4.30pm Meet at Bradford & Bingley Rugby, Wagon Ln, Bingley BD16 1LT
5.00pm Depart by coach for Hereford

Food: No evening meal provided. Bring a packed lunch or buy  a meal at services.
Drink: Bring a water bottle or drink

Hotel:
The Green Dragon Hotel, Broad Street, Hereford, HR4 9BG
https://www.greendragonhotel.com/
Arrival: 9.30pm

Saturday 25 February 2023 – H Bomb trophy v Llanelli Warriors

7.30-9.00am Breakfast on Hotel
9.30am Depart Hotel for Match (Canton RFC, Lawrenny Ave, Cardiff CF11 8BR)
12.00noon Kick Off v Llanelli Warrior
4.45pm Watch International – Wales v England (in Cardiff)
7.00pm Evening Meal (in Cardiff)

Food: Breakfast, lunch and evening meal s are all provided.
Drink: Bring a water bottle or drink

Sunday 26 February 2023 – Exhibition match v Bolton RUFC Select XV

7.30-8.30am Breakfast on Hotel
9.00am Depart Hotel for Match (Mortfield Pavilion, Avenue St, Bolton BL1 3AW)
1.30pm Kick off v Bolton RUFC Select XV
4.30pm Depart for Home
6.00pm Arrive at Bradford & Bingley Rugby, Wagon Ln, Bingley BD16 1LT

Food: Breakfast and after match provided. Lunch at services to buy.
Drink: Bring a water bottle or drink for journey to Bolton.

Don’t forget…
Rugby: Boots & Towel (kit provided)
Travelling: Bumbles Leisurewear: Tee, Polo, Hoodie or Zip Top

Spending Money: We suggest around £60 will be sufficient for a couple of drinks at hotel/out and about on Friday & Saturday night and after matches on both Saturday and Sunday. Thirsty players or smokers WILL need more money!

Medication:
Any players that require prescribed medication, please provide information before or on the departure day. Any queries please contact Phil Wilson on 07850 602096.

Raffles prizes to collect – first come first pick

Peach – 15, 17, 38, 104, 133, 138, 148, 158, 179, 195, 231, 245, 261, 280, 289
Green – 25, 51, 133, 215

Prizes to collect: 3 brewery tickets | 14 gift boxes containing 3 beers

Contact jane4857@blueyonder.co.uk to sort collection

We would really appreciate your support if you can to help Bumbles Rugby to continue to develop and provide the players more life experiences.

You can donate to my JustGiving page by clicking here:

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure.

Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Bumble Bees Mixed Ability Rugby, so it’s the most efficient way to give – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Many thanks
Dave Duxbury & the walkers!

Activity: Easter Egg Challenge Walk

Date: Saturday, 3 April 2021

Meet Time: 10.30am

Meet Location: The Boathouse, Victoria Rd, Saltaire, Shipley BD18 3LA

Start Time: 10.45am onwards

Equipment Needed: Trainers & waterproofs (depending on the weather)

Food/Refreshment Needed/Info: Bring snack or lunch and drink (no alcohol and smoking during the walk!)

Toilet Facilities: No toilet facilities available

Expected Walk Time/Distance: Approximately 1-2 miles, 1-1.5 hours (depending on participants/weather)

Route of Walk: Challenge around Roberts Park & Saltaire – route will be supplied

Other Information: Prizes will be handed out after the walk. Participation required by Thursday (so prizes can be purchased)

Travel Information: Make your own way to The BoatHouse. Bus details: 626 from Bradford Interchange Stand B at 10am / Shipley Market Sq Stop S7 at 10.20am / Arrives at Roberts Park 10.30am  | 622 from Keighley or Bradford at 10am (buses every 10 minutes) and get off at top of Victoria Road, Saltaire (by Car Wash) and walk down to The Boathouse (10 mins walk) https://bustimes.org/services/656-bradford-baildon?date= | Train: From Skipton, Bradford or Leeds and get off at Saltaire and walk down to The Boathouse (2 mins) https://www.thetrainline.com/

Walk Lead Contact Info: Dan Cookson (07716 657933), Ahsan Sakandar (07527 197442) or Julie Wilson

Safeguarding/First Aid: Dan Cookson / Phil WIlson

Several facilitators met up with players and went on a couple of different walks this weekend, with some taking a more leisurely stroll up onto Baildon Moors and along the golf course and others taking a more energetic route over the top of the moors onto Shipley Glen.

The forecast early in the week hadn’t looked favourable but on Saturday morning the sun peeped out from the clouds and the weather was perfect for walking. The ground underfoot was boggy in places but the players had come prepared, due to the excellent organisation by Ahsan, and a good mornings trek was had by all.

It was great to see Gideon and Big Michael again after so long, and both made easy work of the longer, more challenging route over the moors – well done.

Next week we’ll be out and about again – doing an ‘Easter Egg Challenge’ in Saltaire and Roberts Park – all information will be released soon, watch this space!

Activity: Baildon Moors Walk

Date: Saturday, 27 March 2021

Meet Time: 10.30am

Meet Location: Baildon Rugby Club BD17 6RS

Start Time: 10.45am

Equipment Needed: Strong shoes for walking in (change of shoes in case needed)

Food/Refreshments Needed/Info: Bring snack or lunch and drink

Toilet Facilities: No toilet facilities on the walk. Rugby club toilets will be open at the start of the walk

Expected Walk Time/Distance:  Approximately 2-3 miles, 1-1.5 hours (depending on participants/weather)

Route of Walk: From rugby club onto Baildon Moors on a circular walk

Other Information: Alternative routes can be provided for faster walkers, depending on facilitators available. Walking Poles can be supplied

Travel Information: Make your own way to Baildon Rugby Club. Bus details: 656 from Bradford Interchange Stand D at 9.50am / Shipley Market Sq Stop S7 at 10.10am / Arrives Heygate Lane (by entrance to club at 10.20am  |  https://bustimes.org/services/656-bradford-baildon?date=

Walk Lead Contact Info: Dan Cookson (07716 657933) & Ahsan Sakandar (07527 197442)

Safeguarding/First Aid:  Dan Cookson / Phil Wilson

Sessions are suitable for players of all abilities and experience (14+), with an emphasis on fun.

We ask that everyone attending ensures they indicate that they are coming using the official O2 Touch app:

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/o2-touch/id1221998569

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cube.rfu.touch&hl=en_GB

The club and individual players can benefit from attend a sessions, through O2 Touch incentives, and we’ll be using the O2 Touch app/register for track & trace too.

Additionally all sessions will follow RFU Covid-19 guidance, including social distancing and sanitising.

Thank you for your continued support!

Eagerly Anticipated

Not since the owners of the White Star Line sent an ocean going luxury liner on a blind date with an iceberg has a fixture been so eagerly anticipated.

A return to full contact rugby after months of lockdown would be reason enough to cheer but Covid-19 and lockdown has had a disproportionate impact on many Mixed Ability rugby participants. Many of the Bumbles players have had to plot a course between greater risk of ill health if they catch Covid and the significant harms of isolation including: loss of social capital, loss of physical fitness and reduced mental wellbeing. The fact that they navigated these treacherous seas successfully is a great credit to the players and their support networks.

Would Missing Players Sink Bumbles’ Ambitions?

With Bumbles missing many of their star players including Paul “The Maul” Whyatt, Ryan Kirby (shielding) and Tom Beattie (unable to travel from lower tier to tier 3) the only question was whose hopes would be sunk when the epic played out.

Curtain Raiser

As a curtain raiser to the main event there was a game of touch rugby in the “return to play” format. The Bumbles team in this match was skippered by Katrina Dobson on debut with her sister Bronte Windle. Keen to establish a Women’s Mixed Ability rugby team, both sisters showcased skills that they have developed over the summer with some wonderful running lines.  Debutants  “Mighty” Gideon Simpson and Haley Rhodes were also prominent for the visitors.

Wicked High Ball

Hosts Keighley had the best of early play and worked deep into Bumbles territory. Spotting space and a mismatch out wide, Hamish Pratt launched a wicked crossfield kick skywards. Isolated and outnumbered by onrushing Keighley players twice his size Michael “Giddy” Whittaker out jumped the attacking wave to secure the ball. From their own try line Bumbles worked the ball the entire length of the pitch using their forwards in twin pods. The play included trademark penetrating runs from Bumbles founder player Anthony Brooke and wrecking ball Cam Smith. Having sucked in defenders, Bumbles now released their speedsters with Sufyaan Hussain rounding the last defender to dot down in the corner. The touchline conversion by Dan “You’re in the Army Now” Fletcher was good. (0-7)

Riposte

The riposte from the home side was immediate. Quick hands and elusive running saw Keighley in under the posts. The easy conversion somehow drifted wide. (5-7)

Blinded by the light

Bumbles again pressed. This time it was the high ball that did the damage. Jake “Dazzled” Ruff collected and was through, only to inexplicably drop the ball as he crossed the try line. To guffaws from his father David Ruff, Ruff junior was to explain that the floodlights had disorientated him. Fortunately for the visitors the error was not costly with Keighley giving up possession in their own 22. Sufyaan Hussain again worked the edges to score. Kev Pringle’s conversion attempt kept low and didn’t get above the Plimsoll line. (5-12)

Dancing Feet

After a break to sanitise hands, two Bumbles player coaches showed their skills. Leon “The Pocket Rocket” Taylor used his dancing feet to draw defenders before feeding Ahsan Sakandar who ran a beautiful supporting line cutting through the drift defence. The move was finished off by Darren Heigold who still had work to do to beat his winger. Such was Darren’s elation at crossing the try line, he almost forgot to ground the ball before running out of the in goal area. (5-17)

Rhino Charge

Stephen “Rhino” Rhodes penetrated with a typical charge, scattering Keighley defenders. Michael Kernan took the ball on with mazy running. Michael “Giddy” Whittaker was on hand to take the scoring pass. Rhino Rhodes added the extras with the conversion. (5-24)

Turnover ball saw Will “Chinny” Tomlinson running hard like he was scrambling for the last place in a lifeboat. This set up Michael “Giddy” Whittaker to double his tally with a second try. This time it was Big Lee Hainsworth who converted. (5-31)

Big Lee Hainsworth was soon in the action again as he and Michael Kernan moved the ball deep into Keighley territory.

Mark “thinks he’s a Kamikaze twin but in reality he’s more like one of the Proclaimers” Goodwin zigged and zagged before putting Michael “Giddy” Whittaker in for his hat trick. (5-36)

Another Keighley spill gave the visitors quick turnover ball and Stephen “Rhino” Rhodes took advantage, crossing to extend the lead as the final period approached. (5-43)

And the Band Played On

In the fourth quarter the home side, determined to go down fighting, were boosted by the addition of several Bumbles players who gave Keighley added sting.

As Bumbles found themselves increasingly on the wrong end of the referee’s whistle, Keighley were able to close the gap with a well worked try. (10-43)

With the clock ticking Kev Pringle, now in Keighley hoops, scored. Converted Ahsan Sakander.

(17-43)

Last Word

With Keighley clinging on like Leonardo DiCaprio to a waterlogged door, it was Bumbles who had the final hurrah. Sam Evans who had only just started training with Bumbles during a recent placement with International Mixed Ability Sports as part of his Bradford University Physiotherapy degree showed his fine footballing skills to hack through a loose ball. The bounce was kind: Sam collected on the final whistle to score his first try on his Bumbles debut and in his first ever rugby match. Smiles all round. Leon Taylor added the conversion. (17-50 Full Time)

Rugby is the Winner

Unlike the encounter between liner and iceberg there were no losers in this epic collision. Keighley were brilliant hosts and the superb RFU artificial grass pitch under floodlights enabled both sides to play First Class rugby. Whilst Keighley might regret some more “steerage class” errors: missed tackles and poor ball retention, Hamish Pratt was keen to emphasise that it had been a useful run out that had given the home side lots to reflect and work on. In the end, of course, as it is every weekend up and down the country, rugby was and is the winner.

Thanks to players, coaches, match officials for putting smiles on so many faces.

Written by: Mark Purvis
Photography: Mick Massey