12th February 2006. Winning is good, but its how you play that gets remembered

Well played by everyone on Sunday. Obviously we still have some way to go compared to Welwyn (an average of two years older per player, with two-three years more experience), but equally we are gradually catching up.

Its the first time I've really been able to see the U14s and ultimately I think the problem you when facing teams like Welwyn is that you lack of big, strong, disciplined, forwards who will concentrate on winning and keeping the ball for the backs. Without that even the best back line will struggle - but we will get there. Hayley, Izzy, etc will grow into the roles - but it'll take a bit of time yet!

The main thing is that you did not give up and seemed to enjoy and learn from the day. Which is the what its all about.

The U17s also struggled a bit against Welwyn - but the difference was really only a couple of very fast, talent Welwyn backs. Up front again it was a very even battle. You showed more of what we are capable of in the game v Bishops Stortford. Given just a bit more room you were pretty devastating.

The run in for the rest of the season is rather more gentle, up to the Sevens. Both teams are at Datchworth on the 26th, and on the 2nd April the U17s are away to Bishop's Stortford while the U14s will now either be training or away to Saracens (as Chesham have had to pull out of the fixture we had with them)

But the main thing to pass is a comment from Sudbury (which has been copied to Dave Roberts and Karen for the newsletter, so that the wider club knows as well).

Sudbury (and Stortford) had a excellent day and their coach told me that they were asking if there was any way they could play with Letchworth more often (the U17s combined with Sudbury for the day) as they had got on so well.

While being a nice complement in itself, its actually not the first time this has been said about our teams - both the U17s and the U14s. More or less the same things has been said by girls from Rochford, and Westcliff, and Kibworth, and Uttlesford, and Ampthill, and...

The fact that I get a team ringing up asking if they can play you almost every week must be linked to that. Most girls teams say how difficult it is for them to get fixtures - but clubs are queueing up to play you.

We may not win every game - with relatively young sides at both age groups we are probably a little under 50% this season - but you are clearly winning a reputation as being one of the friendliest, most welcoming, and most sportsmenlike teams in the region (and beyond).

Sometimes teams put winning above all else. They make headlines, win trophies... and wonder why their fixtures start to dry up. That is not a problem we face. The reputation you are building will last longer (and will be more valuable to the club) than a few results here and there, and its something to be very proud of.