44 replies to this topic

[bowes]

Leicester 12-12 Northampton

[tim2]

Gloucestershire U18s 38 Leicester U18s 42

A ding dong fixture with the lead changing hands several times. Leicester got a lead in the first half but Gloucestershire clawed back and went ahead but Leicester just nicked it.

[audois]

Tomorrow sees the first final of the season in the Midlands when Gloucestershire All Golds take on Leicester Storm in the under 18s title decider at St Peters RC School, Stroud Road, Gloucester. This final is a week early due to the Midlands 18s tour of Serbia next week that sees the best of the region take part in an international RLEF tournament.

Next Saturday (18th) sees a triple header at Haslam's, home of Derby RUFC. The division 2 final at 12.00 is an all-Derbyshire affair with favourites and existing title holders Hope Valley Hawks taking on the North Derbyshire Chargers. The Division 1 game will be between the semi-final winners - Northampton A take on Coventry Dragons and Telford Raiders take on Sleaford Spartans tomorrow in those eliminators; kick off is at 14.00.

The Premier title will be fought out at 16.00 between the big guns of Leicester Storm and Northampton Demons - expect this to be a fierce encounter for East Midlands bragging rights.

Tim seems you lot in the Midlands developing the type of template for other new region to follow. How much joined up thinking have you actually got. Is their a regional assembly where all clubs meet and contribute. Are you training up your own referees and coaches. In 2013 you may finish up with two CC1 clubs which pushes the game in the Midlands even further forward. Derby back too a plus next year. How good is that getting a Midlands U18s side to tour Serbia. Onwards and upwards.

[tim2]

Tim seems you lot in the Midlands developing the type of template for other new region to follow.

We're trying. Still lots of areas where we need to improve.

How much joined up thinking have you actually got.

As much as it is possible within the constraints of geography, funding, club standards etc.

Is their a regional assembly where all clubs meet and contribute.

Yes

Are you training up your own referees and coaches.

Yes

In 2013 you may finish up with two CC1 clubs which pushes the game in the Midlands even further forward. Derby back too a plus next year. How good is that getting a Midlands U18s side to tour Serbia. Onwards and upwards.

Yes. There's so much that is better than when I began to get involved in Midlands Development 7 or 8 years ago. However all the momentum could easily be lost - so much depends on a certain level of funding and also on the work of a relatively small number of key individuals at clubs. I think next season should focus on consolidation rather than too many pipe dreams. Lets see what the clubs have to say at the annual meeting - we all need to be realistic in what we can achieve.

[bowes]

The difficulty is getting a decent size premier as standard gaps are big and there's a culture of clubs wanting to avoid a hammering. Regionalised division 1s went quite well apart from Wolverhampton struggled for numbers (NEW Ravens would have had they not linked up with Coventry Warriors). Division 2 struggled but only because of clubs moving up so arguably a positive. Under 18s league really struggles with only 10 of the originally scheduled 30 games going ahead but that was mainly NEW Ravens pulling out and Northampton struggling. Under 16s is very good but the 2 dangers are players not going to higher age groups and the effects if the big cuts planned.

I think we're doing a good job with what we have but North East is the model expansion region IMO.

As for pie in the sky I don't think the midlands can sustain one never mind two Championship 1 clubs unless that league is to massively weaken.

I think Coventry and Nottingham are currently NCL capable but I'd worry about sufficient strength in depth if the Rebels take too many players, the Bears have a plan to address this I'm not qualified to comment on Outlaws in this regard. I think Leicester and Northampton Demons could manage a southern league but not yet NCL. I'm not convinced there's sufficient clubs of their level to run such a league though.

Edited by bowes, 12 August 2012 - 12:57 PM.

[redditchbulldog]

Regionalised division 1s went quite well apart from Wolverhampton struggled for numbers (NEW Ravens would have had they not linked up with Coventry Warriors). Division 2 struggled but only because of clubs moving up so arguably a positive. Under 18s league really struggles with only 10 of the originally scheduled 30 games going ahead but that was mainly NEW Ravens pulling out and Northampton struggling. Under 16s is very good but the 2 dangers are players not going to higher age groups and the effects if the big cuts planned..

Linking up with Cov warriors helped us a great deal in that players started to come back since we were been competitive and had 20 plus players for the last 5 games,which included 4 - 5 cov warrior lads and kept them in the game and still had a couple of players out injured who were itching to get back on the park, i'm sure 2 or 3 new players that came down to the club would not have stayed if we were struggling for numbers ( and only struggling for numbers due to freakish injuries) and these players are wanting to come back next season and one of them is a real find in scoring in each of the 5 games he played and ended up been the clubs top try scorer.,which included

[bowes]

That's good I was hoping you'd keep numbers regardless of the Warriors. Though in the long run juniors should help, have many of your strong U16s last year come through?

[redditchbulldog]

That's good I was hoping you'd keep numbers regardless of the Warriors. Though in the long run juniors should help, have many of your strong U16s last year come through?

not many as they were going to be the U18's but unfortunately for us they were still involved in a cup in union which the cup final didn't get played till end of may and 1230 ko on saturday went against them as most of them have saturday jobs and were still doing exams till mid june. We do have plans to get them back in the fold next season in not having an u18's but a 2nd team to enter at merit league and play the fixtures on a sunday so player availability should be enhanced.

[bowes]

Yeah it's a very hard transition from U16s to U18s but hopefully you can get them back

[tim2]

not many as they were going to be the U18's but unfortunately for us they were still involved in a cup in union which the cup final didn't get played till end of may and 1230 ko on saturday went against them as most of them have saturday jobs and were still doing exams till mid june. We do have plans to get them back in the fold next season in not having an u18's but a 2nd team to enter at merit league and play the fixtures on a sunday so player availability should be enhanced.

Hopefully they will actually get some games in the Merit League. Not been many this season.

[Northern Sol]

A rep side is a rep side regardless of age and standard and I think Lord Charles is correct, if the RFL want overseas development it should pay for it not the amateur players/clubs, if it can't afford it then don't organise the tours.

Players aren't forced to go on rep tours. The RFL has merely given them the opportunity to do so. If they can't afford to go then they've lost nothing.

[bowes]

Hopefully they will actually get some games in the Merit League. Not been many this season.

Yeah the vast majority involved you or Hope Valley in many cases Hope Valley against Lancashire clubs.

[Marauder]

Players aren't forced to go on rep tours. The RFL has merely given them the opportunity to do so. If they can't afford to go then they've lost nothing.

Did I at any time say anything about forcing players on tour and how many players given the chance to play rep football will turn it down.

[Northern Sol]

Did I at any time say anything about forcing players on tour and how many players given the chance to play rep football will turn it down.

No, you just said that players should not do "development tours" unless BARLA / the RFL fund it. Unfortunately they can't fund very many tours but I can't see the logic of scrapping non-funded tours altogether.

[John Rhino]

[indent=1]Next Saturday (18th) sees a triple header at Haslam's, home of Derby RUFC.

It's the home of Derby City RLFC actually (no offence, Tim) who are hosting the event.
Anyway good luck to all taking part - looking forward to a great set of games.

[Marauder]

No, you just said that players should not do "development tours" unless BARLA / the RFL fund it. Unfortunately they can't fund very many tours but I can't see the logic of scrapping non-funded tours altogether.

I never said that, I said the RFL should fund development tours that they have organised, I may be wrong but I'm sure I read somewhere that the RFL asked/nominated the Midlands U18'S for this tour, please correct me If I'm wrong.

[MidlandsRugbyLeague]

I never said that, I said the RFL should fund development tours that they have organised, I may be wrong but I'm sure I read somewhere that the RFL asked/nominated the Midlands U18'S for this tour, please correct me If I'm wrong.

Youre wrong.

We were invited by the RLEF.

[Marauder]

Youre wrong.

We were invited by the RLEF.

So RLEF should pay for it out of the money they get from the RFL.

[tim2]

It's the home of Derby City RLFC actually (no offence, Tim) who are hosting the event.
Anyway good luck to all taking part - looking forward to a great set of games.

What I wrote is also true, but not what I meant to write!

[tim2]

Good news from Belgrade! Midlands 46 Lebanon 4. Great effort for the first game! We have a day off now and we play Serbia on Sunday at 6pm.