It has been a memorable few days off the field for Letchworth's girls rugby team.
Last Wednesday (8th October) saw the efforts of two of the team win recognition at the Hertfordshire Sports Awards. 16-year old Natalie Threlfall's coaching work and support for the county's U12 girls project was highly commended by the judges, while last season's captain Katie Alcock was runner-up in Young Community Volunteer category.
Katie's award was in recognition of her tireless efforts to promote her sport – including running coaching courses at Highfield School, and helping to organise a huge primary school tag tournament at the end of the summer term.
Natalie was also one of seven Letchworth girls to play for Hertfordshire U18s the weekend before at a tournament in Sussex.
All this followed the news that the girls' former coach, Joe Randall – now studying at the University of Gloucestershire - had been selected as the head coach for Gloucestershire girls and manager of South West (North) Region. Joe coached the girls to several regional and national trophies while still a pupil at Hitchin Boys' School, and will be comfortably the youngest regional manager and county coach in the game.
However, the team's greatest success could be yet to come. Two of the girls – Sasha Acheson and Hayley Guilder – have been called up for the final trial for the England U20 squad next weekend (19th October). Both girls are still only 17 and will be one match away from joining the best U20 team in the world. Hayley in particular only started playing when the girls section at Letchworth was formed four years ago, and has learnt her entire game at the club.
* Letchworth would be delighted to hear from any girls aged 12-18 who would be interested in giving rugby a "try". No previous experience is needed – Katie, Natalie and Hayley had never played any rugby at all before joining Letchworth. The girls train every Thursday evening from 6.00 to 7.30, and play or train every Sunday. Contact John Birch (01462 623205) for details, or visit the team's website at http://letchworthgirls.blogspot.com. The next women's world cup will be in England in 2010 - there's still time to make the team!
