Having been selected as a training venue for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the realisation of the enormity of the situation had the club, the town and the North East buzzing, when the word filtered through that the defending World Champions, the New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ were the International team visiting the Northern Echo Arena.

A fantastic honour and an opportunity to put the club and its facilities, the town of Darlington and the North East in general to the forefront on the world sporting stage.

The only down side to the honour, would be that it would necessitate DMPRFC playing a proportion of the early National League One fixtures away from home.

The All Blacks came, saw, trained, enjoyed and conquered the world and in some small way, bearing in mind that England exited at an early stage, DMPRFC would like to think that DMPRFC played a part in that success, as the whole party, players, officials etc. were a pleasure to host, as they proved to be the most professional, yet humble group of individuals imaginable, a credit to their country.

In the interim, the away games as a result took their toll, as the team struggled to find form and any sort of consistency.

After an opening day away victory away to Cinderford RFC (24 – 37), Henley Hawks RFC visited the Arena, where after a close encounter, DMPRFC lost the game (28 – 30), however the return from the two opening games, saw the team credited 6 points (1 win and 2 try bonus points), which was not a bad start.

However, the next 4 fixtures, proved costly, all being defeats against Rosslyn Park RFC (26 – 17), Blackheath RFC (23 – 7), Ampthill & District RFC (32 – 20) and Wharfedale RFC (45 – 21) and this left DMPRFC languishing at the wrong end of the table, with no league points to add to that original total.

As the home/away programme returned to normality, matters seemed to have improved somewhat, beginning with a fine home win against Loughborough Students RFC (39 – 16), with a full 5 point haul.

Away at Hartpury College RFC provided a reality check, when in the next game they delivered DMPRFC’s worst defeat of the season (50 – 7) to ‘knock the train back off the rails’ so to speak.

This was followed by a very close home loss at the hands of Richmond RFC (21 – 22), which although disappointing, proved to be a springboard to a remarkable run of 12 consecutive wins which catapulted DMPRFC up the league.

These wins included games against Plymouth Albion RFC (A, 15 – 25), Hull Ionians RFC (43 – 11), Fylde RFC (A, 17 – 21), Coventry RFC (H, 29 – 21) and Esher RFC (A, 14 – 22).

As Christmas approached, the last game of 2015 was at home to old local rivals Blaydon RFC, in a ‘double-header’ (league and Durham County Senior Cup tie), where DMPRFC made up for the disappointment of the previous season’s performances, scoring 8 tries in a one-sided affair, winning 51 – 11.

The win took DMPRFC into the New Year having won 6 consecutive games, accumulating 27 league points in the process.

This rich vein of form continued into 2016, accounting for Henley Hawks (A, 11 – 19), Rosslyn Park RFC (H, 17 – 10), Ampthill & District RFC (H, 45 – 29), Wharfedale RFC (H, 36 – 26), Loughborough Students RFC (A, 7 – 22) and Hartpury College RFC (H, 36 – 27). These victories secured a further 27 points to the league tally.

It was none other than the eventual league champions Richmond RFC, who stopped the winning run, in a narrow away victory (14 – 7) at Richmond Athletic Ground in late February.

It had been a great run up until that time and the key to that success, apart from the consecutive home games, predominantly had been a settled side who were playing well for each other.

The games continued with a win at home against Blackheath RFC (14 – 12), loss at home to Plymouth Albion RFC (17 – 24), a narrow victory at Hull Ionians RFC (20 – 22), a resounding 5-point win at home to Fylde RFC (40 – 14), losing at Coventry RFC (27 – 10) and winning at home to Esher RFC (27 – 13).

The final two games were very contrasting. A poor performance away at Blaydon RFC (L, 27 – 14) and the final league game of the season at the Arena, saw the biggest win against already relegated Cinderford RFC (52 – 22).

As has already been explained in Part 1 of the review, the final league total amassed was 91 points, an increase of 22 points on the 2014/15 total and a 7th place finish, compared to 9th last season.

In addition, the 1ST XV won the Durham Senior Cup in a one-sided final at Billingham RFC (10 - 65), the hosts fought gamely to the end.

Richmond RFC were promoted into the Championship and all at DMPRFC wish them well at that level. Moseley RFC were relegated from that league and join us in National League One, who we will play for the first time.

Henley Hawks RFC, Cinderford RFC and Wharfedale RFC were all relegated and DMPRFC wish them a swift return at the first time of asking.

Both Macclesfield RFC, from National League Two (North) and their National League Two (South) counterparts Cambridge RFC were promoted into National League One, with Sedgley Park RFC and Old Albanians RFC contesting the remaining promotion place in the play-off on Saturday 14th May 2016, at Wollams Playing Fields, St. Albans.

During the course of the season, injuries plagued particular players at key times, with some long term, examples being Grant CONNON, Garry LAW, Jamie BARNARD, Tom JUBB, Ed COULSON, Luca PETILLO, Tom KILL, Warren SEALS and Michael TAIT.

With injuries to players such as these, with varying degrees of seriousness, the resilience of the squad was severely tested, necessitating 42 different players representing the 1ST XV during the course of the season.

Now that the season has reached its conclusion, the usual ‘bun fight’ of negotiations in the transfer/acquisition/offload market takes effect, with players, agents and clubs all vying for position, with the ‘wheeling and dealing’ continuing prior/during and after the close season.

Players confirmed as leaving DMPRFC for the 2016/17 season are:

Rob CONQUEST, to Coventry RFC.
Tom JUBB, to Coventry RFC.
Bruno BRAVO, returning to Argentina.
Jacob WOODHOUSE, returning to Australia.

Each of the above players knows how individually and collectively the part they have contributed to the success of DMPRFC during their stay at the club and DMPRFC wish them well in their rugby and life futures.

What is known to date from a DMPRFC perspective, is that the following players have signed for next season and DMPRFC are very pleased that they have joined the Mowden Family:

Caolan RYAN.
Fly Half/Full Back.
Ex – Coventry RFC, Moseley RFC, Worcester RFC Academy, Stourbridge RFC.

James PENMAN
Hooker/Prop.
Ex- Plymouth Albion RFC/Cambridge RFC.

Joel GILL.
Centre/Wing
Ex-Rotherham Titans RFC/Worcester Academy/Otley RFC/Wharfedale RFC.

The above mentioned players are the first of the new batch of players to join the club for the new campaign and it is anticipated that more players of their quality will be added, as negotiations continue with others, in order to take the club forward.

A big DMPRFC thank you to all of the ‘front of house’ team who have played their part over the past season.

In particular, the coaches John NEWTON (Backs) and Danny BROWN (Forwards) for bringing together a group of individuals and turning them into a successful team unit that on their day are capable of beating any team in National League One.

Also, the ‘back room’ staff of Gus MILLER (Team Manager), Rob RUDLAND (Team Physiotherapist), Rachel CHAPMAN (Team Assistant Physiotherapist) Garry LAW (Player/coach/analyst), Jamie BARNARD (Player/Strength & conditioning coach), John ROBSON (4th Official) and Mickey HUNTER (Baggage master).

In addition, thank you to all of the associated staff at the Northern Echo Arena who are professionally involved on match days, including Anne ROSE and Philip SMITH and the rest of the staff who are all an integral part of the club.

Last, but certainly not least, the growing band of loyal DMPRFC supporters who turn out week in week out at the Arena, travel the long distances in big numbers to support and encourage the players.

A huge THANK YOU.

Your support in invaluable and very much appreciated by the players and staff.

So, the current calm exists before the inevitable storm of the new season and not long to wait before pre-season and then season 2016/17 for ‘little old’ DMPRFC in National League One.