A CLASH of the Titans match between two Stourbridge Rugby Club amateur sides has raised more than £2,700 for charity.
The Stourbridge Lions 2’s (aka the Greyhounds) took on the Lion’s 3’s (the Grasshoppers) at a packed out Stourton Park ground, raising funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in the process.
The charity was chosen after Matilda, the daughter of Lions’ physio Will James, was diagnosed with the condition at just two weeks old.
“All of a sudden we had a dozen new routines and our daughter had several new medications to take in addition to twice daily physiotherapy sessions,” said Will. “It was overwhelming and terrifying in equal measure.
“Gradually we adjusted – much slower than Matilda, who seemed remarkably tolerant of everything – in no small part due to the incredible care and support we received from both the CF team at the wonderful Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
“Fast forward thirteen months and we now have a happy, healthy, yet very demanding little girl.”
Hundreds of spectators were present to see the Grasshoppers fall to a 50-18 defeat to their ‘illustrious’ opponents, who recently finished second in their first season in the North Midlands Reserve League Division 3.
Both teams took to the field in their one-off sponsored kits, with all proceeds from the shirt sales, a raffle and £1,500 of gate receipts split between the charity and the club development fund.
Will added: “I cannot overemphasise how grateful we are that this wonderful rugby club have chosen the CF trust as the beneficiary of this season’s Clash of the Titans.
“I have spent more than six years looking after the Stourbridge rugby players, running up and down pitches, stitching them up and putting their bones back where they belong.
“Now they are looking after me and I can’t thank them enough.”
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