Sunday 21 February - Training @ Underhill 11.30am

We will commence training later than usual at 11.30am at Underhill this week with hot dogs at the Rugby Club at around 1pm (can the first back to the club please empty a tin into a pan and put on the hob? - I'll bring the rolls). The club is also organising a fund raising walk to Blackpill and back for the Haiti earthquake appeal commencing at 2pm from the Rugby Club and all are invited to attend. Collections and contributions (£5/family) can be given to Rhys Davies (aka 'Ravers') or Matthew Reeves who have also organised food & refreshments to be made available at the club for all.

Swansea Uplands Report & Sunday 14/02/10

A big thank you to Swansea Uplands RFC, who once again provided a spirited and spotsmanlike performance, and many thanks also to Phil and Matthew for helping to develop our squad of 14 players today. It was especially pleasing to see the evidence of the handling skills of our players improving as a direct result of Matthew organising several games of 'Rugby Netball' at the side of the pitch, with the boys also commenting afterwards at the Cricket Club that they very much enjoyed this new game.

Both Phil and Myself will be away next weekend (though not together, even though it is valentines day!), but Lee, Matthew and Darren have very kindly offered to hold a training session at Bishopston commencing at 10.30am (since Vadre do not have an U7's team).

After training hot dogs have very kindly been offered to be provided at the Cricket Club by Shereen, who I'm sure would accept any more support if it is offered since she is catering for the Vikings, Wilcats and Vadre U8's.

Many thanks also go to all our inaugral 'lotttery champions', Sara, Carole and Lauren (Josh's big sister) who were all instrumental today in raising funds for our junior section's future. In the words of Alan Sugar - 'You're Hired!', although I'm sure any more budding apprentices who wanted to join their flegdling team would be accepted with open arms.

Well done to Alexander and Willis in leading both our teams today, (if anyone has any 'captain of the day' photos they can email them to me at gbroad@live.co.uk for posting on the blog).

There is also the opportunity in the near future for anyone wanting to assist more formally to attend a 2-3 hour evening TAG rugby course (funded by the club) at a local sports centre. Both Lee, Ginny and Matthew have offered to attend this, and it would be very pleasing if any more 'hands on deck' could be found. If you would like to offer yourself for this, you can contact me on gbroad@live.co.uk or on 07974747993 or 361870.

Sunday Feb 7th 10.30am - Uplands at Bishopston

We are hosting Uplands RFC at Bishopston, please meet at 10.30am. Hot Dogs at the Cricket Club afterwards.

Training Cancelled 31/01/10

Our old friend Jack Frost has been up to his old tricks once again and convinced the ground staff at Underhill that the surface is not safe to be played upon. Fingers crossed for mild dry weather for the rest of the season.

Sunday 31st Jan' training at Underhill (by swings)

Training 10.30 am at Underhill Park (next to the childrens play area / swings over otherside of the hedge away from the main car park). Hot Dogs at rugby club afterwards.

How can you assist?

Your many offers of support and assistance are gratefully welcome.

LOTTERY - The first junior section weekly lotto tickets will be on sale for £1 pitchside this Sunday 31st with the inaugral draw at the Rugby Club at 1pm. I will be looking for volunteers (parents of the captains each week?) to please share the burden of selling these tickets around the park during the session, so please don't be shy in 'shaking the bucket' together for a couple of laps of the pitch. If there are any budding Alan Sugar apprentices out there who also fancy the challenge of taking more tickets away to sell through the week, then the proceeds and the completed tickets must be returned by the vendor to the rugby club by 1pm the following Sunday. (i.e. please don't bring proceeds to myself the following Sunday, since we may be playing away that week or have made other plans).

TRAINING - I will be trying to plan more sessions into smaller groups to benefit the players and include more parents in a supervisory capacity, so please bring your old shoes or boots!

CATERING - Claire Rees has already kindly organised a rota for hosting pre-organised home matches, (usually at the Cricket Club when all teams are at home at once). When we have an impromptu game or training at home though, (usually when the other teams are playing away at a club with no U7's) then we will return to the rugby club. No food is required to be purchased for the rugby club, but it would help if the first back to the club could empty a tin of 50 hot dogs into a pan to warm - just ask Julie or Skinny for any assistance (e.g. opening the tin with the contraption in the kitchen!). I will be as quick as I can bringing the bread rolls!

Gowerton Match Report

Thanks go to Gowerton for bringing enough players (and a spare ref)and to both our Dads Gareth Jenkins and Tim Ward for their assistance to enable two full games to be played simultaneously. Given the monsoon conditions in November, the frost through December, and the snow in January preventing regular rugby sessions of late, I think we can forgive a little rustiness from us on Sunday. This was more than made up for by a great effort all round however. Following some aftermatch reports, I have checked and there is nothing to say that a penalty should be given for not carrying the ball in two hands (although it is a coaching aspiration). Whilst it may be confusing for the players, it should nonetheless serve as an important lesson for them in the future to think on their feet and adapt to play by the laws by which the ref abides without dissent - (even if they feel he is wrong). I can guarantee that there will be many more instances through their playing of the game!