This Week @ Penicuik Rugby
Our beanies reach lapland, could we have a new Scotland strip for our wall, the half season report, all the teams for this weekend and its all things Christmas
Grab a coffee, relax and read on…
Bar Opening Hours
Friday : Open from 7:30pm for live Edinburgh v Bayonne (8pm ko)
Saturday : Open from 1pm for Penicuik v RHC
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Beanie Hats
Thanks to the Seaton family, our Beanie hats have been delivered to Santa at Lapland ready for Christmas delivery.
If you are after a gift to give someone special at Christmas we still have stock available over the bar
These will be available during Bar opening times, starting this evening, for £15
Here’s Santa’s reindeer Comet getting all close and personal with our Beanie Hats (as modeled by Lewis)
200 Club winners – November 2024
The winners of the 200 Club Draw for November are:
- L.Moir (No. 78 – £87.50)
- P.Thorne (No. 50 – £35.00)
- D.Zavaroni (No. 22 – £17.50)
Next month will see the standard draw plus the Christmas bonus draw. If you want to be in with a chance and you don’t already play then please get in touch
Entry to the Draw costs just £5 per number per month. The more who participate, the bigger the prizes and the greater the amount raised to help fund some of the club’s activities. If you would like to take part, please speak to Andrew Mitchell or Andy Law or email 200club@penicuikrugby.org
Josh ‘in’ around
Our club development officer Josh is in and around our local schools. Here’s what he’s been up to :-
Embrace Rugby This Christmas Season!
As we approach the festive season, our rugby development officer has been busy bringing the excitement of rugby to Mauricewood, Cuiken, and Strathesk primary schools. The energy and enthusiasm shown by the kids have been truly inspiring!
**Here’s What We’ve Been Up To:**
**Skill Development**: This week, our focus was on enhancing the kids’ passing and handling skills. From their first hesitant throws to confidently catching and passing the ball, the progress they’ve made is remarkable. It’s been a joy to see their improvement and growing love for the game.
**Fun and Engaging Drills**: We’ve incorporated a variety of fun drills and games designed to develop their reaction times and hand-eye coordination. These activities not only boost their rugby skills but also their overall physical fitness, all while having a great time.
**Building Confidence and Teamwork**: Rugby is not just about physical skills; it’s also about building confidence, teamwork, and leadership. The kids are learning to trust their teammates, communicate effectively, and develop a sense of camaraderie that extends beyond the field.
**Why Rugby?**
**Exciting and Dynamic**: Rugby is a thrilling sport that keeps you on your toes. It’s a perfect blend of strategy, skill, and physical challenge, making it exciting for kids who love action-packed games.
**Life Skills**: Beyond the physical benefits, rugby teaches important life skills. It fosters discipline, perseverance, and respect for others. These are qualities that will serve kids well in all areas of life.
**Inclusive and Fun**: Whether you’ve played before or are new to the game, rugby welcomes everyone. Our sessions are designed to be inclusive, ensuring that every child can participate and enjoy the game.
We encourage all school kids to join us and experience the joy and benefits of rugby. Whether you’re looking to try a new sport, make new friends, or simply have fun, rugby has something to offer.
Come along, join the fun, and be a part of our rugby family this festive season!
If you’d like your child to try rugby in Penicuik’s primary schools please message Josh at do@penicuikrugby.org
Penicuik Charity Christmas Lights Parade
Massive Well done to Alex Pettie who, in horrific weather conditions, brought Christmas Joy to Penicuik by pulling Santa’s sledge round the streets of Penicuik.
It was fantastic to see so many of the local community braving the weather and lining the streets.
Big thanks to our coaches and Midi players who ran/walked alongside in the rain with donation buckets
There is still time to support Alex by donating here – https://gofund.me/2dae4db3
Video below –
Senior Rugby
1xv
Penicuik Rugby Mid-Season Review
As we reach the halfway point of the Arnold Clark East Region League Division 2 season, it’s been a challenging journey for the 1xv. While Dunbar stands undefeated at the top, we find ourselves battling at the other end of the table.
Our season kicked off with some fierce matches, displaying both resilience and determination. The early games set a high bar, with our opening match against Livingston RFC ending in a narrow 13-16 defeat. We quickly bounced back, showcasing our potential with an exhilarating 51-33 victory over Hawick Harlequins. This win was a significant highlight, demonstrating the team’s ability to put up a strong performance when it counts.
However, the subsequent matches have been tough, with several strong opponents taking the upper hand. Despite a spirited effort, we faced a heavy loss against Royal High RFC where we lost stand off Alan Haynes to injury and a difficult game against an unbeatable Dunbar team. These experiences have been valuable learning opportunities for the squad.
In October, matches against Leith Rugby Club and Trinity Academicals RFC were particularly close, with both games highlighting the squad’s improving cohesion, however the poor discipline and decision making resulted in narrow defeats. Our latest scheduled matches against Livingston RFC and Hawick Harlequins have been postponed due to weather conditions, offering us a chance to regroup and refocus.
**Key Takeaways:**
– **Resilience:** Despite being at the bottom of the league, the team’s spirit remains high. Every match has been a stepping stone, building character and unity within the squad.
– **Improvement Areas:** Focus on defensive strategies and maintaining consistency throughout the game to prevent those narrow losses from slipping away.
– **Upcoming Opportunities:** The postponed matches will provide a crucial chance to turn the tide and gather momentum as we approach the latter half of the season.
1xv v Royal High School
14th December, Montgomery Park, 2pm KO
This Saturday (weather permitting) we welcome Royal High to Montgomery Park. After a pre-season of uncertainty, it’s great to see Royal High gain momentum in player recruitment with the return of former players to bolster their ranks. And it was indeed the reverse of this fixture back in September which see the Barnton men turn the recovery corner and go on to post a 4 game win run.
This is expected to be a tough up front battle at Montgomery Park, despite the loss at Barnton the squad scored a good couple tries through our backs and given space today could go well. The forwards however, have to front up and provide the foundation to let the backs loose. Set piece win is essential to get any chance of points on Saturday, so lets hope the mis-firing line-out and scrum show marked improvement.
Given its the players Xmas night out immediately after the game, its great to have almost a full squad to select from. Alan Haynes and Aidan Dean return after a 3 month absence, Calum Tait comes back in at 8. On the bench its a welcome return for Luke Di Rollo after almost a year out with Martin Pritchard adding depth to the forward reserves.
Full Squad (at time of going to press)
Elsewhere in the League.
Corstorphine did Penicuik a favour last weekend with a good win over Trinity, this wipes out their game in hand and means its a straight shoot out between ourselves and Trinity to stay in Division 2.
A Penicuik and Hawick Quins win this Saturday could see us jump over Leith into 7th place
Full Fixtures and League below
2xv
Penicuik 2xv v Caledonian Thebans 2pm Kick
Montgomery Park, Penicuik.
Whilst the 1xv sit joint bottom of their league, the 2xv are sitting top and face Thebans in a top of the league battle. This fixture was reversed venues earlier in the season which seem the 2xv lose 48-24 back in September.
Its always great to host Thebans who bring a great squad ethos and a great following support.
It’s almost a settled side for Rich & James with a core of familiar faces. On the bench its a welcome return to Greg Shillingslaw after a 2yr absence (ironic we just this week changed the clubs locks given he disappeared with the master set) and also a return to Hayden Gordon fresh from filming with C4 and Liam Falconer-Millar returns after injury.
Click for the squad below (correct at time of going to press)
Youth Rugby
No Midi Rugby this weekend
Mini Rugby
No Rugby this Sunday, as its the annual Hunters Christmas Party at 2pm (ticket details below)
Indoor Training
With the usual winter weather approaching we have been able to secure indoor training for youngest P1-3 sides at the Penicuik Leisure Gym Hall on Wednesday evenings.
Can parents please take their kids to the leisure reception for 6:15pm where the coaches will collect, and bring them back down to reception for 7:15pm.
The 2024 PRFC Kids Christmas Party is now live for bookings.
This is open to all children up to and including P7
For full details click – https://penicuikrugby.org/portfolio-items/kids-christmas-party/?portfolioCats=10
Other News
Penicuik & Scotland
Fresh from making his Edinburgh debut last Friday evening, our Mini’s coach Rob Carmichael has been named in the Scotland U23 side to face Italy this Saturday at the Hive Stadium, Edinburgh.
If we can find links to the game we will attempt to show in the clubhouse, however if you wish to go and support Rob and the Scotland side tickets can purchased here – https://www.eticketing.co.uk/scottishrugby/EDP/Event/Index/5426?position=5
Good luck to Rob, and will we shortly be adding another Scotland jersey to our wall collection????
XMAS PARTIES
This weekend its all about players xmas parties.
The senior side are hosting their annual xmas jumper night this Saturday immediately after the RHC/Thebans game, whilst the mini’s are looking forward to their annual event on Sunday.
We dipped into the archive to recover some past photos of xmas events
Penicuik Swap Shop
### Introducing the Penicuik Rugby Club Swap Shop! 🏉✨
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new WhatsApp community Swap Shop! This is your go-to place for all things rugby kit – a fantastic way to recycle, reuse, and get your hands on some great gear.
Whether you’re looking to pass on your gently used rugby kit or searching for that perfect piece to complete your collection, our Swap Shop has got you covered. It’s a win-win for everyone and a wonderful way to support each other within our rugby family.
**How It Works:**
1. **Join the Swap Shop**: Simply join the WhatsApp group https://chat.whatsapp.com/FPRsSHgEuyO31PKyOz0IhI to become part of our vibrant community.
2. **Post Your Items**: Got rugby kit to give away? Post a message with a description and photo of the items you’re offering.
3. **Find What You Need**: Browse the posts to see if there’s something you need. If you find the perfect match, just reply to arrange the swap.
4. **Remove your post**: Once your item has found a new home, please delete your original post.
**Why Join the Swap Shop?**
– **Eco-Friendly**: Reduce waste by giving your old kit a new home.
– **Cost-Effective**: Save money by swapping instead of buying new.
– **Community Spirit**: Connect with other members of the Penicuik Rugby Club and support each other.
We’re all about fostering a sense of community and making rugby accessible for everyone. So dive in, share your kit, and find what you need to keep playing the game we all love!
Let’s keep the Penicuik Rugby spirit strong and sustainable. Happy swapping! 🌟
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History Boards
The boards are now on display in the changing room corridor, please feel free to come down and have a read
they can be viewed here – https://penicuikrugby.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/100-Years-of-Penicuik-Rugby-Club-A3.pdf
Penicuik Rugby Principal Sponsor 2024/25
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