Witham are finalists again in National Rugby Awards

This is the third year that the awards have been running and the third that Witham have been successful in reaching the finals and club representatives will be at Twickenham for a gala evening on August 30.

Witham have reached the final in three categories.

In the Men's Team of the Year, the Witham Trinovantes are one of six national finalists that also include Essex rivals Upper Clapton, while Witham's chairman of junior rugby, Darren Smith, is one of six in the Volunteer of the Year section.

There is also a place for MD Electrical, Witham and managing director Tony Davis among the four finalists in the Sponsor of the Year category.

Witham president Nick Redfern said: “ I am delighted that the club and its members has again been recognised for their outstanding contribution to club rugby in England.

"The extremely successful and innovative merger between Witham's second team and the Chelmsford Nomad team, Trinovantes, last season has been recognised as a model for developing and fostering rugby at grass roots level.

"Over the past two years Witham Rugby Club has undergone a major transformation; pitches have been repositioned, floodlights modernised and improved and the clubhouse renovated.

"It has all been spearheaded by Tony Davis at AMD Electrical in Witham and aided by a highly-effective committee under chairman Dean Wells.

"Club members continue to pour hours of their time into the club and it is perhaps unfair to focus on one individual. "Darren Smith, outgoing chairman of junior rugby at Witham will, I’m sure receive the award - if successful - on behalf of all those club members who work tirelessly for the club.”

There will also be another Witham presence at the awards at Twickenham as Howbridge Church of England Junior School are also in the finals.

They are one of only six finalists in the national School/College of the Year category and the only junior school in the final.