THORNBURY RFC's Development squad won the club’s annual award of Team of the Year following their remarkable season that saw them win the Gloucestershire RFU U18 League and Cup double.

The team were presented with the club shield during the awards presentations at the annual dinner.

Third team captain Richard Daniell was a highly popular and thoroughly-deserved winner of Clubman of the Year.

Finn Hitchcock, one of the unsung heroes of the Development squad, was winner of the Junior Clubman of the Year. The young back rower finished the season on the flank for the Second XV.

The Players’ Player of the Season was won by Jack Hussey with Harry Glew winning the John Broad Memorial Cup for Most Improved Player.

Top try scorer was Connor Thurgood with 21 tries, the young three-quarter also winning the Second Team Player of the Year award. Dan Green was third team Player of the Year and Ben Liddington, another of the Development squad, winner of third team Young Player of the Year. Jack Summerfield was Trainer of the Year.

Club colours were awarded to Rich Bennett, Rob Higgitt, James Murray and George Sheldon.

International referee Wayne Barnes was the guest speaker at the dinner with BBC Radio Bristol broadcaster Geoff Twentyman one of the guests at an outstanding evening.

At the club’s Annual General Meeting, most of the previous committee were re-elected with former captain Jon Day becoming the club’s Rugby Manager. Liam Pemberton, Steve Allington and Richard Daniell continue as captains of, respectively, the first, second and third XVs. Tom Luke takes over from Rob Higgitt as Head Coach with Higgitt continuing as one of the club coaches.

Jane Sprackman takes over from Janet Arrowsmith as Chair of the Ladies Committee, a role she will combine with her existing role of Treasurer.

Pre-season games have been agreed which will see Thornbury start with a home fixture against Reading Abbey on August 12 and will be followed by a trip to Chichester the following weekend in which the first and second XVs will take on their Sussex opponents in two games. The final pre-season game is against Old Patesians in Cheltenham on Thursday August 24.

Thornbury’s first league game is at Bideford on September 2 with Launceston the first visitors to Rockhampton Road the following Saturday.