It was a memorable evening as Oakwood sponsored Andover Rugby Club celebrated a great season with their annual senior playing awards Dinner at the club last Saturday night.
A sell out audience gathered to eat drink and generally abuse the award winners in the traditional way, as some very popular trophy winners were honoured by the club.
It was also an evening to say thanks to all those who sponsor the club and who work so hard behind the scenes and of course a couple of ‘special’ awards to the most deserving of recipients, in the catagories reserved for those less sensible than ourselves.
Sponsors Alan Wright from Fullers and Kim Powell and Suzie Pettman from Barclays Corporate and Kerry Miller from the Andover Advertiser, bore witness to events and even ran the raffle as everyone entered into the spirit of fun and utterly inappropriate behaviour.
A full list of winners is posted below but there were some real headlines.
Abby Goddard was the popular choice for Ladies players player while Mike Graham took the Players Player for the third fifteen and Henry Rennison for the seconds.
The ‘Schlom’ of the year award went to a player unrivalled in the area of abject stupidity; Dave Catt; whilst Aaron Hatcher was awarded the title ‘Laird Hatcher’ as the bar staff player of the year.
Each team awarded a most improved player award, but there was also an overall most improved which went to Craig Snook who has risen from never playing rugby to making his first team debut in just one season.
Jason Bate deservedly got the third fifteen coaches player for his stirling efforts as captain, Jason will be away in Afghan with the Army next season and James Dawson received the same award for the first fifteen in just his first season with the club, as recognition for the impact he has made both as player and stand in captain.
Alex Kane was the choice of the Vice Presidents for their Player of the year award and Tom Waite finished the playing awards, taking the coveted first team Players Player, for his robust, all action style.
Carl Sievewright received the senior clubman of the year award after stepping into the first team admin manager role whilst sidelined through injury and then came a special finale.
The highest honour the club can bestow ‘ Honorary life membership’ was presented to two of its longest serving and hard working player coaches, Sam Froggett and Marc Wilding.
Both have served the club for many years in several different capacities and the fomal recognition of their efforts was greeted with huge applause.
All in all a fantastic night of celebration, or at least the bits we can remember were.
Pictured: Marc Wilding and Sam Froggett receive Honorary life memberships from Director of Rugby Andy Waite