Streatham-Croydon RFC has had a mixed start to the season, which is now in full flow down at their Frant Road home. Club President Steve Lynch recently penned a piece on the club’s online blog (www.streathamcroydonrugby.blog) outlining the teams’ abilities to win together and lose together and draw on what they have learnt.

Four games into the season the men’s first XV are nestled mid-table of Surrey 2. Two early wins have been countered by a challenging game against top of the table Reeds Weybridge and a battle in tough conditions against the demoted Old Wellingtonians who were previously playing in Surrey 1. There have been many changes in SCRFC’s back line, and the lack of continuity has made it difficult for the individual strengths of the team to be tapped into. Recent opposition has capitalised on this, especially putting some big runners in the midfield to exploit on their size advantage. However, the team have been working hard at training on building successful phase play and utilising their speed, agility and fitness to get back to winning ways.

After a difficult first game of the season where they were missing multiple players, the men’s second XV managed to turn around their fortunes to win the subsequent two matches by comfortable margins against a Sutton and Epsom side and Purley John Fisher 2s. Unfortunately, further injuries across both teams forced a lack of subs and a 34-7 loss this week. The twos have a very strong side, and great team ethos, which they are able to utilise to their advantage against less organised teams when good numbers are available. The men’s teams continue to recruit in order to be able to put out 2-3 strong sides each week.

The ladies first XV have had a predictably challenging start to the season after promotion but have met it with vigour and enthusiasm, seeing an incredible improvement in a matter of weeks. The first match against old rivals St Francis at least allowed the ladies to come away with a losing bonus point and the score line against Medway didn’t reflect what was a strong performance from the team. Having subsequently lost out to Canterbury in the cup in mid-October 47-10, there was a great deal to work on in training to bolster the defence in the centre channel and improve the attacking game. In a tight game where the lead was exchanged multiple times SCRFC managed to come away with a bonus point win scoring 36 to top of the table Canterbury’s 24. This turnaround really demonstrates the huge amount of work that each individual player and support staff is putting in and also the positive mental attitude that they took to the game. Coach Nic Verdino said after the game "[This game] reflected a brilliant spirit that epitomises what rugby is all about and will take this team far". Having made this impression on the league, hopefully the team will continue to go from strength to strength this season. The ladies’ Development XV will be fielding their first side on 28th October against Battersea Ironsides Development XV and are continuing to recruit to bring new players into the game.