R1 SOUTH CENTRAL
WIMBLEDON
Captain Jack Cooke
Coaches Collin Osborne (DoR), George Trimmer (head-backs), Will Davis (head-forwards)
After losing their opening match 25-20 at Camberley, there was no stopping the Dons, who won the remaining 21 games under the leadership of lock Cooke in his first season at the helm.
They scored 959 points, conceded 363 and finished 14 points ahead of runners-up Havant. It was their first league title in nine years and a triumph for Osborne, the former Harlequins centre and skills coach. Fly-half Ed Morgan plundered 260 points and wing Ollie Kitto ran in 20 tries. Hooker Jacob Farnworth scored 11 and wing Bradley Pinkham contributed ten.
A strong culture, an unswerving will to win and a focus on coaching carried them through. Their final 26-24 win over Camberley brought a bonus: the match was declared by the RFU as the Surrey Cup final, despite neither team having competed in any round.
R1 SOUTH EAST
WESTCOMBE PARK
Captain Nick Cook
Coaches David Marshall (head), Darren Molloy (forwards), Graham Purdy, Pat Sykes, Ralph Cook (assistants)
The rousing cry of “Tiger Combe” from the touchline was revived after many years and it helped the side along the title-winning way by holding off Shelford and Colchester. No 8 Cook was an inspiring leader while ever-present scrum-half Jacob Buckley was the Players’ Player of the Season. He amassed 180 points, comprising 78 successful kicks and three tries in 22 matches. Cook and wing Joe Ratcliff both scored 16 tries while flanker Harry Hudson notched 12.
Westcombe Park were unbeaten before Christmas and lost only four times overall. Team spirit was a key factor. General manager Mark Ley said: “They’re all mates and work hard for each other.” John Ward Turner, Park’s octogenarian match-day manager and touchjudge, will occupy a new role next season as the fourth official when Park play in National Two
