Bits & pieces: Beckenham, County trials, Fixture news

A few small items of interest...

• BECKENHAM will be a 15-a-side tournament for U17 teams this year (10 a side for the new U14 event). Well, that is what they are intending - my feeling is that they are a shade optimistic for both age groups and it may on the day be less than that - but what do I know? No news yet on whether the uncontested scrum rule will be in place for U17s (my guess is it will), or the unique "no hand offs" rule (which Nim will recall from last year). Entry now sent off to them - should be a good day as we can look forward to meeting and comparing ourselves with big name teams (like Petersfield) who we only ever normally see at the Nationals.
  
  
• COUNTY TRIALS for U17s are likely to be based around a "tournament", ideally a 10-a-side inter-club event - though I guess extra teams will be made up on the day from smaller combinations or from extra players from larger clubs. Details still to be finalised, but the idea comes from the coaches' feeling that they learn more from watching players actually play than from drills.
  
  U14 trials are likely to be far less formal - for the most part girls keen enough to actually turn up will probably make the "squad". So even if you are new to the game this season it will still be worth going to Stevenage on the 17th September - you'll get to meet girls from other clubs across the county. You can do much more in a bigger group - and as one of the county coaches is our Rachel you'll be well looked after.
  
  
• FIXTURE NEWS. We are likely to be joined by Aylesbury for our fixture at Milton Keynes on 1st October - another team we have never played before. Not a club you hear too much about (not sure they've ever been to the National Sevens, for example), but they have going for a long time so should well prepared - could be interesting.
  
  Attempts are also now being made to squeeze in at least a U17 fixture with Welwyn (given the strength of their U14 team last year we'll probably hold back throwing our new girls into battle with them for a short while!). They have contacted Mike, who does our fixtures, and after the U17s special request on Sunday that we try to get a game Mike is seeing what can be done.
  
  
• NATIONAL KNOCKOUT. Our entry for the U17 competition also went off yesterday - so in about six-eight weeks time we'll see who we get (or indeed where we have to travel to!). Entries do not actually close until 16th October so Rachel is going to see how the U14s develop before making a decision (there is less of a urgency to enter for the U14s as there will be fewer entries anyway).
  
  The entry for Rochford festival should also be in the post (Dave Roberts was sending that off). Both U14 and U17s wil be going to this - and we can expect the usual "crowd" from East Region to be there. Voted (by those who replied to the survey) as the best away fixture of last season!