Girls Rugby
This season London Scottish worked hard to give girls at U13s, U15s and U18s age groups the chance to play regular rugby and be coached and managed by a dedicated team management. Our cluster partnership with the Old Emmanuel Lions has been very successful and allows for players from both clubs to play in meaningful games and good numbers at joint training sessions.
The first match on 31st January was hosted by Sutton & Epsom who have a well organised and buoyant girls section and are friendly welcoming hosts. Our opponents were better organised from the kick off and playing with greater desire than our girls and soon were four unanswered tries ahead. We were able to get four tries back but whilst also conceding a further two to end the match losing 34-22.
The return match was played on 20th March at Old Emanuel RFC and both our girls and coaches were determined to redress the balance. They did score three tries during the course of the game and more were prevented by strong defence but the LS/OE girls were able to maintain their dominance to the final whistle scoring seven tries in total for a win by 39-15.
Fixtures:
2nd April: Invited to play in the Harlequins Girls Curtain Raiser Cup
10th of April: Oxford Ba Bas (tbc)
17th of April: Training
24th of April: Warlingham Girls “Sevens Heaven” – Scottish Emanuel Ironsides as cluster with U13, U15 and U18 teams
1st of May: Worthing Girls 10s Festival
8th of May: National 7s in Litchfield
A big thank you to all the players and volunteers that keep the girls playing a good level of rugby, and a special mention to Steph and Tim lawn for the work they do to manage this section. To all the new girls joining London Scottish this season we hope you enjoyed it and we’ll see you back for the 2016/17 season. To the girls from London Scottish who made the Middlesex County squads, well done again! And to the Old Emmanuel Lions, massive thanks for being such a brilliant cluster club!
U14s
The U14s, promoted to their current division for this season have one league game left against Ruislip on the 24th of April, and a chance to end second and to be promoted if two teams go up in the Herts-Middlesex league. Only losing to Ampthill this season in the league at the start of the season the team refocused and was determined not to lose again. They have some training sessions and some friendly matches left agains East Grinstead (10th of April) and Hammersmith & Fulham (17th of April) to prepare them for the last league game. To the players and Ian Hannah, Robert Orr-Ewing, Hugh Freeland, Guy Pearson and rest of the team management/volunteers well done on another strong season in junior rugby!
U16s
This team has bounced back with intent! Six wins out of six in their league campaign is an impressive feat by the young men after a tough season the previous year! Great leadership by the team management of Nick Whitear, Charles Conder and Jon Steafel as well as new coach Neil McFarlane, has been rewarded!
On the 6th March beating Cheshunt away 17-20 and with Hertford failing to play the 13th of March league fixture the U16s have been crowned champions of the division, and move back up to Division 3. Still plenty to do over the next two seasons, but as we are recruiting to add more quality to the current strong squad, we are remaining optimistic about reaching the goals set out for this group and their management. Well done to all involved!
U17s
There is still plenty to play for this season. With one game in hand the team still has 2 league games left after both had to be re-arranged due to Cup games. If the lads manage to win both they will win their division and move up to Division 2 in the Saracens Herts-Middlesex Leagues. With Teddington sitting top of the division at the moment with 25 points and only one league game left (v London Scottish), while we are on 20 league points in second place at the moment it provides for an exciting few weeks ahead.
On the 10th of April we have our second last league game at home v Bishop Stortford B and should we take all the league points, the final league game on the
17th of April away against division leaders, Teddington becomes a real final! Coach, George Swinburne, has been putting the players through their paces and their ability, game sense and fitness have improved hugely this season while team manager, Euan Ferguson, have been fantastic in keeping players informed. Good luck to all involved for the two big league games left!
Season’s summary
The junior section this season has made good solid steps forward and everyone involved has contributed hugely and have been rewarded for the effort. The management structures and volunteers for each boys’ and girls’ age groups have been the main factor for the success we have seen this year. Success is not only measured by the league position, but even more so by the environment created by the quality of people involved! We take our hats off to all of you for the wonderful contributions you make! Thank you!
