Roy is stuck in Bangkok, please contact Paul with questions
New information 5th September - Under 20s Season 2008/9
I hope you have enjoyed the summer and are looking forward to the new season. I’m pleased to have been asked to manage the U20s again and I’m delighted that Paul, Topper, Andy and Alan have all agreed to form the coaching team. Although traditionally most U20 activity takes place after Christmas it makes sense to get things moving now so that we can assess our strengths and see if there are any weaknesses to address.
After last year’s success I’m particularly pleased that so many of the squad are still eligible, they are.
Ashton PRICE
Nick FARRANT
Ted STAGG
Nick MORRIS
Sam PAILOR
Dan LOCK
Luke BUGDEN
Dan UNDERHILL
Sean BARWICK
Angus HOGG
Josh OVENS
Jared SHARMAN
Mike POPE
Cameron BROWN
James DAZELEY
Mike ERRINGTON
Ollie LINTON
Rob COLLIS
Ben LOOSEMORE
Sean LILLEY
Luke RAPSON
It is very encouraging that we cover almost every position but it is also clear that we need to identify new players to join the squad particularly to fill certain gaps. I have contacted every head coach in Dorset and Wilts asking for their nominations but it is always better if existing squad players make suggestions about who we should approach as you play with them every week. On the list above are three or four players that for various reasons didn’t get to play last season, could the rest of you please lean on them to get their involvement this season.
So far we have at least six games planned and two development sessions. The games are
Friendly - Boys Clubs Wales (at home, date to be arranged but in January), they are traditionally very strong.
Friendly – Bournemouth University (good development game) probably mid February
Friendly – Bath Combination (at the Rec?) date probably April/May
Sunday 1st March 2009 OXFORDSHIRE (away)
Sunday 15th March 2009 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (away)
Sunday 22nd March 2009 BERKSHIRE (home)
Saturday 4th April 2009 Championship QUARTER FINALS
Saturday 18th April 2009 Championship SEMI FINALS
Saturday 9th May 2009 Championship FINAL at Twickenham
Last year I suspect that many people thought we were being unrealistic in targeting the final at Twickenham. On the basis that we were very close in standard to Gloucestershire, who went on to win, I hope you all now agree that we should firmly have our sights on lifting the Championship Cup.
I am looking for a squad sponsor, a company who would like to have their logo on our kit prominently displayed at Twickenham. If you know of a Company that may be interested please let me know.
Please keep in touch, ideas about potential players and sponsors would be very welcome as would any other thoughts you might have on how we can make this season even more successful than last. I am very keen to know your commitments for next season (e.g. if you are going to university or are off travelling). The more I know the easier it is to make arrangements that suit the majority.
Best wishes
Roy
The new season has almost begun!
I will shortly be starting the process of getting this years squad together so keep your eye on this wepage. In the meantime here are some dates for the diary
These are suggested dates for Season 2008-09 fixtures.
Sunday 1st March 2009
A BERKSHIRE v BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
A OXFORDSHIRE v DORSET/WILTS
B DEVON v CORNWALL
B SOMERSET v GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Sunday 15th March 2009
A BERKSHIRE v OXFORDSHIRE
A BUCKINGHAMSHIRE v DORSET/WILTS
B GLOUCESTERSHIRE v CORNWALL
B SOMERSET v DEVON
Sunday 22nd March 2009
A DORSET/WILTS v BERKSHIRE
A OXFORDSHIRE v BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
B CORNWALL v SOMERSET
B DEVON v GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Saturday 4th April 2009
QUARTER FINALS
Saturday 18th April 2009
SEMI FINALS
Saturday 9th May 2009
FINAL
Match Reports for 2007/8 Season can be found under the U20 sub menu on the left
Postscript to the final communiqué. So D&W lost to the eventual winners, I thought they were good!
May 10, 2008
Gloucestershire U20s 26 Yorkshire U20s 17
Gloucestershire upset the form-book at Twickenham when they beat favourites Yorkshire with a performance of relentless determination and sound defensive commitment that the White Rose side could not cope with in the final of the National Under 20 Championship.
Yorkshire went into the game having cut a swathe through the North, but the men from the South West were made of much sterner stuff and exerted a level of pressure that their opponents had not experienced this season. They did not react well and fell below the high standard they had set for themselves.
Gloucestershire could not have wished for a better start. After only 53 seconds they went ahead when a clearance kick by fly-half Jonny West was charged down and lock Jack Robson was on hand to gather the loose ball and dive over.
Fly-half Tony Wicks converted and then extended his side’s lead on 17 minutes when he landed a penalty after a Yorkshire offence at a ruck.
Yorkshire gradually began to settle and though the Gloucestershire defence held firm to keep wingman Alex Orr out at the corner, they were not so successful when second-row Dominic Parsons plunged over from close range for West to convert.
Gloucestershire responded by taking play back into the Yorkshire 22 with some strong running and good support and when the White Rose men could not resist handling at a ruck under their own posts, Wicks added his second penalty.
There was worse to follow for the defending champions. After 34 minutes they failed to deal with a Wicks cross-kick and this the second-row John Hennessy claimed the touchdown, Wicks converting to leave Yorkshire trailing 20-7.
First-half injury time brought an exchange of penalties by Wicks and West, leaving Yorkshire 23-10 adrift going into the second-half and badly needing to recapture some of the form that had brought them to the final so emphatically.
There was no immediate shift in the shape of the game after the restart as Wicks nudged Gloucestershire further ahead with his fourth penalty and Gloucestershire continued to frustrate Yorkshire’s hopes of getting back into the game with a solid defensive performance.
Having shredded less able defences in en route to Twickenham, Yorkshire looked strangely shapeless and indecisive when confronted by a much sterner test, although they finally claimed their second try in the last minute of the game when they created enough space on the left for flanker Gavin Jones to score, centre Luke Gray converting.
Despite playing 14 minutes of injury time, in which Yorkshire were mostly on attack, Gloucestershire held their composure to the last to earn a deserved victory.
Final Communiqué Season 2007/8
That’s it for another season. I’m delighted at how well the squad came together and the set of very good results achieved. It’s a pity that we didn’t get to play at Twickenham or the Rec but that aside the whole squad can be proud of some excellent performances.
Special thanks to the following players who will be moving out of the age group, I hope to see you in the Seniors next season.
Daniel RAE
Chris BAKER
Gavin SMITH
Sean MURPHEY
James FOX
Nicholas HILL
Karim LYNCH
Matt PEARCE
Steven RICH
Daniel MAYLAND
Charlie PARISH
Tom WILSON
Of our regular squad members the players below are all eligible to put themselves up for selection to the squad again next season. It has been a pleasure working with you this season and I look forward to seeing you again next.
Ashton PRICE
Nick MORRIS
Oliver LINTON
Sam PAILOR
Cameron BROWN
Nick FARRANT
Jared SHARMAN
Sean BARWICK
Dan LOCK
Edward STAGG
Robert COLLIS
Angus HOGG
Ben LOOSMORE
Mike ERRINGTON
I also hope that we will see more of the players below in 2008/9. For a variety of reasons you missed out on participating in the squad very much this year I hope this will change next season.
Dan UNDERHILL
Josh OVENS
Sean LILLEY
Michael POPE
Luke BUGDEN
Luke RAPSON
TO ALL OTHER ASPIRING SQUAD MEMBERS FOR NEXT SEASON. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TRY OUT FOR THE U20 SQUAD PLEASE GET YOUR CLUB COACH TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME IN ORDER TO NOMINATE YOU.
Birth date eligibility is under the age of twenty at midnight on December 31st 2008 and over the age of seventeen at midnight on December 31st 2008. Front Row forwards must be over the age of 18 when playing in any match
Finally my thanks to the coaching team. I am optimistic that they will all stay on next season so please keep in touch with them over the summer.
Lead Coach, Paul Ninnim, Bridport RFC: 07976918559
Topper Brown, Swindon RFC 07971 185377
Alan Walker Blandford RFC: 07743 802317
Chris Stagg Wimborne RFC 07971 161155
Andy Smith Devizes RFC 07702 043958
Best wishes
Roy Farrant
RFU.com 
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