Second row picks up Rams’ players’ player of year award

DAN Swain was crowned Rams’ players player of the year at the National Division 1 club’s end-of-season ball, writes Richard Ashton.

The second row, who enjoyed another outstanding campaign, ended with six tries in 22 appearances to edge out runner-up Axel Kalling-Smith and bronze medallist James McRae.

The young player of the year award went to scrum-half Ollie Hodgson, the former Maidenhead man climbing from the Development XV to feature in 16 first-team games.

Captain’s player of the year was awarded to versatile prop Paddy Harris, one of just two players alongside top try-scorer Zach Clow to feature in every game of the season.

The Tackling Trophy was a hard-fought affair ultimately claimed by young tyro Mike Duda, while the Roger Batchelor Memorial Trophy for coaching went to James Baker, the first team’s record cap-holder who has been mentoring the junior section along with Reading University.

Andy Lynch presented the Chairman’s Award to long-serving photographer Paul Clark, while fellow snapper Tim Pitfield was one of two to be rewarded with an honours cap following his tremendous service to Rams. Other awards went to social rugby player-manager Jack Gaylor who oversaw a remarkable resurgence ending with the Centaurs (3rd XV) finishing runners-up in Counties Two Tribute Berks, Bucks & Oxon South and the Horde (5th XV) victorious in the Thames Valley Invitation League.

Only the second-ever gold cap was awarded to retiring former captain Robbie Stapley, the number eight being the club’s highest ever first-team try-scorer with 105 in his 245 career appearances and joining ex-president Ian Duncan in a highly exclusive club. The Bill Taylor Memorial Trophy for club contribution was won by fixtures secretary Neil Thomas, while landmark shirts had been presented during the season to McRae, Swain, Rowan Grundy, Fraser Honey and Clow for reaching 50 Rams caps.