Promotion, winning titles and trophies, it’s most certainly the name of the game, and something every club, every athlete, every coach, strives to achieve, irrespective of level, and that includes those at Stamford Road, home of Regional 2 Midlands (N) hopefuls, West Bridgford RFC.

Having spent over three decades with the club, in a number of roles, First XV Team Manager, Graeme Gunn, is best placed than most to go behind the scenes with, at a side currently fourth in a table which sees just five points splitting the top five.

But it’s not just about the firsts, or even the seconds, the latter joint-top of Counties 3 Midlands East (C) at a club whose motto is ‘Everybody Loves Everybody.;’ its about their women’s sides, and every side from seniors down to their under-10s, who themselves have recently celebrated also.

“Having players coming through our juniors, and academy set-ups, is crucial to the club, and has been a great benefit to us over the years,” explained Gunn.

“To also have access to players from both universities (University of Nottingham, and Nottingham Trent) due to a lot of student accommodation in the area is also beneficial.

“So yes, feeding the juniors through the system, the university links, and an incredible set of volunteers, to which there’s over thirty, clubs like us wouldn’t really survive without that.”

Beginning the current campaign with a draw and three wins (unbeaten in four), the only defeat thus far, a narrow one, came on matchday five, when home to the current leaders, Lichfield (lost 29-28); Bridgy had though put 50+ past Matlock (56-12), and 40+ past Paviors (45-36), in successive outings.

That defeat to Lichfield was immediately pushed aside though when in their last outing, and with the then top two of Lichfield and Dronfield tearing into each other, Gunn’s charges were seeing off mid-table outfit, Old Saltleians (36-30), tries coming from Stephen Terera (2), Daniel Langton, Euan Murray, Jasper Allen, as well as a try and three conversions from Calum Gunn.

WEST BRIDGFORD (starting XV vs Old Saltleians) Thomas Hackland, Samuel Bignall, Lewis Mason, Joshua Shaw, Joshua Allen, Niko Salmon, Henry Henson, Robert Bell, Henry Camm, Calum Gunn, Steven Kpaka, Daniel Langton, Euan Murray, Stephen Terera, Isaac Halsall (subs – Joshua Crane, Joshua Pearson, Joseph Gibbons)

“We played Dronfield in the Pap John’s competition last season and it was a tough game,” stated the first XVs Team Manager, himself still active, and coaching as well, despite his (youthful) age.

“They’ve come from the Northern league, so level six as it is now, it’s not as tough as it is elsewhere, and can be a level five standards.

“It’s easier for us now as well, definitely with the travel, and we do have high expectations, for both the firsts and the seconds this season, the latter of whom should really be going up.”

Joint-top of a Notts-heavy Counties 3 Mids E(C) division, Bridgy’s IIs, alongside Southwell IIs, are level on 26 points, with Bingham in third, and Nottinghamians fourth, the latter of whom are just eight behind the leading two.

Back in the battle-hardened firsts though, Gunn continued when talking how this season is working out, adding: “we’ve already used 31 players this year, and that gives its own share of challenges.

“But we do have a core of players who play every week, and it’s a really good place here, club-wise; we’ve a strong academy and we’ll see some youth coming through.

“We know we have the ammunition in order to win the league, and have key players in key positions to be able to do so; I feel it’ll boil down to us, Dronfield, and Lichfield, with Melbourne on the fringe, come the season end.”

Speaking of Melbourne, currently sitting in second place following last weekend’s top-of-the-table clash between Dronfield and Lichfield, the Derbyshire side, who play at Cockshutt Lane, have won five of their six games thus far.

Having also lost to Lichfield, Melbourne, who Bridgy host next (26 October), took care of visiting Ilkeston (35-19) in their last outing, and Newark away (29-24) earlier this month.

“I know Matt (Derbyshire, Melbourne coach) very well as we’ve worked together on the NLD (Notts, Lincs & Derbs) U20s for a number of years,” smiled Gunn.

“Of course, we’d keep an eye on that match (between Dronfield and Lichfield), but really, we don’t tend to do that, just focus on ourselves and what we need to do instead.”

As for the afore-mentioned success of the club’s U10s side, they recently made the finals weekend of the Leicester Tigers Regional Cup competition.

One of the eight sides, out of eighty entrants, to make the finals, West Bridgford’s young guns will travel to Leicester next year (26 April), playing prior to the Tigers’ big Premiership clash with Harlequins.

Keep up-to-date with all the goings on at West Bridgford via their website here Facebook here and on X here.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @BridgyRugby in try scoring action West Bridgford RFC.