Last weekend saw the most prestigious event in the rugby club calendar, the players presentation night. This highly successful social event is a reward to the players at the end of a long, hard season, and this season was preceeded on the afternoon with our own in-house 7-a-side rugby tournament. Conceived by the inimitable Dale Kelly, who split the 60 or so strong Aycliffe club into R equally strengthened teams.

Getting underway at about 1 o'clock and kept on the boil by result collators Ken Job and Pat Flynn, the first match in the series had "The Clash of the Titans" Mick Harty on one team and Ged Harty, on the other. And from the beginning Ged's team captained by Dale Kelly looked effective and in the 7 minutes each way, an out victors. Next on were the team everybody feared, skippered by 'he formidable Gaz Turnbull they an out very easy winners and had strength in depth.

The tournament was run on 2-league basis, the winners of each league meeting in the final. Every single game was highly entertaining for the large partisan crowd and ran on until 5 o'clock. A word here for Neil Shaw, Mick Greenwond, Pete Robinson, Peter Boyle, Ali Chadwick, Col Pubus, Gaz Simon, Craig Telford and Dave Pass who all played well but weren't in the final.

The final was between the aforementioned teams captained by Dale Kelly and Gary Turnbull, and was a draw at full time and played on till the first team to score was the winner, the final breathtaking try by Brian Parsonage was 'he perfect finale to a superb exhibition of Rugby Football. The winning side consisted of Gary Turnbull, Neil "The Boot" Wilkinson, Paul Stonehouse, Shaun Pettit, Bob Clark,, Key Jones, Mick Casey and Brian Parsonage, who all scored tries, played well and were worthy winners.

Everybody left the field in a tremendous state of mind and were now looking forward to a great night, congratulations to

Dale for organising the competition which was a great success, and many thanks to the match referees without whom it wouldn't have taken place.

The night kicked off with Passy announcing that the barbecued steaks were underway in the ensemble of Army tents next to the club, Dave and Fran did everybody proud with a delicious bit of bait.

Then Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster arrived with other bigwigs to present the prizes, and the presentation began.

Hosted by favourite M C. Pat Flynn the first award was for the previously mentioned 7-a-side team who each received a small trophy, then the player of the tournamem was announced, Brian Parsonage who had an excellent day and of course scorer of the last vital try. Then came the presidents award which went to that well known figure "Shylock Littlewood" (John Littlefair) and the Chairman's award was for Dale Kelly, boM awards for services to the club. The atmosphere was getting tenser as the two most prestigious awards were about to be given; the first was for "Most Improved Player of the Year" and to rapturous applause went to Daryll Pettit , a worthy winner who has had a fine season. Now for the big one, the award everybody who plays rugby at Newton Aycliffe wants, "The Player of the Year Award", it as for none other than Mick Harty, who won a standing ovation off the I50 strong crowd, after a brief speech, Mick was seen grinning and mooing all night and never let go of his trophy.

Many thanks now to all of the Rugby Section Committee for a great night and thanks to Derek Foster MP who seemed impressed with the lads. After the presentation it was down to Dale's spirit draw, eating stakes and drinking heavily, and of course the usual rugby club crack - Male Stripper and Singing in the Rain.

The rugby season is now, over until September but 1 speak for all the lads, we can't wait until next season.