Dear Touchline
Re Why should I play? in May Touchline

I coach U16s rugby at Altrincham Kersal and have coached them since they were U9s. I am not by myself in wanting to win, but playing is much more important. Every kid that turns up gets a game or part game (sometimes to our disadvantage, swapping a fly-half for a prop because we have three in one particular position.)

For festivals, when numbers are limited, we ask who is available and then make team selection around these players. Anyone can then come and support if they wish. I was warned, quite rightly, that the ten kids needed for U9s soon become 15 at U12s and then 20 for U16s. I am pleased to say we still have a fairly successful 20+ squad now moving up to the Colts.

Treat the kids well and they will stay.
Chris Appleton

Dear Touchline
I am writing to express my disappointment and that of my Blaydon RFC team mates at winning the Durham County Second Teams Cup. The reason why we are all disappointed is that the cup final was conceded by Durham University over the telephone two days before the game was due to be played.
The final was originally scheduled for four weeks earlier, but we gladly rearranged to fit in with the university holidays. During the intervening weeks we trained hard three times a week, with some players even missing shifts at work for the good of the team.

It is true that we are a strong side, having won six trophies in two years and only losing two games but surely this is no reason to cry off a cup final. Our success is due to hard work, good recruitment and excellent coaching, but we all play for the enjoyment of the game and for occasions such as these.

Durham is a university with a proud sporting history. It is an establishment that has produced many internationals but I am afraid they have made a mockery of this particular competition. They have denied 30+ players of a cup final experience and one captain of a very proud moment. They may have felt they were the weaker side but results in sport are never foregone conclusions. If they were, then Wimbledon would not have bothered turning up to Wembley in 1988 and Steven Bradbury, the Australian speed skater, need not have gone to Salt Lake City. The point is they did, and we all know what happened.

Yours faithfully
Lee Hogarth
Blaydon RFC Second Team