The 34 - 27 scoreline in favour of Oxford just shows how close the County Senior side came to qualifying through to the next round of the County Championship Shield competition.  Essex turned up to face an Oxfordshire side with 10 Chinnor (Level 5) players in their side.  Perhaps overawed by the excellent facilities of the club and the size of their opponents, Essex went 8 - 0 down inside the first seven minutes to a penalty (2 minutes) and an uncoverted try.    With the game being played in the Essex half, the next score to Oxfordshire came on the stroke of 16 minutes with another try to Oxfordshire to take the score to 13 - 0.

As in the match against Leicestershire two weeks previously, Essex then began to find their way in the game and settle down to start the chase.  On 28 minutes, fly half Brad Burr (Brentwood) placed an accurate kick deep into the Oxfordshire 22 and from the resulting line out the Essex pack mauled and rucked the ball over the line for Dave Stevens (Thurrock) to touch down for the first Essex try to take the score to 13 - 5.  With the Essex backs getting into their stride and the pack feeling far more confident,  Essex and Oxfordshire swapped territory for the remainder of the first half with both teams producing some excellent work both in attack and defence.  By half time there was no further score and the game looked as though it would go either way for both teams.

Essex started the second half by keeping Oxfordshire pinned into their own half.  The pressure on the Oxfordshire line was sustained and following a 5 meter line out, the Essex pack stood firm, and with the pack slipping the ball to Joe Green (Basildon),  gave Joe the opportunity to crash over the line from 3 yards out for the County's second try five minutes into the second half.  At 13 - 10 an Essex fight back looked on the cards but Oxford's Sam Stoop (Chinnor) picked up a loose ball from the restart and sped over unopposed to open up the gap with a converted try making the score 20 - 10.  Essex took the knock on the chin and carried the game back to Oxfordshire.  With Brad Burr gaining more control at half back behind the Essex pack,  the backs, who had always threatened,  finally managed to get the ball out to Emile Solomons ( Brentwood) whose pace took him to the corner flag for a third try to Essex, converted by Brad Burr.  With the score now at 20 - 17 the match looked evenly balanced and a penalty to Essex on the stroke of 26 minutes into the second half saw Brad Burr level the scores at 20 - 20.

With 10 minutes left on the clock it was Oxfordshire who siezed the intiative with a try scored out wide on their right wing.  Having tied up the Essex defence in the centre of the pitch, Oxfordshire created the space on the right wing for Sam Black (Chinnor) to win the race for the line to give the lead back to Oxfordshire with a converted try to take the score to 27 -20.  Two minutes later Sam Stoop increased the Oxfordshire lead to with his second try converted by James Cathcart to give Oxfordshire a lead of 34 points to 20.  Though the score would have knocked the stuffing out of many sides Essex played out the match in the Oxfordshire half and not to be outdone, a fine backs move saw Brentwood's Adam Thomas have the last say of the match with a try under the posts converted by his club mate Brad Burr to make the final score 34 - 27.

Head coach Gary Smith summed up the match by praising the team and added,  "We had to make a few changes at the last minute for this game which we knew we just had to win to stand a chance of going further on in the competition.  We have the making of a good team here and I hope that the experience of these three matches will perhaps help to keep this group of players together for next season.  I am grateful for the clubs releasing their palyers for the County and I feel sure that with this cooperation next seaon we can do better.  We appreciated that clubs at this level have a tough season ahead of them, but in the breaks it would be helpful to perhaps get the lads together earlier in the seaon so that we can hit the Championship matches running."

 

 

Loosing 43 - 19 to Leicestershire was not the best way or the County to start its County Championship Shield campaign, so its an uphill struggle from here onwards.  With Oxfordhsire beating East Midlands our next opponents we are certainly  need to up our game.  Heavier and a much taller second row faced the team as they took to the field in bright sunlight at Market Harbourers superb facilities and grounds.  A lively start by Leicstershire saw two tries in quick succession inside the fist ten minutes as the home side settled down into their rytham a lot quicker that Essex.  Two further tries by Leicester put us further behind and chasing the game.

Towards the end of the firt half Essex started to get their game togehter and a fightback appeared possible.  some excellent rucking adn msuling got the county into the Leicester 22 and close to the line.  More determined rucking eventually saw Nick Cooper-Hicks dive over the ruck for the County's first try converted by Darryel Worster. Essex then saw out the fremaining 10 minutes of the first half with some excellent work which took the game back to the oppostion.  The half time score was 24 - 7.

The promising last ten minutes of the first half continued into the begining of the second half during which Emile Soloman,  on the left wing received a clean ball to streak ahead of the opposition to score a second try for Essex.   However, ais ten minute spell, Leicester opened up their gam eand replied with three more tries without reply.  The last word theough came from Essex with a final try in the last minutes of the game leaving the score at 43 - 19.  Head Coach was quite upbeat about the teams first performance considerig that the team had not had time for a warm up match.  " The next match against East Midlands will be crucial.  We are on home soil at Barking, and the lads will want to prove themselves.  The shield is not lost yet and I expect that without any playing distractions during the week the team will be fully fit for next weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Essex County RFU U20 17 - 15  Hertfordshire U20's

Muddy conditions, Rain before the kick off but the boys still did well against a heavier pack and on a very sticky ground.

Next round is against Sussex at Pul;borough next weekend.

 

Team selection for London and South East v. Midlands Jan 10th ko. 1.00pm
1. Tom Smallbone London Oratory School (Middlesex).
2. Jamie Charlton-Little Perins School (Hampshire).
3. Tomas Rhodes Flegg High School (Eastern Counties).
4. Jack Ramshaw Bay House School (Hampshire
5. Tom Hilton-Stevens RGS Guildford School (Surrey).
6. Harry Ledger Whitgift School (Surrey).
7. Gabriel Carroll (Capt) St Joseph’ College (Eastern Counties).
8. Alex Bradley Bishop Wandsworth School (Surrey).
9. Simon Sexton Wellington College (Surrey).
10. William Hooley The Leys School (Eastern Counties).
11. Jordan Burns Epsom College (Surrey).
12. George Catchpole Norwich School (Eastern Counties).
13 Harry Sloan The Skinners School (Kent).
14. Billy Maddock Lord Wandsworth College (Hampshire).
15. Antony Watson St George’s College (Surrey).
16. Thomas Clarke Oaks Park High School (Essex).
17. Max Crumpton The King John School (Essex).
18. Alfie Hutcherson Billericay School (Essex).
19. Maro Itoje St George’s School (Hertfordshire).
20. Luke Huelin De La Salle College Jersey (Hampshire).
21. Harry Theologititis Orleans Park School (Middlesex).
22. Nick Robinson Beaumont School (Hertfordshire).
M.A.EYRES TEAM MANAGER LONDON + SOUTH EAST SCHOOLS 16 GROUP DIVISION.

The London & South East Under 16 selectors have named two teams for a final divisional trial at St Albans School on Sunday December 20 (12pm), ahead of January's national festival matches against two other English divisions.

(This trial has now been postponed due to unplayable pitches, to the 22nd December at Blackheath RFC Kick off 12pm)

New head coach Peter Coke will be among those running the rule over the U16 hopefuls who have been chosen from 246 players graded in the course of 13 inter-county matches, and 93 who attended a preliminary trial a fortnight ago. Sunday's rfearranged trial match will be followed by the selection of a squad of 22 players to attend a development camp, also at St Albans, on January 2/3, 2010, followed by matches against Midlands U16 at Broadstreet RFC near Coventry on Sunday January 10 (1pm), and the North U16 at the same venue on January 24 (11am).

Players will be hopeful of going on to emulate the seven London & South East players who earned England U16 caps last season, or the quartet who represented England U16 A.

Light Blue Team 15 Guy Bentley (Hampton School & Richmond RFC) 14 James Deehan (St Bernard's Grammar School & Ealing RFC) 13 Alex Miers (Perins Community & Winchester RFC) 12 Harry Sloan (The Skinners' School & Cranbrook RFC) 11 Jordan Burns (Epsom College & Cobham RFC) 10 James Doe (The Oratory School & Havant RFC) 9 George Taylor (Tiffin School & Cobham RFC) 1 Thomas Rhodes (Flegg High School & North Walsham RFC) 2 Max Crumpton (The King John School & Westcliff RFC) 3 Harry Elrington (Heathside School & Reeds Weybridge RFC) 4 Conor O'Toole (All Saints Catholic School & Barking RUFC) 5 Jack Ramshaw (Bay House School & Winchester RFC) 6 Harry Ledger (Whitgift School & Sutton and Epsom RFC) 7 Gabriel Carroll (St Joseph's College & Sudbury RFC) 8 Alex Bradley (Bishop Wordsworth School & Andover RFC)

Green Team 15 Billy Maddock (Lord Wandsworth College & Richmond RFC) 14 Henry Lamont (Cranleigh School & Guildford RFC) 13 Nick Robinson (Beaumont School & Old Albanians RFC) 12 George Catchpole (Norwich School & North Walsham RFC) 11 Bami Falana (Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet) 10 Will Hooley (The Leys School & Cambridge RFC) 9 Simon Sexton (Wellington College & London Irish RFC) 1 Tom Smallbone (London Oratory School & London Irish RFC) 2 Jamie Charlton-Little (Perins School & Winchester RFC) 3 Thomas Clarke (Oaks Park High School & Barking RUFC) 4 Tom Hilton Stevens (RGS Guildford & Cobham RFC) 5 Maro Itoje (St George's School & Harpenden RFC) 6 Isaac Ajayi (St Ignatius College) 7 James Thompson (Cranleigh School & Guildford RFC) 8 Fraser Heathcote (The Leys School & Cambridge RFC)

Replacements who may play 12 James Wilson (City of London Freemen's School & Sutton and Epsom RFC) 12 Tom Gannon (Westcliff High School & Bishops Stortford RFC) 11 Harry Busby (Highcliffe School & New Milton RFC) 10 Tom Diamond (Wallington County Grammar & Old Alleynians RFC) 9 Tom Chapman (Colfe's School & Old Colfeians RFC) 1 Alfie Hutcherson (Billericay Sch & Brentwood RFC) 2 Harry Coates (Dorothy Stringer High School & Brighton RFC) 2 Nick de Brett (Tonbridge School & East Grinstead RFC) 4 Alex Calvert (Westcliff High School & South Woodham Ferrers RFC) 6 Harry Theologititis (Orleans Park School & Richmond FC) 7 Will Grist (The Judd School & Sevenoaks RFC)

Unavailable but being considered 15 Anthony Watson (St George's College & London Irish RFC) 13 Alex Smith (Colfe's & Old Colfeians RFC) 11 Chris Lord (St Joseph's College & Bury St Edmunds RFC) ends

 Due to waterlogged pitches and the very bad weather in November/December both trials had to be cancelled and our U20’s programme reviewed.  Please see the message below from Dean Cutting regarding the revised schedule.  

 Please note that the date of age qualification is U20 as of the 31^st December 2009. 

The new revised training dates for Essex 20s, are more or less on continuous Mondays but as you probably understand we need to get together as often as possible before our 1st game, all sessions will be at Romford and Gidea Park,  

6.45 - 7pm registration, 7.30pm warm up start,  

TRAINING DATES;  4th Jan; 11th Jan; 25th Jan; 1st Feb.  

MATCH DATES;  

7th Feb v Herts H 

14th Feb v Middx H 

28th Feb v Sussex A 

Finals Day @ Aldershot 14th March 

Any problems please contact me on details below, and regularly check Essex website, especially if we have had bad weather 

Regards Dean  Dean CuttingCommunity Rugby Coach - Essex - 60 High Street, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4ANOffice 01277 260 055 - Mobile 07732 829 972 - deancutting@rfu.com <mailto:deancutting@rfu.com>  

The County is pleased to announce that the following players in our U16 Group have been selected to take part in the London and South East Development Squad.

We send them our best wishes in the hope that they are eventually selected for London Division in the Divisional Festivals in January 2010 from which the England U16 Group Development squad will be selected.  A big thank you also to all the management and coaching team as well as the Parents for their dedication in helping to get these players through this highly competative stage of the selection pathway.

Our commiserations to those players who did not get through, but this season, especialy in all the U16 inter county graded matches, I have been impressed with the standard of play displyed by everyone - Well done adn we look forward to seeing you at the next level - U17 and U18.

Players going through to the next stages:

Calvert	Alex	South Woodham Ferrers	Westcliff
Clarke	Thomas	Barking	Oaks Park High
Crumpton	Max	Westcliff	King John
Gannon	Tom	Bishops Stortford	Westcliff
Hutcherson	Alfie	Brentwood	Billericay
O'Toole	Conor	Barking	All Saints

Sunday 1^st November 2009

 

Eastern Counties 17 - Essex 10  (at Sudbury RFC)

 Essex scorers: Tries Vinni Denardis (2) After last week’s victory over Kent, Essex U16’s found Eastern Counties a much tougher opponent on Sunday. In challenging conditions, Essex conceded a try within the first five minutes when EC broke up the blindside, kicked ahead and then capitalised on a slip by the Essex full back to touch down. Throughout the first half, Essex found it difficult to deal with the defensive pressure exerted by EC both at the contact area and in the back line. This led to a number of errors and two more tries for the home side before half time. The second half performance by Essex was much better. The side enjoyed the majority of possession and a stronger forward performance had EC resorting to spoiling tactics to protect their lead. Winger Vinni Denardis picked up two tries – the first coming from a stray EC pass that he kicked ahead and touched down; the second resulted from a short pass on the blindside, following a long spell of goal line pressure.   Essex: M Spremulli, V Denardis, C Allen, L Clark, C Soth (J Ayrton), M Sullivan, A Dennis (J Daly), A Hutcherson, H Branch, L Taylor (T Clarke), C O’Toole, S Gannon (C Kingham), C Simpson (M Crumpton), A Johnson (R Hartley), L Power

 

Sunday 25th October 2009 - Old Albanians

Essex 20 - 8 Kent

Essex scorers: Tries Rory Hartley (2), Bird, Calvert

 

An outstanding forward display by Essex in the first of the graded games, led to a comprehensive win over Kent on Sunday. The dominance of the front row in the early exchanges led to Essex winning a penalty for a collapsed scrum which, taken quickly, resulted in an unconverted short range try for flanker Rory Hartley. Kent responded with a kicked penalty for an offside offence, but Essex extended the lead midway through the first half. Another penalty was moved quickly from one side of the pitch to the other with the forwards closely in support, picking and driving their way towards a try for centre Bob Bird. By half-time, the score was 15-3 thanks to an Alex Calvert try which followed a good break by captain Max Crumpton up the touchline. Essex won the lineout and Calvert touched down from the catch and drive. The second half saw some fine Essex breaks, particularly those of Chay Soth, Jack Daly, and Alex Calvert, but only one more Essex try. Some more driving support play from the forwards created the opportunity for fly half James Ayrton to place an attacking kick towards the try line. The opposing full back conceded a penalty under the pressure of the kick chase and Rory Hartley picked up his second try of the game coming off the back of the resulting scrum.

Second row Conor O’Toole was deservingly awarded Man of the Match.

Essex: M Spremulli, V Denardis, T Gannon, R Bird, C Soth, J Ayrton, J Daly, A Hutcherson, M Crumpton (H Branch), T Clarke (D Collison), C O’Toole, A Calvert, R Hartley, L Power, C Kingham,

                 

Original Pics can be obtained from hon.sec@essexrugby.com  Just sent a comment using the form below.

London & South East Division – Youth Inter-County Fixtures – 2009/10

(Further information on London and South East Division youth programme can be foundon their web site by clicking here )

18 Group

2009	Mon-Sun
Sept	21 - 27   CB	Ex v Sy  *
	28 - 4
Oct	5 - 11  CB	He v Mx	K v Ha	EC v Ex	Sy v Sx
	12 - 18
	19 – 25 CB	Ha v Sx	Mx v EC	He v Ex	K v Sy
	26 – 1   CB	Sx v K	Sy v Mx	Ex v Ha	EC v He
Nov

* Non graded warm up games; if other CBs propose using this date please in form BW asap.           

NB The above dates are YSS slots; actual playing day in those slots to be forwarded to Bob Whittle asap eg Wednesday dates.  As soon as received an inter county playing programme based on play dates will be circulated.

17 Group

2010	Mon-Sun
April	5 – 11	Mx v EC	Sy v Ex	He v K	Ha v Sx
	12 - 18
	19 - 25	EC v Ha	Mx v He	Ex v K	Sx v Sy

Divisional Dates: Sundays 15 & 29 November; 13 & 20 December 2009.  Development 28/29 December.  

Festival dates 2/4^th. January 2010.

16 Group

2009	Mon - Sun
Oct	19 – 25	Ex  v  K *	EC  v  He *	Ha  v  Sx	Sy  v  Mx
	26 – 1 (ht)	Sx  v  Mx **	Ha  v  Sy **	K  v  He	EC  v  Ex
Nov	9 – 15	Sx  v  Sy Wed 11th	Ha  v  Mx	EC  v  K	Ex  v  He
	23 - 29	Sy  v  K Wed 25th.	Mx  v  EC	Sx  v  He	Ex  v  Ha

* Double headed St.Albans                                ** Double headed Christs Hospital

ALL are graded games

Proposed Divisional Dates

Sunday 6^th. Dec.            Preliminary Trial:            Development w.e. mid week 16/17 Dec.2009.

Sunday 20^th. Dec.          Final Trial:                     Development mid week 2/3 Jan 2010.

15 Group Fixtures 2010

2010	Mon - Sun
Feb	15 – 21 (ht)	EC  v  Ex	K  v  Sy	He  v  Ha	Mx  v  Sx
March
April	5 - 11	Sy  v  EC	Sx  v  He	Ha  v  K	Ex  v  Mx

14 Group Fixture 2010

2010	Mon - Sun
April	19 - 25	Mx  v  Sy	K  v  Ha	Ex  v  He	EC  v  Sx

Sunday 11th October 2009

 

Eastern Counties 31 - 10 Essex 

Essex began the match with a well worked try after four minutes by centre Albert Portsmouth.  Good early pressure insid eth eand a break by Counties 22 saw stand off Owen Thomas create a break in the Counties defence, for Partsmouth to gather a short pass and dive over the line for the first score.  Counties responded well and soon the dominacen of their bigger pack put the Essex forwards ont eh defensive.  Enthusiatic tackling kept Counties at bay and it took Counties at least 10 mintues to eventually maul their way over the line for th efirst converted try.  Five minutes later Counties were awarded a scrum five meters out from the Essex line and in a well co ntrolled scrum the Counties No 8 Calum Cashman gathered up the ball fromt he base of the scrum and barged his way over the Counties second converted try giving Counties a 14 - 5 lead.  Dispite forays into the Counties half, Counties used the follwoing wind to push Essex back into their own 22.  On the stoke of half hour, Counties were awarded a lineout just five meters out and from  resultant catch and drive scored their third converted try of the first half making the score 19 -5.  And so it stayed until the half time whistle.

The second half began well for Essex with a following wind and the kick off Essex camped in the Counties half.  The pressure told and with some vigourous rucking and mauling Regan Phillips crossed the line the give Essex the first try of the second half.  Though the conversion was wide of the posts, the score gave Essex some hope of more to come.  The game however lost a bit of its contiuity with the referee penalising Essex for a number of transgressions in the rucks and both sides having a fair share of possession and territory.  The next score came from the Counties halfway through the second half when right wing Ollie Gill scraped over in the right hand corner to take the score to 26 -10.  With five minutes left to go Counties used the strength of the pack to create a controlled driving maul to go over the Essex line to make the score 31-10.  There was no further score before the ereferee Alexis Manley from London Society blew the final whistle.

The score probably did not do justice to some excellent moments thoughout the game when Essex looked dangerous with ball in hand, especailly amonsgst the backs.  Though the pack may have lacked a bit of weight and height, it was their defensive work that gave hope for the future especcially if they can apply that spirit to attack.

Head Coach Simon Hoult said after the match " The boys worked hard and on the whole that was a good performacne.  We had our chances and the backs always looked dangerous with ball in hand.  The Eastern Counties forwards deprived us of some good possession, and they scored three of their tries from rucks and mauls.  This is something we will have to work on for our next match in a couple of weeks time against Hertfordshire."  

Essex U18’s v Eastern Counties @ Colchester RFC 11/10/2009 Kick Off 2.30pm

1              Sean Jones   2   Jo Barnes  3   Matt Durham  4   Ollie Brooks  5  Matt Whaley  6  Josh Taylor 7  Regan Phillips 8  Callum Jones 9  Richard Barrett 10  Owen Thomas  11           Ben Ladyman  12   Albert Portsmouth 13   Jon Foong  14  Iain Meads 15  Mike Ayrton
SUBSTITUTES 16 Josh Leszczuk 17 Kieran Ball 18 Lewis Pratley 19 Jamie Acton 20 Dan Peasnell 21 Arron Lowe 22 Jamie Masters