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County reports to AGM july 2006
Devon Rugby Football Union
Annual Report for 2005/6.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to present the Annual Report for the Devon Rugby Football Union for the season 2005/6. It is some eight years ago or more that I last presented the Annual Report and little has diminished in the amount of work coming through from the RFU or the clubs in that time. The major change has been the use of the email system for the transfer of information from one source to another and that in itself may have saved on time and postage costs, but the system has not been without its problems.
Under 20`s. (Report of Roy Henderson)
The Under 20's successfully reached the semi final of the Under 20 County Championship by winning the games against, Somerset, Cornwall and Gloucestershire. Sadly the season came to an end when we played Northumberland at Plymouth to lose by one point in an exciting game of rugby.
Every player can be proud of the effort they put in during the season, from the very first trial game in October to the semi final defeat in April, a total of nine games plus the many training sessions. A wonderful team spirit was generated, and the players improved their skills and commitment to the game as the season progressed. They all return to their clubs better players thanks to the ability of our dedicated coaches Keith Brooking , Danny Thomas, Ed Lewsey , and Mark Rose. There is no doubt that by having coaches who play or have played at National 1 level has been a great success and all our future players will benefit greatly.
Senior XV. (Report of Roy Henderson)
The seniors returned to Twickenham as County Championship Finalists for the third year running following victories over Hertfordshire & difficult away matches at Gloucestershire and Cornwall. Having won on the two previous visits to Twickenham a hat-trick of wins on the famous ground was within in our grasp. Lancashire provided the opposition, and a good performance in the first half saw us leading, but the Lancashire backs raised their game in the second half and sadly we lost by 32 points to 26.
The past 3 years has been highly successful, and once again we thank our coaches Graham Dawe, John Roberts and Dave Rule for ensuring that Devon had another good championship season.
In order to win the championship the support of the senior sides is a must and our thanks go, in particular, to Plymouth Albion for supporting county rugby following a tough National 1 season. We extend our thanks to Exeter and Launceston and all clubs who have supported the County by making their players available.
The annual Tamar Cup game against Cornwall must not be forgotten and this season the Cup returned to Devon following a comprehensive victory at Penryn. This yearly game is an ideal opportunity for players, not at senior level, to stake a claim to a place in the County Championship side.
In some ways it was a missed opportunity this season with no silver ware, but a losing semi final in the Under 20's and losing finalist in the seniors clearly shows how far we have progressed, even if it is tinged with disappointment.
Playing Under 18 (Report of Maxwell Turner)
The campaign started back in July 05 with over 80 players taking part with the first trial at Crediton RFC, thanks to the Coaching staff of Keith Fleming, Craig Townsend, Keith Brooking, Nathan Kelly, Pat McManus, Charlie Guppy, Roger Smerden, and Fred Bolt the sorting of 30 players to be taken forward to be developed and play four more trial games was accomplished and I thank the Coaches all.
Our first game v Exeter College to whom we are very grateful, the Devon side were far too strong for the College and ran away convincing winners.
Two more games were arranged against a combined West Devon Schools side played at Kelly College, letters of thanks were posted to the Headmaster of Kelly College for the use of their outstanding facilities and hospitality. These games were used to develop our game plan with a more settled squad and put in place game patterns, the squad ran out easy winners 52 - 0 and 45-7.
The stage was set now to face stiffer opposition in the form of Frank Butler Academy Manager for Bath RFC under 19s side, thanks go to Frank for his support in U18 Devon County Rugby.
The match was what the Doctor ordered for our squad, the step up in pace, quality of opposition and the Coaches learnt valuable lessons as well as players.
In the first 20 minutes we gave them too much respect, when settled we played some very good rugby proving we could hold our own and proved to the team we could compete at this level.
Bath ran out winners 23-17; we could hold our heads up as the game was a close call for Bath!
Our first game of the South West Championship was v Gloucester at Bristol North RFC on a very wet small pitch (someone had done their home work!!) we did not have the best of starts with the loss of Jack Gilding tight head prop in the warm up with a groin injury also Ben Moon back injury in the first half (our other starting prop). Hard work was made of the game we should have won easily with gaping holes in their mid field which we did not exploit. Gloucester ran out winners 17- 3 but all players had game time.
It was Cornwall next at Newquay the conditions were much better and a dry pitch..
The first half hour of the game we played some outstanding rugby which the Coaches knew they were capable of and set about Cornwall in a refreshingly ruthless fashion scoring well constructed try's, but as more try's came we lost our shape and try fever set in, as with many sides this is the time to turn the screw and punish opposition.
Another lesson to instil, on the plus side 7 to 8 players showed their class as we ran out winners 3- 45 .
The final game of the Championship was v Somerset, it should have been played at Kelly College but due to snow I had to find another venue, with some very quick thinking and at a days notice Crediton RFC came to my rescue with a pitch and Okehampton RFC providing all the food and transported to Crediton on the day by
Roger Smurden and myself, a good show of two Clubs working together for the County!
This was a frustrating game as we had ample chances of putting it to bed in the first half. We let Somerset win they didn't beat us, again poor execution. Also the loss of Jack Gilding with a groin injury again and Jamie Fleming after half time with a broken metacarpal. Devon 7 - Somerset 17.
Divisional Selection - On a positive note for Devon U 18s it has been the most successful year to date for players we got through to the South West trials 8 in all.
Jack Gilding, Ben Moon u17, Alex Pickard u17, Dan Williams u17, Jamie Fleming,
Sam Roberts, Dave Lewis u17, and Tom Bedford.u17.
Of the above seven were selected to play for the South West.
Of the 7 Devon players in the South West side 3 went through to England trials.
Jack Gilding, Tom Bedford and Dan Williams.
Tom Bedford and Dan Williams were selected for England and both played in the warm up games leading up to the England 18 campaign. Tom Bedford was selected to represent England in the AER games in Italy and scored two try's in his opening game.
Dan Williams was selected to play in the Home Nations and gave a very good account
of himself.
I would like to mention another player who did not actually represent Devon 18s but has been a part of the squads in past , Richard Bolt,( Exeter Chiefs and SWERA ) played in the England under 19s Six Nations and selected for England under 19s World Cup squad played in Dubai. Richard is also a year young for this age group.
As Chairman of this Group would like to say on behalf of the Devon County Committee a big thank you to the Devon Coaches, Admin Staff, and Divisional Selectors who spend many man hours working for Devon Young Men to play our game at a Higher Level they otherwise would not achieve.
Playing Under 17. (Report of Maxwell Turner)
The trials for this age Group started back in December 05 with 70 players attending from across the County at Exeter University, 30 were selected to go forward for training with the first game v Dorset & Wilts Jan 8th 06.
On a cold wet day the conditions did not allow for any sort of flowing game, all players were out to impress but we did settle in to a team and won 5-0.
Sunday 29 th January 06 we played Gloucester at Okehampton , thanks were sent for the Club having us and their hospitality. The game ended in a draw 24-24
Next up was Somerset we played this game at Brickfields home of Plymouth Albion, thanks were expressed to the Club on the day for use of Ground and providing the after game meal. The weather conditions were horrendous but both sides stuck to the task with some good play, but Devon with sustained pressure scored a converted try late in the game to give Devon 7-0 win.
It was nice to see Ken Jeffery Hon Treasurer at the game, sorry Ken you got so wet!!. And thank you.
April 2nd was the final game v Cornwall at Newquay the weather was sunny and dry but blowing a gale, at the start both sides were fairly well matched but Devon put some good phases of play together with the forwards dominating set play. Cornwall were kept under pressure most of the second half having to defend, as they tried to play a territory game, our pressure paid off as we ran out winners 3-12.
This is the first time in the 17's history the County side has been unbeaten ( we must be doing something right !)
I would like to thank the players for their efforts, parents for support and transport, the Coaching staff, Admin staff and Crediton RFC for use of their ground and Club house as our Home Training venue
Devon CBRDP report. (Ron Roberts)
The RDP has this year been responsible for only the lower age groups in the Devon operative plan. The sections included are the links with schools and clubs; playing at and below U18 with special emphasis on producing U15 & U16 schools based representative teams, U17 and U18 club and school's based representative teams. The development of schools and club links to ensure the best possible player progression and with general club schools links to ensure a better and more cohesive partnership beneficial to all in the county.
This has been all the time strengthened by the officiating and coaching groups who have been working towards achieving their goals to ensure a better player coach ratio and an improved standard of match official whilst at the same time increasing the numbers of suitably qualified officials to control matches each week.
An agreement has been brokered in North Devon which will ensure that by working together for their joint benefit the clubs and schools in that area will co operate to deliver a workable plan for the increase in schools matches in the area, by instituting a new competition where the schools will play matches, in a different format to that at present used, at central locations in a league of two sections. This will be aided by the clubs becoming more actively involved with and in the schools within their own catchment area.
This scheme is the model that the partnership, with the agreement with the Devon committee, will use for the introduction of similar schemes in the rest of the County, the process of which will start to roll out in stages with a total programme being in place ready for the start of season 07/08.
The women's section has been actively progressing the introduction of the women's game by increasing the number of clubs who are active in providing youth rugby for women and have held a series of tournaments at which our teams played successfully in very competitive competitions.
All of this is underpinned by the partnership working that has been achieved and the employment of two community coaches, one in N Devon/Torridge side and the other in Exeter / Mid Devon. This partnership has an active involvement from the Devon Community Sports Partnership, Devon Referees society, Devon Schools Union, Devon Mini/junior committee, The Devon Schools partnerships, Devon County Council sports Office, Devon RFU (RDP), the RFU, the RDO, the RRDM, the RRDM (W), Sports lottery fund and many more.
The specific partners in the scheme will provide individual playing and other reports.
Competitions. (Geoff Simpson)
The new format for the Rhino Rugby Senior and Junior Cups seemed to work well but the change to a deadline rather than a cup weekend date did catch a few Clubs out, particularly in the first round. Both finals were well contested with Exmouth coming out on top in the Senior Cup against Torquay Athletic and Okehampton edging out Cullompton in the Junior Cup.
In the Colts Cup Barnstaple and Brixham emerged as the finalists with the former fully deserving their victory on the day at Astley Park. It is hoped that the move to U18 for Colts next season will encourage more U16 players to stay in the game.
The Mini/Junior committee, and Junior competitions secretary Terry Friend in particular, again organised some excellent tournaments and cup competitions. The introduction of a plate competition for U13 to U16 teams provided more games and a chance to be involved into the New Year.
The re-organised Devon Merit Tables seem to have been well received and have provided a flexible structure for second and third team rugby. The basic ethos is to get games played and Clubs will take some time to adapt to the deregulated nature of the competition and fully embrace the opportunity to help the opposition out when necessary. Thanks must go to Geoff Bulley and Tommy Clark who were the table administrators. Please do help the administrator (Geoff Bulley for all tables in 2006/7) by phoning, texting or e-mailing results promptly without having to be chased. Congratulations to the inaugural winners of the four tables who will receive their shields at the County AGM.
In the leagues a number of Devon Clubs won their division or the play-off. We wish them all well at their higher level next year. Again thanks should be recorded to Danny Irvine and Martin Newman for their service as league secretaries. Martin will be stepping down next season and will be replaced by Tommy Clark.
Discipline. (Roger Gash)
The Discipline Committee met on ten occasions and dealt with 57 cases (an increase of 13 on 2004-2005). These covered a wide range of offences as follows:
Striking 16; Stamping 7; Kicking 6; Dangerous Tackle 2; Retaliation 2; Late Charge 1; Abuse 15; Bringing Game into Disrepute (Law 5.12) 4; Citings 2; Abandoned Games 2
The Committee had to operate the new disciplinary procedures introduced by the RFU at the start of the season which, once a case is proved, require the level of seriousness to be determined and then the appropriate entry point of sentencing to be adjusted upwards or downwards to reflect aggravating or mitigating circumstances. This is not always an easy system to apply objectively - as indicated by the fact that in the two cases where players appealed to Twickenham against our decisions the sentence was reduced in one but increased in the other.
Only one club accumulated 40 points over the season and has put in hand various measures to improve its on-field discipline next season.
The incidence of referee abuse continues to rise. This is an unacceptable trend and the Committee dealt firmly with some blatant instances of disrespect, several involving senior players and coaches who could have been expected to know better. In one or two cases however firm management by the referee himself might have proved more salutary at stopping the trouble at source than a subsequent disciplinary reference. Finally, the Committee has been critical in the past about loosely drafted sending-off reports, in particular those which left obvious questions unanswered. This year however it is a pleasure to record that the standard of reporting has been very good and has left little or nothing to the imagination of the Committee.
Sponsorship, Kit etc. (Gary Aldridge)
Counties such as Devon rely on the generosity of those in the business world for financial support and once again this season we are indebted to our two major sponsors, Vosper's Motor House and South West Water for their most generous support. Major contributions have also been gratefully received from Rhino Rugby and Westcountry Embroidery. To our sponsors we say a sincere thank you.
For the third successive season Devon have appeared in the final of the County Championship at Twickenham and inevitably such success although vital for our development, brings additional strains on the finances of the County, and the financial reward from the RFU for reaching the Final is insufficient to meet the costs involved. It is of paramount importance therefore that we look for and encourage new interest and new partners to help us as a County to continue to develop the playing side of the Union.
Any interest shown should be directed to Gary Aldridge on 07788 584147.
The County have been fortunate in having Gary, not only as our sponsorship officer, but also as the kit man, for the want of a better title, and he has successfully managed to ensure that all Devon County teams run out suitably clad.
Conclusion
In concluding this report I acknowledge the work members of the County Committee undertake on behalf of the Devon Rugby Football Union.
Alan J Stevens.
Hon Secretary.
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