Our Wheelchair Rugby team win again!

Another fantastic performance from our Wheelchair Rugby team!

 

After finishing the first league weekend (of three) with 5 wins from 5, our first team set off to Stoke-on-Trent on the 4th and 5th January 2025 for the next round of Division 1. The team was drawn into Pool A with West Coast Heat, North East Udders and Leicester Tigers Swifts.

With Head Coach Paul Shaw unable to attend the Saturday, the team was led by assistant coaches Tom Denmead and Darren Ransome. Despite his absence, Cheltenham Tigers started the day strongly, beating Leicester 46 – 30, thanks to a hat trick of tries from youngster Joe Skidmore. This was followed by 48 – 29 and 47 – 36 wins against North East Udders and West Coast Heat respectively, meaning the team topped the pool and qualified for semi-finals.

 

 

The semi-final ended up being a rematch of October’s thriller against West Coast Burn, which was decided by last second try in overtime. Both teams lined up with high-low line ups and it was Tigers that came away with the win (49 – 43), thanks to a strong performance from Paralympians Tyler Walker and Brice Maurel.

Cheltenham’s opponents for the final were West Coast Heat, who managed to beat Pool B winners, RGC 1404, in their semi-final game. With 10 league points on offer for the winners, Heat started off stronger, forcing Tigers into two early timeouts. However, Cheltenham’s low point due of Alex Smart and Luke Wilson helped force multiple turnovers allowing Tigers to pull away to win 50 – 39 and maintain their unbeaten run.

The final Division 1 league weekend is the 1st and 2nd March 2025, where the team will be making the long journey north to Sunderland.

 

 

RESULTS

Pool A
46 – 30 win v. Leicester Tigers Swifts
48 – 29 win v. North East Udders
47 – 36 win v. West Coast Heat

Semi-Final
49 – 43 win v. West Coast Burn
Replay of game: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B5LYYAGXv/

Final
50 – 39 win v. West Coast Heat
Replay of game: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ApqGo67TS/

 

SQUAD

3.5 Tyler Walker (Gloucester)
2.5 Brice Maurel (Montpellier, France)
2.5F Jess Hawkins (Evesham)
2.0 Josh Payne-Gover (Frome)
2.0 Joe Skidmore (Gloucester)
1.5 Kyran Bishop (Pontypool)
1.0 Alex Smart (c) (Cheltenham)
1.0 Luke Wilson (c) (Cheltenham)
0.5 Harry Hamilton (Cheltenham)
HC Paul Shaw (Birmingham)
AC Darren Ransome (Cannock)