Last Saturday the club held a very successful league lunch prior to the Senior Women’s NC2 South East ( North West) League match against Ruislip RFC Women.
The lunch was well attended and together with the Senior Women’s match was an ideal curtain raiser for the England vs France Gunness Six Nations Match.

It was a very competitive match which Windsor Dames lost by 19 points to 7 against a strong Ruislip side who currently sit in second place in the league.

The club would like to thank Lily Cox and Olivia Brooke for their hard work in organising the lunch and to all those members that attended the lunch and watched the England vs France match to create great atmosphere in the clubhouse.

Report from Sharon Richards – Windsor RFC Head of Women.

‘The Windsor Women’s team were back on the pitch at Home Park against Ruislip for our first Saturday game and league lunch for the season, and what an amazing league lunch it was! The atmosphere was brilliant in the full clubhouse and the support we received was outstanding – a massive THANK YOU to everyone who attended and to Kelly Ramsey (founder of the Dames) for your lovely speech. A special THANK YOU to Lily Cox and Liv Brooke for organising and advertising a brilliant day at our club.

With some wet weather conditions prior to our game, the pitch was very muddy to say the lest – the poor washing machine that had to handle those shirts!

Our game had its challenges but was still highly competitive and evenly matched – another great contest! Whilst the game didn’t go our way, the grit and determination the Dames demonstrated again was outstanding, I’m so very proud of every single player. Well done to our try scorer Beth Jefferies and Cherelle Jameson for the conversion, putting some points on the board. The game ended 7-19 to Ruislip Women.

Parfitt Cresswell player of the match – Sabrina Chalcroft.

We now have a rest weekend; next game is away at High Wycombe Sunday 23rd February - we’d love for you to support us on the sidelines!

Women’s First League Lunch Of The Season

Our league lunch was such a success, I’d like to share the feedback from some of our attendees – keep an eye out for future events and lunches so you can join in the fun too!
‘The first Dames lunch was a great success and the atmosphere in the club house was excellent and much enhanced by the Ladies post-match celebrations and both Ladies teams and supporters staying on after the match for the England game. A much enjoyed afternoon.’
Paul Mallett

‘As a long-time supporter of the WRFC and having attended many league lunches over the years, it was a pleasant change to finally attend a lunch in support of the Windsor Dames. Rugby is a game for everyone and the success of the Dames highlights this, so it’s great to see the club promoting opportunities for supporters to enjoy all that the club offers. As the original sponsor of the Dames back in 2013, we were hopeful that one day they would become an integral part of the club. It is very clear that the dedication and effort by all involved has paid off and the result is a club that is starting to look like a relevant and genuinely open organisation. Many thanks to Sharon, Lily and Liv, the team of workers and the cooking team for putting on a great day. Looking forward to the next one.’

Peter Hart

Number 8 Resourcing Ltd

‘With the men’s 1st team playing a rescheduled fixture over at Buckingham, Windsor Dames match against Ruislip was arranged at Home Park together with a pre-match lunch. This proved popular with around 50 in attendance.

James Brayshaw the U9 Coach, Clubhouse Development Manager and Vice Chair, along with Sharon Richards Head of Women’s rugby addressed those at the lunch, both rightly highlighting the progression of the club and the inclusion of a women’s side which is now well established and continues to gather momentum with numbers increasing each season. Windsor Dames the senior ladies squad is thriving and the club now has the younger Damsels team coming through which hopefully bodes well for succession taking the club forward.
The founding member of the Windsor Dames Kelly Ramsey, spoke and gave an insight as to how it all started approximately 11 years back. Kelly posted a message on Facebook asking for women interested in playing rugby at Windsor to step forward, from small beginnings slowly but surely the senior ladies squad has successfully grown.

Following a very enjoyable lunch, the women’s game took place on what proved to be a cold day, guests and players alike were I suspect pleased to retreat back into the clubhouse to enjoy some post-match food and drink then to watch a momentous win by England over France to the delight of all those in attendance.

All in all a very enjoyable day was had by all in attendance.’

Tracey Keogh

Senior Men 1st XV winning run continues!

Last Saturday the Men’s 1st XV were also in action away at Buckingham RFC. This was a re-arranged league match as the scheduled match was postponed in January due to the pitches being frozen.

The match was always going to be a tight affair as Buckingham are always are difficult side to beat which was highlighted by the fact Buckingham won at Home Park earlier in the season.
The good news the side put in a committed performance and secured their 11th successive victory by 31 points to 26 with tries coming from Allen Crawshaw, Will Moss and Harry Bicknell, who scored 2 tries. Ben Grant Adamson adding a penalty and 4 conversions.

The victory means that Windsor remain in second place in Tribute Southern Counties North 5 points behind Oxford Harlequins and 16 points ahead of Bletchley who are in third place.
Windsor will be looking to secure another victory this weekend against Grove before they have a week off before their tough away match against Bletchley on Saturday March 1st 2025.

Parfitt Cresswell Player of the Match: Will Moss

The Men’s Dev XV BBO Counties 3 League Match away at Henley 3rd XV was cancelled as there were insufficient players available to raise a side. This was a result of the Men’s 1st XV and Dev XV’s games being re-arranged fixtures on a weekend when there was supposed to be no fixtures.

Sunday Rugby Review;

Windsor U14s win Berkshire Cup, Colts and U16s both win OBB League Matches.
Last Sunday Windsor RFC hosted the Berkshire U14s Cup Finals with 5 finals taking place.
The Cup Final between Windsor U14As and Maidenhead was a very exciting match with Windsor winning in the final minutes when the scored a try which was converted to ensure that Windsor won by 15 points to 13.

Please see link below for more details and photos:
Windsor RFC U14s win Berkshire U14s Cup in exciting final against Maidenhead.

Many congratulations to the U14s players, coaches and management team on this achievement. A big thank you also to all those volunteers who helped out on the day.
Windsor Colts kicked off in the afternoon against Marlow in their latest OBB Division 1 match with a much changed side due to illness and unavailability of a number of players.
Again Windsor put in a very committed display winning by 36 points to 21 and with two matches to go against Maidenhead and RAMs have a great chance to win the OBB Division 1 title, which would be a great achievement.

Report from Jason Stone – Colts Manager

‘Up against Marlow RFC in this OBB Division 1 league game, this match up had all the ingredients of the proverbial ‘banana skin’ for our unbeaten Windsor Colts.
Compounded by significant unavailability with circulating viruses, and players committed to academy and 7s games this really stretched the wider Colts squad.

On a boggy park, the boys exchanged blows with their opposition, before good work in the forwards presented the opportunity for Will Rider to pick & go, and break the deadlock on 22 mins registering the first try of the game. Swiftly converted by Albert Nandan for a 7-0 lead. Disappointingly, Marlow kept Windsor penned into their own half, and then a break from their powerful left wing levelled the scores with their own converted try on 26 mins.
However, Windsor continued to impress, and after a period of pressure, Will Rider picked up an overthrow from an opposition lineout on 10 m line to pint his way to the line, registering his brace of tries, this time unconverted. 12-7 at the break.

With just a few replacements on offer, Windsor adjusted the team on the park, and a rousing half time team talk set out the challenge to take the game to Marlow.
However, one encouraging Windsor attack and playing with a penalty advantage, Windsor were surprised to see a turnover allowed and Marlow go the length of the field to register a converted try, and then take the lead 12-14.
Windsor didn’t let this upset their stride, and on 52 mins fought back with a well taken 'pick & go' try by Randy Karize. converted by Nandan, to regain the lead 19-14.
A well slotted Nandan penalty midway through the 2nd half, nudged the home side further ahead, before Tom Butler finishing off a strong period of pressure by the Windsor forward pack, to increase the lead with a bonus point try with just 10 mins to go. Conversion again by Nandan, and a 29-14 lead, and the team were now cruising.
Eddie Nieland then capped of a fine all round performance with a try of his own, again converted by Nandan. 36-14

In the final phase of play, the boys can be forgiven a lapsed defensive moment that allowed Marlow their 3rd converted try, narrowing the scoreline.
With Windsor registering an impressive bonus point 36-21 win, our 6th consecutive win in this competition, Windsor Colts are now just two games away from potentially securing the Oxon, Bucks & Berks Division 1 league title.

Maidenhead (23-Feb) and RAMs (9-Mar) are now are targets, and with returning academy players, the Colts have options and some difficult decisions with player selection.
Can the boys do it, ….yes, we can……but we need you all behind us!’
Away from Home Park, the U16s played Henely U16s in their last OBB League game of the season and secured a hard fought victory by 46 points to 31.

Report from U16s Head Coach Duncan Gibb:

‘The final round of the 24/25 OBB League 1 season was played out on Sunday, Windsor were visiting Henley for their first competitive fixture together, which always adds to the pre match excitement.

Henley came into the game off the back of a 48-10 thumping of Amersham and Chiltern, Windsor a one score loss to the undefeated league champions Reading, it was going to be a battle!

Henley opened the scoring with a driven lineout in the corner, all the predictions of a tough match were correct. Both teams ebbed and flowed in the first half, taking turns to score and when the whistle went for half time nothing could separate them, 17 points apiece. Windsor's points coming from three Lawson Horler tries and one conversion.

The second half could not have started worse, two quickfire tries from the home team left Windsor reeling 31-17, the boys had spoken about this being their last competitive match together as an age group, they wanted to close out on a win, but it was going to take a lot of guts and determination to get back into the match.

It took ten minutes for Windsor to compose themselves, James Gibb scoring a typically abrasive try in the corner from a tap and go penalty, Lawson Horler slotted the difficult conversion, game on.

Windsor's lineout was dominant all match, with notable aerial work from Aaron Kelly helping to disrupt Henley from gaining a foothold, Windsor scored another try through Lewis Moffat from a lineout, Windsor were in the ascendancy, their fitness began to tell, the Broncos were paying off!
From the resulting restart good link play saw Windsor break through several tackles to setup good field position, moments later Windsor were in again through Leon Lindon-Morris. A penalty try for Windsor followed 10 minutes later, Henley heads were dropping. From the restart the ball was spread wide to James Gibb who made a 60m break only to brought down 5m short, good support play saw the ball flung to the opposite wing where Lawson Horler bagged his 4th try of the day, a fitting combination from the two co-captains.
Windsor U16s saved some of their best rugby of the season for when it was desperately needed, scoring 29 unanswered points in the second half to take the bonus point win and sending the Windsor travelling fans into wild celebrations.

Final Score: Henley 31 – Windsor 46 ‘

THIS WEEKEND’S RUGBY SCHEDULE:

Saturday 15th February 2025:

Men’s 1ST XV HOME vs Grove RFC ( Tribute Southern Counties North). Kick Off @ Home Park 2.30pm.

Men’s 3rd XV HOME vs Bracknell 4th XV ( Counties 4 BBO League). Kick Off @ Home Park 2.00pm.

Sunday 16th February 2025:

U6s to U12s - Training at Home Park 9:30 to 11am
U13s – HOME v Weybridge ( FRIENDLY)
U14s – AWAY vs Henley RFC (FRIENDLY)
U15s – Dev XV AWAY vs Camberley, Remainder training at Home Park.
U16s - Training at Home Park

Damsels
U12s Training at Home Park
U14s AWAY vs Oakmeadians (HOB)

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Saturday 7th June 2025:

We are returning to the Castle Hotel for the End of Season Dinner Dance following last years successful and enjoyable event. It will follow the same format with a welcome drink, 3 course dinner and live music from Euphoria Rock who played at last year’s event.

Tickets are now available to purchase. Please note we also have an option to purchase tickets in 3 installment… see link below:

https://www.windsorrugbyclub.com/payments/wrfc-dinner--dance-june-2025-128253.html

Come and Watch the Six Guiness Six Nations at Windsor RFC!

To remind you that the club will be showing the following Guinness Six Nations next weekend.
Saturday February 22nd 2025:

Wales vs Ireland ( Kick Off 2.15pm).
England vs Scotland ( Kick Off 4.45pm).

Please come down and again make it a great atmosphere in the clubhouse.

The Bar and Kitchen will be open!

Have a great rugby weekend!

Michael Crawshaw WINDSOR RFC CHAIR
On Behalf of the General Management Committee