Datchworth Rugby Football Club

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Datchworth Rugby Football Club

Mini Awards Day - End of 2015/16 Season

HelloDatchworthMiniSectionCoaches,Managers,Players,ParentsandSupporters,34weekspassedduringthecourseofthelastrugbyseason.The2015/16seasonstartedbackinSeptember,itwasaseasonthatsawtheRugbyWorldCupcomeandgo,the6NationscameandwentandourClubhasnotchedupaverysuccessfulSeasonculminatingintheFirstXVwinoverStevenageatAllianzParklastSaturday.GrahamSmithwasinthecrowdandhadcapturedabrilliantsetofphotographsfromtheevent–seelink:http://www.samabarphotography.co.uk/datchworth-v-stevenage-allianz-park

OnthebackofthefantasticFirstXVvictoryoverStevenageitwasagreatpleasurethatalloftheMiniSectionawardwinnerswerepresentedtheirawardsfromthenewlyappointedFirstTeamCaptainNickGudgin....thanksNick.

MiniAwardPresentations

U12Presentation

ThisyearasweseeanotherU12squadmoveontoYouthRugbyIwouldliketoacknowledgeandthankthemfortheircollectivetimeandcommitmentoverthelast7

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yearsthattheyhavesupportedourclubandtheirchildren,theseU12sareanexcellentsquad,disciplined,welldrilled,competitiveandverynicechildren;theyalsohaveafantasticallyorganisedmanagerwhoiswithoutdoubtourpremiermatchreportwriter....JonathanField/PhilGoff/MattBeechey/AdrianRatesandThomasPainethankyouallonbehalfoftheMiniSectionoftheClub.WelldonetoyouallandgoodluckwiththedifferentchallengesofYouthRugby.

U12AwardWinners2015-16Season

U12 PlayeroftheYear Joshua Staddon PlayersPlayer Sam Whitby MostImprovedPlayer Joshua Moffatt Clubman Will Goff

U11Presentation

TheU11shaveenjoyedanothergoodseasononthepitch,astheylooktowardstheirfinalyearofMiniRugbyHeadCoachGrahamSmithismovingontopasturesnew.IwouldliketosincerelythankGrahamforallthathehasdoneonbehalfoftheClub.ItwasalsowithsomesadnessthatwesaygoodbyetoBarneySmithwhoismovingwithhisfamilytoNorfolkandRubyChesterman-SmithwhoismovingtoWelwyntotakeherRugbycareerforward.

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U11AwardWinners2015-16Season

U11 PlayeroftheYear CarterFelton PlayersPlayer SidneyThompson MostImprovedPlayer TylerWannerton Clubman ConnorSullivan

U10Presentation

TheU10shadagoodseasononthefield;withbyourstandardsverystrongplayernumbers...31atthepeak!TheU10spositionalplay,communicationskillsandunderstandingofthebreak-downallimprovedoverthecourseoftheseasonalthoughwedidnotperformaswellintheCountyFestivalorHoltToureventaswehaveinrecentyears.Thegrowingdepthofthissquadissomethingtobeproudofandanumberoftheplayershavecomeonenormously;nonemoresothanourMostImprovedPlayer,ThomasMoorewhohasgrownintoatough,competentandcommittedyoungrugbyplayer.Thisseasonourplayeroftheyearwenttoa2015/16seasonrecruit;KobieRichmondmadeabigimpactontheU10squadfromhisfirstsession.Kobieconsistentlydemonstratedtheskillsandresilienceofamoreexperiencedrugbyplayer.ThePlayersPlayerchoicewenttoAlickBrosterthisseason;AlickhasbeenaconstantwiththesquadsinceU7daysandremainsaveryreliable,hardworkingandverypopularplayer.TheCoachesweredelightedwiththechoiceofAlickfromthesquad.LastlytheClubmanawardforall-roundcontributiontothesquadandtheclub,(ethosandevents),wentto

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MorganMacgillivraywhohasmaturedintoagoodplayer,promisingscrum-halfandayoungplayerwhohasahugelypositiveimpactandinfluenceontheplayersaroundhim,neverlettingothersheadsdropevenwhenthingsaregoingwrongonthefield.OtherplayerswhodeserveamentionattheendofthisseasonareElliotCliffordwhoagainwasattheheartofmuchofourtry-scoringshowinggreatpaceandgoodhandsweekinweekout.JamesBedfordalsohadastrongfirstseasonwiththeClubandscoredregularlythroughtheSeason.Overallwecontinuetohavegreatpromiseinthissquadandwithhardworkandeffortnextseasonweallhopewecanbuildthissquadintoastrongrugbyside.

U10AwardWinners2015-16Season

U10 PlayeroftheYear KobieRichmond PlayersPlayer AlickBroster MostImprovedPlayer ThomasMoore Clubman MorganMacGillivray

U9Presentation

TheU9shavehadagreatseasonandinadditiontotheirachievementsonthefieldhavebecomeastrongcloseknitcommunityandwontheClubQuiznightbackinFebruary.Pro-activerecruitmentatKnebworthSchoolatthestartoftheSeasonhasseenthesquadgrowandasateamtheyhavecomeonenormouslythisyear.

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U9AwardWinners2015-16Season

U9 PlayeroftheYear TomRutter

equalvotesPlayersPlayer TheoWoodPlayersPlayer TroySullivan

MostImprovedPlayer SamJolly Clubman MatthewLewis

U8Presentation

TheU8swerefortunatetohavetheopportunitytoplayatTwickenhamthisseasonanexperienceIamsurethechildrenwilltreasureforyearstocome.AstrongsquadthatowesmuchtothededicationofDarrenHalestheyarelookingforwardtothetransitiontocontactrugbyinSeptember.

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U8AwardWinners2015-16Season

U8 PlayeroftheYear ElwoodHales PlayersPlayer JessicaBeechey MostImprovedPlayer TheoTownsend Clubman TrentMiller

U7Presentation

TheU7sarequiteanoutfit.IthasbeenacoupleofyearsnowsinceaDatchworthU7ssidehaslostacompetitivegamewhichisquiteastatement....thisyearagain,agreatsenseofage-groupcommunity,excellentcoachingandcommitmentandasuperbunchofplayershasunderpinnedanotherseasonofU7success.AfteranextendedperiodworkingwithouryoungestagegroupsSteveWismovingonwardstotheU8snextSeasonandwewishyouallthebestofluckwiththenewchallenge....

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U7AwardWinners2015-16Season

U7 PlayeroftheYear SamGore PlayersPlayer MaxWillis MostImprovedPlayer MaxsimLawrence Clubman SamShurety

U6Presentation

ThisSeasonourU6agegrouphasgonefromstrengthtostrength.Everyweek,fun,enjoyablerugbyactivitieshavetakenplaceandwehavedevelopedastrongcorewhowillgo-ontoformthenucleusofourfutureU7sandbeyond...therewerenoindividualawardsfortheU6ssoallofourU6childrenwerepresentedwithaSeasonmedal...welldoneandsincerethankstoallU6Players,CoachesandParents....

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MiniCoachoftheYear2015-16Season

TheMiniCoachoftheYearAwardisaprestigiousawardthatseekstorecogniseaCoachwhohassupportedtheClubvaluesandethos,whohasshownconsiderablecommitmenttoboththeirownage-groupandwiderClubactivities.TheCoachoftheYearhasdevelopedtheirsquadineverysenseonthefieldandhasbecomeanambassadorforourClub.ForallofthesereasonsandmoreIwasdelightedtoannouncethatthe2015-16SeasonCoachoftheYearwasU9HeadCoach-WarrenSullivan

MiniMeritAward–2015/16Season

TheMiniMeritAwardexiststorecognisesignificantcommitmentandsupporttotheClubbeyondthecoachingdirectrugbyactivities.Theawardistheretoacknowledgeandthanksome-onewhohasgonetheextramiletosupportclubeventsandtohelpwithclubarrangementsandactivities.Iwasalsodelightedtoannouncethatthe2015-16seasonsMiniMeritAwardwinnerisPaulWard

Someveryimportantendofseason“Thankyou’s”...

1. IwouldliketoagainthankSarahPhillipsfortakingontheChildWelfarerolefortheMiniSectionandhelpingusprocessandoverseetheDBSchecksthatthecoachingteamsneedtohold.

2. IwouldliketoagainthankWoody,thisSeasonattheXmasparty,theMiniTourandtheDinnerandDance,weenjoyedhugesupportfromWoodywithbotharrangementsandhisband;onbehalfoftheMiniSectionIwouldagainliketothankyouforyoursupport.

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3. IwouldliketothanktheTuckShopGirls,thisseasonwithoutfailNiamhhasrunthetuck-shopsupportedatdifferenttimesbyElizabethandCerys.Throughouttheseasonthetuck-shophasbeenpopularwithourplayersandvisitorsandhashelpedtoraisemoneydirectlyfortheMiniSectionactivities,IwouldliketothankNiamh,ElizabethandCerysforanotherseasonofhardworkandcommitment.

4. OnelastpersonthoughdeservesspecialmentionattheendofthisSeason.IthinkitisveryimportanttoacknowledgethatSteveCorleyhassteppeddownfromrunningourClubkitchen.Stevehascomeeveryweek,nottosupportaplayingchild,notforfinancialbenefitbutsimplytosupportourClub.ThroughouttheSeasonSteveandhisfamilyhavecookedweekinandweekoutandhewillbeveryhardtoreplace.IwaspleasedtobeableonbehalfofMiniandYouthRugbyatDatchworthtopresentStevewithasmalltokenofourappreciation.

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FinalWeekendMatchReports2015-16Season

SaracensChampionsWeekendFinals-Sunday1stMayU9sandU10s@AllianzPark

TheU9s.....TheteamheadeddowntoAllianzParkfortheirlastevergamesasUnder9sintheADVWChampionsEventhavingqualifiedinJanuary.FirstupwasChichester,averylargeoutfit.Ourboyswereupforthechallengeandputinsomesupertacklingtokeeptheirattacksatbay.Howeverwereallystruggledtogetthroughtheirline,repeatedlygettingsmothertackledandturningtheballover.Thestorycontinuedintothesecondhalf,withourattacksalsothwartedbyapressdefenceontheedgeoftheoffsideline.Thegamefinished0-5toChichesterwhowentontobefinalistsandwewerewellbeatenbyabetterbiggerside,butfeltunluckywiththemargin.OursecondgamewasagainstOG's,whowedidwellagainstthisseasoninafriendly.Despitethefirstlosstheboysreallysteppedupandthegamewasveryeven,withtriesgoinginendtoendandourfastattackabletogetroundtheirdefence.Wewere2-1upathalftime.InthesecondhalfItcontinuedinthesamemanner,butwehadacoupleofunfortunateturnoverswhichswingthependulumtheotherwayandwithafinaltryOG'sscrapedit3-4.

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OnelastgamewasagainstHampstead.SomemotivationalteamtalkfromWoodyandWarrenreallyouttheboysbackinawinningframeofmindandwetookthegametoopposition,leading4-2athalftime.DespiteacoupleofwobblydefensivelapseswemanagedtokeepittogetherwithsomegreatrunningfromMylesandTom,winningourlastgame5-4.

TheU10s.....TheU10shadaverytoughdrawthisyearfacinglastSeasonsoverallfestivalwinnersMedway1s,Canterbury1sandouroldfestivalfoeFinchley1s.

Theplayersallgaveanexcellentaccountofthemselvesplayingwithdiscipline,structureandintensityinallthreefixtures.WeachievedourfirstobjectiveofgoinghomehavingscoredamemorableteamtrythatwasaseverfinishedbyElliotClifford!Wedidn’tprogressfromthepoolstagesthisyearbuttheboysallhadagreattime,enjoyedtheexperience,andenjoyedthesunshine,thepizzaandofcoursetheSaracenswin!

ThankstoalloftheU9andU10playersandparentsforagreatdayoutandespeciallyforWoodyforhisrugbytourbussingingmaster-classonthewayhome!

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SummerRugbyActivities&OtherEvents:

Date(s)AgeGroup DatchworthRFCMiniSection

SummerEvents

FridayEveningsMay6thtillJune24th(6:30–7:30)

NewU9s ContactReady‘TacklingTraining’@Datchworth–for

allnewU9s(lastseason’sU8s–6:30–7:30backfield)

FridayEveningsMay6thtillJune24th(6:30–7:30)

NewU10s RuckReady‘Ruck&MaulTraining’@Datchworth–for

allnewU10s(lastseason’sU9s–6:30–7:30backfield)

SummerTouchTournament[June]

Mini

Parents

ThisSummertheClubwillagainberunningaTouchTournamentonaweekdayeveninginJune(datesTBC)

–theMiniMasterwillagainbeplaying

DatchworthVillageFeteDay

Sat11thJune2till5

AllVolunteersrequired

ThisSummertheMiniSectionwillberunningthe‘passtheballgame’attheDatchworthVillageFeteDayanda

demogameofTagwillbeplayedintheArenaFundRaising&PlayerRecruitment

RFURugbyForceWeekend

25th&26thJune

AllVolunteersrequired

ThisSummerthewholeClubwillagainbeworkingtogethertoimproveourfacilitieswitharangeofDIYprojectsovertheweekend–volunteerswanted.

BeninngtonFeteDaySat9thJuly

2till5

AllVolunteersrequired

ThisSummertheMiniSectionwillberunningthe‘passtheballgame’attheBenningtonVillageFeteDayFund

Raising&PlayerRecruitment

• Inrespectofalltheeventsabove–pleasefeelfreetodropmeanemailifyouneedmore

informatonorwanttohelpoutwiththenonrugbyeventsorifyouwanttoplayfortheMiniMasters–thankyouall.(andrewhoward774@gmail.com)

NewSeason...

Week Date DatchworthRFCMiniSection2016/17Season

ParkingDuty

1 Sun4thSept

Training@Datchworth–allageGroupsMeetat10AMatDatchworth..... TBC

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NewSeason-‘VetsGame’–September2016(DATETBCbutlikelytobe17thSept)

JohnMcGintyhaspickedupthechallengeofarranginga‘vets’fixture.Theideaistohave3or-soofthesegamesaseasonwhichareveryfocussedonencouragingplayinginvolvementofolderplayerswhowanttohavearun-outandfewbeersafterwardscontributingtothefabricoftheclub.

Players:Themorethemerrier!Noexperienceisneeded-anyonethatwantstoplayorindeedtryrugbyandalittlesocialafter.

Timings:WearelookingatSeptember17th,ItwillbeaSaturdayafternoon-pleaseputaplaceholderinyourdiaries/kitchencalendarsnow.Wewillconfirmwhenwehavethefixturesfornextyear.

Opposition:thiswilldependsonthenumbersbutweareexpectingamixedteamwith3rdsteamplayersandoldboysbeingthecurrentplan.Soweneedaround20oldboysforagame.

Provisionalrules:‘Vets-like’...

• Uncontestedscrums• Gamesshouldbe15-a-side• Rollingsubstitutions• Aggressiveplayisnotencouraged• Nottobetakentooseriously• 40minseachway(ifwemakeit)• Specialstatus(shorts)forsomeolderorinjuredplayerstopreventinjury-it

wouldbesimpletagrulesagainsttheseplayers.Weaimtohavenoseriousinjuries.

ItisnotanofficialVetsgamestoallowunder35stoplaybutthefocuswillbeonplayingratherthanpurecontact.

EndofSeasonSurvey:

LastSeasonweissuedanendofSeasonSurveytotheMiniSectionParentstogetasenseofhowpeoplefeltthingsweregoing.TheClubvaluesfeedbackandwearekeentogetasenseofwhatyouwouldliketoseemoreof,whatyouwouldliketoseelessofand,alongwithanygoodideasthatpeoplemighthave.Thisseasonwehavesetupasimpleon-linesurvey;ifparentscouldspare10minutesor-sotocompletethesurveyitwouldbeverymuchappreciated.Youshouldbeabletoaccessthesurveyviathelinkhere.AnytechnicaldifficultiesorquestionsinrespectofthesurveypleasecontactPaulWardon:paulward@datchworthrfc.club

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TheMiniSectionSurveyisfoundon:http://survey.datchworthrfc.club-Thankyouforyourtime;wewouldappreciateanyinputstobecompletedbyFriday20thMay.

ClosingNotes

LastlyIwouldliketoexpressmysincerethanksfortheverykindwordsfromJasonandtheextremelykindgiftsyouallgavetoNicolaandI;itisverymuchappreciated.ItisanabsoluteprivilegetoleadtheDatchworthMiniSectionandIhopewecanbuildtogetheronthisSeasonagainnextyear.

Thatjustleavesmeontosayasincereandprofoundthankyoutoeveryotherclubvolunteeracrosseveryagegroup;everyPlayer,everyCoach,everyManager,everysponsor,everyonewhohaswashedthekit,stoodoncar-parkingduty,putoutaroad-cone,everyonewhohashelpedwithanevent,supportedthetour,takenaphotograph,supportedthetuck-shop,helpedwiththecooking,orsimplygonetheextramile….YOUAREALLDatchworthRugbyClub.Thankyouall.

Nowasthisseasonhasclosed,weshouldallbeproudofajobwelldone.BeyondthiswecancollectivelylookforwardtothestartofanotherSeasononthe4thSeptemberastherugbycyclerolesforwardagain.Inthemeantimedon’tforgettheFridayeveningsessionsforthenewU9s,‘ContactReady’...forthenewU10s‘Ruck-Ready’andpossiblysomesessionsforthenewU11sandU12sbutdetailswillbeconfirmedinslowertime....

Haveatrulygreatsummerbreak,thanksforyoursupportandseeyouall...hopefullywithsomenewfacesonSunday4thSeptember.

Bestwishes,

Andrew

AndrewHowardChairman–MiniSectionDatchworthRugbyFootball Club

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