News

Our 2010/11 season kicks off with our first 1st XV league match at home to Ormskirk this weekend.

As well as being the beginning of our 45th Anniversay, this season will always be remembered as the year we moved to our new Clubhouse and playing facilities at Ballafletcher. 

The playing pitches are almost ready and the finishing touches will be put to our new clubhouse in the weeks ahead. So this weekend will be one of the last remaining fixtures at Glencrutchery Road.

In the meantime we start this new season as Manx Champions, with a new coaching team in Franz Germishuys and Chris Vorster. We also have new captains in Leigh Kennaugh and Pete Farragher who will be leading the charge for the mens teams this season.

Our Ladies XV will be kicking their season off shortly too and our Youths Section will be opening for business again next Sunday at 1.45

Our Cricketers have had another encouraging season this summer and with their new nets facility now in place, we are fast becomming the leading cricket venue in the Isle of Man as well.

We will say more about or clubhouse etc in the weeks ahead, but I would particularly like to thank the efforts of everyone who chipped in throughout the summer to help raise funds for the new clubhouse project. We've had bag packs, kayaking, car boot sales TT Cycles to name but a few.

I can't thank everyone enough who drove these fund raisers and/or those who came and helped out with organising food, opening the clubhouse or even bout tickets and bits at the car boot sales.  It's because of effort and spirit like that, that Vagabonds could dream of having a home of our own in the first place. 

There will be plenty of notices and events in the weeks ahead so stay tuned. In the meantime please come and support the lads in their first match this Saturday at Glencrutchery Road.  

Here's to a great Vagabonds Family Season!

Noel

Chairman 

A big thank you to everyone who gave up their time to pack bags in Shoprite. We raised a fantastic £690!

The support is hugely appreciated as we creep ever closer to our new clubhouse and facilities at Ballafletcher

Vagabonds RUFC Ladies invite you to join them for their preseason “RugbyFit” training.

 RugbyFit is non-contact, and is a mixture of strength and cardio based training to develop the basic fitness, strength, speed and stamina required for a full game of rugby.

 RugbyFit is for ladies only, any age (17 and over), any size, shape and fitness level! No rugby experience is needed. 

RugbyFit  will be £1 per session for non club members, and starts on Wednesday 16^th June, 6.30pm (finish approx 7.45pm) at Vagabonds pitch, Glencrutchery Road, Douglas…..Just in time to work off all the TT week beer and barbeque overindulgence! (continues Monday and Wednesday evenings @ 6.30pm)

For more details contact darrin@manx.net

Vagabonds 31 - 17 Leodensians II  

Tenon’s Vagabonds Ladies played their final home game in their RFUW National Challenge North One campaign against Leodensians II on Saturday. Vagabonds came out all guns-a-blazing, determined to put on a good performance in front on their home crowd.

Lizzie Lennon got her team on the scoreboard in the first five minutes of the game after speeding past an unprepared Leos defence. Cat Beswick added the extras. Captain Fran Hunt followed this up with a further two tries straight from the kick off.

After a decidedly slow start, Leos kicked into gear competing well in the scrum and showing some flair in the back line. Leos hard-running prop made a bee-line for the Vagas back line who were unable to stop her as she powered over the try-line. Another Leos try soon followed. It seemed like Leos were gaining the upper hand, however a lapse in concentration from the Leos back line allowed sniper Rachel Beckley to steal the ball and make a dash for the white-wash. Leos looked set to retaliate on the brink of half-time however Hunt and Anne-Marie Rivers teamed up to make an awesome try-saving tackle preventing the further points being scored.

The second half started with the packs dominating the play with both sides fighting for the ball. Vagas flankers Cassie Watterson and Jackie Riding were rucking well and Chrissie Johnston showed some good ball carrying skills. The ball finally made it to the Leos back line who were on the verge of scoring. Thankfully, Lennon made a marvellous interception and ran the length of the pitch, sidestepping 4 defenders on her way to score Vagas final try of the match.

The ladies travel to Eccles next weekend for their final league match of the season. The fight for promotion is currently a three-horse race so Vagas will need to rack up the points to remain in contention. Based on Saturday’s performance they are more than capable of achieving this.

The ladies wish to congratulate their Men’s 1^st XV for reclaiming the Manx Cup against Douglas RUFC on Saturday and to both teams for an entertaining and competitive match.

By Sophia Birchall

1/5/10