MC Ted Rees, 1st XV Team manager, started the evening off with the 2nd XV coaches making the awards to the 2nd team winners.
2nd Team Most Improved Player- Lloyd Walter, presented by Mike Smith.
2nd Team Player’s Player of the Year-Mike Arnold-presented by Denver Austin
2nd Team Coaches’ Player of the Year- Scott Edwards-presented by Roger Slack
We then moved on to the 1st XV awards.
The Robin Blakely Memorial Award to the 1st XV best newcomer was won by Sam Tucker and presented by Graham Hosgood. Graham outlined how supportive Robin Blakely was to Dunvant R.F.C. before tragically dying of an incurable brain tumour, with poignantly, Robin’s funeral being held 3 years ago to the day.
1st XV Most Improved Player- Shaun Davies-presented by retiring scrum half James Richards.
1st XV Supporters’ Player of the Year- Ceri Davies-presented by Club Secretary Paul Loughlin
1st XV Players’ Player of the Year- Ceri Davies- presented by former team mate and new 1st XV Forwards Coach, Gareth “Skills” Williams.
1st XV Coaches’ Player of the Year- Ceri Davies, presented by retiring Forwards Coach Anthony Piper.
Clubman of the year- James ‘J.R.’ Richards-presnted by 1st XV Team Manager Ted Rees. This award was made to ‘JR’ for his tireless work with the Junior Section, contribtions tot eh 1st XV in his final season at the age of 40, and to the huge efforts ‘JR’ put in to our 125th Anniversary Celebration Dinner .
Finally, Club President Dorian Samuel ,on behalf of the Committee, Members and Players expressed his thanks to retiring 1st XV Coaches Anthony Piper and Simon Daniel.Anthony and Simon took over the reins nearly 4 years ago with the club in freefall, brought great stability to the club with a focus on home grown talent, finishing 3rd in Division 3 West at the first attempt, winning promotion to Division 2 West the following season in 2nd place piped by only 1 point, and last season finishing in mid table 6th place. Anthony and Simon leave a Senior Squad well placed to maintain a promotion challenge in the season ahead. Dorian awarded Anthony and Simon (who was unable to attend) a large framed picture of 3 Cliffs in gratitude for all their hard work. Anthony responded saying he had been involved with Dunvant R.F.C. since the age of 5, and it has been a privilege and honour to be asked to coach the 1st XV. Many of the current 1st XV are boys that Anthony coached in youth, and the current squad is now one of the strongest for some time. Anthony now looks forward to being able to watch the team from the side lines as they progress onwards and upwards with the new Coaching team of Skills and Jay.
The evening finished with a DVD video compilation of season 2012-13 with comedy photos taking the mick out of players. Coaches and committee, complied by our resident videographer Clin ‘Elvis’ Presley. We then had a disco and meal for all of Curry, Rice & Chips.