...for helping make it a memorable event.
For the record... after eight hours of play (yes - it did overrun a bit!):
U14s
Cup: 1: Welwyn; 2: Saracens, 3=: Basildon & Westcliffe
Plate: 1: Rochford; 2: Milton Keynes; 3: Becket Blues
Bowl: 1: Hellesdon; 2: Letchworth; 3: Uttlesford
U17s:
Cup: 1: Basildon; 2: Hertford; 3=: Letchworth & Welwyn
Plate: 1: Paviors; 2: Westcliffe; 3=: Rochford & Uttlesford
Bowl: 1: Becket Barbarians; 2: Daventry; 3=: Milton Keynes & Wasps
Shield: 1: Romford; 2: Becket Belles; 3: Letchworth/Saracens
[I have the detailed scores from the pool stages, but after that... well it didn't matter as much and finding referees became a greater priority. However, in response to one or two requests, detailed results are noew available - see the column on the right]
There were many outstanding games - and a lot of very impressed spectators who'd not seen much girls' rugby before. It was particularly good to see new teams like Wasps, Hellesdon High School and Romford learn and improve game by game - all three of them had won at least one game by the end of the day, and two went home with trophies.
Basildon were worthy winners in the U17s, especially after a pulsating semi-final against Welwyn (revenge, perhaps, for their defeat at the Rochford 10s festival in October), and the final placings are probably an accurate reflection of where the strength of East (and East Midlands) girls' rugby has been this season.
In the U14s the clear favourites won - and who would bet against Welwyn's juniors taking the national title as well in two weeks times? Elsewhere the U14 competition was far probably closer than the U17s - Saracens winning Pool C on tries scored, and Westcliff pipping Basildon to Pool B by a single bonus point.
For most of you your season is now complete and you can put your feet up . As you do, spare a thought for the poor saps from Basildon, Welwyn (U14s and U17s) and Letchworth (U17s) who will still be fighting the good fight for two more weeks. Yes, these gluttons for punishment are going to do it all again in two weeks time - at the Nationals. And after today's experience, who would bet against an East region name being on the trophies!
Any feedback would be very welcome. Seriously. Suggestions for improvements, what went well (how useful was this blog?), what didn't, etc. would be very welcome.
And so it ends. For this year. The host for next year's Herts Sevens has yet to be decided (or even discussed) yet, but hopefully we'll see you all back in the county for that. In between times there's the Rochford 10s Festival on 22nd October (not the 29th, as the programme suggested) to look forward to - definately not to be missed. See you there!!
Finally... this is where this blog closes down - hopefully to be revive next year. I was tempted to talk about little white dots fading on the screen, but its a sign of age I guess for anyone to understand what I might mean. Anyway, I will now be transferring business to a new blog - http://hertsgirls.blogspot.com - to give a similar news and comment service on the girls county scene in Hertfordshire. If you'd care to join me there you'd be very welcome.
And in the meanwhile, why not start your own blog? Its not just a management tool (though its a useful one) but it can be fun as well. Lets have some English girls rugby blogs out there - why should (the otherwise excellent, but still very American whatever you say, Blondie!) Saturday's a Rugby Day have all the fun?
[PS - don't forget to check out the tournament phots on http://rugbymatters.net. Expect them to start appearing from the middle of the week - and keep going back as new photos will be added as they are processed. RugbyMatters also do a very fast and effective turnround time on prints - so get your orders in as well.]
[PPS - Anglia TV's report on the day went out at around 6.20pm on Sunday - which we were doing the presentations. I am trying to get a copy of the recording and will post it on here shudl I manage to do so].
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