Douai Crest


DOUAI Rugby 1990 to 1999

1990-1991

P 12 W 6 D 0 L 6 F A
This year's First XV made a successful start with six victories in a row. But then luck changed, and they then managed a string of six defeats. The team had good potential, with J McWilliams, Capt., and A Amor, S Dalton and J Spragg, all in their third season, and several others who were in their second. The pack was strong, and mobile, and linked well with their three-quarters, who usually managed to snatch some early points from unsuspecting opposition.

The ever improving lineout work done by P Connelly and Y Maccarico, the contrasting skills of C Birch and B Granger-Holcombe on the wings, and the tremendous performance by C Antelme in the KCS match, and the safe and speedy hands of C Young at full back, all pointed to a successful season. The greatest disappointment, however, was the narrow defeat at Canford, where we played some of our best football, despite the loss of J McWilliams.
So this team never quite fulfilled its promise, but it was nevertheless a tribute to Mr Maurice Maynard, the coach.

Sevens: After a difficult opening tournament at Windsor, N Jepson was drafted into the squad, as he had a terrier like skill in gaining the ball.


Douai -we won our group, and went on to beat Clifton and Downside, before succumbing to Wellington in the Final.
Rosslyn Park et al -In later competitions we had some good results, but without overall success.


1991-1992

P 15 W 3 D 1 L 11 F A
For various reasons, no fewer than 23 turned out for the XV during the course of the Season, so the results were not surprising. However, five of those defeats were very close, and in the later part of the season, we lost our talented Captain, B Granger-Holcombe, and his tough substitute, R Soh, through injury.
N Jepson and C Birch both played well, and Birch got his reward when he turned out for Berkshire u/19 team. A Attia also played for Berkshire u/18 team.

Sevens: Windsor -we won our final group game against Stowe, but did not go through.
Douai - C Birch was injured for this event.
Surrey - We entered an experimental team, but did not get anywhere.
Rosslyn Park -we lost to Colston and Rossall, but ended with good wins over Ryde and Whitgift



1992-1993

P 14 W 1 D 1 L 12 F A
This season began with the prestigious Douai Festival, attended by 24 schools across the South of England. Douai began in spirited fashion, drawing 0-0 against St John's, Leatherhead, but then losing to Colstons 14-7. We then proceeded to lose again, 56-0, to Eton, and we realised that we had a difficult job on hand.
A small and inexperienced Douai team had problems in being able to secure good possession from both first phase and also from open play, which then proved difficult in constructing purposeful and penetrative attacks without giving the ball away. The tackling was weak, with some of the basic defensive strategies, an alien concept.
It is to the side's great credit that they never gave up attempting to remedy these faults despite the lack of success.
Led admirably by N Lumb, Capt., there was a committed and spirited fight to get the first win, and they found it as they beat Bearwood School. There were many encouraging performances by the Lower Sixth, with J McGinity and N Conlon often outstanding.

Sevens: There is no mention of any of the Sevens Competitions in the report.


1993-1994

P 13 W 8 D 0 L 5 F A
This year's Rugby season began with a difference -a nine day visit to Club Correze in the South of France for pre-season training, against two local teams -Ussel and Eggleton. Although both were narrowly lost, due in part to a disadvantage in size and facial hair, a promising start was made.
This was then followed by the Douai 15-a-side tournament, where we reached the semi-finals, losing 23-0 to Wellington. The following Tuesday, we also lost to Eton 0-32, the lowest time in our year.
This proved something of a new motivation, and we then scored victories against, Reading, Bearwood, Reeds, and Reading Bluecoats, but we then lost to St George's, a match at which we played genuinely well.
We then beat Shiplake, 13-8, but lost the next three games to Magdalen Coll, Canford and KSC Wimbledon, before beating Oratory, 9-0, (the first time we had beaten them for fifteen years).
We then beat Keio Coll from New York, before beating Pangbourne narrowly.

Colours were awarded to: J McGinity, Capt., T Igbon, N Conlon, T Noble, J Cassar, P Byrne and M Dodd.

Sevens: There is a mention of Sevens involvement, plus photo, but no text.





1994-1995


P 13 W 7 D 1 L 5 F A
The rugby season began as usual with the annual fifteen-a-side tournament hosted by Douai. The tournament gave the new coach, Gareth Jones, a chance to look at the players available, in readiness for what turned out to be a satisfying season.
There were some outstanding performances, notably against St George's and KSC Wimbledon. The team also played well against Pangbourne, but were desperately unlucky to lose in the closing minute. They have done well to maintain our small school on the rugby map, an achievement which will surely be upheld in the future.

Colours were awarded to: S Mills, Capt., J Head, R Jones, R O'Keefe, A Roddis, A Rodriguez, and L McNicol.
S Mills, A Rodriguez and J Head all represented the school at Berkshire u/18 level.

Sevens: Windsor -lost to Latymer Upper School and Bryanston.
Douai -we won our group, and then found we were up against St Edwards Oxford, where we were beaten in sudden death extra time.
Rosslyn Park -We beat St Paul's, Barnard's Castle, and Colfe's, before going out to Bryanston.



1995-1996

P 14 W 4 D 1 L 9 F A
The 1995 season was one of mixed fortunes for Douai Rugby teams. The First XV were extremely unlucky, being plagued by niggling injuries and various illnesses. The Captain, I Hamilton, led by example and was awarded the coveted Whitton Cup as Player of the Year.

We began with a large loss, to a very experienced Eton Coll. 3-54, who had just returned from S Africa. We managed a draw against Reading, 20-20, but scored wins against Reading Bluecoats, 12-7, and Shiplake 18-5, with penetrating centres B Cobb, and J Midmore scoring good tries. We lost to Oratory, 15-21, and also to St George's, 9-28, and Pangbourne, 3-21, but we were very much under strength by now.
We then went to Ireland, and played and lost to St Andrews and Blackrock, - Ian Hamilton was declared Man of the Tour.
Losses to Canford, Abingdon and Clayesmore were disappointing, but spirits were high when we beat KSC Wimbledon, and T Carbury was Man of the match as they beat Reeds.

Colours were awarded to: Ian Hamilton, Capt., G Carbury, B Cobb, B Macgregor, J Midmore, R Pryor.

B Macgregor was selected for the Berkshire u/19.

Sevens: There is no mention of any Sevens taking place.



1996-1997

P W 2 D L 6 F A
The season of 1996-97 was a disappointing one for the First XV. Our teams these days always suffer from having such a small group of players, and we cannot compare with many of our opponents for size or weight. Nevertheless, the side, despite only playing with a full complement on one occasion, enjoyed their Rugby and under its two enthusiastic leaders, G Carbury and A Kamya did their level best throughout.

Once again, the season opened with the Douai 15-a -side Tournament. We lost narrowly to Berkhamstead, Dauntseys and Downside, but had a good win against Stanbridge Earls.

Our first full match was against Shiplake, which we won, 27-20. Several defeats followed, including one against the Marist Coll from Australia, and locally, Oratory, Clayesmore, Pangbourne, and Reeds. In total it seemed that we were destined to win only two games in this season, but it was to be expected, given all the circumstances.

Colours were awarded to: R Garnett, D Igbon. T Carbury, A Kamya

Sevens: Windsor -a good performance against Wellington and R G S High Wycombe boosted our confidence for the future.
Douai -We beat Clayesmore, drew with Wells Cathedral School, and just lost to Bloxham 20-22.
Rosslyn Park -We went to RP full of confidence, and won the first three games against Truro, Grenville and Aylesbury, but then came a cropper against Trent Coll, finding them too strong.


1997-1998


P 12 W 3 D 2 L 7 F A
Our first encounter came in the Douai 15-a-side tournament, where we found ourselves in a tough group. We beat Reading Bluecoats, and Dauntseys, but despite good play, we lost to Abingdon and St Edward's Oxford.

Our first full game was against Reading School -who had beaten us badly last year. In the end we managed a draw -5-5. After wins against Reading Bluecoats and Eton, we then lost to Shiplake, and Oratory, St George's, Clayesmore and an unbeaten Leighton Park. In the Rendcombe Coll. match, the issue was only decided in the last few seconds -but we lost again.

Our best performance was against KSC Wimbledon, where we got a draw. We losr again to Reeds, but finally beat Bearwood.

Colours were awarded to:T Carbury, Capt., G Goldsworth, P Robinson, E Botcherby

Sevens: Douai -We started well, winning 12-7, over Tasker Milward, of Pembroke, but were then beaten by a powerful Stowe team. In our third game against Downside, we went down 7-14. The final between St Edwards, Oxford and Wellington was very one-sided, and was won by St Edwards, Oxford, already winners of the Windsor Vll's, 31-6.


1998-1999



1999

There is no account of the Rugby for the last year -although Vincente Prescott was the Captain.