Brave members of Bloxham staff took to the rugby pitch on Friday night and in doing so, raised £500 for Matthew’s Mission on behalf of Birmingham Childrens’ Hospital.
Bloxham’s staff team played their first rugby match in many years when they travelled to Witney Rugby Club to play the Witney Casuals last week.
The teachers won 48-21, but the result was a lot less important that the £500 raised on the night for Matthew’s Mission, which fundraises for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The captain, Brett Richmond, had put together a strong team which quickly gelled despite their lack of training sessions together, with Andy Goldsmith, Saul Beavis and James Ramm producing some strong running in midfield. In all, eight tries were scored, the pick of them probably the last, which was scored by Louis Yates on the wing. Coach Simon Batten and his assistant David Finch judged Bloxham’s man of the match to be Mr Ramm, while they also singled out praise for Paul Sanderson, who worked tirelessly in the back row, and Glenn Davies, a stalwart of Witney RFC who played one half for each side. A good crowd from school were there to support their heroes, and if this side gets a second chance to show what they can do there will be plenty of enthusiastic Bloxhamists there to watch their coaches and teachers. I wonder how many schools can put out a rugby team which contains both their Headmaster and Deputy Head?
Brilliant photos from the match can be viewed here.