MINI MATTERS Week 21 Sunday 22 nd January 2017 Hello Datchworth Mini Section Coaches, Managers, Players, Parents and Supporters, Despite the best of intentions the weather got the better of the main Mini Section plans this weekend. With frozen pitches more or less guaranteed by Saturday lunchtime we switched our fixture with Barnet to the G3 at Herts University... with the overnight temp down to -6 even the G3 had an icy veneer that made it unsafe to use. Sadly Herts University didn t make the call and inform us until after 8 this morning so apologies to all of those who had a wasted journey and an early start... not ideal on a cold Sunday... Nonetheless there are a few, (short), stories of last weekend s Datchworth Mini Rugby section is told below; U9s Despite the cold weather the U9s were out in force at Herts University car park early this weekend. Player Manager of the week went to Manager Marie Fawcitt for considerable effort and endurance on a cold day! The U10s (dealing with a cold day)... The U10s put in a great performance today despite the cold weather, managing to out number all the other Minis age groups on a frosty morning which warmed up nicely by about dusk. Our first game was against Barnet on the 3G at the sports village. This got ruled out as too slippy and
Extra Cold. Thanks to a few tactical suggestions from the coaches, we were really motivated for the second game which was a return leg at Datchworth. This was a much tighter affair, with the back line hungry for quick pours before noon. Once the pack showed up then the serious effort commenced and we soon worked up a fine head of Guinness, taking route one every time to the bar. There was no stopping the mighty U10 coaches. The oppo's just couldn't seem to land one on Mr Ward today, with some breathtaking side stepping a pint which resulted in several bitter shandy moments, and he had to be substituted when the first half ended with a drive. No speed bumps were involved. I don't know what the referee was thinking but this game never seemed to end and I gave up counting at 5-5-5-5-5. After Mr Wood and Mr Howard bailed out, bad light didn't seem to stop play and the bar props Mr Sullivan, (Coach of the Year), and Mr Rutter were last seen before dinner warming up for a flood lit training session presumably. Now that's commitment!!! Congratulations to Mr Wood for getting Player of the Week (photo above) for some impressive endurance throughout the day, and never letting an opportunity past him to tackle the bar. Our other player of the week goes to Mr Solomon, who showed some evasion skills so good nobody managed to see him once. Mixed Age-Group Training With no chance of playing rugby, some of the U7s, U10s, U11s and U12s all found themselves with time for a hot chocolate to discuss mid-season lessons learned and tactics for next weekend s crunch encounter with Letchworth! Youth Rugby (timings subject to change) Sunday 29th January U13 Away Pool game at Tring U14 - Home Fullerians friendly - Pitch 2 KO 12 Noon (TBC)
U15 Training - Pitch behind the village hall TBC U16 - Home Cup vs Cheshunt Pitch 1 - KO 12 Noon Confirmed U18 - Away Cup vs Welwyn Senior Rugby There was no First XV game this weekend; next weekend the First XV are playing Old Merchant Taylors at Datchworth...Good Luck to the team. Mini Mid-Week Training: U9s & U10s 7 till 8 at Datch U11s & U12s 7:30 till 8:30 at Datch (possibly combined this week) U13 - Weds 6.30 to 7.30 pm U14 - Weds 6.30 to 7.30 pm U15 - Thurs 7.00 to 8.30pm U16 - Thurs 7.30 to 8.30 pm U18 - Training with the seniors Next Weekend s Mini Arrangements:- IMPORTANT RE TIMING NEXT WEEKEND: Next weekend the Mini Section is all at home at Datchworth playing Letchworth; we will ask for a 9AM meet for a prompt 9:30 Kick-Off in all age groups (sessions must be finished by 11) Youth Fixture kicking off at 12 noon and need minimum of full 45 mins warm-up time. The weather forecast for Sunday is currently ok, (most likely wet); if we do have to cancel due to frozen pitches the decision will be made at 8AM and communicated by the age group head coaches and managers as early as possible on Sunday morning. Youth Training DATCHWORTH RFC Mini Section 29 th January V Letchworth U8 U7
Next Weekend Car Parking Duty U7s The car park duty will be undertaken by the U7s next week; it will be a very busy morning with an all age group home Mini Fixture with Letchworth, (along with two youth teams playing at lunchtime at home); please car share where ever possible and help out with parking duty if you are available. Other Club News & Event Information Mini Section Inter Age Group Quiz Night NEXT - Friday 27 th January We have the Club and inter-age group quiz this coming Friday 27 th January; the quiz will take place in the Club House from 7:30 onwards. We are suggesting teams of 8 to 10; each team will receive a light ploughman s platter and nibbles at the half-way point in the quiz. There will be prizes for the winners and runners up. Last year the current U10s, (pictured), were the quiz winners so let s see which age group wins this year! The cost of participation in the quiz is 5 per person; we would like to see a team from each age group. Please let me know if you would like to enter a team and come along... Mini & Youth Annual Dinner & Dance Friday 3 rd March This Seasons Black Tie Dinner & Dance is 55 per head for a reception drink and three course meal at Brocket Hall, with live music provided by the excellent Cortina. The event takes place on Friday 3 rd March and will include our annual fund-raising auction. We will be working to make sure every age group, U6 to U18 is represented. Tickets are now available and will allocated on a first come first served basis. These tickets will sell out very quickly so please email Nicola if you would like to come along mrsnicolahoward@outlook.com We are still looking for Auction items if anyone is able to provide anything suitable for the fundraising Auction. Minis section Tour To Norfolk, April 2017 The 2017 Mini Section Tour is now booked for the 7 9 th April 2017 @ Hill-Top; outward bound activities on Saturday; the Tour Court on Saturday night and the Kingswood Holt RFC Festival on Sunday; further details and final payment arrangements to be communicated very shortly.... We are still looking for sponsors for the Tour Tops / Shirt if anyone is interested!
Forthcoming Fixtures & Events Week Date Fixture Parking All Age Groups - Home Fixture V Letchworth 22 29-Jan U7s to U12s EARLY KICK OFFS U7 23 05-Feb Training at Datchworth (All) U13 24 12-Feb U6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Training at Datchworth U8 only - trial fixture Away with Bishops Stortford U15 25 19-Feb Home Fixture V Enfield Ignations all Mini Section U12 26 26-Feb Home Fixture V Welwyn all Mini Section CHARLES MORRIS CUP WEEKEND TBC Closing Notes It was disappointing to lose this weekend s fixture to bad weather; hopefully this will be a one-off and we can get back on track next weekend with our slightly earlier than usual home fixture with Letchworth. Apologies to everyone who was inconvenienced this weekend... but as you will have felt it was unusually cold! Sincere thanks to those who contributed to this week s newsletter and a special mention to the U10 coaches who worked very hard to sustain the bar takings despite the fixture cancellation! I am looking forward to hopefully seeing a good few of you at the Club on Friday for the quiz night and weather permitting for a slightly earlier than usual fixture with Letchworth on Sunday. I would also add that it would be nice if some of the Mini parents and players stayed on to lend some support to our U14s and U16s who are playing after the Mini Fixture. Have a great week, Best wishes, Andrew Andrew Howard Chairman Mini Section