It’s Quintessential (From News Shopper)

It’s Quintessential

4:27pm Monday 15th December 2003 in

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THE future of rugby in the this part of the country is looking stronger now that Orpington-based Westcombe Park Rugby Club has formed a joint partnership with Zurich Premiership side NEC Harlequins.

The partnership offers both teams many benefits at a time when interest in the game is at an all time high. The strong ethics that define rugby at a community level respect, team work, honesty, fun mean it can be enjoyed by all age groups either through playing or being involved socially.

Both clubs commitment to these ethics will allow families to enjoy special occasions, possibly none more so than when Westcombe Park were invited to be photographed with the Rugby World Cup, the Webb Ellis Trophy, on Saturday After a coaching session with Quins' first- teamer Henry Barrett, two teams of Westcombe Park got to watch Harlequins win their European Cup match against Cetransa, from Spain, 63-3.

In playing terms, Harlequins coaching staff will visit Westcombe Park to help run team coaching clinics as well as "coach the coaches" sessions. Westcombe Parks junior sides will be invited to play pre-match curtain-raisers at The Stoop, Quins' famous home ground, and will form the welcome tunnel as the senior players run out on to the pitch.

Elsewhere, three members of Westcombe Park's mini rugby section appeared live on Sky News last week to talk about mini rugby in the wake of the World Cup.

The boys, all from the Orpington area, appeared on the show with former England prop and 1991 World Cup finalist Jeff Probyn to talk about how they enjoyed mini rugby and how it was evolving after the rugby final Billy McDowell, Gareth Hewett and Ben Howell, all aged seven, were picked up from their homes at 6.30am, and with their parents were driven to the Sky studios in Isleworth, west London for the programme.

A club spokesman said: "The boys did very well considering it must have been very daunting being on live television.

"Jeff Probyn was fantastic during the morning and talked to the boys about Westcombe Park rugby and also sent his best wishes to everyone at the club following his appearance at the club's centenary dinner.

"One black spot on his career was a mention that he had a run out with Blackheath but despite this, the dads were still star-struck enough to push their children out of the way for a photograph taken with Probyn!

"A taxi was booked by Sky to get the boys back in time for a 10am kick-off to play at Old Elthamians, when they also met against Sidcup, winning both games and drawing against Crowborough."

Meanwhile, last Saturday, Westcombe Park mens' first team crashed to a 28-0 defeat against Barking in their National League 3 South game at Goddington Dene.

Westcombe went behind as early as the third minute when a long kick from Justin Azzopardi pushed them back into the corner. The clearance kick failed to find touch and Barking stormed back into the 22, where Dean Cadby for a try under the posts, which Mee converted.

Eight minutes later Azzopardi slid over for a try and then Mee kicked two penalties to send Barking in 18-0 ahead at the interval.

Nigel Blenkinsop then scored Barking's third try after the break, which Mee converted to make it 25-0 before Mee added a penalty to compete Combe's misery.

This Saturday, Combe travel to Basingstoke.

Elsewhere, Beccehamian ladies were knocked out of the National Shield 63-10 by Division II side Teddington Antlers on Sunday.

Beccs blooded three new players, winger Nicola Hammond and flankers Fiona Keith-Lucas and Josie Barnard all of whom had good solid debuts.

Captain for the day Kelly Malynn led from the front with some crashing tackles which made room for centre Steph Kaleta to run in Beccs' two tries from the halfway line.