albion.
Bronwen has had an amazing year breaking into the Brighton and Hove first team, playing International football for Wales and winning the FAW's Women's Young Player of the year award.
Bronwen has been playing football since primary school, playing locally for Horsham Sparrows and rising up through the County levels. She has spent the last 3 years training at the Brighton and Hove Regional Training Centre which has clearly paid off.
Congratulations Bronwen, we look forward to following your progress.
Bronwen Thomas wins FA Wales award - 09/11/2016
Bronwen Thomas wins FA Wales award
Set 4 Success award winner Bronwen Thomas has been recognised FA Wales at an awards ceremony that also featured the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsay.
Bronwen was invited to the event, alongside all the Welsh Senior and Junior Football Teams but had no idea that she was even up for an award.
Bronwen was awarded the Women's Young Player of the Year award following her fantastic performances this year.
This tops off a great 2016 for Bronwen which also saw her first call ups to the Welsh Women's Senior Squad.
Well done Bronwen.
