March 11, 2008
Chiswick will put a proud record of 22 wins out of 22 in league and cup matches this season on the line at Doncaster Phoenix in the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Junior Vase.
The statistics add up to a wonderful 50th golden anniversary season for the west London club and they are keen to top it off with a final appearance at nearby Twickenham on April 12.
Chiswick coach Andrew Barrington puts the success down to a number of factors including the boost to morale gained from the painstaking rebuilding of the club’s facilities after their clubhouse next to Barnes Bridge by the River Thames was razed to the ground by arson in 1999.
“We were playing out of a rowing club’s boathouse next door but this season we have installed the showers to complete our new clubhouse and we feel like a proper club again,” said Barrington.
“We trained pretty well in pre-season and have been fitter than most other clubs at our level. There is a broad and deep group of players and we let them be as good as they can be.”
Chiswick have already sealed promotion from Herts-Middlesex 1 to London 4 North West for next season, and Barrington has been able to rest key players in recent matches.
Captain Marc Jones, a 6ft 4in wing, has averaged roughly a try a match, and the centres Ben Cheston and Jono Gibson have struck up a good understanding with the back row.
Doncaster Phoenix of Yorkshire 3 is an independent amateur club allied to Doncaster Knights of National League One, and Chiswick are looking forward to playing the EDF Energy Junior Vase semi-final on the main pitch at Castle Park.
“We are carrying a few injuries but in this competition we have played some tough fixtures away at Teddington, Eastleigh and Southmead, and somehow found a way to win,” said Barrington.
“The adventure of going outside your comfort zone is always one to be embraced.”
London Wasps have reached the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup, and Barrington would love a chance to learn from the capital’s big boys.
“We are trying to extend our links in the local community and foster a sense of pride and belonging in Chiswick, which is a fine district of London,” he said.
“When we went to Southmead we heard that their local Premiership club Bristol had sent along coach Richard Hill and scrum half Shaun Perry to do some coaching with them.
“I have written to Wasps who are our local Premiership club with their training base in Acton to suggest something similar but heard nothing back.”
The other EDF Energy Junior Vase semi-final features Tewkesbury, the Gloucestershire club who tragically lost two of their members, Bram and Chris Lane, to the floods of July 2007.
EDF Energy Junior Vase 2007-8 semi-final fixtures:
Saturday March 15:
Doncaster Phoenix v Chiswick
Tewkesbury v Castleford
Ends
Notes to editors
EDF Energy is supporting rugby from the grassroots to the elite – through the EDF Energy Cup, EDF Energy National Trophy, EDF Energy Intermediate Cup, EDF Energy Senior and Junior Vase. At grassroots, the energy company is introducing 112,000 primary school children to the sport through the EDF Energy National Schools Rugby Programme. Parent company EDF was a sponsor of the IRB Rugby World Cup 2007 and EDF Energy an ITV broadcast sponsor. EDF is also a major partner of European Rugby Cup Ltd, organiser of the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup.
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