OUTSTANDING back row James McRae was named Rams’ Players’ Player of the Season at their end-of-season presentation ball.
The Eton College teacher enjoyed a fabulous campaign in which he scored 10 tries in 21 games, helping his side to a runners-up spot in National One and finishing ahead of Axel Kalling-Smith and Max Hayman in the vote.
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Kalling-Smith was chosen as Captain’s Player after his breakthrough efforts ended with the Swedish international touching down 13 times, while full-back Henry Bird was the Coaches’ Player after a sterling season.
Destructive 17-try hooker Hayman won the Tackling Cup, while Jak Rossiter was the top try-scorer having crossed the whitewash on 20 occasions.
On an evening when some 150 guests celebrated a memorable campaign at Old Bath Road, Mike Hoyt was crowned Titans (2nd XV) Players’ Player, while versatile forward Spencer Hayhow collected the Coaches’ gong.
The Louie Batchelor Memorial Trophy for Coaching was won by Joe Whatmore and Paul Smith, the duo overseeing a pair of title triumphs for the Centaurs (3rd XV) and Dragon’s Teeth (4th XV).
The Hutchinson Frost Memorial Award for Young Clubman of the Year went to George Batty, the teenage referee who has overseen a number of Titans games along with the Under 16 OBB League final victory for Rams against Newbury last month.
Former Premiership referee turned waterboy Ashley Rowden won the Chairman’s Award having been involved with the club for the best part of six decades, and the Bill Taylor Memorial Trophy for Club Contribution was taken by photographer Tim Pitfield who has travelled the country from Darlington to Plymouth and all in between in taking superb snaps for the past few years.
An outstanding Honours Cap from 2019/20 was belatedly awarded to Colt turned first-teamer Ross Crame, who heads into his 25th season at the club next term.
Honours Caps for the past campaign were awarded to stalwart Phil Rushton, another colt who went onto score 47 first-team tries in Joe Duffelen, Rossiter and Colts coaches Owen Espley and Shaun Sheppard.
By Richard Ashton
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