Sussex RFU County Under 17

Organisation Manager                       SteveMew              07733148527                                    themews@talk21.com Lead Coach                  Andy Connors     07919108172                                    connors.andy17@gmail.com Assistant Coaches        Clay Saunders   Greg Heath                                    Treve Tagg       Mike Stubbs                            Nutritionalist                 Jack Nayler Strength/Conditioning Referee Consultant       Mark Packwood

U17 County Season 2011/12 Fixtures & Training Sess   Sussex U17 vs. Hants U17 Sunday 15th April at Chichester RFC (Post Code: PO196BB) - Meet time by 12.30 - KO time is 2pm - Pre-match attire - arrive in training gear - Match attire - Sussex shorts and socks (warm/wet weather gear for in between matches) - Refreshments post match - all to attend please and also to play host to our visitors As this is a "friendly" we have arranged for it to be made up of 3x sessions of play in order get maximum game time for all the selected squad. Our previous game against Middlesex was played with great spirit and maturity so lets continue to the end of the County season in the same way. All selected players MUST provide any update on injuries or non-availability in order that we can ensure we arrive on the day with a full and playable squad. By letting us know asap if you are unable to play will provide someone else with the chance of selection. Post match dress code is shirt and tie, WITHOUT EXCEPTION - if you already have an U17 County tie please wear it. Other smart/club/school ties on this occasion are acceptable. Dark trousers, smart shoes, no trainers. Please ensure that you let your club/school coach know of your selection as they will be keen to know of your progress. We would ask that you look after yourself over the rest of this week and not to over play, over do the gym etc. However, you all have a responsibility to your team mates to turn up on Sunday in the right state: both mind & body! If there are any issues then please contact me especially if there is a problem on the day. Good Luck! Steve Mew  Sussex Rugby   U17 Manager      07733148527

Match Report - Middlesex U17 - 17pts - Sussex U17 43pts

Middlesex U17 (17) v Sussex U17 (43)
Training Match: Merchant Taylor’s School, Northwood
Sunday 26th February 2012
As part of the ongoing development of the U17 squad, Sussex U17’s made the long journey to Northwood, nr Watford to take part in a training match against Middlesex - a “match” made up of 3x thirds. This provided a unique opportunity to take a squad of 29 players for their first County engagement of the season and allowed the coaching team to try out various combinations of players and positions which ordinarily is not possible in a standard match.

All players were provided with game time with each one playing in either the 1st or 2nd match as two distinct teams were put out for each 30 minute match.  The 3rd match was then a mixture of both teams with rolling subs a feature.

Under the captaincy of GRACE the first 30 minutes was truly inspirational as Sussex kept Middlesex in their own half for most of the time. Clear understanding of calls and playing wide rugby meant that the visitors were in for a fruitful period. There were some great individual runs and shattering tackles that left the opposition in doubt that Sussex meant business.

Tries from REILLY, FIELDWICK, NEWELL & O’CONNOR together with REILLY’s 3 conversions and some great defensive work to shut out the opposition provided an impressive 1st session. Score 0 – 26.

With a change of teams on both sides for the next 30 minutes it proved to be a time for Sussex to show its metal in defense as the home team delivered a sustained attack on the Sussex try line. Captained by ELLERY, Sussex came across a much stronger Middlesex but this game was very different to the first. Although they conceded 3 tries Sussex heads never dropped as every one of them defended in a cohesive and determined manner. Score 15 – 0.

The 3rd and final match saw both Sussex teams merge and with rolling subs, several changes meant that most players got additional game time. Sussex willingly listened to coaching advice and combined that with playing what they could see as it happened.  The lessons learnt in the 2nd game and the clear enthusiasm from the 1st game soon saw tries from FIELDWICK, BRIXEY & BATH plus a TERRY conversion.

Score 5 - 17.

Overall, a combined score of 17 – 43 was an excellent result for the combined squad as players used the opportunity to raise the bar in terms of performance and commitment. More importantly Sussex played as a team and that was very much the purpose of the outing.

Squad: Bath, Bunn, Burnett, Crossman, Ellery, Fieldwick, Flett, Golding, Grace, Henry, Hillicks, Hoare, Koops, Monks, Newell, O’Connor, Ogeuh, Pashley, Poynder, Randall, Reilly, Shiell, Skeet, Spencer-Smith, Terry, Valentine, Wallace, Brixey, Lasis

Steve Mew  - U17 Manager

Sx U17 Northwood L

Sussex U17's v Middlesex U17 - Sunday 26th February - Merchant Taylor's School, Northwood HA6 2HT

Sunday 26 February at Merchant Taylor's School, Northwood (Post Code: HA62HT)

- Meet time by 12.30    - KO time is 2pm

- Refreshments post match - all to attend please

As this is a "friendly" we have arranged for it to be made up of 3x 30 minute "halves" in order get maximum game time for all the selected squad. I am sorry that we are unable to take all of the current squad to this match but there will still be opportunities for all in the future.

All selected players MUST confirm availability to me by Thursday night and also provide any update on injuries in order that we can ensure we arrive on the day with a full and playable squad. By letting us know asap if you are unable to play will provide someone else the chance of selection.

Post match dress code is shirt and tie, WITHOUT EXCEPTION - if you already have a County tie please wear it. Apologies to those who have not yet received a County tie but unfortunately we have been let down and we will now have to await delivery. Other smart/club/school ties on this occasion are acceptable. Dark trousers, no trainers.

Please ensure that you let your club/school coach know of your selection as they will be keen to know of your progress. We would ask that you look after yourself over this week and not to over play, over do the gym etc if at all possible although we recognise you may already have other commitments. However, you all have a responsibility to your team mates to turn up on Sunday in the right state: both mind & body!

If there are any issues then please contact me especially if there is a problem on the day. In view of the distance you might want to consider car sharing etc

Location of Merchant Taylor's School : http://www.mtsn.org.uk/contact/map/  
Directions: http://www.mtsn.org.uk/fileadmin/content/_Contact/GettingToMTS.pdf

SQUAD (30)

Casper BRIXEY
Oliver BURNETT
Oliver BUNN
Max ELLERY
Rob FLETT
Lewis GOLDING
Alex GRACE
Will HOARE
Finlay HILLICKS
James LASIS
Judd NEWELL
Tom PASHLEY
Tom POYNDER
Doug RANDALL
Joe SKEET
Joe SPENCER-SMITH
Charlie WALLACE
Sam BATH
Chris BOND
Josh BROWN
Ben CROSSMAN
Sam FIELDWICK
Zac HENRY
Jack KOOPS
Callum MONKS
Tom NICOLL (C)
Piers O'CONNOR
Harry REILLY
Henry SHIELL
Joe TERRY
Connor VALENTINE

Look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
Steve Mew
Sussex U17 Manager
07733148527