8:00am Friday 30th April 2010
By Ed Mezzetti
Players from nine different clubs have made it into the Oxford Mail team of the season for 2009-10.
As they did on the field, Oxford Harlequins just edge out Chinnor with the most starting spots, but Grove, Oxford, Witney, Alchester, Banbury, Wallingford and Oxford University are all represented.
All players were judged against the level they compete at, so this is a ‘pound-for-pound’ line-up rather than a potential Oxfordshire side.
I expect the selections to cause some debate, but here is why they made it:
BACK THREE: Full back Nick Sevier has scored a hatful of tries since returning to Grove from Oxford Harlequins and, on his day, is a handful for any defence.
Former Newbury man Martin Nutt has barely put a foot wrong in his second spell with Quins where his all-round skills and elusive running have made him one of National 3 South West’s best players.
Witney’s Ed Mitcham has impressed at full back with his reliable goal-kicking and good link play, so earns his place out of position on the wing where other candidates lacked consistency.
CENTRES: Oxford’s promotion to Southern Counties North, in their centenary season, owed much to the creative skills of former county player Duncan Lynchsmith. His decision-making stood out.
Australian Dom Maley pro-ved a more than useful try-scoring foil for Nutt and made fools out of many defences. Not bad for someone who just ‘turned up’.
HALF-BACKS: No player has really grabbed the No 10 shirt with both hands, but James Cathcart gets the nod for his man-of-the-match display in the Oxfordshire Cup final and proficient kicking.
Australian scrum half Nick Haydon was one of Oxford University’s stand-out performers in their Varsity campaign and provided high quality service for those outside him at Quins.
FRONT ROW: Loose-head prop Kris Blaszko is Wallingford’s sole representative in the team after a strong season that included a fair few tries and even the odd kick at goal.
Chinnor’s Alan Cawston did not start their season as first-choice hooker, but took his chance with aplomb. A tireless worker, he played a key part in his side’s set-piece solidity.
Former Henley and Bicester prop Sean Cooke returned to the fray with Alchester and proved a real scrummaging force as they gained momentum in their first competitive season.
SECOND ROW: A few years ago, Quins struggled to find one quality lock, but Yorkshireman Andy Boyle has proved the best of a talented bunch at the club this season. Strong in the tight, he has a real eye for a try.
Lock Joe Rowles’s unselfish work typified Witney’s title-winning side. Others may have been more prominent, but few put in more ‘hard yards’.
BACK ROW: This was the most competitive section as shown by Simon Brand and Will Woodward both being included on the bench.
Chinnor’s Sam Jones shone in all three back-row positions and the Wasps Academy player has a range of skills to suggest a bright future.
Sean Bannister was quite simply immense as he captained Banbury to the title, with a try-tally most wingers would envy and a huge tackle-count.
Grove’s Ben Nicholl grabs the No 8 spot after continuing where he left off with Quins the previous season. He always carried the ball with energy and purpose and even moon-lighted as a centre.
See today's paper for the team graphic.
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