2011 12 Season:
Oxfordshire U20s: 2012 Campaign Report
The 35 point deficit from the one game against a hugely improved Berkshire side serves to colour this otherwise creditable season. 1 win, 1 loss and I draw leaving Oxfordshire second in the table. These results are broadly consistent to those achieved over the previous two years.
The 2012 campaign
We trained at Gosford All Blacks on Friday evenings from early December 2011 through to our first match on February 19th 2012. The hospitality from Gosford could not have been bettered, our only criticism being the quality of training lights which should, for representative rugby, be brighter. Forty nine players attended training but after the first session of 30+ players, it was rare that attendance on any one Friday exceeded 20 – work, essays, and injuries to blame.
The squad played a friendly match against Oxford University on January 22nd and were well beaten by an experienced team at the end of their season; nonetheless this is a key fixture as it helps identify strengths and weaknesses and serves as a recruitment platform for age-eligible Oxford University players.
Our first match was a 20 to 7 win against Buckinghamshire – this was the one and only game where we were close to being able to select an optimum squad, albeit of 21 rather than 22. There was a strong contribution from our senior clubs, from Oxfordshire players returning from University and from Oxford University. Tries were scored by Soppet (Hooker) and Massey (Centre).
The next game was also away – a clay swamp of a turnip field on the edge of Salisbury Plain – sleet and snow and a force 7 gale did little to enrich a grim match which ended in a 5-5 draw. Our try was scored by Tevita (Oxford). The squad which was weakened by injury and suspensions, was supplemented on the day with a second row and a fly-half from Oxford University – these players had not previously trained with us.
The final game was home at Henley to Berkshire. The support of Henley RFC has been superb – they have released both players and coaches and have acted as hosts for two years in a row. In contrast to Oxon, Berkshire selected a squad of 27 in December and have not had to look outside of this core since then. They have built their squad around Reading University and invested heavily in creating a professional outfit – seven coaches, two support staff, budgets for players travel expenses and a full range of training and playing kit. This investment was apparent on the pitch, where Oxfordshire were beaten 13 points to 58 – our try was scored by Henry McMaster (Chinnor). Once again injuries from Saturday matches combined with the departure of all Oxford University players for their Easter break decimated the first choice team. Chinnor and Henley RFC stepped up, providing eight and four players respectively – 4 of which had never trained with the U20s this season.
Representation
Across the course of the campaign, club players were drawn from Gosford, Bicester, Witney, Chinnor, Henley, Oxford and Grove, whilst Oxford University provided seven players. Thank you letters have been sent to the Management Committees of all clubs. The three 22-man playing squads were made up of 39 players and only four playing positions were filled by the same player in all 3 matches.
It was a significant loss that Oxford Brookes University decided that they were unable to release any players in 2012 – historically their players have served as a cornerstone of the County U20s. If we are to succeed, perhaps following the Berkshire model, forging stronger links here is an imperative.
Coaching
The coaching team was the best we have yet assembled – Martin Moran as head coach was unstinting in his commitment and the performance is in no small part a reflection of his efforts. He was excellently supported by Jamie Lakin (Oxford), Nick Darke (Henley), James Cathcart (Chinnor) and Gary Morris (RFU).
Players
We believe that all players have benefited from their exposure to a higher level of playing to which they are used and hopefully to new coaching ideas and gameplays. Four of Oxfordshire’s squad were invited to the SW selection event – Ted Soppet (our Captain), ex of Banbury RFC and now playing at Morley; Sam Steventon of Oxford RFC, William Millet of Chinnor RFC and Samir Kharbouch – ex of Henley and now Wasps Academy. All except from William Millet made the SW 22.
Achievement against targets
The coaching and management team set six targets for 2013:
1. Get to SW Knock Out stage Failed
2. Get 6 players to SW Trials Four
3. Get 4+ players to Senior County squad Achieved
4. Use U20s for coach development Acheived (Gary Morris / James Cathcart)
5. Achieve participation for 10 clubs/Institutes 7 clubs plus Oxford Uni
6. Deliver programme on budget Achieved
Nick Cole Oxfordshire U20s Manager
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