Datchworth Rugby Football Club · 2016-04-11 · Datchworth Rugby Football Club Datchworth Rugby...

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

MINI MATTERS – Tour Weekend

8th to 10th April 2016

HelloDatchworthMiniSectionCoaches,Managers,Players,ParentsandSupporters,thisweekendwastheannualMiniSectionTourtoNorfolk...Atouringpartyof152peopleand54playersarrivedonFridayeveningattheHillTopcentreinNorthNorfolk.ThisyearsTourShirtswereprovidedtotheplayersandwerewellreceivedbyall!Asignificantincreaseinthequalitythisyearthankstosomekindsponsorship.AnentertainerlookedaftertheyoungerchildrenonFridaywhiletheparentsenjoyedthebar.AverywetSaturdaydidn'tspoilthedaywithalloftheactivitiestakingplaceasscheduledandeverygrouptryingnewthingsandhavingagreattime.TheeveningmealwasfollowedbytheagegroupquizwonthisyearbytheU11s.ThequizinturnwasfollowedbytheTourCourtwherearangeofissuesandmisdemeanourswereheardbyJudgeWood....,butasyouknow.....Whatgoesontourstaysontour....(forthemostpart)....WithSundaycametheusualNorfolkspringsunshine....alloftheagegroupsenjoyedagoodmorningscompetitiverugbyalthoughtheU10shadaparticularlytoughmorningthisyearafterthesuccessoflastyearstour.MostagegroupswonmorethantheylostwhichcontinuestoreflectwellonthehealthoftheclubOverallthetourweekendwasagreatsuccess.ThankstoWoodyforarrangingthebarandcourt,andthankstoDarrenforthedisco.ThanksalsotoNealforarrangingthetourshirtsandsponsorshipandlastlythankstoNicolaformakingallofthebookingsandliaisingwithHillTopandHoltRFCoverthecourseoftheseasontoplantheevent.ThiscomingweekendtheU10shavebeeninvitedtoWelwynforafriendlyfixturebeforeWelwyngoontheirendofseasontour;allotheragegroupswillbetrainingatDatchworth.ThestoryoftheTouristoldbelow....U7–DatchworthVsHoltTourTeams2016

ThisweekendwetouredtoHoltandwhilstwecannotdisclosewhathappenedontour,weconfirmthatwehadafantastictimeatHilltop...HoltFestival-SteveWooldridge;mylastDatchworthU7'stourdidnotdisappoint.OurunbeatenU7'sfinishedthisSeasonagainundefeated!TheHoltFestival,likesomanyothereventsthisyearhavetakenafriendly,allinapproach,nooutrightU7'swinner,thatbeingsaid,ourDatchworthU7'swon3anddrew1,afittingendtoagreatSeason.SpecialmentiontoKitJollyforNOTsharinghischips,heinouscrimeKitKat,seriously,suchadifference,sinceChristmasKithas

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

clicked,turningtheballover(andscoringtriesfromtheturnover),andofferinggreatsupport.Jess(U8's)andArly(U6's)steppedupasguestplayersanddidusjustice,playinggreatRugbyandslottingintothesideseamlessly-theywerebothgreatassetstotheteam.Ashley,AlfieandOliverplayedsowelltogether,theyinstinctivelyplaygreatdefence,yetlookingforopportunitiestoscoretriesandtacklehard,suchgreateffort.ThetwoSam'stageveryoneintheirpath,snakearoundtacklesandlookforopengroundorapassbeforeatagtoensureatry.AgreatbigthankyoutoNicola,Andrew,WoodyandtheU7'sparents,coachesandofcourseCurlyWurlyJoforafantasticweekendontour!FirstandforemostwedefinitelyallhadfunU9–DatchworthVsHoltTourTeams2016TheU9senjoyedasuccesfulTourwiththeHillTopTouringpartybeingreinforcedbyday-trippersonSunday!TheU9playersenjoyedagoodmorningonthepitchandperhapsevenmoresuccessonthedanceflooronSaturdayevening!

U10–DatchworthVsHoltTourTeams2016BYSIMONTILLEY!!!!!!!TwelveofDatchworth'sUnder10'sfinestarrivedatHoltRFCatclosetotheirpeakofphysicalfitnessafterarelaxingprefestivaltrainingcampatHilltop.ThisyeartheU10swereabletotrythe‘Tree-TopTrailaerialassaultcourse’;crate-stackingandfinallythePower-Fanjump!EveryonegotinvolvedinalloftheactivitiesandtheTouringPartyhadagreatteam-buildingexperience....UnfortunatelyonmatchdaywelostKobieRichmondtoinjurybeforehewasabletotouchaball-wemissedhisball-carryingandstrongtacklingandwewishhimwellforaspeedyrecovery.

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

TheconditionswereconducivetorunningrugbyandDatchworthU10'sweresoonintotheirstrideagainstaBaaBaasteammadeupofSpalding,WymondhamandAmpthillplayers.StrongtacklingfromThomasHowardandrippingfromTomMooresoongotDatchworthontothefrontfootandwewentinathalf-timewithaslenderone-nilleadcourtesyofatrymadebytheforwardsandfinishedinstylebyElliotClifford.ThescratchBaaBaasteamfoundtheirrhythminthesecondhalf,however,andputtogetherabetterperformance,eventuallyrunningoutwitha2-1victory.Atoughday'srugbywasclearlyaheadofus.ThesecondfixturesawDatchworthtakeonAmpthillU10's.Werememberthemasastrongsquadfromlastyear'stournament-andtheyhaveclearlybeenworkinghardontheircorerugbyskillsovertheintervening12months.ThefirsthalfwastightwithanexcellenttrysavingtacklefromThomasHowardbutasthegamewentonstrongruckingandtacklingfromAmpthillcombinedwithanabilitytomovetheballoutwidesawthemstretchthebraveDatchworthdefence.Wewentdown5-0toAmpthill-threegamestogo,weneededtopickourselvesupandfast.OurthirdfixtureofthemorningsawustakeonastrongteamfromWymondham.WesawthemdemolishSpaldingearlierinthemorningandknewthatweclearlyhadatoughmatchinfrontofus.WestartedbrilliantlywithexcellentteamworkmovingtheballconfidentlyupthepitchresultinginaMackenzieEllistrytoputDatchworthintoa1-0lead.Wealmostmanagedtogoinathalf-timewithaslenderadvantagecourtesyofatrademarkTomMooretry-savingtackleontheline;howeverambitiousplayfromDatchworthtryingtoworkaBarbarians-styletryfrombehindourowntrylinesawaninterceptiontryfromWymondhamasthelastplayofthefirsthalftoputthescoreslevelatthebreak.Wymondhamhadthewindintheirsailsinthesecondhalfandstartedstrongly,edgingintoanarrow2-1leadprettysoonaftertherestart.SomecommittedplayfromDatchworth,exemplifiedbysometremendousball-carryingfromHarryKing,tookthegamebacktoWymondhamandanexcellentmovestartedbysomedoggedclearing-upworkbyTomMooresawAlickBrosterputElliotCliffordinatthecornertobringthescoresalllevelagain.Thegamelookeddestinedforadrawexceptforalast-ditcheffortbyWymondhamtosecurethewinningscoreasthelastmoveofapulsatingsecondhalf.AfabulousteameffortfromDatchworthgivingtheboysaconfidenceboostwithtwomoregamesstilltogo.OurfourthgameofthefestivalsawustakeontheLionsofSpalding.AlthoughtheytookapastingfromWymondhamearlierinthedayweknewtheywouldbenopushoversotheboysgotintoahuddletoworkoutastrategyforvictory.Bythisstageinthedaytheexploitsoftheprevious36hourswerestartingtotaketheirtoll......

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

AslowstartbyatiringDatchworthteamsawSpaldingtakeanearlyleadwhichtheysteadilybuilton,eventuallycomingout5-0winners.ThefinalmatchwasacloselyfoughtaffairagainsttheVikingsofNorthWalsham.Everythingwasputonthelinebybothteamsplayingtheirlastmatchofrespectivelyexhaustingtours.Disciplinewasstartingtobecomeabitslackandseveralhightacklesfrombothsidesgavetherefplentytodo.AfterslippingbehindtoanearlytrybyNorthWalsham,sometypicallycommittedDatchworthplaysawthemightygreenandblackscampedclosetotheViking'sline.DamienMurphyearnedDatchworthapenaltytryastheresultofahighNorthWalshamtacklestoppingacertainscore.ThereaftertirednessreallystartedtotellandDatchworthconcededacoupleoffurthertriesinthesecondhalftoenduplosing3-1.Allinallanexcellentweekendontour.Whilstwewereonthewrongendofseveralunfavourablescorelines,theboysallcommittedtothetourspiritandparticipatedfully.TremendousperformancesfromanumberofourladswithparticularlynotablecontributionsfromTomMoore,AlickBrosterandMorganMacGillivary.U11–DatchworthVsHoltTourTeams2016AfteraheartybreakfastattheStevenageTobyCarvery,includingYorkshirepuddingandgravy,Marksomehowmanagedtopack5adults,9childrenandourkitontoaminibusforthestartoftheU-11sannualtriptoNorfolkfortheDatchworthMinissectionTour.Afterarelativelyeventfreejourney,includingourtraditionaltoiletstopatBrandonTescos,wearrivedontheseafrontatSherringhambymid-afternoon.Withthesunsplittingthepavements,agentlebreezecoolingtheshoreandthewaterlookingalmostblue,theboysonthebus,Ieuan,Sidney,Stanley,Harry,Carter,Barney,ConnerandTroythoughtitwouldbeagoodideatostriptotheirunderwearandgoforaswim.Sounderthecarefulsupervisionoftheadults,fromthecarparkofTheCrown,thatiswhattheydid.Astheafternoonprogressed,wemetupwithBrent,alongwithCerys,KelseyandEllie,AndreaandRuby,andWarren,whokindlyboughtallthechildrenahotchocolateoncetheyhaddecidedthatSherringhaminearlyAprildidnotexactlyresembletheCarribeannorindeedthesouthernMediterranean.HavingnowbeenjoinedbyPaulandAlex,wetroopedofftoalocalchippyforfurtherrefreshmentbeforemakingourwaytoHilltoptomeetupwiththerestoftheMinissectionandbeginthetourproper.

Theeveningwasspentinquiteconversationwithalittlecommunitysingingforgoodmeasure.AnoveluseforanemptycoolboxasaspeakerboxwasdemonstratedasAndreaandGrahamDJ’dachill-outsessionandweallrelaxedattheendofahardday!!(Somemaybeatadmorethanothers.)

Saturdaydawneddullandwet,butdespitethebesteffortsoftheweathertodampenourdaythewholesquadplusfemaleguests,partookofafullday’sactivities,includingAerialChallenge,3-DMaze,GiantSwing,AirDropandAssaultCourse.SpecialmentionshouldgotoWilliamLowe,wholastyearwasunabletopartakeinmanyactivitiesduetohisfearofheights,butthisyearwashappilyleapingoffa10foothighplatformontoagiantairbagwithbarelyamoment’shesitation.Oneofthegreatpartsofthetoureachyeariswatchinghowtheplayersgaininconfidenceandachievemoreeachyear.Duetotheweather,thetraditionalpostactivitytrainingsessionandtouchrugbygamewascancelled.ThisdidhoweverallowthosethatcompletedtheassaultcourseintheafternoontofindandmakefulluseofHilltopsdryingroom!!

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Afteranotherquiteandrelaxingevening,wedecampedtoHoltRFCfortherugbypartoftheweekend.ThesquadbynowconsistedofConner,Harry,Joseph,Alex,Sidney,James,Barney,Carter,Stanley,Ieuan,RubyandWilliamL.Weendedupplayingfourgames,insteadofthescheduled5asAmpthillRFCwereonlyabletofieldoneteam,andnotthetwotheyhadpromised.

DatchworthgotofftoaslowstartagainstastrongandwelldrilledHoltteamintheirfirstgame,concedingthreetrieswithoutreplybyhalf-time.Afterakindwordofencouragementfromthecoaches,DatchworthuppedtheirtempoandtookthegametoHolt,playingamuchbettersecondhalf.IntheendHoltprovedtoostrongandthefinalresultwasHolt5v.1Datchworth

ThesecondgameshowedDatchworthplaysomeofthebestrugbytheyhadplayedallseasonagainstasquadfromWymondhamRFC,whohaveoneofthelargestminisectionsinNorfolk.SomeoftherunningandpassingfromtheDatchworthplayerswasajoytobeholdasdespitethebesteffortsofastrongWymondhamsidewecameaway3–1winners.

OurthirdgamewasagainstourcloseneighboursStevenage,whowerealsotouringinNorfolkthisweekend.ThegameagainallowedDatchworthtoplaysomeflowingrugby,andwewon6–0.

Aftersomediscussionandre-giggingofgames,ourfinalgameoftheafternoonwasagainstSpalding.SpaldinghadboughtjustenoughplayerstocovertwosquadsbyusingsomeplayersfromtheirAteamtobolstertheirBteam.Datchworthmaintainedtheirperformancelevel,andagainplayedagoodpassinggame,backedupbysomeexcellenttacklingandruckingfromalltheteam.AsaresultoftheeffortbutinbyalltheteamDatchworthcameawaywithanexcellent5–0win.

Overall,wehadanexcellentdayatHolt,comingawaywithaP4W3L1record.Everysinglememberofthesquadputinasterlingeffortthroughouttheday,andallkepttheirdisciplineandworkeffortatthehighestlevel.Ihavenotmentionedanyplayersbynameasthewholedaywasagreatteameffort,anditwouldbeunfairtonameanyindividualswhenallthesquadputinsuchagreateffort.Atiredbusloadofhappycamperswoundtheirwaybackhome.

IwouldliketotakethisopportunitytothankMarkFeltonforonceagainsupplyingaminibusanddrivingalargesectionoftheU-11ssquadtoandfromNorfolkandplayingahugepartinmakingtheweekendmoreenjoyable.

U12–DatchworthVsHoltTourTeams2016TheUnder12'sembarkedontheirfinalMinisTourtoNorfolkthisweekend,andenjoyedgreatfunandgamesbothonandoffthepitchinbothglorious(Sunday)anddreadful(Saturday)weather-apropermixedbag!!!Saturday'seventsweregivenovertotheAirJump,VerticalChallenge,3DMaze,ClimbingWallandBigZipper,andeventhoughitwashorrendousweather,asusualbothkidsandparentsalikehadagreatday.Theboyswereallbrilliantontheday,anditwasreallynicetoreceivesuchwarmand

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

genuinecomplimentsfromtheinstructorstowardstheirbehaviour,teamspirit,involvement,funandcommitmenttoeachotherandtheactivities,eventhoughtheywerealldrenched!Sundaybroughtusafrostystart,butthenbeautifulsunshine,anditturnedouttobeperfectconditionsforsomegreatrugby.HavingtravelleduptoNorfolkitwasfunnytobepittedagainstlocalrivalsStevenageinourPool,aswellasAmpthill,HoltandKesteven(nearGranthamapparently!).FirstupwasHoltRFC,whoareaverystrongsideandwereouttraining/conditioningwellbeforeanyoneelsearrived!Weputupastrongfightandplayedsomereallygreatrugbyagainstthem,withsomeexcellenttacklescominginacrosstheparkfromtheentiresquad.Wewereabletoputsomegoodpassagesofplaytogether,butHoltwereverystronginthetacklearea,rippingincontactwellandwinninggoodturnoverball.Thephysicalityoftheirforwardsledthemtogetquickballinthebreakdowntoo,andtheirscrumhalfwasquicktogettheballoutalongtheirlinestoexploittheoverlapaswebravelypiledintotherucktotrytocountertheirstrength.AtryfromJoshStaddonwasouronlyscoreinthe4-1loss,butthescoredidn'ttrulyreflecttheefforttheboysputin,ortheheartthattheyplayedwith.

NextupwasStevenage,whohadearlierbeendrubbedbyAmpthill8-0,sotheycameoutfightingagainstusthistimearoundwiththeirheadsheldhigh.Theyhadacoupleofveryfastrunnerswithoneladinparticularrushinguptimeandtimeagaintodisruptourmoves,butwewereabletogetsomenicemovestogether,andanothertwotriesfromJoshuaStaddongaveusthewin2-0.OurthirdgamewasagainstKesteven,whohadearlierlosttoHoltbyjust2-1,andtoAmpthillbyjust1-0,soweregoingtobetoughopposition.Howevertheboysputupahugeeffortinbothattackanddefence,andtheteamswereveryevenlymatched.Somegreatscrum-timestealsagainsttheheadfromOllierobbedthemofpossession,andwekepttheballinhandwellthroughout.ThetightclashwasreflectedinthescorelinewithSamtakingouronlytryofthematch,andwehadtosettle

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

forthedraw1-1.OurfinalmatchwithsomeverytiredDatchworthlegsandbodieswasagainstAmpthill,whohadabigsquadofplayerstochoosefromwithwhatseemedtobeanendlessamountofsubs.Thisshowedinthescorelineasweunfortunatelywentdown5-0inthelastgameofthemorningwhichwasarealshamebasedontheboys'overallperformanceontheday.ItwasagreatweekendtoendourMinisadventureon,andnowwelookforwardtoYouthRugbyatUnder13'sandthechallengesandfunthatwillbringus.GreateffortDatchworthUnder12's!• Mid-weektrainingonWednesday13thAprilistakingplaceat7:30@Datchworth• Nextweekendarrangements&pitchallocation:

o U6,U7,U8,U9,U11&U12–Training@Datchwortho U10–AwayFixtureVWelwyn(assumemeetat10AM)

• Pitch/TrainingSpaceAllocation@DatchworthSunday17thApril

Youth Match

DATCHWORTH RFCTraining Sunday 17th April

Not Used

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Up-ComingArrangements:

Week Date DatchworthRFCMiniSection2015/16Season

ParkingDuty

33 17-Apr

TrainingatDatchworth–U6/U7/U8/U9/U11/U12 U17AwayFixtureVWelwynRFC–U10sonly N/A

34 24-Apr

HertfordshireCountyTagFestivalU7s&U8s–LetchworthRFC

U18U6–Training@DatchworthAwayFixtureVsStAlbansRFC–U9,U10,U11sAwayFixtureVsWelwynRFC–U12s

35

Sun1stMay

U9s&U10s–ChampionsFinalDay@Saracens N/A

2ndMayBank

Holiday

AwardsDayPresentationEndofSeasonCelebrationandBBQ

Minis

FurtherReminder-PleaseNote.....SomeofyouwillnoticethatAwardsDayhasnowbeenscheduledforBankHolidayMonday...2ndMay.TwoagegroupshavehadteamsqualifyfortheSaracensChampionsFinaldaywhichhadbeenscheduledtotakeplaceonSaturdaythe30thApril.ThistournamenthasnowbeenmovedbyBTSportforTVreasonsandisnowonSunday1stMay,(linkedtotheassociatedSaracensFixture).AwardsDayisanimportantmorningintheCalendarandwearekeenforasmanytoattendaspossiblesoIhopethatthemovementtotheMondaywillnotcausetoomanyissues.TherewillbenoRugbyonSunday1stMayatDatchworth.ThefullprogrammeforAwardsDayisstillbeingfinalisedbutprovisionallytheplanis:

2015/16SeasonAwardsMorning–BankHolidayMonday2ndMay

• 10:30–11:30AwardsPresentations(allagegroupplayersaward+CoachoftheYear)• 11:30onwards....BouncyCastle,CricketgamesforMiniPlayers,Parents&Coachesgameof

Touch• BBQ&Bar.FurtherReminder-DatesfortheDiary:IfyouwouldliketoattendtheRugbyClubAGMmeetingthedetailsareasbelow:

Event Date/Details&Location

Comments

DatchworthRugbyClub

AGM

Tuesday3rdMay@Datchworth(7:30onwardsTBC)

ThisisourAGManddefineswhoandhowtheRugbyClubisrunandtakenforward–pleasemakeeveryefforttocomealongandhaveasayinshapinghowyourRugbyClubistakenforward.

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Datchworth Rugby Football Club

ClosingNotes

ItwasgreattoseeanotherDatchworthMiniTourwellsupportedandenjoyedbyall.Weareonthehomestraightnowwithregardstothe2015-16Season.ThiscomingweekendwillbeafinalhometrainingweekendformostwithjusttheU10smakingtheshortlocaltriptoWelwynforanendofseasonfriendlybeforeWelwynU10sgoonTour.

Bestwishes,

Andrew

AndrewHowardChairman–MiniSectionDatchworthRugbyFootball Club