North Hykeham
seeing a 2nd full-pitch installed
on the Memorial Fields, funded
by the Wharton Trust Rugby
Charity. This proved essential,
as for the first time in 30 years
the 3rd XV fulfilled a full season
of fixtures, finishing 6th in the
Lincolnshire Merit League.
This remarkable on-field
season was also supplemented
with Hykeham players Adam
McWoo, Andy Rush, Danny
Brown, Mark Munton and Karl
Ward being selected for the
Lincolnshire Senior XV which
went undefeated in lifting the
Domestic Unions Cup.
To give this success some
context, the club’s turbulent
journey must be understood
though. The club’s history is
one of continual peaks and
troughs. But in 2009 there
was a deep trough, players
were haemorrhaged to the
surrounding ‘bigger’ clubs with
promise of ‘better rugby’ and the
club were forced to withdraw
from the RFU leagues. So,
considering that just 4 seasons
previous to 2014/15 the Club
was on the brink of extinction,
this success shows how rapid
progress in Grassroots Rugby
can be, but only with exceptional
hard work and passion from key
people.
In those dark days the Club
was kept alive by the efforts of
Club stalwart Ken Beaumont
and his family, alongside his
brother and then Captain Steve,
in ensuring a fledgling group of
Juniors turned to Seniors, at the
critical point to maintain a 1st
XV, which then played in the
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