Notes from Women & Girls' Development meeting

The latest Women and Girls's development forum meeting took place yesterday at Radlett. The meeting was chaired by the Women's Regional Development Manager (WRDM) Amanda Bate who commented that she "was very disappointed at the poor turnout for the meeting" which had been arranged to take place at Tabard, but no-one from Tabard arrived so the meeting had to move to a nearby pub!

Amanda continued that "The meeting is usually held at Welwyn, but we moved it to Tabard to try and make it easier for some clubs to attend. This did not happen, so in future the meetings will once again be held at Welwyn RFC."

Present were Amanda Bate (WRDM), John Birch (Letchworth), Heather Alcock (Letchworth), Gareth Lewis (YDO Stevenage), Luke Williams (Welwyn), Dave Marques (Welwyn), Simon Shutler (Saracens), and there were apologies from Vicky Lowe (Hertford), Jess Lane (Welwyn), Chris Fishlock (Hertford)

"If any club needs help/support in developing girls rugby then they should attend these meetings.

"As usual there was no representation at all from senior women’s teams, and so I take this as a sign that the women’s game in Herts does not need any support at all, which is very encouraging!"


The main points discussed were:

Club reports:

Welwyn

• Expected players for next season, u15 15-20, U18’s 18-23,
• Four coaches, Luke Williams (Head coach), Chris Gallagher (Forwards coach), Pete Mccullough and Jess Lane (U15s)
• Targeting years 5-8, boys and girls, through school coaching; Luke Williams to coach in the four primary schools, contact with the schools being made via SSCO. Both boys and girls will have festival at the club, which may begin with tag ("see how it goes").

Letchworth

• Expected players for next season, u15 8, u18’s 18-20
• Coach -Woman returning to Letchworth from University may be able to help. John Birch and Andrew Glenister, and club will provide further support. Usually parents become the coaches, but the girls parents do not have rugby playing background. Amanda will ask Kat Emerson if she can coach as Kat is a senior player in Essex, due to start at Herts University in September.

Saracens

• Expected players for next season, u15 12-14, u18 8-10
• Coaches: Simon Shutler, Alan Watson to coach, both at level 2.
• All fixtures sorted! Will join with Middlesex to create Middx U18, and also matches against Letchworth, Welwyn and Basford

Stevenage

• Players - don’t know yet! Plenty of coaches, no girls yet! Thinking of clusters like before (Herts Swifts). Meeting suggested clustering with Letchworth and Gareth Lewis seemed interested, though suspected possible club objections at Stevenage. Amanda suggested Stevenage lends a coach…looks at the "bigger picture".
• Why is Stevenage trying again to build girls rugby? Girls coming through from minis, and also grants the club has received in the past dependant on providing womens and girls rugby. A summer camp will try and recruit both sexes, and they are also looking at Emerging Schools teams, with Paul Freestone’s help.

County teams-appointments

U18’s Vicky Lowe and Luke Williams will again coach the county girls, Simon Sutler will lead coach the county U15’s with Jess Lane in support. Dave Marques will be team manager for u18’s and Pete McCullough will be team manager for u15’s. It is hoped that Catherine Lowe will be kit manager again. Main points:

U18s

• Two squads, 20 in each, Clive Cramphorn will run the Second quad (called "Baa Baas"). Trials virtually same as last year - gather all girls, put into teams (but probably not club teams this time), general training, game situations, etc. Then choose 40 girls
• Next training session, all 40 together again and then select again, and maybe at the next session too. After that selected for First and Second team squads.
• Mid week training sessions to be arranged - but no may be problem swith both day and venue. County Manager (Dave Marques) and coaches will decide. The aim will be to arrange as many matches as possible - includng possibly a mid-week fixture, and with games spread around the county.
• All girls will be told that they are expected at trials if they want to be in county squad (unless genuinly unavoidable - ie. injury) as the county is not a RFUW programme, so TDGs do not automatically get a bye!

U15s

• Simon Shutler to be head coach, will put the girls into a game situation at the trials and "go from there"! Development day will be a trials also, the two county dates after that will be training sessions and then (hopefully) fixtures will be festivals. If possible and with good numbers we will run two squads. Pete McCullough is team and fixture manager for U15s.

Other county matters

• Amanda will talk to Catherine Lowe about U15s kit and John Drew about the Baa Baas kit.
• Amanda will advertise dates of first development/trials dates in schools via PDMs.
• Coaches at the trials who are not busy will be roped in to coach any brand new girls who turn up!
• We will try to arrange county fixtures at Letchworth, Stevenage and Welwyn. Luke says we need a meal afterwards and the captains say a few words etc etc… Girls to be dressed so as to try to develop more county rugby ethos. Host club to arrange referees and press, and organise food.
• Team Managers to write to schools on county headed paper to advise when they make the county team.

U12’s Letchworth project

Plan to get new blood. U12’s girls get lost in minis, and also at the step up to junior girls. "Scary" to approach a club as an individual and the result is that girls stop playing. Inter schools u12 festival/project planned for November, and - as some schools who did Emerging Schools wanted to carry it on somehow- will combine festival with an U14’s matches. Maybe get older girls to referee, coach etc. (seven Letchworth girls have done referee's course, one has level 1 coaching course and other have done Start Rugby). Trying to plan something for every six weeks to keep girls interested. Amanda to pass on contact details for Kent and Sussex, and invite a Referee Ambassador along. Amanda spoken to Ros Cramp and Paul Freestone, happy for Heather to approach schools direct.

Festival will also try to cover parts of Bedfordshire, and Letchworth have contacted Claire Sanderson (WRDM East Midlands). Letchworth is also sending a rep to east Midlands (county) forum.

Emerging Schools Competition

Amanda will talk to RDO about supporting those clubs represented at tonights meeting.

Developing girls teams/clusters for training and/or matches.

Not discussed as those teams present have sorted fixtures and are developing. The clubs which need help/support developing were not present at this meeting.

Planning for the season

Cluster coaching/matches on Regional days: Jess may provide coaching for the girls left behind! This is when we need the county 2nd XV/development squad to train and maybe play other county development squads. Amanda to get all county contact details from other WRDM’s and pass to team managers.

Go Play: All present know about this and how it can help female player recruitment.

Funding: Amanda to apply for funding for SAQ courses and equipment, first aid courses coach development and skills sessions, drill tops for Baa baas and u15s, and leaflets aimed at U12s (and even younger) - Saracens invite all girls to join in training, they tell all parents about it and it works!

Accounts

Up-date from treasurer-accounts /statements will be available to view. AB to speak to Catherine who was not present and ask for details.

RFUW up-date: Short of time and those present know about discussions at East forum recently…to be further discussed at next meeting.

Senior spot: No reps from senior teams attended.

Next meeting 24th Sept at Welwyn RFC 7.30pm

President's XV Awards

In the President's XV Awards announced this week, two Herts Girls Club have been recognised in different Categories. Letchworth were Winners of the 'Modernisation' Category for the Letchworth Blog (winning a Trophy, £500 cheque and £150 towards a Presentation Ceremony) and Welwyn Warriors were Runner Up in the 'Girl Power' Category (winning a cheque for £100).

The full list of Winners and Runners Up in each of the 15 President's Awards are being announced in next months Rugby World Magazine. In addition all of the Category Winners and Runners Up will feature in a 'Models of Good Practice' booklet to be distributed to Rugby Clubs.

Valuing your volunteers

The RFU have published an excellent booklet summarising good practice and highlighting the many award schemes available to clubs and their volunteers.

These award schemes are open to all clubs, large and small, and designed to reward all ages, and both groups and individuals. The schemes work and are accessible to clubs like yours. Just ask Welwyn and Letchworth who have both picked up RFU awards this season, with recognition going to individuals (such as Luke Williams and Joe Randall winning the "Young Volunteer Plus" Awards) and to the club as a whole (with both clubs recording successes in the President's XV award scheme, for example).

Obviously not every nomiation will win, but the fact that a volunteer has been nominated invariably gives a boost.

The booklet also shows how clubs have introduced internal methods of recognising the contribution of volunteers - methods that needn't cost very much (or indeed anything at all) but clearly work.

So either download a copy from the website , or apply to RFU for printed copies - its well worth it!

National U17 10's Finals Report

In atrocious conditions at Litchfield RFC on Sunday, Worcester were more than worthy winners of the National U17 10's as they won all 5 of their games without conceeding a point. Welwyn Warriors, who played them first suffered their heaviest ever defeat 0-33, and realised that the Tournament was then all about who would finish Runners-up.

Welwyn got back on track through a narrow 5-0 win over local rivals Letchworth and then stepped up a gear to beat Wimborne 12-0 and avenge their semi-final defeat in the National Cup in April. The next game was a see-saw 12-12 draw with Paviors and the Dorking game ended 17-12 to the Warriors. As Paviors lost to Wimborne then meant that Welwyn U17 finished Runners-up in a National Tournament, which is their best ever achievement.

Herts girls defy the weather

Two girls rugby tournaments took place yesterday in - at times - appalling weather conditions, but despite the worst that the rain could throw at everyone both were completed - though it was touch and go at times.

At Hatfield 70 girls aged 9-11 took part in the Herts Youth Games girls rugby tournament. This is a tag event and designed to introduce new players to the game, though in practice a fair few of the players will have played mini-rugby.

It didn't quite rain all day, but by the time the final games were being played the downpour was unceasing. Fortunately the games were being played on Saracen's artificial grass pitches so the girls did not disappear into the mud (though some of the surrounding encampment became almost unreachable).

Of the ten districts in the county St Albans and Dacorum failed to enter, and Hertsmere did not show up. The other seven played off in two groups which eventually lead to Stevenage and Welwyn/Hatfield playing off for fifth place, Watford taking on North Herts for third, and a final between East Herts and Three Rivers.

Unfortunately your correspondent was running for cover by the time the final took place (with thunder rolling around the ground) but I should imagine that the superbly drilled (and Amazon tall) East Herts would have been clear favourites to repeat their group win over Three Rivers. Watford beat North Herts comfortably for third, and Welwyn seemed to be on top for fifth against Stevenage. Broxbourne came seventh. If it was not all totally washed away then hopefully the final results will appear shortly.

However there were some prodigiously talented girls playing in this event, so if you club was not involved with running a team I suggest you contact your local district council as soon as possible to find out who was... and start recruiting now!

Talking of being washed away, the National 10s at Lichfield endured monsoon-type conditions which resulted in the pitches being effectively waterlogged by the mid-point in the competition. Two Hertfordshire teams were in it - Letchworth finishing fifth and Welwyn second behind eventual winners Worcester. Full score appear below.

The RFUW are seeking feedback on this new initiative - so please let Keeley know what you thought of it. Teams in the final have had official reply forms - but I suspect Keely would like to hear from anyone - even teams that did not take part - about whether this was a worthwhile initiative, and what could be done to improve things (like getting more entries).

Anyway... the scores:

Letchworth 5 Dorking 0; Dorking 0 Wimborne 12; Letchworth 0 v Welwyn 5; Paviours/Lec 20 Dorking 7; Worcester 26 Dorking 0; Wimborne 7 Paviour/Leic 5; Worcester 33 Welwyn 0; Paviours 0 Worcester 15; Wimborne 19 Letchworth 0; Welwyn 12 Wimborne 0; Letchworth 0 Worcester 44; Letchworth 0 Paviors/Leic 44; Dorking 10 Welwyn17; Welwyn 12 Paviours/Leic 12; Wimborne 0 Worcester 7	Final table: 1: Worcester 15 points 2: Welwyn 12 3: Wimborne 11 4: Paviors/Leicester Forest 10 5: Letchworth 7 6: Dorking 5

(I have no idea how the points were worked out for the above table - so don't ask!)

Herts representatives both through to National Tens finals

Uniquely Hertfordshire will be represented by two clubs at the Nationals 10s finals in Lichfield on 13th May.

Welwyn were faced with a single opponent in the London North heat at Hemel Hempsted, and easily disposed of Chesham 108-0.

Letchworth meanwhile were at Aylestone St James, near Leicester, for the East Midlands heat. This featured six teams and as a result both finalists were allocated places in the Nationals, which meant that the crucial game was not the final but the semi-final against Kettering - which the Hertfordshire team won 21-12.

This follows on from the county (also uniquely) having two teams in the U17 National Cup semi finals earlier in the year (Letchworth and Welwyn again), as well as a a third in the U14 semis ("Herts Barbarians"). On that occasion none of the teams went on to lift the silverware - maybe that will be different this time.

Other teams known to be in the National 10s finals are Cockermouth, Dorking, Paviors (winners of East Midlands heat), Tynedale, Wimborne, and Worcester.

Canadian school win three from five on Easter tour to Hertfordshire

Central Ontario champions I E Weldon Secondary School completed a short but hetic one week tour at the last weekend, winning three games out of five - played over four days!

This was the first overseas tour by the Canadian school. Using links with a school in East Hertfordshire the tourists arranged a series of games at each of the county’s main girls’ clubs.

Weldon arrived on Tuesday 3rd April and spent the first half of the week at Wymondley Woods Scout Camp, near Letchworth – the first time the venue had been used to host a sports team. The relative seclusion and large open training area allowed the visitors to prepare well for their first game at Letchworth RFC the following day.

Letchworth had organised a small four-team festival – dubbed “Canada Day” – designed to ensure that all of Weldon’s 26 players got a game. Weldon began slowly, losing to the host team (who had combined with Sudbury for the day), but then went on to beat Aylesbury and a “Barbarian” team (made up of girls from clubs in neighbouring counties).

After this the girls moved onto host families in the Broxbourne area, and on Good Friday took on Welwyn. After a poor first half, they came close to pulling back a 20 point deficit in the second half before eventually going down 34-20 in what was acknowledged as being one of Welwyn’s most competitive games of the season.

The tour was then rounded off the following day with an exciting 7-5 win over Hertford, the winning try and conversion coming in the final seconds of the game.

After returning to Canada Weldon’s Head Coach Kirk Wilson looked back on their week. ““It was real bang, go a head rugby,” he said to his local paper, the Lindsay Daily Post. “I’m pretty happy with the result, especially since we haven’t played since November. Anytime you’ve been off for a long period of time your game fitness is different,” Wilson said, noting you have to work out all the kinks first.”

Kirk and his team main surprise was the physical size of their opponents. “I think the girls were surprised at how much bigger the other teams were,” he said.

“Especially in their forwards,” added captain Corie Lewis. “It was a challenge at first for our defence to tackle girls that size.”

Kirk also praised the team’s hosts – and the English weather! “the teams we played were well organized, accommodating and very friendly. I think there were a lot of things that really exceeded our expectations.

“Quite often it’s very damp and rainy in England, but it was sunny and about eight degrees. Perfect weather for rugby. It was a great bonus.”

Results:

4th April:
Letchworth & Sudbury 17, I E Weldon 10
Aylesbury 5, I E Weldon 24
Barbarians (Ely/Peterborough/Towcester) 0, I E Weldon 17

6th April:
Welwyn 34, I E Weldon 20

7th April
Hertford 5, I E Weldon 7.

Barbarian traditions thriving in girls rugby.

Simon Shutler reports on Herts Barbarians heroics in the National Cup:

On Sunday 12 girls travelled from all over the East region to play for a Herts. Barbarians team in the Southern finals of the National Cup at Petersfield RFC. Five teams had players represented; Diss, Letchworth, Saracens, Tabard and Wymondham.

In the first game the team played against Cramberleigh from Surrey and in a very close contest two great breaks by Charlotte (Diss) twice put the Barbarians in front, but Cramberleigh pulled back and in a nail biting finish the Barbarians scored what would be the winning try, before Cramberleigh came back from the kick-off to pressurise the try line. The girls threw everything into try line defence to hold out for a win 15-10.

Unfortunately the game probably took too much out of the girls, and with no substitutes a very tired team took to the field after a short break to play Ellingham & Ringwood. With many girls playing out of position a well drilled team, with abundant pace out wide punished every error. The girls fought hard but were outflanked on a number of occasions and finally lost 43-0.

After another short break they played Thornbury. They looked more like the team in the first game again. Probably down to the wine gums provided by Sam's mum! Unfortunately two missed tackles left us trailing 3 tries to 1 at half time. With the girls again playing better it looked like they could get back into the game. But with Sydnie down injured Thornbury went on to score. That was the last Sydnie was able to play in the game and with no substitutes the girls played on with 11 players. Being 1 player short Thornbury were able to exploit the overlap advantage to seal victory and win the Southern place.

For the girls to come together and play as well as they did, without ever training together is testament to their skills. Many had never played games at this level and intensity before and their tackling and work rate was phenomenal.

Disappointing day for Herts in National Cup semis

It proved to be a disappointing day for Hertfordshire's three remaining entrants in the U14 and U17 National Cup.

The U14 combination of Saracens, Letchworth, and Eastern Cos ("Hertfordshire Barbarians") were probably favourites for their tie a week ago, but a rash of injuries and illnesses resulted in their taking a bare 12 players for their round, where they finished third having won their opening game - tiredness amongst a squad that could have no rest being a signficant factor. Complete results will hopefully be available soon.

In the U17 tournament favourities Welwyn and Letchworth both had a mathematical chance of going through right up to the final round of games - but it was not to be, an impressive Wimborne team from Dorset winning through with a 100% record.

Results:
Welwyn 17, Letchworth 0		P	W	A	L	F	A	Pts
Ivel Barb 0, Wimborne 7	Wimborne	3	3	0	0	40	5	6
Letchworth 22, Ivel Barb 0	Welwyn	3	1	1	1	22	7	3
Welwyn 5, Wimborne 7	Letchworth	3	1	0	2	22	43	2
Letchworth 0, Wimborne 26........	Ivel Barb'ns	3	0	1	2	0	29	1

*Welwyn v Ivel Barbarians abandoned owing to injury

National Cup venues announced.

The big day for some of our clubs is only a few weeks off - and at last they know wherethey will be going.

In the U14 cup Hertfordshire Barbarians (Saracens, Letchworth and all points east) team will be at Petersfield in Hampshire.

In the U17 cup Welwyn and Letchworth will be at Camberley in Surrey (home of "Cramberleigh").

The opponents for the U14s will be up against Cranberleigh (from Surrey), Ellingham and Ringwood (Hampshire), and Thornbury (Gloucestershire), while the U17 teams will face Ivel Barbarians (Somerset), and Wimbourne (Dorset).

Both days will be a round-robin tournament with the winners qualifying for the final against the northern champions on 15th April (somewhere in the Midlands normally).

National Cup: Herts teams wait on venue announcement

It has been confirmed that the following teams are in the "Southern Finals" in the two age groups:

U14s: "Herts Barbarians" (ie. Letchworth, Saracens and Eastern Cos) , Cranberleigh (Surrey/Hants), Ellingham and Ringwood (Hampshire), and Thornbury (Somerset).

U17s: Letchworth, Welwyn, Ivel Barbarians (Somerset), and Wimbourne (Dorset)

Venues: Now this is the interesting bit. Looking at the spread of teams it would notmally have been expected that these rounds would have taken place in Dorset or Hampshire BUT no venues have been arranged yet as all of the likely grounds are waterlogged. So it is possible that the games might happen in Hertfordshire. Or Somerset...

Herts 1:2 in National Cup qualifier

Hertfordshire's best ever year in the National Cup continued today with local clubs taking both qualifying places in the rearranged South East qualifier held at Letchworth.

A last minute withdrawl from Surrey side Cramberley left four teams in the contest - Letchworth, Welwyn, Saracens/Fullerians and last year's South-East League champions Worthing.

Letchworth and Worthing kicked off early in order to get the fixtures through before nightfall, and their performance gave the other Herts sides some useful pointers on how to play the unknown Sussex team. Letchworth dominated up front, which starved Worthing's fast and talented backline of useful ball for most of the game and in the end the host side were probably far more comfortable winners than the 10-7 scoreline suggests, Worthing's only score coming at the end of the game.

Welwyn played the south coast side next - and, with the help fresh legs, strolled to a 48-0 win. Meanwhile the hosts match faced Saracens/Fullerians and recorded a second victory - and again a more comfortable win than 10-5 might suggest, and despite playing with only 14 in the second half owing to one player falling ill.

With two teams going through Letchworth had now qualified but still had to face Welwyn, who need a win to guarantee their place in the next round. The first half was an exciting, closely matched affair with Welwyn edging it 10-5 before going on to stretch their lead against a tiring home team to 34-5 by the end.

Saracens/Fullerians were Welwyns last opponents. Coming out of a narrow loss to Worthing, Saracens performed superbly under the floodlights holding Welwyn to the narrowest wining margin of the day - 17-0.

So on 4th February three Herts teams will be playing in the southern finals of the National Cup - Herts Barbarians U14s, Welwyn U17s, and Letchworth U17s. Can one of them take the next step to national glory? We shall see...

Results:

Letchworth 10, Worthing 7

Welwyn 48, Worthing 0

Letchworth 10, Saracens/Fullerians 5

Saracens/Fullerians 10, Worthing 19

Letchworth 5, Welwyn 34

Saracens/Fullerians 0, Welwyn 17

South East Qualifier	P	W	L	F	A	Pts
Welwyn	3	3	0	99	5	9
Letchworth	3	2	1	25	46	7
Worthing	3	1	2	26	68	5
Saracens/Fullerians	3	0	3	15	46	3

Photgraphs from some of todays games can be found here

Last minute withdrawl complicates U17 National Cup

The last minute withdrawl of Cramberleigh from has resulted in some changes to tomorrow afternoon's National Cup round at Letchworth. The good news is that we are at least guaranteed at least one Hertfordshire team getting into the semi finals as three of the four sides competing for two places will now be from Herts.

The revised draw for the round has now been published on the Letchworth blog.

U17 National Cup to be replayed at Letchworth

With grounds still unplayable at Saracens at Welwyn, Letchworth will be hosting the rearranged first round of the U17 National Cup on 10th December. With barely 10 days notice it'll be a bit of a challenge, and they will not be saying "no" to any help that might be offered - but on the big "plus" is that at least the event is still in Hertfordshire!

Start times etc. have yet to be confirmed, but almost all of the host's minis and juniors are away so potentially the tournament could start significantly earlier than the 1.30 planned for last weekend. How early will depend on those travelling long distances.

We've already got one Herts team into the semi-finals of the U14s - with three in the running at this event let's hope we can get two through from the U17s!

Herts clubs to clash in National Cup

The National Cup draws have been announced. The first round will be in the form of small "festivals" which will take place on 26th November. In both cases Herts teams ate in the "South East" group:

In the U14 Cup - the first time there has been an official tournament for this age - Herts Barbarians (a combined county U14 side) will take on Welwyn, Uttlesford (Essex), and "Cramberleigh" (Cranleigh & Camberley combined, from Surrey) at Welwyn RFC.

In the U17 Cup Saracens/Fullerians, Letchworth, and Welwyn will take on Uttlesford, "Cramberleigh (again!), and Worthing (Sussex) at Saracens.

There will be four of these "festivals" taking place across the country in each age group and the top teams will play in the second round early next year to produce a "North" and "South" winner, who will meet in a national final after Easter.

Keeping it in the county

The Rochford Festival U17 championship remains in Hertfordshire after Sunday's competition at the Essex club.

The popular festival - which draws entries from clubs across East Anglia - was won for the county for the first time last year by Welwyn, and this year it was near neighbours Letchworth's turn for glory with wins over Rochford, Diss, and Saracens/Fullerians before beating Sudbury 5-0 in a close final.

Herts clubs were less successful in the U14 competition, which was won by the host club for the first time. Letchworth finished third, Welwyn fourth, and Hertford fifth.