New hoodies

U18s - your hoodies will be ready next week so make sure you hand over the money asap as you will not get your hoody until you have paid.
U15s - get your order in to June asap so she can order your hoodies.

Games postponed

The next two planned fixtures have been postponed until the New Year due to squad injuries. The match on 30 November against the Blues will go ahead as planned at Bangor RFC. This means that there will be more time to plan and prepare for our away matches.

Gogledd Cymru U15 V U15 Scarlets

Gogledd Cymru U15s- 5 Scarlets U15s -52
Gogledd Cymru girls u15’s welcomed the Scarlets to Colwyn Bay Rugby Club for their first game of the season. The girls have only been together for five weeks but put on a great show against a strong Scarlets side.
Alaw Hughes did a superb kick towards the Scarlets try line allowing for Kaya Harding to score a try. Despite the score line the girls gave an outstanding performance with Gwen Harries gaining the Maid of the Match. There were excellent performances from Captain Amelia Stubbs, who led well from the front, matching the Scarlets scrums with the help of her fellow forwards. Hayley Ellis showed off her talent in the line outs, stealing some of the ball from the opposition as well as outstanding performances from Corinna Owen, Elinor Isaac and Cara Hope.
The coaches were proud of all the girls and were impressed with how they handled themselves against a side that were well drilled and undefeated from the previous season. The coaches went on to say that they believe that the Gogledd Cymru girls have the makings of a great team who will be more than ready to challenge the four regions. The next game is away to the Ospreys on the 2nd November.

Gogledd Cymru U18 - 0 U18 Scarlets - 34

Gogledd Cymru U18’s had their first match against the Scarlets at Colwyn Bay on Sunday 19th October 2008.

The date is a landmark for the region and the team.

For the region, this was the first time that the household South Wales regional teams have come up this far north. There was much expected from them. They did not disappoint.

For the Gogledd team this was their first outing for the season. 4 weeks ago there was no squad. Over the last three weeks girls from 3 clubs – Bangor, Pwllheli and Colwyn Bay - have stepped forward to take up the challenge and carry forward the flag and the fortunes of the new region of Gogledd Cymru. They have had just two training sessions and many organisational issues to contend with. They have dealt with this very well. They have come together as a squad and are ready to face up to the more organised, experienced regions of the south.

The Scarlets were the better organised team. They had the apparel and the appearance of an organised, well structured outfit. Their rugby reflected the appearance. They played well and to an effective game plan. There is much that we can learn from this first encounter.

The first quarter and the first half saw a hard fought game. In this period of play the Gogledd girls dealt with the power and the skills of the Scarlets well. They tackled well in defence preventing the larger, more powerful Scarlets from dominating them. It was well into the first half that the Scarlets relentless pressure finally broke through the Gogledd defence. This was followed by another long period of hard physical rugby before the Scarlets were able to score again. With gale force winds in their faces, it was a creditable performance by Gogledd to keep the Scarlets to just two tries at half time.

The second half saw the Scarlets dominate the game and begin to pull away. Gogledd were unable to use the conditions to their advantage. The pressure of a limited squad size became visible when injuries carried away the players from the field at crucial periods. The loss of two second rows Jade Mills and Kumari Tilakawardane in quick succession and the absence of sufficient forward substitutes on the bench caused the scrums to creak. Despite this, fast efficient hooking by Sarah Johnston for Gogledd gave them enough possession from the scrums. However, they were unable to make use of this, partly due to the good defence of the Scarlets but mostly due to handling errors. They lost scrum half Charlotte Pirie to an eye injury and for most part of the second half there were just 14 Gogledd girls on the field. This caused them to leak three tries despite the valiant effort by the remaining girls.

However, they ended on a high, attacking the Scarlets try line in the final five minutes. This came from a break by Jane Owen playing at 13 on one of the rare occasions that the ball moved down the line. Gogledd played their best attacking rugby in this period, putting together three to four phases of play. However, the Scarlets put up a determined defence to stop Ellen Jones and Joely Benton trying to barge over. Eventually it was time that prevented Gogledd from scoring despite being parked on the try line with repeated attacks on the right hand corner.

The final score was Gogledd Cymru - 0 Scarlets 34

Gogledd come away from this fixture with a mixed bag of fortunes. The positives are the valour of the girls who put up a creditable performance on their first outing. The team has had its first taste of regional rugby. They have come together quite creditably in the little time they have been given. They have weathered the initial pressure that was heaped on them by the delay in getting management structures, training and pitches organised. In parts they showed what the team could do. Their defence was determined with few missed tackles; they were effective clearing out at the rucks and contested the ball well at the breakdown; the few times that the backs got hold of the ball they did venture into the opposition half. However, they lacked the skills to finish the moves off and the experience to make use of conditions and play for position. With time the girls should be able to do better.

The problems they have to contend with are that most of the other matches this year will be played away, in the south. This will cause further pressures on the limited resources they have been given, squad size and the inevitable geographical spread of the region. After this one match, they already have three forwards out of a possible10 nursing long term injuries which will possibly prevent them playing the full match on the 2 November away at Swansea. Injuries to others will also erode the time they will be able to train together as a squad.

How could they be helped?

The clubs in the region could help by scouting and encouraging the players that are in their area to come forward for training. The management are aware of the difficulties for them to travel to training locations and have in place flexible and innovative ideas in overcoming this obstacle. The squad size is small. This has to be improved. There are more girls who could play than are being put forward by the clubs to play for the region. They could be encouraged to enjoy playing the game and the social life around it.

They need to be given the experience of playing 15 a side rugby more often. There should be positive moves towards playing 15 a side rugby at club level. Too often club loyalties have prevented girls from joining forces to play 15 a side rugby at club level. This causes the experience gap that is being seen at regional level.

The away matches to come are going to arduous and a test for the team. As a region, support, both in spectator numbers and with finances, is essential. Ideally, it would be nice to have time for rest from travel and training before the matches. For a squad that has limited time together this may be the crucial factor helping them to perform better.

Above all the girls need your support. The travelling support for the Scarlets far outnumbered the local support at Colwyn Bay. The girls are doing their best and will do better knowing and seeing the support of North Wales around them.

At then end, the momentous day was decided by differences between organisation and experience of the two teams. The Scarlets got the result. We hope Gogledd benefited by the experience.


For Gogledd Emma Beaumont shone with a display belying her late calling to the No 7 Jersey. The Scarlets too recognised her efforts nominating her as the Player of the Match for Gogledd. Ffion Evans stood out among several players for the Scarlets and was nominated by the Gogledd girls as their Player of the Match. The drinking contest at the end of the day between these two ended with another Scarlet win!

The day ended in great spirits and the enjoyment of all present within the warmth of Colwyn Bay club house. All went away agreeing to continue the enjoyment at a future date.

Sunday

The WRU want the U18 match to be filmed as they are looking for potential new Wales U20 players. We have been promised the camera will be delivered tomorrow and June has found a volunteer to do the filming.
Wyn Isaac - some of you may remember him - he was one of the U17 North Wales coaches last year - is coming to watch and he is bringing a couple of U18 girls who are keen to play so maybe we can stop worrying about numbers.
The U15s won't be officially filmed but I am sure a few keen parents might have their cameras out - if anyone does film the U15 match, I am sure Pete would be interested in having a copy of the film for match analysis and training purposes.

Update

We have ordered polo shirts for all the squad with the Gogledd Cymru crest on - they will probably not arrive before Sunday's game so please bring along black trousers and a black t-shirt or polo to wear after the match.
The socks still haven't arrived - in case they don't appear please bring your club socks to wear.
Kick off was originally planned for 2pm but may have to be put back to 2.30 or 3, depending on when the Scarlets roll into town.
Meet at Colwyn Bay RFC at 12ish for team talk and warm up. Early night Saturday girls.

Training

U15s are training at Bangor RFC on Wednesday (tomorrow) at 7pm.
U18s training on Thursday at CBRFC at 6.45 this week - will be at Bangor next Wednesday (22 October).

Sunday's match

I have today been told the the game on Sunday will now be played at Colwyn Bay Rugby Club. Final training on Thursday at 6.45pm at CBRFC.

Today's match

Most of the Gogledd Cymru U18 squad got together today for a warm up match ahead of the first regional game next week. Today's opponents were Waterloo, who gave the girls a run for their money. The final score was Mermaids 54 - Waterloo 7.

Latest news

Possible change of venue for the first match - the Scarlets don't want to travel to ColwynBay so we may have to travel to our 'home' match to meet them halfway. More news as soon as we hear.
Final training on Wednesday at Bangor RFC at 7pm.

Training

Following next Sunday's practice match at Colwyn Bay the final training before facing the Scarlets on the 19th will be at Bangor RFC next Wednesday (15th) from 7pm to 8.30pm.
Many thanks to Alwyn at Bangor for allowing us to use the club.

New kit

The new kit has arrived - well at least the shirts and shorts - still waiting for the socks and training tops. At least you'll have something to play in on 19th when you meet the Scarlets.

Update

The first matches are fast approaching - against the Scarlets on October 19. The match venue will probably be Colwyn Bay RFC. We will be taking the squad photographs on the day so all squad members need to be there.
We may be organising some extra training sessions before the match - all chosen girls will be notified.
The U18 squad members are invited to join Colwyn Bay Mermaids in their match against Waterloo next Sunday - this will give Louis & Ben a chance to see the Gogledd Cymru U18 squad play together for the first time and will serve as a useful training session.
Please contact us if you have any problems.