MINI MATTERS Week 15

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1 MINI MATTERS Week 15 Sunday 11 th December 2016 Hello Datchworth Mini Section Coaches, Managers, Players, Parents and Supporters, Well it is nearly Christmas! We had our final fixture of 2016 away at St Albans this weekend; we had a good turn out across the Mini Section; in every age group we had many more players than our hosts who are still very much in the building phase of their Mini Section. The Senior Section also played St Albans this weekend and like the Mini s enjoyed a good result! Enjoy the stories of this weekend s Rugby and look forward to the fun-packed Christmas weekend at the Club next Saturday and Sunday... U6 s & U7s Datchworth Vs St Albans On arrival at a sunny and mild St. Albans RFC, the U7s expected to play a fixture against St. Albans U7 players. Unfortunately this wasn't the case. Our hosts had prepared a joint training session with a few mini games planned for the end. Nine of our U6 players also made the journey to St. Albans so joined in with U7s players who were divided into three groups to complete various fun training exercises which included superhero slalom and noughts and crosses. The children were then split into four mixed teams and rotated playing short matches against three St Albans teams. It was great match experience for our U6s and I hope they enjoyed themselves! The squads then came back together to end the session on the popular game of seaweed bull dog. Well done to Stanley for being the last man standing! A massive well done and thank you to all our U6 and U7 coaches; they unexpectedly ran the session when St. Albans didn't have an U6/U7 Head Coach or Assistant Coach available and they did a fabulous job!

2 U8 s Datchworth Vs St Albans A mild Sunday morning found our U8's away to St Albans. History tells us that although we are always met with a warm and hospitable welcome, unlike Datchworth, St Albans struggle to field the numbers. We fielded 3 teams - blues, reds and greens, with St Albans fielding 1 team. We had a quick warm up and straight into rotating matches. We all agreed that once the players had warmed up they were communicating, supporting, passing and off loading quickly, great to see players looking for team mates, recognising they were in open space and making use of it. So many players deserve a mention this week, too many to review now but well done to Oliver Wooldridge for showing great skill in support, charging through open space and quick hands. A massive well done to Luke Bedford for a well deserved player of the week, a solid player week on week but Luke really stepped up a level this week, always looking for open space, solid in defence, well done Luke. I would ask parents please ensure they purchase rugby gloves, using football or goal and wool gloves won't be at all effective U9s Datchworth Vs St Albans We travelled to St Albans on a bright morning & started by getting warmed up with some handling drills in small groups. We then split into two groups rotating to play two games vs the St Albans team while the others played a training game. Our focus on developing our passing game has finally paid dividends with some fantastic skills on display today with the ball being moved to create space for others. As a result we scored some great teamtry's and won both games vs St Albans by decent margins. Well done to Jake F for winning the man of the match with a fine display in both attack and defence. U10 s Datchworth Vs St Albans The under 10's found their form this week with the away fixture to St Albans. As the home team only had eight players we were in the unusual situation of having many more players. We first split into two team, and played their team each once with some supporting and training off the side. The first game was a close affair, with St Albans showing some good passing skills and our attack getting close with Sophia eventually scoring. At half time is was 1-2 and then we managed to draw level but let St

3 Albans run in a couple of late tries so they won 3-5, despite tries from George and Harry. However given our first side had relatively small players it was a good result and a definite improvement from last week. The second game turned out to be more one-sided with a balance of our bigger players in it overwhelming St Albans in the ruck, which was great to see discipline and speed again in this area, plus some excellent passing. We saw tries run in across the team including Alby, Charlie, Matthew, Tom R, Tom P and Troy - but more importantly great teamwork - and it ended Given we had a proper size pitch available we finally played a 10-a-side game with some Baa-Baas help from Troy, Theo and Tom P on the St Albans side (thank you). This was a lot of fun and gave everyone a chance to get stuck in. This ended 6-3 to us after some excellent team play all round and in particular from Alby, Harry and Oliver who all got stuck in. Of note was a particularly fine run from Theo Wood dodging his way down the middle to score an excellent try... for St Albans. Well done to everyone today - the level of tackling, rucking and support play was much improved. Congratulations to Theo Wood and Tom Parman for getting players of the week, and thank you to St Albans for a really friendly fixture. U11 s Datchworth Vs St Albans The U11s were invited to join an extended skills and games warm-up with St Albans on Sunday overseen by a Saracens Coach; Simon was our measured representative in this endeavour! When we did get down to playing Rugby the Datchworth squad played very well with all players contributing against a relatively weak St Albans side. It was pleasing to see everyone making tackles and everyone passing the ball comfortably on both sides. I was also heartened to hear growing gametime communication between the players.

4 The Datchworth defence was very solid in both games and we won both games very convincingly. There were lots of tries to enjoy this week but a powerful run by Fabian and determined drive by Harry both were worthy of recognition. Away from the Try line; Alex Donovan was secure under the high ball two or three times; Nelson was very powerful taking the ball forward, Alick had another good game and both William and Thomas Howard distributed well today. Kyle should also be complimented for his on-pitch focus and discipline calling his team-mates to order and to concentrate on a couple of occasions during the game. Oli G scored a couple of tries with his trade-mark maisy running ; Tom Moore continues his development at Hooker and all in all a good squad wide performance. But at the end of the day it was the try scoring drive and determination of Fabian and the desire of Harry that was recognised this week as our Players of the Week....Thanks to Warren for his photo s this week much appreciated! U12 s Datchworth Vs St Albans (by Icarus!) I ll will make this brief, as I am off to the Stevenage Pantomime this evening Oh yes I am!!...( What role are you playing Icarus... editors note.. )?!! 14 boys turned up for our last game before Christmas, and we started with a training session!! St Albans had arranged for a coach from Saracens Academy to come down and run a short training session before match play. However, as St Albans were combining their U-11s and U12s into one training group, with the extra numbers from Datchworth, there would have been 40 plus boys to one coach, so the U-12s choose to train among themselves and play two games of 8 per side (3 forwards and 5 backs) after the Saracens session For the first game Datchworth choose to field our strongest available 8, with the promise that the others would play the second game. Not unexpectedly, the first game was a tad of a walkover for Datchworth, but lessons could still be learnt. We have talked about moving the ball all season, and because we knew that the opposition were slightly weaker, too many boys tried to run through St Albans rather than let the ball do the work and pass to open players. None the less, passing, communication and tackling all improved. The result was a 1 10 win to Datchworth. The Second team then put in a vastly improved performance. Special mention here to Alfie, who last Wednesday and today has made huge improvements in his tackling. He really made an effort to put his body on the line and slow opposition players down. With help from supporting players, opposition runs were then stopped. Mention in dispatches also to Big Jack and Tyler who both got just deserts for running good supporting lines. Overall the tackling was much improved, and passing and support play a lot better than has been the case. To their credit, St Albans fought back really well in the second half, their 4th quarter, and made Datchworth work really hard to maintain their superiority. The result was a 2 8 win to Datchworth.

5 Training and fun next week and the bar will be open for the coaches to spend the whip you all kindly gave us two weeks ago, I appreciate that there may be some family commitments, but it would be nice to have a few drinks and a social gathering with all the squad next weekend, so if you are able to find the time, please do stay for a bit after the training next week. Senior Rugby Last Weekend the First XV also played St Albans and won well done to all! Next weekend the First XV has their final game of 2016 away at Cheshunt good luck... Mini Mid-Week Training: Mini Mid Week Training is now suspended for the Winter Break until Wednesday 4 th January there is no Mid Week sessions for the U9s, 10s, 11s or 12s on Wed 14 th, Wed 21 ST and Wed 28 TH Dec. Mini Section Mid Week Training will resume on WEDNESDAY 4 TH JANUARY. Next Weekend s Mini Arrangements: Next weekend the Mini Section are all Training at home at Datchworth. Training will start from 10 with local arrangements and Xmas activities taking place; the U6, U7 and U8s will all have a chance to visit Santa... U9s, U10s, U11s and U12s to have Christmas Lucky Dip... Sunday 18 th December Training Space Allocation: DATCHWORTH RFC Mini Section - 18 th December Youth Training Not Used Not Used Car Parking next weekend: The U10s are on Car Parking Duty next Sunday; Paul Ward will be coordinating; please volunteer to help with the team if at all possible.

6 Other Club News & Information Christmas Jumper Party and Coaches Game Saturday from 12:30 onwards: The arrangements for Saturday s Game and Christmas Jumper 2016 party are as below: 12:30 Meet at Club house 1:00 - Mini Section mixed age group touch all players welcome hot dogs for kids 2:00 Club Legend's Game (Kick off at 2PM) Dan Shurety Club Coaches & Ringers Woody Club Legends & Chancers 4:00 hot food for players 5:00 Game Presentations 6:00 The 2016 Christmas Jumper Club Photo ; 6:30 till late (ish) Xmas drinks... Final Call Minis section Tour To Norfolk, April 2016 Our annual Tour to North Norfolk takes place on the 7 9 th April All age Groups now have a team, (if everyone who has indicated a desire to come... comes)...but we do need follow up confirmations; deposits and forms from quite a number of people who have indicated intent to come but not yet followed up. We need to complete our Festival Entry and accommodation booking by Thursday 22 nd December so if you would like to come along and have not yet confirmed or if you have said yes but not yet provided the forms / confirmation or a deposit pleased can I trouble you to do this in the next couple of weeks. Thanks all. You will also be pleased to hear the Clerk of the Tour Court is now ready to receive cases that require to be heard by Chief Justice Wood on the evening of Saturday 8 th April Please outline any cases to me as appropriate. We already have two cases on file; I think you know who you are. Forthcoming Fixtures & Events Week Date Datchworth RFC Mini Section 2016/17 Season Parking Duty Dec 18-Dec Christmas Jumper Party and Coaches Game from 12:30 Training at Datchworth & Santa Visits Datchworth N/A U10s

7 17 25-Dec XMAS & NEW YEAR BREAK NO RUGBY XMAS DAY Jan XMAS & NEW YEAR BREAK NO RUGBY NEW YEARS DAY Jan Confirmed - Away Fixture V Old Grammarians N/A Jan 3 Way Fixture Home & Away (Hertford RFC, Saracens RFC & Datchworth) U6, U10 & U12 at Datchworth Home Fixture U7, U8, U9, & U11 at Hertford Away Fixture TBC Jan Home Fixture V (Barnet RFC) TBC Closing Notes This weekend was the first away fixture for our U6s who I believe enjoyed the opportunity to visit another Club and get a feel for taking the squad to play in a different environment. The good numbers we are currently enjoying at Datchworth was plain to see in all of the Mini Section age groups with Datchworth having two or three sides to our hosts one... we must not take that for granted! Next Saturday we have the Coaches and Legends game before the Christmas jumper party and then next Sunday we will have our final opportunity for some pre-christmas training, a chance for some fun for all of the children, visits to Santa might be on the cards for the U6 to U8s... and a lucky dip for the older players, U9 to U12s! All Coaches, Managers, Volunteers, Parents and Supporters please stay for a Christmas drink on Sunday after training to get into the Christmas Spirit... See you all next weekends, Andrew Andrew Howard Chairman Mini Section

8 Team Photograph Order Form The 2016/17 Season Official Squad Photographs of your team are now available to order. They are provided as high quality card mounted prints (8 x 12 ). If you would like to order your teams photograph please complete this form and return to your Age Group manager or to Nicola Howard with Payment, by Sunday 06 th November. 1 x print = 10 2 x prints = 18 3 x prints = 25 Player(s) Full Name Age Group Squad Picture Number required Total(s) Total payable Contact details Parent/carers Name Contact Phone number address Payment Thank you Please provide payment with this order form cash or cheque made payable to; Datchworth RFC