Results
>> Gloucestershire Girls End County Programme on a High
Sunday 14th December 2008 saw the Gloucestershire County Girls teams (U15 and U18) travel south for a triangular fixture in Newquay, Cornwall. The day brought together girls County teams from Gloucestershire, Somerset and Cornwall in a finale to the County programme.
The U18 squad put in two superb performances on the way to recording a 50-0 victory over Cornwall and an equally impressive 32-0 win over Somerset.
The girls didn’t lose their concentration at any point, and this proved to be a major contributing factor in what was probably the team’s best defensive display of the programme. All of the squad should be pleased at what they have achieved over the last 3 months, especially in winning 3 out of their 4 County fixtures.
With the County programme now at an end, girls from both age groups have been put forward to trial for the South-West North Region in the New Year.
Commenting on this year’s County programme, U18 Lead Coach and Hartpury College Sports Management student Joe Randall said, “There has been a really positive mood within the squads this year. Both squads have put in some really notable performances which, as a member of the coaching staff, is really pleasing to see.” Joe went on to say, “The girls appear to have enjoyed the programme and at the end of the day that is what’s most important. I and the other members of the management team wish the players all the best for the New Year.”
The management team would like to pass their thanks to both Chosen Hill RFC and Hartpury College for their ongoing support.
Gloucestershire Girls U18
>> Letchworth Girls celebrate a week of awards
It has been a memorable few days off the field for Letchworth’s girls rugby team.Last Wednesday (8th October) saw the efforts of two of the team win recognition at the Hertfordshire Sports Awards. 16-year old Natalie Threlfall’s coaching work and support for the county’s U12 girls project was highly commended by the judges, while last season’s captain Katie Alcock was runner-up in Young Community Volunteer category.
Katie’s award was in recognition of her tireless efforts to promote her sport – including running coaching courses at Highfield School, and helping to organise a huge primary school tag tournament at the end of the summer term.
Natalie was also one of seven Letchworth girls to play for Hertfordshire U18s the weekend before at a tournament in Sussex.
All this followed the news that the girls’ former coach, Joe Randall – now studying at the University of Gloucestershire - had been selected as the head coach for Gloucestershire girls and manager of South West (North) Region. Joe coached the girls to several regional and national trophies while still a pupil at Hitchin Boys’ School, and will be comfortably the youngest regional manager and county coach in the game.
However, the team’s greatest success could be yet to come. Two of the girls – Sasha Acheson and Hayley Guilder – have been called up for the final trial for the England U20 squad next weekend (19th October). Both girls are still only 17 and will be one match away from joining the best U20 team in the world. Hayley in particular only started playing when the girls section at Letchworth was formed four years ago, and has learnt her entire game at the club.
* Letchworth would be delighted to hear from any girls aged 12-18 who would be interested in giving rugby a “try”. No previous experience is needed – Katie, Natalie and Hayley had never played any rugby at all before joining Letchworth. The girls train every Thursday evening from 6.00 to 7.30, and play or train every Sunday. Contact John Birch (01462 623205) for details, or visit the team’s website at http://letchworthgirls.blogspot.com. The next women’s world cup will be in England in 2010 - there’s still time to make the team!
Hayley scoring in a recent game at Ampthill
>> Amanda packing down for Wales - 10th October 2008
Amanda Clegg has targeted playing in the 2010 women's World Cup after winning a place in the Wales squad. The 31-year-old from Mile Cross Road, Halifax plays both codes of rugby and is at last gaining major recognition after 15 years of sport.
Amanda, a back row forward whose late grandad was Welsh, attended a trial for the national team and has won a place in a squad which is initially working towards the Six Nations Championship in February and March. "Hopefully, with help and dedication in my training I will be still in the team ready for the World Cup," she said.
Amanda, who works at Asda in Pellon and the Liquid nightclub in Halifax town centre, started playing rugby as a 16-year-old with the King Cross RLFC girls team at Old Crossleyans. She then went to Dudley Hill for seven years and gained county honours for four years in a row before starting her union career with a new team at Halifax RUFC.
Amanda still plays rugby league for Keighley Cats when she has a free Sunday and for the last three years has been playing the 15-a-side code for Halifax Vandals at Warley, gaining a county shirt in union as well.
After returning to Halifax this season, Amanda was then asked to play for Waterloo Ladies and now goes to Liverpool twice a week for the specialist coaching and training she requires in her efforts to scale the heights. "This means travelling up and down the UK plus, hopefully, playing in countries all over the world," she said.
"I am looking for sponsorship, whether it be a gym membership or help with train fares to Cardiff every month. "I really do need as much help as I can to help me fulfil my dreams."
Anyone who can help can contact Amanda by email at cleggy12@msn.com
>> England Women’s team to take on the USA Eagles on Tuesday 19th August 2008
England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has announced his team for their clash against the USA Eagles on Tuesday August 19th at Esher Rugby Club, kick-off 7pm.
The RBS 6 Nations and European Champions will take on the Eagles as a forerunner to the Nations Cup which gets underway on Friday August 22nd at 7 pm. This again is taking place at Esher Rugby Club. Canada are the other team competing in the Nations Cup and England will face them on Sunday August 24th, kick-off 5pm.
The Head Coach has named an experienced starting XV, which sees the return of Clifton’s Kim Oliver who was out of action all last season with a knee injury. Oliver was a key member of the England squad that reached the IRB Rugby World Cup final in 2006. Since then she has been sidelined with injuries until making her comeback during the European Championships in May.
Bath No. 8 Catherine Spencer is captain once again with Darlington Mowden Park’s Katy McLean taking over as Vice Captain with Saracens’ Rachel Burford currently sidelined.
Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt could also be set to make her England debut after being named on the bench. The 18-year-old has impressed Street and assistant coach Graham Smith after her performances in the Under 20s Nations Cup in Canada in July.
Street said: “Although this is not a Nations Cup game, this is the start of a tough schedule of games. We will play four games in ten days against two sides who are ranked within the top six of world rugby.
“We have named a strong starting team for our first match, but it’s very important we get the balance right over the four games to win and to make sure everyone gets enough game time as we look ahead to next season’s Six Nations also.
“It’s great to have Kim Oliver back in the starting line-up and I am also excited to see Katy as Vice Captain. There is also the possibility that Emily, who has shown tremendous potential this season, could earn her first England cap.”
England last played the USA in December 2007 and won 34-0. They last played Canada in the 2006 IRB Rugby World Cup semi-finals. Then England won 20-14 to go on to finish as World Cup runners-up. Canada finished fourth. Street added: “The USA came here last season with lots of new caps. This time around they are going to be more experienced and I am expecting a very different game. They’ll be very competitive opposition and very different opposition to the European sides we are used to playing.”
Entry to Tuesday’s game costs just £4 for adults, £1 for children and adult members get a £1 discount.
England
1 Rochelle Clark - Henley
2 Amy Garnett - Saracens
3 Katy Storie - Blaydon Team Northumbria
4 Tamara Taylor - Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
5 Joanna McGilchrist - Wasps
6 Sarah Beale - Leos
7 Margaret Alphonsi - Saracens
8 Catherine Spencer (C) - Bath
9 Amy Turner - Richmond
10 Katy McLean (vc) - Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
11 Michaela Staniford - Wasps
12 Kim Oliver - Clifton
13 Georgina Roberts - Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
14 Charlotte Barras - Saracens
15 Danielle Waterman - Clifton
Replacements:
16 Emma Layland - Richmond
17 Sophie Hemming - Clifton
18 Natalie Binstead - Wasps
19 Gemma Sharples - Worcester
20 Georgina Rozario - Plymouth Albion
21 Emily Scarratt - Lichfield
22 Francesca Matthews - Richmond
Match Schedule
England v USA, August 19th at Esher RFC, KO 7pm
England v USA August 22nd at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 7pm
England v Canada August 24th at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 5pm
USA v Canada August 26th at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 7pm
England v Canada August 29th at Esher RFC, KO 7pm