February Teams of the Month announced
February's grassroots Teams of the Month have been confirmed using Electronic Match Card data.
Electronic Match Card allows everything from tries and points scored to best defensive performance and kick percentage record to be viewed for every team from level three to 12. Find out more or check out our Team of the Month archive.
Congratulations to the Teams of the Month for February 2023...
Rams RFC
Men's Level 3 & 4
The Reading-based Rams of National League One take the Team of the Month title for men's Levels 3 & 4 after registering two home wins and two away wins in February.
The away efforts over Darlington Mowden Park (21-43) and Birmingham Moseley (21-24) bookmarked by two home wins against Chinnor (50-31) and Rosslyn Park (43-10) has seen them open up a seven point lead in the standings.
Max Hayman tops their try-scoring charts with 15 this season, while team mate Alexander Seers leads overall points with 108. Rams continue to lead the league stats in try bonus points (19), most points away (319) and best away win record (9).
"It’s great to be named Team of the Month and I’m delighted for the players who deserve the recognition," said Rams Director of Rugby Seb Reynolds. "They’ve come back really well since Christmas and enjoyed some memorable moments in February."
Syston RFC
Men's Level 5
Syston RFC, operating in Regional 1 Midlands, take Team of the Month for men's level 5 after recording four impressive wins in February.
They started the month with a mammoth 17-90 win away at Broadstreet and followed it up the following week - again on the road - against Derby running out 36-48 victors. Two home wins included a 50-21 showing against Stoke on Trent and a 76-28 win over Lichfield, rounding off a fine Feb.
So far this season, Syston have scored the most points at home (388) and away (296) of anyone in the league - and boast an average of 36 points per game. They have also conceded the least points (169).
"What a month for the scoreboard operator! Over 40 tries across the four games is no mean feat," said Syston RFC head coach Matt Tuckey. "The players have rolled off the pitch in pieces, having worked so hard for every try, and they are smiling ear to ear!"
Amersham & Chiltern RFC
Men's Level 6
Three away wins in February for Amersham & Chiltern sees the Regional 2 Thames side named Team of the Month for men's level 6.
The 17-24 result against Windsor, a 6-26 triumph over Old Priorians and a 14-35 showing versus Beaconsfield confirmed their status as the best travelling team in the league, having now recorded more away wins than anyone else (9).
They have averaged 28.05 points per game this season, and currently sit joint second in the standings. March will be a challenging month for the side, as they come up against table toppers Hammersmith & Fulham.
"February looked like a tough ask at the beginning; we faced three local derbies against Windsor, Aylesbury and Beaconsfield, and a game against what we knew to be a very good Old Priorians side," said head coach Rich Hoskins.
"We had suffered season-ending injuries to a couple of our best players and some other lads had made plans for two of the 'rest' weeks now filled by rearranged games. It was a fantastic effort by the squad to come away with four bonus point wins."
West Hartlepool RFC
Men's Level 7
West Hartlepool beat namesakes Hartlepool (12-22) and Hartlepool Rovers (36-10) as well as Whitley Bay Rockcliff (17-34) and Sunderland (29-40) to earn Team of the Month for men's level 7 in February.
An unbeaten season to date, West Hartlepool have a 20-point gap to second place in Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland. Star man Max Tennant is the team's top try scorer and team mate Samuel Heron has notched up 187 points. The side score an average of 35.84 points per game.
A spokesperson from the club commented: "We started the month with a win at Hartlepool RFC, which proved the strength, depth and development of the playing squad. There were several of our senior players unavailable but their young counterparts stepped up and took the bonus point.
"The next two weeks were top of the table clashes – Sunderland was a very strong team performance showing attacking ambition and smart game management, whilst we needed to adapt our playing style slightly to some very wet conditions at Whitley Bay Rockcliff.
"We ended the month with a Derby Game against our closest, and oldest rivals, Hartlepool Rovers, in which we again secured the bonus point win, and promotion."
Ryton RUFC
Men's Level 8
Ryton RFC, top of Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland, have won Team of the Month for men's level 8.
They started February with two home wins, over Seaham (57-5) and Bishop Auckland (32-18) respectively, before victories on the road against Gateshead (26-37) and Sedgefield (6-41).
In that most recent win against Sedgefield, Matthew Robson scored two second half tries to take his personal tally for the season to 20, while team mate Ryan Croker has amassed 258 points. Ryton remain unbeaten at home and average 49.89 points per game.
Head Coach Rob Scott said: "Ryton is a family orientated village club with some top-class facilities. We put a lot of resources into our youth set up and this had paid dividends with the majority of our current first team having come through our youth system.
"The lads work hard in training and all socialise together with their partners, so Saturday nights can be really busy in the bar. We have ex-England international Mark Wilson involved in our coaching set up and this has really helped the team to gel."
Stone RUFC
Men's Level 9-12
Stone sit atop Counties 4 Midlands West (North) boasting a 100% win ratio this season. They were named Team of the Month for men's level 9-12 in September 2022, and have the accolade again for February 2023 after registering four impressive wins.
Away success at Bloxwich (19-41), Stoke on Trent ll (0-52) and Linley (10-73) - their toughest test came against Newcastle (Staffs) ll at home, as they ground out a 15-14 victory.
Daryl Fox has scored 24 tries so far this season, putting him inside the top 10 in the country, while team mate Ben Underwood’s 274 points sees him as the sixth highest points scorer in the country.
Stone average 47.76 points per game.
Wimbledon Women RFC
Women's Level 2 & 3
Wimbledon Women of Championship South East 2 have won Team of the Month for women's level 2 & 3 - having registered three victories in February.
All wins were on the road, as they overcame Hammersmith & Fulham Women 14-31, before registering a 20-43 win over Sutton & Epsom Ladies, and rounded off the month with a 5-20 effort against Canterbury Ladies.
Sophie Storey has been in fine form, scoring in the triumph over Hammersmith & Fulham Ladies, and is Wimbledon’s leading try-scorer with nine. So far this season Wimbledon Women have on average scored 19.55 points per game, and find themselves on a five-match winning streak. Their biggest winning margin so far has been by 29 points.
Head coach Jordan Brodley said: "The team have picked up some real momentum post the Christmas break with an unbeaten run in 2023 so far. Notable wins against local rivals Sutton & Epsom and previous league winners Hammersmith & Fulham, have shown the potential the squad have.
"Underpinned by a hard defence, the attack has found its flow this month, manipulating defences to create plenty of space to run into. An increased awareness of how to manage a game has benefited the team, who now play in the right parts of the pitch, at the right time, more consistently."
Plymstock Albion Oaks Ladies RFC
Women's Level 4 - 6
Plymstock Albion Oaks Ladies, of Women’s NC 1 South West (West), win Team of the Month for women's levels 4-6.
Two away triumphs in February, against North Petherton Ladies (15-32) and Newton Abbot Ladies (7-38) was followed up by a huge home victory over Penryn Ladies (53-0).
They sit third in the league, have averaged 30.5 points per game this season, with their largest winning margin being their most recent win over Penryn.
