Cents Announce Summer Rugby League Camp
St Albans Centurions have announced that they are to run a summer Rugby League camp at their Colney Heath ground during the school summer holidays, between 11th August and 14th August inclusive.
The camp will be run by RFL development officer Shane Rampling with help from Cents President, Tony Bottomley. It will be aimed at years 4, 5 and 6 in junior school. If anyone wants to know more, then please
Message From The Coach 21.07.08
Player/Coach Shane Rampling has sent this message to the website, " I just wanted to say a big well done to the players for their great effort on Saturday against the Navy. Although I did say we did it ugly, it just goes to show what you can do if you keep on to the end. It was hard graft but we did it, I am proud of you all. I'm giving you a 'no training day' on Tuesday, but back to normal on Thursday. In preparation for our midweek game on Tuesday 29th, I will be holding a light training session on Saturday 26th between 6pm and 7pm, followed by a BBQ and a few beers at the clubhouse. Please try to get along as we will be discussing how we will beat the (so far) unbeatable West London Sharks in the last game of the regular season and secure a playoff place."
The Under 12's and Under 14's are traveling to Northampton on Sunday morning to finish their summer season off with a couple of friendly games against The Casuals, kick offs at 11.30am and 12.30pm. The juniors will then be having a break until the Chiltern Junior Rugby League starts in October.
RLC Round 14 - St Albans Centurions 8 -v- 44 West London Sharks 29.07.08
St. Albans Centurions were pipped at the post as they just failed to make it into the play-offs, losing out to the unbeaten West London Sharks on Tuesday evening.
Coach Shane Rampling was not too downhearted with his side’s display nor with the Cents ending the season in fourth place in the League. “The better side won,” he said. “The Sharks proved again that they’re the best team in the competition. We competed against them in patches but they’re a big, fit, physical squad and we just couldn’t contain their offloads. To our credit, we never gave up and we were unlucky not to score more than two tries.”
The game started with the two sides looking evenly matched and for the first quarter there was nothing in it. The Centurions launched a number of promising attacks and a fantastic Angus Simpson break from the base of the scrum saw the ball fed wide to speedster Jacques Steynberg who was held up inches from the line. Jonno Elvin burst through and there were strong runs from Roy Dube, Rudi van der Merwe and Paul Maloney. The Cents were looking solid in defence with plenty of good work from skipper Richard Smith, Tom Martell, playing as ever above his weight and indeed the whole team but the Sharks were looking big and hungry. Something had to give and on twenty minutes full back, Terance Puna, pounced on a tap through to score under the posts.
The Cents hit back with excellent work from Paul Maloney, still jet lagged after his return from the Student World Cup in Australia. Roy Dube took the ball further upfield and fed Shane Rampling who was stopped just short of the try line.
Angus Simpsons' runs (below) tormented the Sharks all game, and right, Roy Dube on the charge.
The West London team were beginning to demonstrate why they hadn’t been beaten all season and a wonderful passage of flowing rugby saw them combine to send the impressive Tawara over for a try, converted by Dance, who didn’t miss a kick all evening. The Cents were not going to give in without a struggle and on the half hour Richard Smith sent a short pass out to Oli Fountain on the right wing. A trademark step and run from Fountain saw him go half the field for a fine individual try.
Despite a try-saving tackle from Owen Doyle, the Sharks managed to get the ball wide to Puna for another try. A fine kick off saw the Cents regain possession. Richard Smith was held up over the line. Then further attacks from Jacques Steynberg, and the ever-improving Lewis Padmore led to a fine Joe Vassie effort. The St. Albans side were doing everything but score. Cruelly, on the brink of half-time another, another Anthony Tawara try put the West Londoners into a slightly flattering 24 - 4 lead.
There was, however, nothing flattering or fortuitous about the Sharks’ display in the second period when they completely dominated proceedings after brief St. Albans resistance. A good kick from Angus Simpson forced a West London error. From the resultant scrum there was fine interplay between Rampling and Steynberg. Chris True was again only inches away from the line and Mike Okwusogu attacked with real vigour.
But then the floodgates opened. After a penalty goal from Dance on fifty minutes there were two excellent tries from Maehe Reweti and another from Goldings. With Jye Dance converting them all, the West London Sharks had racked up 44 points. In the dying minutes St. Albans Centurions managed a consolation try when Oli Fountain latched onto a high ball from Angus Simpson to go over in the corner.
Player/coach Shane Rampling was philosophical, as he reflected on the season. “It’s been an up and down year,” he said after the match. “We always knew it was going to be tough following the departure of seven of our Championship winning team. Then it became even harder when we lost Kristian Warner and Nick Surtees after only two rounds. But the youngsters are coming through and we’ve really got something to build on for next season.”
Team: Owen Doyle; Chris True; Oli Fountain (2 tries); Rudi van der Merwe; Jacques Steynberg; Shane Rampling; Angus Simpson; Roy Dube; Richard Smith; Lewis Padmore; Paul Maloney; Tom Martell; Jonno Elvin; Simon Lye; Joe Vassie; Tobi Osibodeu; Mike Okwusogu.
Cents Chosen For Charity Test Match 12.08.08
Several of our players have been asked to represent St Albans Centurions in a chartity Test Match at the end of August. The London Rugby League community will host a "UK Citizens V Rest of the World" on Friday August 29th at St Mary’s University, Twickenham in support of the charity ‘Right to Play’.
The Cents players chosen to represent the Cents in the UK side are Oli Fountain, Andy Lake and Dan Hensby, whilst playing for the Rest of the World are Cents stalwarts Shane Rampling who will coach the team, - Australia, Jacques Steynberg - South Africa, Paul Malloney - Ireland, Chris True - Germany and Roy Dube - South Africa.
The Right To Play charity is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world.
The teams will consist of a player from all of the London and the South Competitions teams - the Southern Premier, Eastern Conference, London League, Student RL and Armed Forces RL.
Organiser Carl Harrison, the RFL club and coach development officer for the South East region explained the background to the match, “The whole concept of the test match came about after attending a charity meeting in London with Right to Play. We were looking for an event that the Rugby League community could really get behind. It promises to be a real battle as it will give bragging rights to one set of players for a whole season, this means players are desperate to get involved and do their bit. The match will be played at St Mary’s University on the 29th of August, with a 7.30pm KO, entrance fees for the game will be £5, £2 concessions (under 16’s + OAPs) all money will go directly to Right to Play. We are hoping to raise over a £1000 on the evening so we are looking to get maximum support from the Rugby League Community."
Herts Juniors To Take on West Hull Team 12.08.08
St Albans Centurions are pleased to announce that they will be hosting an Hertfordshire U.14's Select Xlll versus West Hull U14's at our Colney Heath ground on Friday 29th August, kick off 2pm. West Hull, who run 19 teams at all levels, are well known as a hot bed of Rugby League, so it will be a real test for the youngsters of Hertfordshire to play this pre season friendly before their Chiltern League season proper starts in October. Coach Shane Rampling said " Our boys will be looking forward to this game as a starter to our winter season, even though our players only started playing rugby league last year, and West Hull started when they were under 8's, I think on the day we will give them a good game ... and (with a wink) who knows, the southerners might just show them how it should be done."
Come on down and support the boys on the 29th. The bar will be open, the sun will be shining ... and we could be watching some of the stars of the future.
