For the past two years we have puzzeled and scratched our heads wondering how on earth east could fail to pick Nim for the U17 squad. Well, the good news coming out of the East have trials is that at long last she has been selected for the squad - the only non-Welwyn player from Hertfordshire selected to far!
Unfortunately that was the end of the good news from Ely. Laura has a retrial for prop so fingers crossed there, but for Jess, Emily, Sophie, Katie, Carla and Hayley is was a disappointing outcome.
Carla didn't seem to put a foot wrong - throwing like we've never seen her all season. But she and Emily were up against six or seven other props making it a tough call. Jess seemed to have an off day, but she and Sophie were up against 22 other centres and in the end Sophie's relative inexperience and unfamiliarity with the drills cost her, while Katie played a blinder in the match but was also let down in the drills. But its Hayley's non-selection that is the biggest shock.
This does give us an almost full team for games on regional days, however, so once the dust has cleared some of us will be making phone calls...
Your article seems to suggest that my fellow coaches and I have no idea how to spot a talented rugby player. I would say only this that in a trial situation it is the job of the coaches to judge what they see on the day.We can hold into account a girl having an off day, or a girl that the club feels is maybe better than she is.
ReplyDeletewe as coaches did our utmost to treat each girl as fairly as possible and would ask the girls that did not make it this year to accept our decision gracefully and with the dignity we all try instill in our young players. I did put a small letter on all failed girls forms that i was more than happy to discuss their trial.
Our job was to do the best we could and i feel that we achieved that.
Clive Cramphorn
Sorry if that is the impression that the note gave - that is not its intention. At no point does it criticise any selectors - the closest it does to that is to say that some girls seemed to do well but were up against better players on the day.
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