Newsletter - Thurs 4th May
Welcome to this week’s newsletter!
We are really excited for our Senior Club Day this weekend, which will see us hosting the 55th Crying Towel match, between the CFC & Linwood Premier Teams. A wee bit of history regarding this longstanding annual match between two great clubs can be seen in the picture below.
Unfortunately, our Board Chairman, Viv de Beus is overseas this weekend, so can’t be with us, but sends the following short message to our club members.
This week sees one the biggest day of the rugby calendar with our club day. I am sure everyone will get down and support all the teams from all the Juniors teams through to the Premier Division One team playing Linwood in the Crying Towel game.
The Division One team is a very young and inexperienced team, that are showing great heart and they will only get better - so let’s get down and support them for this big game.
All the very best to all the teams on the weekend.
Cheers
Viv de Beus
Board Chairman
BAR OPENING HOURS – Sat 6th May 11am-11pm
With all senior teams playing at home, it's going to be an action packed day this Saturday!
We will be hosting the annual CFC Axeman and Linwood Matador pregame luncheon in our restaurant area, with a whole raft of events throughout the day.
This week, we are delighted to have a coffee cart onsite, during junior games in addition to the Eat Food Truck, which will be available to serve food to our club members and visitors until midafternoon.
We are extremely lucky to have a professional club caterer onsite who will be serving all club day food. With some wonderful Bar Snacks throughout the day, we will also be serving a Light Bistro and Kid’s Menu from 4pm.
So why not come and eat at the club this weekend…… be part of the atmosphere! Let us be your CBF Caterer of choice this Saturday – we look forward to seeing you!
CAR PARKING
On busy club days, car parking is always at a premium, but we kindly remind ALL our club members that named/reserved car parks to include mobility parks, elected board and management, motel guests, squash club members, physio or ANY car parks which have names attached to them must not be used under any circumstances except by the assigned names.
Please also ensure you do not park on yellow lines, no park areas or block in other car park guests. Last week, we had an medical incident at the squash club and the emergency services needed to get access, but parks allocated had been taken by unauthorized users, delaying the ability for the first responders to get on site.
For teams and supporters who have games on Field 3, we will have the old Westminster Depot concrete pad, so we encourage use of this parking area where possible.
CFC WEEKLY DRAWS
Official link to the Junior Draws click here
Official link to the Senior Draws click here
MATCH REPORTS
Premiers v Burnside
Christchurch Park 3.00pm
Half Time: 7 - 19
Full Time: 12 – 48
It was with much anticipation that the Premier boys entered game 3 of the season against Burnside. Knowing Burnside were a better team than us, it was going to be a big task for the CFC team. They knew they would need to continue improving on the performance from the first 2 games of the year.
Once again CFC started well. They opened the scoreboard with a try in the 12th minute to Will Gualter, playing his blazer match. The try was converted by Conor Watherston-Spencer. For the next 60 minutes Burnside, in particular their backs, took control of the game. They were able to run in 3 tries (2 converted) by half time and continued this through-out the second half. CFC were able to pick up consolation try on full time by Otama Roberts. There were periods of play where CFC looked good, in particular the set piece at scrum time, however were not able to turn these into scoring opportunities.
Jack Stokes put in a good performance around the park and deserved the Man of the Match Award. Our congratulations also go to Will Gualter who played his blazer game.
This Saturday is CFC’s Club Day and we take on Linwood for the Crying Towel. Having held it for a couple of seasons now, it is time to return it.
PREMIER WOMENS’ REPORT
29 April 2023
HSOB v CFC
Bob Dean’s Park 2.45pm
Full Time: 0-82
It was a great day for some footy out on Bob Dean’s Park. From kick off the team got into their stride with kick hands to get it down the wide channels with newly contracted Black Fern Lucy Jenkins showing her pace on the outside to put HSOB in their half. Although the initial start proved good, it took a while for the team to execute plays without knock ons or dropped balls. However, our set piece seemed to be working very well with a couple of tightheads from our forwards which set the backs up for some good tries. Amy du Plessis showing why she is also deserving of a Black Fern contract finding holes in the HSOB backline and pace to match.
With a couple of kickers having tight Hammies, Lucy Jenkins showing she is a jack of all trades with conversion kicking also adding to her list of things she can do.
With first half over and Debutant Rosin Ramage taking a rest (coming back from injury) after good first half of footy in the front row, the game then went to non-contested scrums.
The 2nd half then got away from HSOB a little with CFC women hitting their straps and playing some good free flowing rugby. All though the score does not reflect the game HSOB put up a good fight and were ruthless around the ruck.
CFC looking forward to their last round game against Lincoln Ewes hopefully going unbeaten first round. Also looking forward to this weekend and a big club day of footy. All the best to all the teams at home 🙂
DIV 2 PREMIER RESERVES REPORT
29 April 2023
Lincoln Uni Wethers v CFC Premier Reserves
1.00pm
Full Time: 78 – 0
The Premier Reserves suffered a deflating and heavy loss on Saturday against a very clinical and talented Lincoln side. Coaches Kyle and Matt have been preaching about "effort" and how that will be the difference maker in our games this season. Last week against Suburbs, more effort was needed across the whole 80 minute match, and the same could be said for the Lincoln match. For now, the Premier Reserves flush that result and move on to improving as a unit for what should be a fantastic club day match against Linwood this weekend. Give Em' The Axe!
DIV 3 CHOPPERS’ REPORT
29 April 2023
Shirley W’s v CFC Choppers
Burwood Park
Full Time: 26 – 34
What a beautiful day for a game of rugby, and the rugby didn’t disappoint. We were away to the Shirley “W’s” at a leaf littered Burwood Park.
It has been about 8 years since we have come away victorious against Shirley, and we knew we were going to be in for a tough game with a large amount of niggle. For the first time this season we had good numbers for our pregame warm up and final preparation, the lads seemed to be focused on improving on some of the basics that let us down last time out.
It was hard to separate the teams after the first 15 minutes and the score remained 0-0 as we went up and down the pitch. Their game plan was fairly straight forward in that they had about 3 big forwards that were hell bent on running it up the guts, but that is easy to defend. After the first 15 minutes, Shirley managed to get over the line and take the score to 7-0, they then scored another quick try that wasn’t converted.
We knew that a good start was critical and once they get their noses in front it can sometimes make for a difficult day at the office. However, we managed to return their two try advantage with two of our own and two conversions which meant running in at half time 12-14. A good half time chat and still the lads remained focussed on the job at hand.
We started the second half in the best possible way with our try of the season straight from the kick off. We were attacking on the 5 meter line and went the width of the pitch twice before Jedward managed to dot it down in the corner. It was a great series of play, excellent communication and trusting the call of our team mates outside of us. The Choppers were buoyed by this.
At this point the game was still finely balanced, and we were starting to be on the receiving end of some interesting calls; however we kept our heads down and stuck to our game plan as we approached the midpoint of the second half. Thankfully we were able to compose ourselves long enough before our competitors had their own implosion following them being on the receiving end of some decisions. They received a red card for some very questionable behaviour, and we felt we now had them on the ropes.
Approaching the final 10 minutes the score was 26-29 in our favour but Shirley were giving it one final push to get the result and cause an upset for us. They had a scrum on the halfway line and managed to get up to our 22 through a few phases. There were a handful of breaks in play due to injury and some mediation required by the ref. “how much time is left ref”…..”8 minutes”, “6 minutes”…….it seemed time stood still but we stuck to our task. Shirley were just outside the 5 meter and pushing for a try, the Choppers stood firm and mowed down anything that was coming towards the line. From the ruck on about the 10th phase the Shirley half back knocked it on, and we had the put in at the scrum. One last check on the time and the ref confirmed 2 minutes. Great, we haven’t blown this but still have work to do to keep the ball in hand and see out the game. From the scrum we managed a superb breakaway down the field, went through about 3 or 4 phases, a breath-taking draw and pass and then one of the lads getting over the line in the corner to secure the points. The conversion was the last kick of the game and we run out winners 26-34 on the day; celebrations ensued.
A shout out to a few people on the day, Big Red (a.k.a. Melman) for picking up his first meat pie for the Choppers, Jedward for being the beneficiary of two great tries from the left wing, Leon for playing his first game at first five for us and doing a great job, our player of the day, Alani, who not only scored but completely and unselfishly gave a pop pass for the last try even though he was over the line and once again Rachael Milne for providing some great game day pics. Last but not least I can’t sign off without giving a shout out to our wonderful supporters who filled up the side line, cheering us on throughout the game and celebrating with us after the final whistle.
A great game, a great result, WHO ARE WE!!!
Go the Choppers!
Jez Cowburn
p.s. Give ‘em the AXE
CLUB MEMBER PROFILES
JUNIOR CORNER
Wow, what a day last Saturday, with 62 junior teams playing at our club fields! We’re always pleased to welcome our friends from Sumner and New Brighton to our club for pre-season friendlies across the grades, a calendar event now in its 3rd consecutive year.
We love the great atmosphere and positivity on display during this event and how good to see our senior players supporting our juniors by taking control of the BBQ, even if the aprons were a bit on the small side!
The senior players were SO good with our juniors, taking the time to answer their questions and support them at the end of their games. We are extremely lucky to have such a wonderful RDM in Steph Te-Ohaere Fox, ably supported by our Rugby Committee and Chops and Hunter as Co-Directors of Rugby. Our junior rugby club has grown steadily again this year with so far over 50 more junior players than this time last year, with registrations still coming through most days – how lucky are we to have such great support within our community!
The draw for all junior teams is now out, with grading games taking place over the next few weeks for most grades. We remind all of our families, of our CORE Values and that the main aim is to have fun out there and enjoy the experience!
From the pictures below, taken during this week’s Wednesday training sessions at the club, it looks like our coaches, players and supporters have all got the memo and are have a great time! Special thanks to Karina, one of our U12 parents from Karina Templeton Photography for capturing these great shots – we will be seeing more of Karina’s work during the season! If you’re looking for a photographer, check out her website here.
Wednesday 10th May – CFC Juniors Sponsors, Coaches & Managers Event
If you are a 2023 registered coach, manager or sponsor, we would love to see you at this event. You should have received an email invite, but for those who can’t locate it or have yet to respond, please can you complete the RSVP Link Here (including non-attendance) before Monday 8th May!
CFC Junior 2023 Chocolate Fundraiser
Thanks to the awesome work of Jess from our Junior Committee, nearly all of our teams have now collected their chocolate to sell, to help us with our constant requirement to raise money, so we can keep up with the costs associated with looking after our junior club members to ensure they have gear, equipment and lots of awesome activities and events to attend as part of our junior club. With over 600 boxes of chocolate to sell before the 24th May – we are very grateful to all of our families who can put in the hard yards to sell chocolate to friends, family and colleagues to help us raise funds for our club.
We do have some boxes still unallocated, so if you can help, please contact Jess, using the details on the flyer below!
GILBERT APPAREL – ONLINE STORE NOW OPEN!
A reminder to get your orders in for our new range of Gilbert apparel.
We have a great range to order from with something for everyone from kids to adults’ sizes. A second order window has now opened up, with delivery within 6-8 weeks.
Our online store can be accessed here
Juniors’ socks are in stock behind the bar and can be purchased for $15 during bar opening hours.
Article added: Thursday 04 May 2023