Away to Westcliffe

We are off to Westcliffe on Sunday 27 January. Westcliffe is near Southend-on-Sea so is a long, long journey. Due to this we will be taking a coach. As before the cost will be an estimated maximum of £15. If it's more I'll let you know. More importantly we need to fill up the coach to minimise the costs.

We will be playing Westcliffe and Letchworth and looking for a 1:00pm kick off. They have similar problems in terms of changing rooms as us, so turning up in as much match kit as possible will be an advantage.

Steve

Wednesday training indoors

Due to the conditions of the pitches training will be held indoors tonight. Go to the shed for a 7:30pm start.

Do not go over to Westons land.

Steve

Leos U18s vs. Worcester U18s

After a good win against Lichfield/Burton we headed up north to play last seasons cup winners. We played a later kick-off at Castleford RUFC as there had been a girl's development day looking to attract more U15 players to the sport, which we were pleased to support.

The players were all fired up as Leos had knocked us out of the cup last year at the semi-final stage and as we arrived at Castleford they had the cup standing in a prominent position on a table. We had gone up with only 16 players and an injured scrum-half so we were playing a number of players out of position in order to make up a team.

We started off against a team including 5 Talent Development Group and two current England U20 internationals so it was never going to be easy. There was a big pack and a back division that came up very quickly to shut down space. Within the first 10 minutes Twink held up the Leos full-bck over the line and we were under pressure for much of the next 10 minutes. The defence was up to the task and after some aggressive mauling from Leos (which we struggled to contain) we went into the break at 0-0.

After half-time things didn't get any easier but a couple of changes of tactics made the game much more even-handed. We had more time inside the Leos 22, but neither side could make the final break and the match ended at 0-0. The players afterwards agreed that it was the toughest match probably since the cup round last year and the coaches agreed that it was probably the best performance this side has ever put up.

Player of the match went to Twink for saving the try and also for running from her own in-goal area with 4 Leos players between her and her support (and still getting over the half-way line). Put a few hearts in mouths....

Team: Tolley (captain), Trig, Shove, Ghostie, Wino, Lize, Pikey, Spidee, Kimbo, Fidler, Bean, Bob, Jadey-wadey, Nips and Twink. Replacements: Ale and Weewee.

Coach confirmed

Remember we're on the coach tomorrow. Please be at the club for a 9.00am start. There is enough room for parents to come along as well, so the more the merrier. We have 19 players I believe, plus Keith and I so space for a number of other passengers.

Steve

Next few fixtures

These are our next set of fixtures. All due to be done unless I hear otherwise.

13/01/2008		Leos (A)
20/01/2008		Regional Trials
27/01/2008		Westcliffe (A)
03/02/2008		Regional Training
03/02/2008		Stourbridge(H)
10/02/2008		Regional Match
17/02/2008		Welwyn (A)
24/02/2008		National Cup Rd 1
02/03/2008		Lichfield Burton (H)
09/03/2008		Regional Training
16/03/2008		Regional Match
23/03/2008		EASTER
w/c 25/3/08		Tour
30/03/2008		National Cup Rd 2
06/04/2008		Kettering (A)
13/04/2008		National Cup Finals

Steve

Travel to Leos by coach

I have booked a 35 seater coach to take us to Leos on Sunday. It's a long way away so it is an early start I'm afraid. The coach is getting to the club (nearest car park to the main entrance) for 9:00am.

We are due to kick off at 1:45pm so are looking to arrive at 1:00pm to warm up. We can stop on the way (must for 30 minutes for the driver). We will leave at 4:30pm-ish and will get back around 8:00pm. The cost of the coach is £15 per head maximum. If we fill up a 35 seater then the cost will reduce.

There will be no cars going up there and I have paid personally for the coach, so remember to bring your fare along.............

The match is to be played at Castleford RUFC and their web site gives details of the development day that we are part of, so we need to put up a good performance to show the quality of women's U18 rugby.

Steve

Training after Xmas

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to you all. Welcome back to the season.

Training starts again tonight Wednesday 2 January (normal times) and this Sunday's match not being on, continues on Sunday over on Cummings Farm.

Steve

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
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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