We want to win the league!

Melksham RFC prepare for post-lockdown comeback

MELKSHAM RFC’s chairman, Mark Simmons, has announced ‘ambitious’ plans for next season, vowing that the club will win the league and gain promotion.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Melksham was sat in second place in the Wadworth 6X Dorset & Wilts 1 North division, behind front-runners Avonvale. But with the league cut short, Melksham had to settle for second place.

Speaking to Melksham News, Mark said, “When the season was cut short and cancelled we were sat in second place in the league – a position we sustained, and in fairness it’s probably where we would have finished if the season had continued. So we’re not upset about the decision, we accepted it. And congratulations to Avonvale for their promotion, they deserved to win. They would have had to slip up if we stood any chance of overtaking them, which was unlikely. So we wish them all the best for the new season.

“At Melksham, we are preparing for the next season – and winning the league! We are a lot more confident now with our young team. They have achieved a lot under the guidance of head coach Chris Chudleigh and coaching coordinator Jez Flower – their hard work has paid dividends.

“So our target next season is to win the league and get promotion. We feel we have the home facilities and the financial foundations in place to not just win the league, but consolidate and go two leagues up. It’s quite ambitious, but we were finishing the last season with great momentum, and we believe we can do it.

“Pre-season has been difficult, but following government guidance we have been able to get groups of six on to the pitch for training. It’s been good to get the boys back into a training routine. We’re taking this week by week and adjusting accordingly.

“Behind the scenes we are preparing to re-open the clubhouse when we can. During lockdown we have had no revenue, but we have been successful in applying for some grants from the government, which has helped. And we currently have an ongoing crowdfunding campaign to raise £5,000, which will be matched by Sport England. On behalf of the club I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has donated. It’s been heartwarming to see how much the community appreciates its local clubs and amenities.

“And I’ve loved seeing the community and the rugby family come together – Charlie Dowell from Westbury Building Supplies donated paint and materials to decorate the clubhouse and Gary Lloyd donated his time to decorate – a big thank you to them.

“And thanks to Jez, we now have our gym at the club – which has been well received by our players who have been using it, safely, whilst gyms have been closed.”

Coaching coordinator Jez Flower added, “Well what does the remainder of 2020 have in store for us?  An unprecedented anti-climax to the season denied Melksham the chance at completing the double over eventual League Champions Avonvale, in what would have been a fantastic end to a great season.  

“Last season was head coach, Chris Chudleigh’s first in charge at Oakfields and he brought a discipline and structure to the group of committed and talented players already at the club.  They responded to that and produced rugby befitting a team with ambitions of playing week in week out at a higher level.

“This year sees Melksham working hard to build on the foundations laid in Chudleigh’s first season.  Recruitment has been going strong ever since our last match, the destruction of Chippenham 2s in early March.  But what has been most encouraging has been the amount of returnees that have appeared at the club to take part in group fitness sessions prior to pre season proper beginning in July.   

“Chudleigh has laid out a plan for the year to take the club to the next level of rugby, to see them competing against ever more challenging opponents in a bid to improve the quality of the rugby the club plays.  A demanding pre-season has been planned to include trips to Wales, Walcott, Trowbridge and Oldfield HSOBs (who inflicted Melksham’s only home defeat last season).  The Oldfield defeat highlighted the lack of depth within the senior group of players and the reality is that Melksham needed another season at this level to ensure that when promotion does come, they are fully prepared for rugby at the next level of intensity.

“A new coaching team sees Phil Stone move from inside centre to assistant coach, and old boy ,Matt Partington, joins the team as well in a consultancy role.  With this new-look leadership there has been a shift in responsibility to the players to continue their good work over lockdown in terms of keeping themselves active.  Covid-compliant training groups now regularly attend fitness sessions four nights a week.

“There is a buzz of anticipation about the club currently, and the noise of rugby players being worked hard by the coaches; sledge hammers, tractor tyres, and sleds are being swung, flipped and dragged all over the place.  If you fancy coming along to see what it is all about, then all are welcome – whatever standard you are, we can cater for you.  Training is on Monday and Thursday evenings, currently commencing at 6pm (under social distancing guidelines and we have a further session at 6.45pm).  

“This year is going to be a big year for Melksham Rugby Club, be a part of it, it is so much more than just a rugby club!”

For further details contact Jez Flower at: coaching.coordinator@melkshamrfc.co.uk