Eastern Counties Keeping Colts Playing
Eastern Counties are working to keep young players in the game and are focusing on the U17/18s .
With so much competing for their time, they are looking to increase opportunities for the age group a three-way Merit Table has been created, with fixtures for no less than 21 clubs.
Some excellent Sunday lunchtime games have seen clubs working together and last month (October) the Stowmarket U18 Festival brought 15 sides to enjoy a great day’s rugby.
Teams were entered from North Walsham, Wymondham, Crusaders, Diss, West Norfolk, Cambridge, Ely, Saffron Walden, Braintree, Sudbury, Colchester , Bury St Edmunds, Woodbridge and Southwold.
Those who lacked numbers, or an experienced front row, had players loaned and some games were played with reduced numbers or uncontested scrums. Every team played four 15 minute one way games, with finals for virtually all.
Ross Cowie, Chairman of Age Grade Rugby said “The co-operation between the teams in helping other clubs saw a great day’s rugby for some 300 16, 17 and 18 year olds. The atmosphere and spirit were great, the quality of the rugby was excellent – with some very close, well-matched and competitive games. Congratulations to Wymondham for winning, with an unrivalled 100% record, and to every other club for their rugby which was so well hosted by Stowmarket.”
Wymondham beat Cambridge 7-0 in the Trophy; Bury beat Colchester 7-0 in the Plate, Bury beat N Walsham (bolstered by Crusaders) 7-0 in the Shield, Woodbridge beat Saffron Walden (bolstered by Sudbury) and Diss (supported by Stowmarket) beat Ely.
Said Joe Niembro of Cambridge: “This was a real success in terms of the spirit of the day and the rugby played”.
