Regional youth trials

You should all have been spoken to by now by the coaches to let you know whether we will be nominating you for the regional trials. you will now have to register. Go to:

http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.Community_Detail/StoryID/18360

for full details on how to register and pay for the trials. Please read all the instructions carefully. If you have not spoken to a coach, talk to me, Pete or Keith urgently. Time is ticking........

Steve

Cancelled awsay fixture to Wimbourne

I have just spoken to Wimbourne to confirm the 6/1 fixture and unfortunately they have had to cancel. They are suffering from injuries like many teams at the moment and cannot fulfill the fixture. I will try and arrange another away trip to Wimbourne for later in the season.

I will see what I can do to get another replacement fixture, but it may end up a training weekend instead.

Steve

Coach journey to Wimbourne

Due to the distance to Wimbourne on 6 January we will be taking a coach. The coach will leave from Worcester on the Sunday morning (time to be confirmed - probably about 10:00am). This has been at the request of several parents and the coaches are happy to support this.

The cost per passenger will be £15. If we fill up the 35-seater coach it will drop to £12. This covers the cost of the coach. If this is a success, we'll do the same thing to Castleford to play Leos on 13 January.

Steve

New member of the team

All of the Worcester girls players would like to congratulate Rich and Sarah on the birth of Megan this week. Remember, we're short of props so the sooner Megan can come along to training the better.....

Steve

First weekends in January

Remember, we are off to Wimbourne on 6/1 and off to Leos (at Castleford) on 13/1. Away trips to start off the new year.


Getting quotes for coach to take us to both, so there will be some cash needed.

Steve

Litchfield and Sunday

Hi Girls,
Just so that you all know both Sarah and baby Megan are both doing well and we'll bring her down to see you at somepoint after Christmas. Also to say well done for the Litchfield game it sounds like you all did yourselves proud. I may be down to see you Sunday but if not have a good Christmas and I'll see you in the New Year.

Rich

Hamper donations

Can you all remember to bring along your contributions to the hamper raffle prize. Also anything else that we may wish to have as a raffle prize.

Also we need some volunteer parents to do the raffle prize-giving for us as we will be warming up for the match...

Steve

Newbold fun day - weekend before Xmas

Newbold will be having a ladies pitch up and play match on the weekend before Xmas, followed up by a small pre-Xmas event in their club house. Let me know on Sunday if anyone is interested.

Steve

Duty Crew day/fund-raising

Remember that this Sunday is the duty crew day. This consists of first aid liaison and bridge duty. We are looking for parents to help support.

It's also a great opportunity for fund-raising so we need players to turn up at 10:00am and be willing to sell raffle tickets and bus-stop cards to raise some cash.

In the afternoon - normal 1pm kick off - we will be having a match against Comets. There might be problems with numbers so we will mix and match to get a game up.. Consider it as a regional preparation session......

Steve

Lichfield/Burton vs. Worcester 8/12/07

We knew Lichfield/Burton were going to be tough as we'd heard that they had beaten Leos quite convincingly. Playing two England U20s players seemed a bad sign as well. And so it started. Worcester had the ball, Lichfield/Burton turned us over, the ball went out to the wing and Emily Scarratt scored under the posts. Emily converted her own try and Worcester were 7-0 down in the first 3 minutes.

L/B had a strong pack of forwards and the Worcester pack needed to work harder and harder to retain our own ball. Having been turned over several times, the pack turned it on and things started to go our way a little more. Sophie and Beth both scored in the first half with some excellent play from the backs and half-time it was 7-14 and there was all to play for.

Second half and L/B were putting on the pressure. Our scrum was working well though and we were keeping hold of our own ball and starting to steal some of L/Bs as well. Bean scored and the score was 7-19 and feeling a bit more comfortable. A number of the penalty calls were going our way and when we won a penalty in the L/B 22 the call was made to take the points. 7-22 and two scores in front and the game was going our way. Later on the ball went out to Fran, which hadn't happened too much, who grabbed the final Worcester try.

Lichfield/Burton kept up the pressure and in the dying minutes they were in the Worcester 22 putting huge pressure on the whole team defensively. We had to work hard for a series of scrums, rucks and mauls an in the end the pressure told and L/B went over for another try. Final score was 12-27 and a relieved team came off the field. Thanks to the team, the replacements, who all came on and played, and Tolley who captained the team in the absence of the injured Ale. Also thanks to our nominated player of the game - Coral.

Team: Beth, Fran, Lydia, Sophie, Jade, Bean, Alyssa, Kim, Coral, Siobhan, Leanne, Sophie, Eliza, Sarah and Tolley. Replacements: Ghostie, Sophie, Jordan.

Thanks to Lichfield/Burton for the match and the hospitality and we look forward to the return fixture.

Steve

Arrangements for this weekend

Kick-off times for this weekend in the attached received from Lichfield. Final arrangements to be made Wednesday.

Steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would like to confirm details for this weekends games:

U15 KO - 2:15pm Changing room from 12:30 / 12:45

U18 KO - 1pm Changing rooms from 11:30 / 11:45

Seniors KO- 2:15pm Changing rooms from 12:30 / 12:45

As you will notice the U18 girls are having an earlier kick off, this is so that they will have the opportunity to watch the seniors play.

The U15 girls are kicking off at the same time as the seniors, this is due to access to changing room as the boys have games at home.

County Tournament

Good news for Worcestershire at the county tournament. A cold and breezy day at Old Leamingtonians and the news that Shropshire weren't able to field a team greeted us. We were to play two matches against old foes who we know well. Staffordshire was the first match and we got off to a slow start. The forwards had a rough time for the first half but some good handling got the ball out to Rose to kick off the scoring. A second score for Lydia made life a little more comfortable before Sophie W got her first of the day. With a conversion from Bean we had started well and a 17-0 result took us into the break between matches. Unfortunately we lost both Lizzie and Ale to injuries for the day.

Warwickshire and Staffordshire played the second match and it was a close run thing finishing 12-10. Worcestershire needed to beat Warwickshire to win the tournament. It was a tough start against a well-drilled Warwickshire side and we had to work hard to put Sophie in for her second of the day and her first of this match. After several more minutes some pressure in the Warwickshire 22 got Leanne her score which was converted by Bean. We then spent most of the remaining half pinned in our 22 metre area and some good defence was needed to hold out a strong Warwickshire pack. Half-time and we led 12-0.

It was a cold second half and both sets of players had given their all and tiredness was starting to set in. Sophie bagged her third of the day with a Bean conversion before Warwickshire worked a good move to score. 19-5 and into the final 5 minutes. Some good Worcestershire pressure told in the end and Ghostie went in at the corner to make the final score 24-5.

Worcestershire retain the Mark Edwards shield. Thanks to all the players for taking part and to Old Leams for arranging and running the tournament.

Steve

Lights fiasco

I have solved the lights problem from now on. I know where the keys are and how to turn on the lights (I think).

No issues with Wednesday night training from now on. Sorry for making everyone hang around for an hour and a half in the dark.

If anyone needs lifts on Sunday, meet at 11:15 at the club but let me know who needs them. I need to know whether it's one car or more.

Steve

Team photo kettering game

Worcester 55-0 Kettering

A good match this weekend against a Kettering side we know well. We ran in some good tries in the first half, but the second half was a much tougher call. We scored after about a minute and a half with Jade running in from the wing. Lydia scored very quickly after that with Bean getting the third. The forwards started working harder and Leanne was rewarded with a score from close to the Kettering line. Rose ran around the outside on the wing to bag her try and Jade grabbed another. Weewee finished off the first half scoring with a well-worked forwards try and we went into the break 43-0 up.

Worcester rang the changes in the second half and a number of replacements were made. The back line was reshuffled and Ghostie made her comeback from injury in the second row for Wino. Kettering's heads never dropped and they put real pressure on us in the second half. Some good running rewarded Sophie W with her score and Bean ran around a load of opposition to get her second and our last. With Bean and Alyssa kicking conversions Worcester ran out 55-0 winners.

We lent a number of players to Kettering to cover for injuries so thanks to Sophie, Kim, Coral and Lydia for their efforts there.

Team: Tolley, Kim, Shove, Leanne, Wino, Eliza, Pikey, Weewee, Ale, Bean, Jade, Alyssa, Sophie W, Rose and Lydia. Replacements (who all played): Fran, Jordan, Sophie F, Ghostie and Coral.

Steve

Location of this Sunday's match

We will be playing on the Cummings Farm pitches. I would suggest you keep your trainers on to cross the car park and put your boots on over the canal.

Other big news - it seems that Mike Ruddock came over to the training pitch on Wednesday. Let's hope we were looking good....

Steve

County tournament - 2 December

The county tournament will be help at Old Leamingtonians (the Comets home ground) on 2 December. We are asked to turn up at 12:15pm at the earliest. We can get into the changing rooms at 12:30. We will play against Staffordshire and Warwickshire for definite and possibly a Shropshire side as well. This will be confirmed later.

Old Leams gets very, very crowded so please do not turn up any earlier than 12:15pm. You won't be able to get into the car park!

Steve

Match - 24 November 2007

We are confirmed as playing Kettering at home on Sunday. It will be a 1:00pm kick off, so everyone needs to be at the club for 12:00pm prompt please.

Steve

COUNTY MATCHs 18TH NOVEMBER

Now confirmed as a 1 .30 start at lichfield so please be there by 12.45. It looks like there will be food available to purchase if needed but none provided after the training games. Please confirm on wednesday if you need a lift or not.

Keith

County Match 18th November

The next county on the 18th of november will now be a triangular match at Lichfield RFC. Times to be confirmed but it will most likely be a 1.30 start. Will confirm as soon as i know the official start time.

Keith

Training this weekend

I have not been able to get a match this weekend. Therefore training will be from 10:00am until 12:00am as per usual.

Steve

County training 4 November

County training will be held at Worcester this coming weekend. Morning training session, so turn up as per normal.

Looking for as many pack members for the lineout clinic this Wednesday. Be there for 7pm as it's a different training session from normal. Happy to see some backs down if they would like to learn what the lineout is all about.

Steve

Weds October 31st

The club is running a lineout clinic in the shed hosted by Lee Fortey of the Warriors. The more senior lads sides are going along and we are looking to take the U18s pack down there. More news on Wednesday.

Steve

Sunday's match

I'm pleased to announce that we are hosting North Hykeham at home at Sixways. Good news for Bean etc. Time of KO to be confirmed, but early afternoon most likely.

More news when I get it.

Steve

County training

Next county training session will be held at Camp Hill RFC on 21st October. You can find directions to Camp Hill at http://www.chrfc.co.uk/.

Please be there for 12:45pm.

Steve

Next County training session

The next county training session will be held at Malvern on Sunday 30 September. Please arrive ready changed at 12:45pm.

As always, our thanks to Malvern RFC and Stourbridge RFC for hosting us.

County Training Sunday

This sunday is the first Worcestershire county training day. This is being held at Stourbridge RFC. Please be there 12.30 for a 1 oclock Start. We expect to finish around 3.30 to 4.00.

Sunday training

Training this sunday is 10 till 12 on the cummins farm pitches. Parking could be a problem on sunday due to building work so come early if possible.

Training dates

Training will start at Worcester on Wednesday 22 August. Over the Cummings Field pitches. Not sure what the state of car parking will be like. I would suggest you park in the club car park and walk across.

Until that time Wednesday torture, sorry training with Pete will continue. The U19s and prospective HPA and TDg players would benefit in coming down.....

Steve

Current state of the fixtures. I will update it as and when I can. CTM stands for Club/Training Match and means I haven't filled it yet.

Steve

02/09/2007		Club Training
09/09/2007		Club training/County dev
16/09/2007		Club Training
23/09/2007		Comets (A)
30/09/2007		County trials/Training
07/10/2007		Regional 10s
14/10/2007		CTM
21/10/2007		County
28/10/2007		Regional 10s
04/11/2007		County
11/11/2007		Welwyn (H)
18/11/2007		County
25/11/2007		Kettering (H)
02/12/2007		County
09/12/2007		Lichfield Burton (A)
16/12/2009		Comets (H)
Christmas break
06/01/2008		Wimbourne (A)
13/01/2008		CTM
Sat 19 /1/08		CTM??
20/01/2008		Regional Trials
27/01/2008		Westcliffe (A)
03/02/2008		Regional Training
Sat 9/2/08		Regional Training
10/02/2008		Regional Match
17/02/2008		Welwyn (A)
24/02/2008		National Cup Rd 1/CTM
02/03/2008		Lichfield Burton (H)
09/03/2008		Regional Training
16/03/2008		Regional Match
23/03/2008		EASTER
30/03/2008		National Cup Rd 2/CTM
06/04/2008		Kettering (A)
13/04/2008		National Cup Finals/CTM
Sat 19/4/08		CTM??
20/04/2008		Regional Training
27/04/2008		Regional Training
04/05/2008		CTM
11/05/2008		Regional Festival
18/05/2008		CTM
25/05/2008		National 7s

Off-season training

Remember that Pete is offering SAQ and fitness training at Malvern on Wednesday nights. We had 9 or so players down and it was hard work. I am pleased to say that Allan, Keith and myself all joined in and there was some real effort going in.

Personally, I learned that I can't do the Ickey Shuffle and we will have to see what weeks of practice will deliver at the end of the season. Unfortunately I'm away working next week so you will have to wait for the coaches entertainment value.

Thanks to Pete and Mark for running the sessions. For those who weren't there, I suggest you make it down if you can. You will feel the benefit of it at the start of the next season!

Awards (and Gaelic Football)

Thanks to all the players who made it for the last training session. Gaelic football was fun (does anyone know the final score?) although at the end some of the numbers seemed a bit skewed. Not helped by Bean only running on to play occasionally (when her can was empty I guess).

Awards

Players player of the year - Bean
Most improved - Coral
Back of the year - Beth
Forward of the year - Eliza
Coaches player of the year - Pikey

The Mark Edwards Memorial Award was presented to Ale.

Our thanks to all the players who have contributed through the year. On behalf of the rest of the coaches I'd like to thank you all for the gifts. It's nice to know that you do appreciate what we do and for that to be reflected in the presents was a nice touch. Thanks.

As announced by Pete, next years coaches will be: Forwards - Pete (Boss forward coach) and Steve (junior assistant deputy trainee forwards coach). Backs - Rich and Keith.

In the meantime, fitness will be taken by Pete at Malvern on Wednesdays. Starting next week, kicking off at 7pm.

We will let you know when we start pre-season as we just need to confirm the new pitches are ready.

Cheers
Steve

Final training and awards evening

Remember, this Wednesday is the final training night of the 06/07 season. We'd like everyone to turn up if you can. Not heavy training but Beth has promised to bring along her Gaelic football (and know the rules) and if we could have as many hurling sticks and balls as possible, I'm sure we can have a go at that as well.

It's awards evening too. A series of awards are up for grabs (players player of the year, coaches player of the year etc.) and it would be nice to have a good turnout.

Steve

Final statistics for the season

Results are:

Played - 39
Won - 37

Drew - 0
Lost - 2

Points for - 1155
Points against - 145

Total number of players scored - 25
Top points scorer - Bean

Steve

Pics from the day

National 7s - great result

A good day for us. A very well done to the whole squad. Everybody played their part. Results were:- Worcester vs. Reading (24-17); Worcester vs. Letchworth (27-0); Worcester vs. Dorking (35-5 (although we thought it was 38-5)). Then into the knockout stages.

A good match against an excellent Westcliff side, who we'll hope to meet up with next season. A 31-14 win, but they made us work hard for it. Into the semi final against Paviours. Some strong defence against a skillful side gave us a 19-7 win. The final was against Mowden Park, who we have never played against before. We finally ran out 19-5 winners, but the scoreline makes it look easier than it actually was. We were pinned downhill in our own 22 for some time in the last 10 minutes and only some great defensive kicking from Bean and Beth got us out of trouble.

Squad: Ale, Alyssa, Bean, Beth, Coral, Kim, Nic, Pike, Shove, Sophie, Rhi and Rose.

Steve

Last training session of the season

The final training session will be held at the club, on Cummings Farm. It's not in half-term week, but the week after. It will be on 6 June, at 7:00pm as usual.

Also you might like to remember that Pete is running fitness sessions on Wednesday nights at Malvern. Ask him for details on 6 June.

Steve

Missing players

I invited as many players as I had email addresses for. If you found out that I've missed anyone, can you get them to email me please, and I'll invite them to join the blog?

Ta
Steve

So, what do you think?

How does this work for you? We can use it to exchange information from the coaches, swap photos or whatever. Question is, is it useful?

Letchworth use exactly this and Rosie's Dad, Ralph, mentioned it. It works well for Letchworth (in fact they have won an award for it), so credit to them.

Let me know what you think, and if I have forgotten to invite someone to join, which I'm sure I have, let me know and I can add them in.

Steve (the boss)

Relaxing in the sun

There were some breaks, so relaxation was the name of the game

Herts 7s

A great result for us. Nice sunny day, a hard match against Welwyn and a good result against Kettering.