CHOBHAM RFC have honoured their standout senior players following a super season which saw the villagers not only win promotion but also fall just short of a cup-final place at Twickenham Stadium.
The Scarlet & Golds won the Counties One Surrey/Sussex title and were beaten in the semi-finals of the Papa Johns Community Cup’s Counties One Championship.
At the club’s end-of-season awards ceremony, captain Guy Mawhood received the Colin Greenhalgh Cup after being named first XV players’ player of the year.
Mawhood played 20 games during the season, scoring 23 tries.
A club spokesman said: “Nearly half the votes went to Guy, while Angus Hargan, Magnus Barber, Pete McCain, Sam Goddard and Dan Warren all received significant votes from fellow players.”
The Wheatley Cup for first XV young player of the year went to Harrison Jones.
The spokesman said: “The coaching team are excited about the future for Harrison, who this season appeared ten times and scored against Weybridge Vandals and Chiswick.”
Pete McCain won two trophies – the Paul Mizzi Cup for being first XV most-improved player of the year and the Theo Norman-Walker Award for being the supporters’ top performer.
The spokesman said: “Pete has worked hard on his game both on and off the pitch to justify the Paul Mizzi award.
“The supporters’ player-of-the-year trophy is a huge accolade. Pete’s performances saw five tries over his 19 games. He made a huge impact for the club this season.”
Harriet Walker was named Chobham Women’s player of the year. “Harriet pushed standards at both training and on matchdays, developing less-experienced players, and stepped up in leadership this season by taking on the captaincy,” said the spokesman.
Players’ player of the year was Gina Lee, because of her “commitment on the pitch, lead-by-example approach and her desire to always improve”.
Lauren Campbell was chosen as coaches’ player of the year.
The spokesman said: “Lauren’s consistency in training and games, and her willingness to learn and step up to play out of position when asked, meant she was a pleasure to coach.”
Most-improved player during 2022-23 was Esme Boylett because of “her knowledge and the quality of her input within the team, her determination to improve her skills and her general growth and maturity within the squad”.
And Georgina Bullen was named young player of the year. The spokesman said: “Georgina made a big impact for such a young player.
“She’s become integral to the squad and is now one of the leaders on the pitch after finding her voice this season.”
Shop manager Brenda Marshall was Chobham’s overall clubman of the year.
The spokesman said: “The award represents a volunteer who has gone over and above, contributing to all areas of the great club we call Chobham.
“Brenda keeps us stocked with all our playing kit, opens the shop every Sunday and Saturday, and makes a special trip to open on Fridays for tours.
“Without Brenda, our players wouldn’t have kit to wear or spare boots or mouthguards when they’ve forgotten them.”