9th February 2008

By David Edwards

The Girls Berkshire County rugby series has just ended with splendid wins for both the U18s and U15s sides against Oxfordshire.  It has been an active season which began in September with County development days and because this year we held trials early, it left plenty of time for games.
Berks County 2007/8 Season Summary: Girls U15 & U18
The players have developed rapidly, especially the U15s and this year, we have been successful in getting eight U15s (1 from Slough, 3 from Newbury and 4 from Reading) and twelve U18s (all from Reading) into the regional programme. The U15s are spread across the Berkshire clubs and from next season we will start to see experienced players feeding into the U18s side.
The U15s side has been developing well this year as the successes at the regional trials show. They have been up against some experienced sides and the scores hide the quality of the play they have produced. It was particularly pleasing for them to win the last game of the season against Oxfordshire with a fine display of good rugby.  It wasn’t just the winning, but the way they won, which showed how far they have come this season.
The U18s have had several close games, some played triangular style, winning five out of eight.  The highlight of the U18s season was a game against the Canadian National team which, despite losing, was fantastic experience for the team giving them valuable insight into the areas of the game they need to work on and the confidence to take on teams at all levels. It also created quite a bit of media interest with interviews on BBC radio Berks, and articles in local press and on the RFUW website.
Special thanks to the Coaches, the first aiders and physio’s, the referees and volunteer linesmen and to Malcolm Darvell who did a splendid job as this year’s County Manager.  Also a big thank you to all the supporters who have cheered on at the matches and to the players who have worked so hard through the season.  We anticipate having County development days again in September 2008 in preparation for trials in late September and then games from October onwards. In this way we can develop players in a steady continuum from Novice to Club then County to Regional standard.  Berkshire currently has two U18s girls in the “Talent Development Group” and several others who have been “spotted” by the RFUW development staff who are increasingly attending county games.

Berkshire Squads:2007/8
U15s  Lead Coach: Janet Sparks (Slough), Asst Coach: Malcolm Darvell (Newbury)
Squad:  Zoe Barber, Rebecca Belcher, Hannah Biggs, Eleanor Bowyer, Chantelle Clifford, Anna Crocker, Meredith Darvell, Lilian Darvell, Jessica Davies, Millie Guille, Devon Holt, Jade James, Miguela Kerins, Laura Marks, Rebecca Moore, Rebecca Morse, Abbie Parsons, Kayley Skipworth, Monique Smith, Hannah Tidy.

U18s Lead Coach: Nicola Eames (Reading), Asst Coach: Jo Parker (Bracknell)
Squad: Melody Allen, Aliena Archer, Aisling Byrne, Hannah Edwards, Alicia Fidler, Hannah Field, Petrina Fitzpatrick, Stephanie Gough, Sandra Hackett, Grace Hilbourne, Emily Hunt, Charlotte Hunt, Shani James, Helen Keyohane, Rebekah Lambden, Lisa McGettigan, Amy Millar, Hannah Newport, Hannah Owen, Danielle Parker, Althea Piper, Amy Symes.

David Edwards
Head Coach
Telephone: 01276 484092
Mobile: 07765 221088
Email: edwards_david_j@lilly.com
9th February 2008