THE silverware was dished out en
masse at the KB Tyres/Mercury
League presentation night after
another busy season came to a close.
Allenburys Sports and Social Club
in Ware was packed out as teams col-
lected their awards. Westmill scooped
the Premier Division title for the first
time in 10 years, with Greenbury the
runners-up. Bengeo Trinity beat
Westmill to clinch the premier divi-
sion cup.
Broxbourne Badgers made the trip
up to receive their treble of trophies,
including the division one title, the
division one cup and the Jubilee Cup.
Royston Town A were the runners-up
in division one.
Oracle Components completed a
double by winning division two with
Baldock Cannon Reserves their near-
est challengers and scooping the divi-
sion two cup.
The Sportsmanship Trophy was
given to Cottered Reserves who
received the lowest amount of yellow
and red cards during the season and
the best average rating from referees.
League chairman Malcolm Phillips
was given the Jack Carr Trophy for all
his efforts in the role, with the award
presented by Herts FA's managing
director Eddie King.
The Referee's Award went to Mark
Taylor, who received the highest aver-
age score from cards filled in by both
sides in each match of the season.
The Volunteer Linesman Award
went to Westmill's Jeff Page in the pre-
mier division, Royston Town A in the
first division and Deaconsfield's Gerry
Yates in the second division.
The final award � the Jack Bush
Rose Bowl � for a club secretary who
has excelled over the season was hand-
ed over to Buntingford Wanderers'
Derek Brand.
League chairman Malcolm Phillips
said he was looking forward to next
season � when the league will return
to having four divisions � but as a for-
mer referee he felt football still need-
ed to clean up its act.
"We had the FA's big Respect cam-
paign at the start of the season and
packs were sent out to all the clubs,
with special armbands for the cap-
tains, and we would be forgiven for
thinking that everything was going to
change," he said.
"When you see Rooney and Ronaldo
up to their antics with referees and
Drogba and Ballack remonstrating
after their Champions League semi-
final, you know the campaign will not
make one iota of difference. A good
example has to filter down from the
top.
"We clamp down as a league, but our
hands are tied by the FA. There needs
to be different levels of punishment. A
player who swears at a referee might
miss 35 days. For someone at [Ryman
League] Ware, they might miss 10
matches � in our Saturday league they
would only miss four."
The chairman also wished to thank
the league sponsors for all their help
over the season, his fellow committee
members and Herts FA for staging
their cup finals at the County Ground
in Letchworth.
www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk June 12, 2009 MERCURY M 67
TROPHY TIME: KB Tyres/Mercury League winners line up with their awards flanked by league president Ron Partridge,
chairman Malcolm Phillips, Eddie King of the Herts FA and Keith Bird from sponsors KB Tyres Photo: M9MJBHPX-01
Top players must
respect campaign
KKBB TTYYRREESS//MMEERRCCUURRYY
FFOOOOTTBBAALLLL LLEEAAGGUUEE
Jamie feels the
heat as Far East
tour takes its toll
HAILEYBURY School
pupil Jamie George has
been beating teams in the
IRB Toshiba Junior
Rugby World
Championships in Japan �
but losing weight to the
elements.
The 18-year-old from
Hertford Heath featured
in both of the England
under-20s' wins over hosts
Japan and Scotland this
week, but he told the
Mercury exclusively from
the Far East that the
humidity has been his
toughest opponent.
"The two games were
extremely tough both
physically and mentally,"
he said.
"The stands were full
with such enthusiastic
Japanese supporters and
that is fantastic to see.
"The humidity has made
life difficult while play-
ing, for instance in the
last match against
Scotland I lost 4kgs sim-
ply of water."
Saracens youngster
George played 51 minutes
as England crushed Japan
43-0 on Friday and then
52 minutes as his side
beat Scotland 30-7 despite
failing to hit top gear.
He explained that coach
Mark Mapletoft was try-
ing to ensure all the
squad took their turn on
the pitch, but did not
overdo it in the condi-
tions.
"I think that the manage-
ment are trying to rotate
the team as much as pos-
sible to both consider
their options and to give
as many people a rest as
they can," he said.
"We're being looked after.
The diet is pretty similar
to back home thankfully,
as I'm not a massive sushi
fan!"
England take on Samoa
on Saturday in their final
group game, with a spot
in the semi-finals at
stake.
Hooker George was eager-
ly anticipating the clash
and has already been
scouting one of their
potential semi-final oppo-
nents.
"Samoa are a quality
team and love the game
when it is broken up and
scrappy which means that
we have to play a con-
trolled and clinical
game," he said.
"They will be more physi-
cal than anyone else we
have played.
"We also have to look out
for their 152kg tighthead
prop, he is fairly large!
"I had a little look at the
New Zealand v Ireland
game and New Zealand
are a quality team, as you
would expect."
HERTFORD RFC player
Chris Rainbow, 28, has
featured heavily in both
games for the England
Counties team in their
tour of Korea and Japan.
He was in the starting
line-up as England
destroyed a Korea
President's XV
108-10 in Seoul
and then he
came on as a
replacement in a
67-31 victory
over East Japan.
Today (Friday)
Rainbow is in
line to play in
the Counties'
showpiece match
against top
Japanese rugby
union side
Yamaha Jubilo.
By ALASDAIR GOLD
golda@hertsessexnews.co.uk
BMW
MERCEDES
VW � AUDI
SMART SPECIALIST
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The U18's are looking for players
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Further information regarding
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telephoning 0077990033 770066227777

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