Diamond Jubilee
Steve Chinn, the Club Captain
in our Diamond Jubilee year, had installed a quiet confidence in the team,
whilst still maintaining a healthy respect for the opposition. The leadership
of First XV Captains for the five previous seasons, Tom Power, Steve Sidwell,
Hilton Smith and Nigel Burrows had paved the way. Results for each year were
all in excess of twenty-three victories. Success in the merit table system
had provided entry into North Midlands One in the first year of the Courage
National League, level six in the system. The squad, resplendent in their new
harlequin style quartered shirts, was strengthened with the recruitment of
four graduates from Aston University, Graham Ill have a shandy Shaw, a
hooker with English Universities. Second row forwards Julian Hobbs and Brian
Drabble and winger Graham Renwick. The first Saturday of the league campaign
started well with a win over Newport.
The League
The initial league win against
Newport was followed by a nail-biting scoreless draw at Old Halesonians.
Further wins were recorded against Kings Norton, Kidderminster, Erdington,
Edwardians, Whitchurch and Luctonians.