Hadleigh Rugby Club Start the New year in style!

Hadleigh won 17pts to 10 keeping them top of the league 2012 seems to be starting off where 2011 finished for all teams in the Hadleigh Rugby Club. The 1st XV ended the year in top spot in the Eastern Counties Div 2 and after a four week lay off over Christmas and the New Year everything was back to normal. Hadleigh entertained third place Mistley on Saturday January 13th and, although rusty after the long lay off, came out comfortably with a 17pts to 10 win. This now places them at the top of the league with a two point cushion and ready to take on league rivals Thetford on January 27th.

The club is going through a successful period at the moment with two senior teams now being fielded on a regular basis and the Youth, Midi and Mini rugby teams also taking their share of victories and success at the end of the year. The biggest success for the season so far must go to the U-13s team who came away as Suffolk Plate Champions on December 18th, beating Ipswich 25-0 in the final.

Confidence at the club is running high at the moment in both the Senior and Junior sections. The club is still aiming to stride further ahead and if anyone is interested in becoming involve with the club either at either senior or junior level then please contact club chairman Alan Murray on 01473 652448 or Senior Playing Coach, Adam Miles on 07766 067823. If you are under 16 or over 6 and you are interested in playing then Mike Watts, Junior Coaching Co-ordinator, can be contacted on 01206 391676.

Game, Set and Match in Sudbury!

Babergh District Council, the Lawn Tennis Association and the Sudbury Tennis Partnership have developed a unique new tennis programme in Sudbury that is available to everyone. As part of this new initiative – which has been funded by the Suffolk Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) – the Sudbury Tennis Partnership will provide expert coaching to anyone interested in tennis in the Sudbury area.

A series of taster sessions, which are open to all ages and abilities, have been set up to encourage those interested to come along and try their hand. The partnership, which has links to local schools and tennis clubs, is based out of the Great Cornard Sports Centre. It hopes to integrate tennis in the area for the first time. Specifically unique to the programme is its extensive mini tennis section that will cater for 4-10 year olds. However it also offers fantastic coaching to older children and adults in its extensive programme. There are also opportunities for talented players to progress to the partnerships developmental squads .

A key element to the programme is also its ability to offer free coaching to specific target groups in the area. The programme has kicked off this part of the programme already by providing free coaching sessions to 5 primary Schools in Sudbury and Great Cornard. Sue Longhurst, Babergh’s Community Development Officer (Sport), said: “Babergh is delighted to be working in partnership with the Suffolk LTA to bring these free taster tennis sessions to the Sudbury area. “We hope that as many people as possible will take advantage of these sessions and aim to get more young people and adults taking part in sport and using local community facilities in the process.”

The evening sessions begin on the week beginning of the 20th of February. So please book in soon to secure your place.

To book your place, email: sudburytennispartnership@gmail.com or call KevinMartin, Head Coach at the Sudbury Tennis Partnership, on 075885 26627. To learn more about Sudbury Tennis Partnership visit: www.sudburytennispartnership.co.uk

Hadleigh Cricket Club

Sponsored by Hadleigh Tyre Group
The club had one of its darkest days when we received the devastating news about the tragic death of Josh Rix. All our thoughts are with the Rix family as they come to terms with the terrible loss of both Josh and his mother Judy, who was always a keen supporter of both her sons. Josh was only 13 when he began playing for the club’s 3rd XI in 2001.

One particular match that year stands out in the memory. We were all out for around 60 at Ampton & Culford, but Josh took great delight in top scoring with 13 when most of us failed to trouble the scorers. Neil Place and Josh’s brother Tim then bowled the home side out for 42, but Josh was adamant he had made the match-winning contribution. Despite his youth Josh loved going on the club tours to Cromer and taking a full part in proceedings. Yes, he probably stayed up a little later than he should have done.

Josh worked hard at his game and over the years developed into a hard hitting batsman, occasional wicket keeper and sometimes brilliant fielder in the gully. The bat seemed like a matchstick in his hands, but he could be so destructive with it. Although work commitments restricted his appearances at times, he was always in demand from captains. He had a great season in 2010, averaging over 30 for the Sunday XI and last year he scored nearly 200 runs for the 2nd XI.

Batting with Josh was never dull, and umpiring at square leg while he was on strike was a somewhat unique sight in cricket! It is something of a cliché to say that someone played with a smile on their face. But Josh Rix played cricket and lived life with a massive grin on his, and made the game so much fun for his team-mates. He will be missed enormously by everyone at Hadleigh Cricket Club.

The funeral for both Josh and Judy is on 14.02.12 at 12 noon at St Mary’s Church, Hadleigh.

Gary Wiles

Hadleigh United Football Club

Sponsored by Hadleigh Tyre Group and Toppesfield Ltd
www.hadleigh-utd.co.uk

Hadleigh United began the new year with a home match against Felixstowe. A goal by Ben Deacon following a centre from Jamie Cowan in the first half was the only score of the game. Earlier the Seasiders lost a man to a red card and Hadleigh took advantage of their numerical advantage to gain three points. Two days earlier Hadleigh had ended 2011 with a win at Newmarket by three goals to one.

An early goal by Lee McGlone put Hadleigh in front and Ben Deacon then added a second goal with a wonderful effort from near the half –way line which gave the Jockeys goalkeeper no chance. Newmarket scored in the second half and they attacked strongly. But Lee McGlone scored number three for Hadleigh just before the end of an entertaining contest. This was the ideal way to end the old year as Hadleigh defended soundly to maintain their lead to consolidate a position in the middle of the Ridgeons League table. An enjoyable coach trip to Norwich United provided another good day for our travelling supporters as the game ended all square against highly placed opposition.

The game was evenly balanced with Norwich taking the lead in the second half. But Hadleigh kept battling away and were rewarded just before the end with Jack Crawley equalizing with a penalty kick. Another coach journey to Norfolk was the match at Dereham ended with Hadleigh losing by two goals, both scored in the first half. We were up against it from the start as loan players Lee McGlone and Luke Ingram had moved to pastures new on the instruction of their parent clubs. Along with a few injury problems, we were a little short of fire power against another strong team. Hadleigh held their own in the second half. The Reserves began the New Year by beating Halstead by two goals to one at the Millfield. All the goals game in the first half with Trevor Vinyard and Michael Barwick scoring for us.

Our Ridgeons Youth team beat Whitton by eight goals to one on a very windy night at the Millfield. We scored twice with the wind behind us in the first half before adding six more in a superb second period. Tom Driscoll paved the way with a hat-trick while Deasko Garner netted a couple. Others came from Harry Evans, Patrick Armstrong and Elliot Crowe to complete a big win for Hadleigh.