BIRFC Senior Men’s Section - 24/25 Season Wrap

While it was the first season for sometime that didn’t produce any senior mens silverware it was still a season that we can say none of our sides shirked any fixtures!

To summarise our men’s teams performances for the 24/25 season:

1st Team

The senior mens frist side, DoR Alex Hadley, head coach Shane Cooney and captained by Archie MacPherson, had another outstanding season. While finishing fifth overall, joint on 72 points with Sutton & Epsom, they always took to the field with a combative attitude and playing courageous rugby that had them tussling with Beckenham for the top spot at Christmas and only just fell away towards the end of season, including uncharacteristic losses away to Old Colfeians and at the end away to Thurrock, in between losing to eventual and deserved league winners Medway at home. Using a total of 46 players in the league campaign, they are all held in high regard by the touchline and can be proud about how they represented the club at the highest level this season.

2nd Team

The super 2’s coached by Allen Martidale and captained by Harvey Kemp, from the outset this was down to be a tough season with the league having been strengthened, on our request, and due the transitional nature of our club losing some regular 2’s from previous seasons but we had the right leaders in place to rebuild and consolidate.

Harvey himself wearing the 1’s jersey from time to time, while leaving no one in doubt, the job at hand for those taking the field with the 2’s. At Christmas it wasn’t looking great, propping up the table in 11th but a late fightback saw them take a noticeable win away to H&F 2’s and at home to Belsize Park 2’s and finishing up in 7th position. The resilience to keep turning up after shipping numerous loses in the first half of the season paid off and it was impressive to see them rally in later stages of the league. Expectations for next season will be to reclaim our top four position.

3rd Team

The 3’s side, coached by James Weaver and captained by Jamie Pender, as the 2’s struggled so did the 3’s as the whole club feeds upwards. Jamie played over 50% of his games for the 2’s but was still able to steward his side through his deputies to a respectable 7th in the table. Always competitive just not always winning. Again another season of rebuild and after blooding in a number of new younger faces, they should be relishing a challenge of a top two place next season.

4th Team

The 4’s captained by Alex Pederson finished 8th overall but are the only 4th team in this league, with a 3rd team from Dorking and the rest was made up of 2’s sides. To remain competitive here is a testament to the steely resolve of Alex and his deputy Ben Studham, although we are sure the lads are more ambitious than just remaining competitive. Between many highlights, such as playing an excellent brand of attacking rugby, the win away to Dorking 3’s was the standout that I recall as there was an ex-Ironside on the Dorking team! All to play for next season!

5th Team

The 5’s side captained by James Kennedy, had a great season finishing in 3rd spot and again the only 5’s side in that league, surrounded by 2nd and 3rd sides from other clubs so, a huge well done chaps. One notable observation is that 5’s have a weapon of a driving maul and it came in great use and they pushed arch rivals Bec Old Boys 3’s back up the hill as they routed their neighbours away from home in the Openview El Classico! FTH!

Vets Team

The Vets side, captained by Paddy Flynn, struggled to get a consistent side out all season and are in dire need of new(ish) blood to fill the years between forty somethings down to the thirty five year olds. However, they contributed to the marquee day for the club this season as we celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Treble winning, Twickenham cup lifting side from 2015. On March 22nd, as a curtain raiser to the 1’s crucial tie versus Medway, Colin O’Keefe returned to the club along with a number of that 2015 side to play against a valiant Bec Old Boys Vets side, with the Irons running out eventual comfortable winners and taking their places at a pre match lunch. What a day it was!

So, that’s a wrap for the 24/25 season. Our boys travelled anywhere to get rugby played, enjoyed beers and given the opportunity, some slip and slide!

Some notable mentions who perform certain roles for the club that help with the overall running of things and they deserve our praise and thanks. clubhouse manager Wendy whose tireless coordinating, catering and thirst quenching is critical to the running of the club and the rugby season, operations manager Jorge Sueco who handles all the tasks that no one else does and can take huge credit for the exceptional social media content, and of course our Club Captain Shiv Singh and the other committee members who assist with the exceptional running if the senior mens section!

It’s onwards and upwards to next season

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