THE BEST XV FROM THE 2022-23 SEASON
Ben Jaycock canvassed the views of our National Two West reporters to compile The Rugby Paper's 2022-23 Team of the Season
Champions Leicester Lions and fourth place Luctonians dominate this year's Dream Team with five selections each, making up two thirds of the XV that was spread across just five teams.
Winger Devon Constant, scrum-half James Stubbs, prop Tom Williams, second row Ollie Tapscott and openside Johnny Murdoch were the inclusions from the champions. Luctonians, who were surprisingly just as popular in the voting, had full-back Josh Watkins, winger Charlie Grimes, inside centre Rob Bengry, prop Joe White and lock Owien Harriott-Davies included.
Rather surprisingly second place Dings Crusaders failed to be represented, while third place Clifton had two inclusions in the form of centre Will Owen and No.8 Bradley Talbot.
Despite a rather underwhelming seventh finish for Nigel Hambly's Redruth, they had two players included through fly-half Fraser Honey and hooker Richard Brown.
Fifth place Hinckley joined Dings in failing to be mentioned while there were no representatives from the bottom half of the league as Old Redcliffians, Exeter University, Newport (Salop), Bournville, Hornets, Barnstaple and Stourbridge were excluded.
15. Josh Watkins (Luctonians)
A coach's dream, Watkins is a 15 who possesses awareness, blistering pace and an ability to score from anywhere on the pitch when he sees an opening. The former Worcester Warriors back three player showed his finishing prowess by scoring 12 tries in 26 appearances this term. Other contenders at full back following impressive seasons were Ciaran Donoghue (Dings) and Alex Wilcockson (Leicester Lions).
14. Charlie Grimes (Luctonians)
Grimes is a winger who has speed, an excellent tackling technique and is also a great finisher. The Luctonians flyer touched down for 11 tries in 24 games this term and played a pivotal role in the club's top four finish. Grimes was pushed hard for the 14 jersey by Clifton's Alex Howman, who always went forward with devastating speed and made numerous try scoring breaks.
13. Will Owen (Clifton)
A versatile centre who is comfortable playing at 12 or 13, Owen picked strong and intelligent lines all season. The former Doncaster Knights and Coventry player produced long and powerful runs regularly brushing aside defenders and for that reason he received an incredible 83 per cent of the votes in the centres. Other contenders at outside centre were Redruth's Dean Bonds and Dings' Matt Smith.
12. Rob Bengry (Luctonians)
A solid defender with the ability to make quick and decisive line breaks, Bengry is the ideal inside centre. Bengry enjoyed regular game time this season making 24 appearances, scoring two tries and was a key man in their impressive campaign. He was pushed hard for the 12 jersey by Bournville's Max Craven and Clifton's Marcus Nel, who both enjoyed stellar campaigns.
11. Devon Constant (Leicester Lions)
The league's leading try scorer was potent throughout the campaign scoring 19 tries in just 22 games. Constant is a winger who possesses a devastating hand off and has phenomenal carrying ability. The Leicester Lions vice captain will be one to watch our for in the club's debut season in National One next year. Both Alex Kilbane (Clifton) and Charlie Cadogan (Loughborough Students) received plaudits for sensational campaigns.
10. Fraser Honey (Redruth)
Considering Honey's season was cut short in early March due to injury, the fact the Redruth 10 finished fourth in the points scoring charts (168) playing just 18 games shows the formidable goal kicker he is. Honey has proved his weight in gold for Nigel Hambly's side and will be sorely missed especially following a season with a 88 per cent kick success rate. Leicester Lions fly-half Ben Young was also potent off the tee as was Dings 10 TJ Wilstead.
9. James Stubbs (Leicester Lions)
An absolute livewire of a scrum-half, Stubbs played in almost ever minute of every game for the league's champions. He scored some unbelievable tries with his 13 scores in 25 games a great return for a nine but not only that he was also an excellent defender. Stubbs dominated the voting but Luctonians scrum-half Louis Silver, Dings' Tom Knight and Hinckley's Ben Pointon rightly received plaudits.
1. Thomas Williams (Leicester Lions)
Williams' experience proved crucial to the rock solid Leicester Lions scrum with the loosehead prop playing in 25 of their 26 games and even contributed six tries. Williams' work at scrum time paved the way for the likes of Devon Constant and Ben Stubbs profiting on quick, front foot ball. The 1 jersey was ultra competitive in the voting and Williams was pushed hard by the likes of Rick Cano (Clifton), Oscar Harper (Hinckley) and Rhys Charalambous (Clifton).
2. Richard Brown (Redruth)
Brown is an outstanding ball carrier who proved near unstoppable for opposition defences and is also laser like with his throws from the touchline. His try scoring record of 18 touchdowns in 26 games is only one off top spot, with the hooker scoring a hat-trick in a win over Loughborough Students back in December. Brown just edged Luctonians' Ben Link who also touched down 18 times this season.
3. Joe White (Luctonians)
As captain, White led Luctonians' admirable campaign by example throughout the season with superb showings. White played in 25 games and scored four tries while also being dominant at scrum time. Luke Barnes (Redruth), Nick English (Dings), Alex Giltrow (Clifton) and Isaac Thompson (Leicester Lions) all ran White close.
4. Ollie Tapscott (Leicester Lions)
Tapscott captained Leicester Lions to their first ever National Two title and led from the front in both attack and defence. The second row averaged over 10 carries and 10 tackles a game in his 24 appearances, with the vast majority of those tackles dominant ones. Henry Harper (Clifton), Will Thompson (Dings) and Tom Smith (Luctonians) were all also outstanding this term.
5. Owien Harriott-Davies (Luctonians)
A lock with big hair but also a big heart, Harriott-Davies is explosive with ball in hand as opposition defences continuing to struggle containing him. His five tries from 23 appearances is a strong return for a second row and he was a useful option at line out time. Clifton's Joe Owen and Hinckley's Jack Ramshaw attained votes but it was a comfortable inclusion for Harriott-Davies.
6. Tomiwa Agbongbon (Loughborough Students)
The USA-born Leicester Tigers loanee was a valuable cog in Loughborough Students' impressive campaign that saw them finish inside the top six. Operating at both blindside flanker and No.8, Agbongbon scored seven tries in his 19 appearances this season and will be welcomed back at Tigers having improved vastly over the course of his spell in National Two West. Agongbon was pushed close by Buster Lawrence (Dings), Matt Parker (Hornets), Perez Raqio (Newport Salop) and Ed Sumpter (Leicester Lions).
7. John Murdoch (Leicester Lions)
The hard working openside led the team and league in defensive stats again this term. Murdoch played in almost every minute of every game and made nearly 350 tackles across the season with a 96 per cent completion rate. Murdoch played in 25 of the champions' 26 games and contributed a valuable five tries. Archie Benson, Matt Hackley (both Luctonians) and Tom Anderson (Dings) pushed Murdoch close for the 7 jersey.
8. Bradley Talbot (Clifton)
An excellent No.8 who has so much power and when close to the line Talbot rarely misses an opportunity to score which is shown with his 14 tries this season in 17 games. If Clifton had Talbot available for more of the season, their title pursuit certainly would have been stronger. An honourable mention goes to Redruth back row Shaun Buzza who was many people's player of the season.
