Dorset & Wilts U18s - Season 2008 - 09 (Please scroll down)
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Principal Contacts:
| D&W U18 |
Manager
|
Glyn Parker
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glyn.parker@btconnect.com
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07779018545
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01793853916 |
| D&W U17 & U18 |
Head Coach
|
John Brown
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j.brown01@ntlworld.com
|
|
|
Posted on 28th APRIL by Glyn Parker - U18 Squad Manager
Although this season is not yet fully over, preparations for next season's U18 Campaign have been under way for some time and the proposed U18 Match and Training Itinerary for the 2008/9 season is posted below.
The dates shown are confirmed dates however, any item marked TBC means that the timings and details need To Be Confirmed and this will be done closer to the time when full details have been confirmed.
Selection for this seasons squad will be performed in a different way to that done in previous seasons and full details of the selection criteria will be posted soon.
TRAINING AND MATCH ITINERARY - 2008/09
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Date
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Event
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Notes
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Sunday 21 September 2008
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U18 Trials – Clayesmore School
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Registration 10:00 - 10:30am TBC
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Wednesday 24 September 2008
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Training at Salisbury RFC
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19:00 – 21:00 Hrs (18:30 meet)
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Sunday 28 September 2008
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Final Selection Match v Somerset U18’s
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North Dorset RFC – KO 14:00 (12:15 Meet)
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Wednesday 1 October 2008
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Training at Salisbury RFC
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19:00 – 21:00 Hrs (18:30 meet)
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Sunday 5 October 2008
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Squad Development Day – Clayesmore School
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Venue and Timings TBC
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Monday 6 October 2008
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Match v Buckinghamshire U18’s (Home)
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Supermarine RFC Swindon - KO 19:30 Hrs (18:00 Meet)
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Wednesday 22 October 2008
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Training at Salisbury RFC
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19:00 – 21:00 Hrs (18:30 meet)
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Sunday 26 October 2008
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Match v Berkshire U18’s (Away)
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Pangbourne College - (TBC) - KO 14:00 (12:00 Meet)
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Wednesday 29 October 2008
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Training at Salisbury RFC
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19:00 – 21:00 Hrs (18:30 meet)
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Sunday 2 November 2008
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Match v Oxfordshire U18’s (Away)
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Shiplake College or Radley College (TBC)
KO 14:00 (12:00 Meet)
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U18 Final Report - Season 2007/08
Posted by Glyn Parker on 6 January 2008
The Dorset & Wilts 2007 / 08 season has been one of the best organised and most successful ones for many years !
In summary, the squad played 4 and won 4 ! One of which was a warm up match against a much larger (in numbers) Somerset squad.
Following the selection day in late September, and a Sunday squad training session, an initial squad of 32 players was invited to take part in the final selection 'friendly' match against Somerset RFU U18's. The match was held at Frome RFC on Sunday 7 October and was supposed to have approximately 30 players in both squads however, Somerset managed to bring along a massive squad of around 45 players so that they could also perform 'final' selection of their squad. Even though the final score was not a key focus it was very inspiring for the players to play such good rugby and achieve a clear winning margin over their opposition.
Final selection of the initial squad to play against Bucks on 14 October was made following the match and on the day at St Edwards School Oxford, D&W were easy winners with some fine individual performances coming through as part of the squads success. This initial success does no harm as players show more confidence in front of the selectors.
As is always the case, changes for subsequent matches had to be made based on player performance and unavailability due to injury and holidays. However, despite the changes made to the squad, D&W 18's were never seriously threatened in either of the two remaining games and went on to achieve a 100% record.....which is something that has not been done for many seasons.
32 Players put on the D&W shirt during this seasons campaign and, as a result of the squads success, 9 players who took the field of play for D&W were invited to attend the South West U18 Divisional trials. The trials were held at Bristol Grammar School Sports Complex on Sunday 18 November and, as always seems to be the case over recent seasons, it was an extremely wet and windy day that often prevented fluent running rugby. Initial selection of the South West Divisional squad was made at the end of the day and, to be completely honest, it was a rather disappointing result for D&W.
Only two of the nine players were selected into the initial South West Divisional squad to take part in the Divisional Championship being held over the Christmas holidays. The players in question being Rhys Jones (Corsham RFC / Corsham School) and Jonathon May (Wootton Bassett RFC / Hartpury College). However, a Christmas present was waiting for some players as a further five were called up to take part in the final Divisional match against London & South East and all managed to get some time on the field of play (albeit rather briefly for a couple of players). These five players were:
Rupert Freestone (Bryanston School), Jack Green (Wimborne RFC / Corfe Hills School), Max Clilverd (Clifton RFC / Hardenhuish School Chippenham), Ben Loosemore (Swindon RFC / St. Johns School Marlborough) and Will Beach (Salisbury RFC / Bishop Wordsworth School Salisbury)
So it really is congratulations to all involved this season !
.....Congratulations to all players for playing so well with such great attitudes !
.....Congratulations for a 100% record !
.....Congratulations to all players who were invited to attend the South West Divisional trials and went on to take part in the South West Divisional matches !
.....Congratulations to the coaching team who gave up so much of their time to focus on developing that 'winning touch'.
I don't really like to pick out individual names to highlight them as all involved this season played their own individual part in the squads success however, I hope you will all join me in wishing Rhys Jones from Corsham RFC the best of luck. Rhys impressed in the first two Divisional matches and was asked to go that extra step when he was selected to joint the initial England RFU U18 AER (Association of European Rugby) squad in preparation for this seasons tournament being held in Treviso Italy during March.
All in all an extremely successful season and I would like to pass on my thanks to all involved.
Hopefully this success will continue for many season's to come.
Best regards
Glyn Parker
Manager - D&W U18 Squad
