U14s take centre stage!

With the U17s National Cup called off... at ten to 11 on Sunday morning (!) it was up to the U14s to go for glory.

Mind you at least we hadn't left for Saracens - I dread to think what Worthing had to say when they heard... chances are they'd already been on the road for a couple of hours! Still, our Sudbury colleagues managed to get some Christmas shopping in instead, as I gather they got the news while passing a big shopping centre in Braintree. For some reason they felt that a little retail therapy was preferable to a session in mud at Letchworth and politely declined to join us.

And no - I have no idea what happens next there being not that many free dates to rearrange before the next round in February.

On the subject of which - the U14s. Well, Samantha and Laura anyway who joined girls from Saracens and and various points to the east (Diss, Ely, etc.) to form "Hertfordshire Barbarians". With Uttlesford pulling out it was two to go through from three, and when the "Barbarians" began with a 5-0 win over Welwyn they were soon on their way.

Sam and Laura then guested for Cramberly (coached by Dean Richards... ask a parent who he was!) who comprehensively beat Welwyn 17-0, despite having fewer players - Sam particularly impressing Simon Shutler, the Barbarians (and Herts county) coach.

So when to came to the final game both teams were actually already through - but it was a terrific game, despite being played on a now glutinous surface and finishing very nearly in the dark. Sam and Laura actually chose to stay with the Surrey team as the result didn't matter, and the Barbarians won 10-5.

So Laura, Sam - and all of our other U14s - will not be going to Sudbury on 4th February but instead will be competing for a place in the final of the National Cup. Somewhere in southern England...