Here we will bring you all the news from around the club, competitions and events.
We can't report it if you don't tell us, so please send all of your Junior news to Neil Dipple who will be co-ordinating and sending that through.
All other news, please send to media@dingscrusaders.com

The full report from the mini and juniors teams visit to Clifton last Friday is now live below:

News and previews for this weeks games are also on our website under the respective teams:
Crusaders (First XV)
Knights
Warriors
Mavericks (Womens First XV)

Friday report:

There’s something about playing under the lights. You feel a yard quicker, tackles feel bigger and fitness? What fitness? There’s no need for Al Pacino speeches to get the kids ready, unlike the usual early Sunday mornings. They were ready to take on the traditional rivals like they knew what it meant to the old guys they look up to, literally.

When you arrived at the ground you could hear the excitement from the stand and pitch side. Looking closer, it was clear that the ‘riff raff’ down the road had been let loose whilst the parents took some respite with a much needed drink, following the half term break. It was only a week or two guys! The noisy neighbours were settling in…

As the cries of “don’t waste your energy” fell on deaf ears, the crowd was getting larger as families from the under 7s all through to the u12s were all supporting their club mates. A players tunnel was created and following an announcement of their team, the kids exploded on to the field, uncontrollable like the shaken can of coke they all seemed to have shared before getting on the pitch. As they sprinted off to their allocated pitches they made Adam Chaplin look like he was running in treacle trying to herd cats as he tried desperately to control his rabble.

After Adam’s u7s played they created the tunnel for the next age group. Next up were David Pooles under 8s, a year further in their confidence and experience of tag rugby. With the teams getting larger and pitches expanding, the tag belts went missing. Marcus Brooker followed his u9s onto a field he’s graced many times as a player with the first signs of contact and some would say “proper rugby”.

Andrew Morgan’s under 10s then entered the field as the support got louder and the parents initial drinks were topped up. The introduction of rucks and scrums got further attention from the rugby purists and it was clear on the sidelines that a few kids believe it’s a good idea to be in the front row. Neil Dobbin’s u11s then entered the paddock, as the competitiveness increased further and both teams would have known what to expect from each other following numerous encounters over the years in both friendlies and festivals.

For the final time the tunnel was created for Craig Jenkins’ under 12s as they entered the field for their last season at minis rugby. This time, one pitch, so no need for the supporters attention to be diverted. The introduction of 2nd rows getting increasingly closer to the game that they watch on TV as it becomes further apparent of the kids choosing their positions. The smarter ones obviously staying clear of the mess known as the scrum.

Despite paying money over the bar through gritted teeth, Clifton did brilliantly in hosting a great occasion for the kids and making it a lasting memory for them. From starting in the changing rooms to the Temu version of Brian Blessed announcing the teams on to the field, it was no doubt a great experience for those involved. Throughout the evening the matches were really competitive, the coaches and most of the kids will tell you the actual results, but the biggest success was all minis playing one after the other and having fun.

Thank you to Clifton for being wonderful hosts and always the coaches for giving up their time and ensuring the kids can enjoy themselves.

But as always Rugbys is the winner.

Reporter: Neil Dipple