Welcome to East Grinstead Rugby Round Up. If you are reading this on the website, or via Facebook, please sign up to receive this Newsletter via email, which contains loads of pictures and other content, please email m.marriott@btconnect.com and we will add you to the list.

SENIOR RUGBY
As we get to the final few games of the season, all three senior teams were on the road this weekend. First up was our 1XV who travelled north to Twickenham. Having secured their league position for next season in the mid table bunch, all the pressure was off. Some unfortunate injuries at Thursday training, coupled by some late availability issues, meant our 1XV travelled very light to Twickenham and had to play several players out of position. We were so proud of them, but trys from Ted and Sam were not enough as the home team triumphed 35 - 10. A brilliant league season from the boys though - We go again next campaign!!!

It was also great to see all three Billin brothers on the pitch together again!

To see Ben’s pics of the game, please click here: Match pics

Our 2’s however, having already secured their league winning position, were going to Midhurst to attempt a perfect unbeaten campaign. Did they do it? - I think the pic tells you!!!

On Sunday was the game of the weekend! A hugely important clash against Seaford for the third time this season (Won two, lost one!!), which would determine where our ladies would be playing next season. Read this report! You won’t be disappointed!!: Match report

To see all the pics of the game, click here: Match pics

Next week, Our 1’s travel to Dover for round 1 of the Papa John’s Cup and our ladies play local rivals Crawley at home, hopeful of another strong win to keep their march up the table going!!

JUNIOR RUGBY
On Sunday we hosted our 1st junior festival for a number of years for all the sections from U7 to U11. For once the rain held off so we were all able to enjoy the day without huddling for shelter. We had 96 teams from 16 different clubs from Sussex, Surrey and Kent visiting Saint Hill so the club was packed to the rafters.

With 700 players and all their parents filling the grounds , all the bars and the BBQ had a constant stream of people wanting to be fed and watered. And the appearance of the sun in the late morning only helped make for a really superb day. The warmth up on the deck made it perfect for a cold pint at the end of the day to toast and reflect on the day.

It was wonderful to see the club so full and there was a great atmosphere all around. The huge numbers create their own pressures on an event wholly run by volunteers and club members but the feedback we had was hugely positive.

The busy fixture list kicked off on the pitches at 10am with pretty much every inch of usable pitch space we had being filled with matches.

U7
The U7s had the busiest schedule with 27 teams taking to the field with 4 home teams on show. There were some really exciting matches all across the age group. The home teams went really well and it was clear the players have come on brilliantly under the guidance of coaches Ky and Tim.

There was some brilliant stepping and elusive running as well as offloads to create lovely tries. There was no lack of defence either with some fantastic last minute tags being made to prevent tries.

This is definitely a bunch of kids that are going to prove to be teams to be reckoned with as they move up through the age groups.

It was lovely to see so many smiling faces on all of the kids who were clearly enjoying their rugby.

U8
Coach Andrew Davis wrote "The under 8s had four teams entered in our home festival this week, and all showed great teamwork throughout all of their games. The fitness levels were brilliant too as we had no spare players for subs. Each of the teams played some great rugby, showing that the hard work on the training pitch is starting to pay off. The awareness of teammates and space is really coming on and will stand us in good stead when we move to contact rugby next year.

Each team gave a really good account of themselves and did the club proud. Well done guys! Special thanks to Dom and John for stepping in and helping to ref and manage a team each whilst Head Coach Dan Poulton was on a European scouting mission!"

U9
We had 3 teams representing EG U9s at the home festival and were a credit to their parents , coaches and the club. There were some very strong teams on show from our visitors but we held our own. The large nicely marked pitches made for some good space to display some great running rugby.

We see improvement week on week with their general play however the coaching team were really impressed by the high quality of tackling and running of the ball into open space for tries to be scored!

U9 coach Tom Goldsworthy added, "I spent most of the day running around with my junior chairman hat on but I managed to get in some time on the coaching team. The game I watched against Crowborough was the best I have ever seen. Our tacking was at its usual high standard but a mention to Theo Micheal who put in some absolute crunchers. It was so good to see the rise in confidence of some players. I left as a truly happy coach as I witnessed not 1 but 4 tries scored from attacks where the players ran in an attacking line, drew the defender and made the pass to the outside man running an overlap to score. Jim George to Harry Goldsworthy to go in at the corner was textbook!! I only wish I had it on video to show at training!"

U10
The U10s were able to host 2 teams for the weekend. Coach James Gray reported, "East Grinstead U10s had an amazing home tournament, fuelled by the excitement of a big day at home. This really shone through in their rugby - with nearly a whole season of hard training to draw on - they really stepped up with some of the toughest and most hard fought games of the season.

All players should be justly very proud of themselves, with both teams working well together, battling hard with controlled aggression when it really mattered, running in plenty of fabulous tries. Well done! And a big shout out to all the U10's parents who generously volunteered their time to help out on the day. "

U11
With 2 nearly full size pitches marked out on P1, there was a huge amount of space for the teams to show what they can do with some space. U11s coach Paul Kane noted, "The U11’s had a great day, across both teams we were a couple of players short, so all players dug deep and a number played for both teams - they were knackered by the end but loved it. Both teams won a few games and lost a few. The results did not affect them have a great day all round"

A huge well done to U11 coach Daan Hulst who was slightly jaded after playing for EG2s on Saturday at Midhurst to complete their undefeated season. With a few teams missing referees, Daan stepped in to put in another big shift refereeing a number of games and pitch marshalling too! - Well done sir!

Following the day, I and the coaches received a stream of messages from our visitors confirming what we felt was a hugely successful day. To share just a few we received;

"Massive thank you from Haywards Heath! Great organisation, awesome bacon sandwiches!!!" - Terry Matthews

"Thanks from Tunbridge Wells! Was a great festival and the kids loved it!" - Tim

"Well played all. Cracking morning of rugby. Thanks to all at EG for a great festival from Edenbridge U9s." - Steve Hogg

"A big thanks to the Team at EG from Brighton Blues." - Baz

"Thanks so much for a brilliant day from Warlingham. The kids had a fantastic morning of rugby and everything ran on time which was brilliant! The additional ref schedule was a bit more to juggle but we thought it was a super idea and worked really well!" - Carmela

"I just wanted to pass our thanks on for a great festival. From a managers and coaches point of view the quality of the pre info was brilliant and made things so much smoother. And the play was great. Our players and coaches loved the day, it was a first festival for half of them and they really came back with the festival bug. Many thanks for all your hard work and efforts in making a great day.'" - Emily Prince H&B RFC

On behalf of EGRFC, I would like to thank all the visiting clubs and their parents for making it a great day. Thanks to all your chairs and coaches for your efforts too. Laying on this event for the 1st time was quite daunting with no previous experience to go on so it goes without saying that there is a huge amount of thanks from me to a lot of people for helping make this happen. So here goes for my Oscars speech........

Thank you to all the ground staff for their hard work fighting the elements to get the pitches playable and marked out beautifully. I had a number of players and coaches commenting on how good they were.

Thank you to Nikki Ward and her team who worked so hard on the day to provide food and drinks to what must have been nearly 1000 people. I know they were all out on their feet by 3pm having not stopped. A special mention to Rob Ward who must never want to see another burger or sausage again! There were big queues for the BBQ from 9am right to the end. Relentless!

Thank you to all the parents who sacrificed their time and watching their kids to help out. We simply cannot do things like this without your support. You were brilliant!

Rex Whittaker - Not even sure how you and your volunteers managed to get people parked in the limited space. Again, thank you Liz Osterman and the CoS for your generosity and support in letting us use your facilities.

My thanks to the brilliant team of junior coaches for organising your schedules which must have driven you made with the endless last minute changes! - Without you doing your bit and running each of your sections on the day, this would be impossible. - A mention too for the U5/6s coaches and parents for your understanding in having to cancel your training to free up the limited space at the club. - It has not gone unappreciated.

A special thanks to U10 coaches Ben Parker and Pete Barlow who gave up their time on Saturday to help ready the club. I am sure that hand painting mud is not what you had in mind for your days off! It made a huge difference.

Dan Arnold and Rob Ward for helping make all this possible. Your experience was invaluable and sorting the medals and festival packs. Thank you.

Lastly, thanks to all the parents who support their children to play this wonderful game of rugby. Without your enthusiasm, your players and your financial support, grassroots rugby would die. It was a hugely successful day for the club and we plan to build on this. Thanks to the investment from the club with the new lighting, we aim to do some 'under the lights' mini festivals next year as well as the Sunday specials.

Enjoy the final 3 weekends of the season and we hope to see as many of you as possible for the end of season awards and fun day on the 5th May. - Please all pray for sunshine!

Tom Goldsworthy - Junior Chair

INTERMEDIATE RUGBY
48 players from our U14’s section and their supporters travelled down to Havant on a coach to play in a round robin festival with Havant & Old Reigatians. Some fantastic rugby on display from all teams, especially Ollie Hooton who received MoM.

Special thanks to Sid, Archie, Oliver, Layton and Joe from the U13’s who played up to help boost Squad numbers. A great day out had by the East Grinstead Squad, along with great singing on the coach on our return journey.

What an amazing game on Sunday as our U16 girls teamed up with Crowborough again. We had the privilege of playing Horsham. We all know that Winning a match is important, but to play a game against a team with the same attention to TREDS is such a result. Well done Horsham, thank you for bringing such an amazing attitude and for being such an awesome group too.

200 CLUB
March winners are as follows:
1st, No. 38 £125.00
2nd, No. 44 £50.00
3rd, No. 76 £25.00

Well done to all our winners! If you want to contact us and let us know what you spent your prize money on, we would be delighted to hear from you!

Why not join the fun and be part of our 200 club, please click here for more details and how to sign up: 200 Club

STAR* SCHEME
Last chance to sign up for the meeting tonight!!
We need your help to support the Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation and Star* in reaching young people, who may not otherwise access rugby and all the benefits that our game and community have to offer.

Please click here for more info: Star* Scheme

AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL TICKETS
Grab your Twickenham tickets, as England take on New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Japan this Autumn. Click here to get involved: England tickets

BIG SUMMER KICK-OFF
HARLEQUINS V NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Big Summer Kick-Off returns to HQ and will see Harlequins face Northampton Saints on Saturday 27 April in the Gallagher Premiership. Fans will enjoy some thrilling rugby, with both teams pushing to secure a top four finish and crucial spot in the play-offs.

Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, Jess Glynne, will perform her chart-topping hits on the pitch pre-match and the West Fan Village will be action packed, with free fairground rides, face painters, and back by popular demand, post-match Massaoke will lead the after-party.

Don’t delay, secure your seats now for this brilliant day out for all. Tickets from £35 adults and £25 U18.

Click here for info and bookings: Summer Kick Off

OTHER NEWS
If you have any news about any aspect of our rugby family here at East Grinstead, get involved and email m.marriott@btconnect.com. See you next week!!