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.

RRU is a bit early this week as the Editor is slipping away for a few days. The senior team sheets will hopefully be posted on Friday via Facebook.

SENIOR RUGBY
After a nice rest last weekend, where we watched the Six Nations with differing emotions depending on our allegiances (We were all Italian on Sunday!!!), we have four, yes FOUR, senior sides playing on Saturday. Three of them at home!!! Our 1’s host Sussex rivals, Eastbourne. Anyone who was lucky enough to be at Saint Hill to watch this fixture last year, was treated to one of the best games in recent memory. A win here would give us momentum and a real chance to finish the season in the top half of the table. Kick off on pitch 1 at 3pm.

Meanwhile, our 2XV take on Newick, the only team that could potentially overhaul them at the top of the league. A win here would virtually confirm the league and promotion! This will be on pitch 1 at 2.15. But don’t stop there as our 3’s are playing the Emergency Services at 12.30!!

Make sure you are at HQ to support all three sides. Please click here to grab a last minute seat at the pre-match meal: Pre-match meal

Last, but not least, our Ladies are winging their way to Jersey to take on the ‘top of the table’ islanders, who we beat at home earlier in the season! Have an awesome time!!!

Four wins would be incredible!!!!!

JUNIOR RUGBY
Sunday was a busy day at the club. After another wet week, the ground staff pulled out all the stops to ensure we had pitches available for the visit of Warlingham RFC's U9s and U11s. A big thank you to Phil and his team for making this happen.

Warlingham brought nearly 50 players across the age groups so we were able to run a very competitive mini tournament.

U9’s
WRFC were able to field 3 teams and their coaches joined in with EG to run some warm up for the kids before we split into teams to have a round robin of matches. Warlingham showed off the skills they have been working on with great offloading and passing whilst EG showed what prolific tacklers they have become.

It was a great opportunity for the kids to get in the essential match practice. All our games were close run affairs with some fantastic tries scored by both teams. There were also some big defensive sets put in with some high quality last ditch tackles. Crucially, the games were played in the true rugby spirit and the kids all had great fun. It was great to see Warlingham's coaches stopping games to assist the EG kids with coaching tips as well as their own players.

Nikki Ward did us proud again laying on post match hot dogs which were snapped up by the hungry players....and coaches and the club house was buzzing after the game. It was great to see. Warlingham coach, Andrew Elmes commented, "EG what a brilliantly hosted day. Thank you so much. Great atmosphere, great games well matched level and even better hot dogs. We look forward to the return."

On behalf of the EG coaches, we would like to thank Warlingham RFC for making the effort to come over. The coaches, players and parents were an absolute joy to welcome and made for a brilliant day. You are welcome at Saint Hill anytime and we look forward to organising a visit to you.

U11’s
The session consisted of a joint warm-up followed by two matches against strong Warlingham sides. All players put great effort into the matches in conditions that were far from perfect. However, it is important that our players learn to play in all conditions, and Sunday was just one more lesson that we will use going into festival season.

U8’s
East Grinstead U8's embarked on a journey to Crawley RFC for an exhilarating joint training session and series of matches. The boys were thoroughly engaged in a variety of drills aimed at enhancing their decision-making abilities and honing their passing skills. Transitioning seamlessly into festival-style matches against Crawley, the field came alive with dynamic displays of strong running and expert support play, resulting in a flurry of tries. As the morning drew to a close, the excitement peaked with a spirited game of bulldog, much to the delight of the boys, followed by a delightful treat of cake generously provided by our gracious hosts.

The U6’s and 7’s were both at home with the U7’s getting in the last training session before their 1st ever away festival at Hove RFC. Our thanks to our neighbours across the road who made their Fonthill pitch available for the U10’s as with the visit of Warlingham, space was at a premium. The extra space meant that the U10’s were able to host a full training session.

Next week, all the sections eligible to play matches are in action at Hove and Edenbridge. We look forward to seeing you there.

INTERMEDIATE RUGBY
After a rare weekend when all groups were due for playing matches unfortunately the weather interrupted this with both our under 16 girls and under 15 boys having their matches at Hastings and Bexhill postponed due to waterlogged pitches. However, we did have 5 matches completed, results and reports as follows

Under 12’s playing Jersey at HQ
Result 5 - 25. A great game of rugby and a great deal of learning for our squad, some good build up play and getting ourselves into good attacking positions but not managing to convert the positions into points.
As always a pleasure to host a team from the Channel Islands

Under 13’s
This fixture was the reverse to the one above in terms of location, with our squad flying out to Jersey. Always a difficult day out in terms of the rugby, but an overall enjoyable time. Result was a 25 - 15 loss. Some great performances by our talented team, but this result was one that just got away from them.

Under 14's
League match v Hastings & Bexhill 19-15 win
Coaches John Hughes and Simon Maidment write;
“It's been coming for a while and the G's finally put a full match performance together in this superb game. Tries by Ethan Norris, Declan Hodge & Bailey Moore. Declan 2 slotted conversions also. Man of the Match Harvey Worth, who played the game of his life, supporting & driving the forwards to the end of the game.

Under 16’s played at Hove
Head coach Richard Darch advising that although we lost 40 - 12, it was a great game where our control just ran out of steam, with a small squad and a couple of injuries during the game allowed the game get away from us.

Colts
49 - 19 win against Crowborough
Team manager Malcolm Higginson reports that this was a Superb performance by the 15 man forward dominated colts squad to win a convincing victory at Crowborough after a tight first half ending 14-21. A gutsy second half saw the lads put together some great plays and pressuring Crowborough into conceding a penalty try, along with three other converted trys. Great handling and offloads on a sticky pitch allowed the lads to run out comfortable winners 19-49.

Coach, Neil Oakley, said; “Super gutsy performance from the Colts today. All played with complete humility and respect. So proud of the team that took to the field, knowing they had to leave it all out there and dig deep for each other.

DODDIE WEIR FOUNDATION
Saturday March 2nd 6:30 -10.30 pm, The Dodd1e5 Gr4nd Sl7m Challenge Comes to Lewes RFC - will you be there to meet them?

Lewes RFC is honoured to welcome sixteen intrepid cyclists and their support team to our club on Saturday March 2nd. They will have left Edinburgh on February 28th and rode via Dublin, Cardiff, and Twickenham - on their way to Paris and then Rome where they will present the match ball for the Italy v Scotland 6 Nations Game on March 9th.

https://www.doddiesgrandslam.com

We are having a celebration and fundraising dinner for the My Name’s Doddie Foundation researching a cure for Motor Neurone Disease in their honour. The evening will have a Scottish theme and include a two-course dinner, a welcome reception for the cyclists (including a piper) and a Q&A with the team when they arrive. We’d love to see you there!

Tickets cost £40pp – including a £10 contribution to Doddie’s https://www.myname5doddie.co.uk and we’ll be raising funds for research into curing MND. Contact Paddy – chairman@lewesrugby.com to reserve your place at this unique event.

ONE TICKET, TWO MATCHES!!
Watch the Springboks, in their first match since becoming World Champions, take on Wales for the Qatar Airways Cup at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday June 22nd (K.O. 2pm).

Their last visit to Twickenham resulted in a sensational 35-7 record win against the All Blacks, before eventually lifting the Rugby World Cup 2023 trophy.

The fixture will be a blockbuster “Doubleheader” event with the Barbarians also taking on Fiji for the Killik Cup (K.O. 5:15pm).

See the stars of the game in an action-packed day of rugby. Tickets are selling fast - Don’t miss out - secure your seats early!

Each ticket purchased will allow entry to both matches. From £55 for adults and £28* (U16) Click here for tickets: Tickets

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!!