Morley holds own among top dogs
Following Cambridge's run to secure the National One title, Ben Jaycock canvassed the views of our reporters to compile The Rugby Paper's 2022-23 Team of the Season
Despite Esher being relegated back to National Two, the league's top points scorer Sam Morley enjoyed a phenomenal season and blew his competitors away by receiving 100 per cent of the voting for the fly-half jersey. Fellow relegated club Hull, who failed to win a game all season, were represented in the form of their pacy winger Michael Adlard.
Champions Cambridge have as expected a league-high six inclusions, Taunton Titans and Sale FC had two while Rams, Plymouth Albion and Chinnor were all included with one player each.
Rosslyn Park, Bishop's Stortford, Cinderford, Birmingham Moseley, Darlington Mowden Park and Leeds Tykes all failed to be included.
Only Fergus Mulchrone of Sale and Willie Ryan of Chinnor managed to make The Rugby Paper's Dream Team for a second successive year.
15. Joe Tarrant (Cambridge)
Tarrant played 23 games for title winning Cambridge, scoring nine tries and proved a key link in a back three that excelled this season. Dangerous from the backfield, Tarrant enjoyed linking up with the league's top try scorer Kwaku Asiedu as well as being a safe pair of hands under the high ball. Tarrant faced stiff competition from Leeds Tykes' Kieran Davies who showed his ability to create something out of nothing for a struggling team.
14. Kwaku Asiedu (Cambridge)
A try-scoring machine who scored 33 times in just 26 games. His ability to stay injury free has been vital to Cambridge and the powerful winger looks set to make a huge impact in the Championship next year. A fast but physical runner, he's someone who frightened opposition defences. Sale's winger Nev Edwards received plaudits for being a lightning quick, nimble finisher.
13. Fergus Mulchrone (Sale FC)
Mr Consistent. Mulchrone, who appears in the Dream Team in back-to-back years, was a key cog in Sale's promotion push and it was his influence in both defence and attack that cost Rams the title in Sale's 35-12 victory last month. His 11 tries from 20 appearances is an excellent return for an outside centre. Cambridge's Matt Heema, who enjoyed a stellar season, missed out by just one vote.
12. James Robins (Sale FC)
Robins completes the Sale centre partnership for the third place side that missed out on the title by just one point. The No.12 operated as a second 10 for Sale's formidable dual playmaker attack. Robins was reliable in both defence and attack as well as being a second kicking option when needed. Creative centres Ben Frankland (Darlington Mowden Park), Connor Hayhow (Rams), James Ayrton and Austin Pope (both Bishop's Stortford) all received votes.
11. Mike Adlard (Hull)
The chances of a relegated player who failed to pick up a win all season being included in a Dream Team is as slim as any but Adlard has sneaked his way in. 11 tries from 20 appearances is an impressive return and Adlard's blistering pace and try scoring prowess was a shining light in Hull's tough campaign. Adlard was known to be the fastest player in the league but was raced hard by talented winger Morgan Passman of Darlington MP.
10. Sam Morley (Esher)
In the end it was a formality, an incredible season for a 10 that looks to have a very bright future ahead of him. Esher's fate would have been sealed a lot earlier had it not been for the league's leading marksman, who was prolific off the tee, an excellent distributor and even went over for nine tries. Cambridge's Steffan James and Darlington MP's Matt Minogue were mentioned but it was a landslide victory for Morley.
9. Ollie Cole (Rams)
A classy and consistent scrum-half who spearheaded Rams' formidable campaign that saw them fall just short of the National One title by the narrowest of margins. Cole scored seven tries from 23 appearances and always kept defenders on their toes with his sniping ability from the base. Cole was part of a one-two punch with James McRae, with both having stellar seasons and Cinderford's Mike Austin received votes for his quality with hand and boot.
1. Ramaz Rukhadze (Plymouth Albion)
Georgian prop Rukhadze made huge strides this season at Plymouth turning into an excellent scrummager but also a loosehead that possesses great feet as well. Rukhadze missed just one game all season making 25 appearances and also scored an impressive seven tries from the front row. The irresistible force and immovable object that is Cambridge's Seb Brownhill also received plaudits.
2. Ben Brownlie (Cambridge)
Brownlie dominated the hooker voting, receiving 83 per cent of the votes and after being known for being in the right place at the right time, scoring the second most tries in the division, it doesn't come as a surprise.
The Cambridge forward benefits from the club's formidable pack but organises their devastating maul and is rock solid at scrum time. Destructive defender and physical carrier Max Hayman received votes after an impressive season with Rams.
3. Billy Walker (Cambridge)
Walker locked down the watertight Cambridge scrum and was a huge presence in the tight head position. An irresistible force but has more to his game than just his physicality as Walker is someone who is also useful around the park. Cambridge's forwards won everything as a unit this season and were only bested once, away at Birmingham Moseley. James Baker produced multiple line breaks and his turn of pace was a huge threat for Rams.
4. Kieran Frost (Cambridge)
A fantastic lineout operator and tackling machine who played a key role in kickstarting Cambridge's devastating driving maul that saw Brownlie score so many tries. Six tries in 25 appearances is a decent return for a second row. Sale FC's Alex Groves impressed in the set piece and was noticed for his strong contributions around the pitch.
5. Gareth Baxter (Cambridge)
Very similar to Frost in the fact his lineout contributions were vital to Cambridge's success this season and was also useful in open play. An ever-present lock who is approaching 150 first team appearances, Baxter used to watch the first team as a youngster and will be in dreamland after helping Cambridge secure their first ever National One title. Ben Bamber (Sale FC), Greg Gillanders (Rosslyn Park) and Dan Swain (Rams) all ran Baxter close.
6. Ratu Vakalutukali (Taunton Titans)
Former marine Vakalutukali is a back row who is hard as nails and likes to dominate collisions. A man of few words who does his talking on the pitch with his hard hitting displays in either the 6 or 8 jersey. The Fijian-born forward has played nearly 150 games for Taunton and finished this season in fine scoring form, touching down for seven tries in the final six rounds of the season.
7. Charlie Wright (Taunton Titans)
A talismanic leader for Taunton who helped guide his side away from the drop with the openside flanker scoring a remarkable 17 tries in 24 appearances. Wright's consistency was second to none, producing standout displays despite Taunton's defeats. Turnover expert Will Jones of Darlington MP ran Wright close.
8. Willie Ryan (Chinnor)
A big ball carrier who proved a nightmare for opposition defences and regularly got Chinnor on the front foot with much needed gain line. His wrecking ball carries are shown in his nine tries from 24 appearances. Birmingham Moseley's Ollie Steadman was Ryan's biggest rival as the No.8 was the heart and soul of the Midlanders, even proving handy with the boot at times.
