Latest news with #Lach
South Wales Argus
20-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Coach's pride at winning back-to-back national rugby titles
The southeast Londoners beat Smiths Rugby 33-19 in a hard-fought contest thanks to tries from Reis Norman, Matthew Chick, Luca Petrozzi, Cam Hancock and Ben Adamson. The result meant Old Elthamians made it back-to-back triumphs at the Home of Rugby having beaten Wigan 45-22 in the Counties 3 Championship final in 2024. And it was not lost on Lach about what his side had achieved. 'Two years running, wow,' he said. 'I am so proud of the boys. We have come a long way this year. We went unbeaten last year throughout the season. 'We have only lost one game this year in the league, but obviously we are unbeaten in the cup, so it means we have only lost one in our last 57 matches, which is pretty impressive.' Old Elthamians' Norman broke the deadlock inside the opening 10 minutes as the No. 8 burst over the try line off the back of a scrum. Smiths responded midway through the first 40 minutes as Jack Davies was found in acres of space on the left wing and made no mistake when he dotted down. Old Elthamians retook the lead soon after however, when Chick went over from close-range to give his team the lead at half time. Petrozzi's quick tap-and-go allowed him to extend Old Elthamians' advantage two minutes into the second period, with fly-half Joe Leigh making it a hat-trick of successful conversions. Smiths reduced their arrears through captain Ben Hawker's converted effort to leave the score 21-14 with approximately half an hour left to play. But tries from Hancock and Adamson put the game beyond doubt, with John Bryant's score late on little more than a consolation for Smiths. Lach also explained that he hopes the victory can provide his side with a springboard ahead of next season. He continued: 'It did last year, so hopefully it can again. We will wait and see what the summer brings and where we are to start the season but let us hope so. 'This competition is great. It is sponsored by the RFU, and clubs should enter it because it gives players a day out, it really is massive.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Coach's pride at winning back-to-back national rugby titles at Allianz Stadium
By Phil Campbell Old Elthamians director of rugby Gavin Lach was bursting with pride after his side won the Men's Counties 2 Championship final at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. The southeast Londoners beat Smiths Rugby 33-19 in a hard-fought contest thanks to tries from Reis Norman, Matthew Chick, Luca Petrozzi, Cam Hancock and Ben Adamson. The result meant Old Elthamians made it back-to-back triumphs at the Home of Rugby having beaten Wigan 45-22 in the Counties 3 Championship final in 2024. And it was not lost on Lach about what his side had achieved. 'Two years running, wow,' he said. 'I am so proud of the boys. We have come a long way this year. We went unbeaten last year throughout the season. 'We have only lost one game this year in the league, but obviously we are unbeaten in the cup, so it means we have only lost one in our last 57 matches, which is pretty impressive.' Old Elthamians' Norman broke the deadlock inside the opening 10 minutes as the No. 8 burst over the try line off the back of a scrum. Smiths responded midway through the first 40 minutes as Jack Davies was found in acres of space on the left wing and made no mistake when he dotted down. Old Elthamians retook the lead soon after however, when Chick went over from close-range to give his team the lead at half time. Petrozzi's quick tap-and-go allowed him to extend Old Elthamians' advantage two minutes into the second period, with fly-half Joe Leigh making it a hat-trick of successful conversions. Smiths reduced their arrears through captain Ben Hawker's converted effort to leave the score 21-14 with approximately half an hour left to play. But tries from Hancock and Adamson put the game beyond doubt, with John Bryant's score late on little more than a consolation for Smiths. Lach also explained that he hopes the victory can provide his side with a springboard ahead of next season. He continued: 'It did last year, so hopefully it can again. We will wait and see what the summer brings and where we are to start the season but let us hope so. 'This competition is great. It is sponsored by the RFU, and clubs should enter it because it gives players a day out, it really is massive.'
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hinsdale schools join national ice bucket movement for mental health awareness
HINSDALE, Ill. — More than a decade later, the ice bucket challenge has returned but with a new mission this time. The viral sensation has people across the country participating, even in schools in the Chicagoland area. On Friday, Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Superintendent Dr. Michael Lach took the plunge. 'By doing this we can help remind students, teachers, families and staff that it's something that affects all of us,' Superintendent Lach said. Superintendent Lach took on the ice bucket challenge for the Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Movement. It's part of a national campaign for active minds, a nonprofit promoting mental health awareness and education. The topic hits close to home at Hinsdale South and Hinsdale Central, both part of District 86. 'We lost two of our students in the past few weeks. Mental health is a serious situation, and we have to pay attention to it,' Superintendent Lach said. 'If by getting an ice bucket over my head, brings a little more attention to this, then that's great.' The original ice bucket challenge kicked off in 2014 in support of the fight against ALS. The trend is back after the University of South Carolina's mental illness needs discussion club – or mind club for short – launched the challenge focused on mental health. 'Over the past few years, mental health has been destigmatized a lot. This challenge just brings awareness that it can happen to anybody,' Uyen Millon, a student at Hinsdale South, said. Superintendent Lach challenged the students to not only take the plunge themselves but find a way to get as many classmates involved as possible before graduation. 'I think I'm going to go through the sports teams and just try to get all the teams together to figure out a way to do this,' David Lee Young, a student at Hinsdale Central, said. The superintendent also said they're taking on this challenge in memory and in response to the heartbreaking loss of the two students. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
