Something about the Basford* blog (see below) has been bothering me... and its the header.
"Play with the spirit of the game. Enjoy, make lasting friendships, but above all win!!!"
There is a degree of tongue-in-cheekness about this, obviously, but even so it has had me thinking... "but above all win"... is winning really the most important thing?
The above extract has been lifted from the excellent Letchworth blog.
As John says, is winning the most important thing.
Enjoyment and making lasting friendships is a vital part of the whole rugby scene, to be admired by your peers for your achievements and the way in which you conduct yourselves is sufficient reward in itself.
However how many people remember the runners up in competitions.
So is winning the be all and end all, is it more important to participate than to win.
I suppose each person has their own views on the subject.
Its your blog so have your say,
a) is winning more important than just taking part.
b) does the header give a misleading impression of how we participate in the sport.
Before you rush into print however please read Johns article on the Letchworth Blog and digest exactly what he is saying.
It is not a critisism just a question.
It is easy to pass this off as sour grapes following the Basford Victory last week, however John has raised a valid point and it is worthwhile looking at how people percieve participation in the game.
Over to you.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Basford v Crawley
Basford Girls U18
Vs.
Combined Crawley / East Grinstead Girls U18
Sunday 23rd September 2007
Match report courtesy of Phil French
Another girls rugby match, another sunny day! Even Mr. Carmen turned up! (only to show off his new car though!)
The game was played with 14 a side - both teams blooding some new players – and very well they all did.
Crawley kicked off and with a sign of things to come, the Basford girls pressured the home side right from the start - forcing a scrum 5m out on their first attack. The Crawley girls tried to defend, but Basford’s pressure forced another scrum 5m from the line. The scoring was opened when a Crawley player mishandled the ball and Scottie picked up and dived over the line 0 – 5.
From the restart, Crawley brought the ball in to Basford’s half and forced a line out 5m from the Basford line. The line out went Basfords way and they worked the ball from the danger area with Sarah McB making a great run to over the half way line. The ball was popped to Scottie who completed the length of the pitch for her second score 0 – 10.
Basford kept the pressure on with most of the play taking place within Crawley’s half. Crawley cleared to touch and from the resulting line out, the ball was passed across the backs for Sarah McB to touch down 0 – 15.
In what was rapidly becoming a one-sided game, after the restart the ball was recovered by Basford, and passed to Frenchie who broke through the line with a run of 40m. She popped the ball the Shivvy (note the spelling!) who finished the move with ease 0 – 20. Scottie converted 0 – 22.
With Basford’s forwards dominating the set piece and linking well with the backs, there was still time in the half for another score – Frenchie supplying yet another telling off-load for Scottie to score her third try of the game, (yes – that was a jug Gav had to buy!), with a run from 20m out 0 – 27. Scottie again converted 0 – 29 and the half time whistle blew.
The second half started much as the first ended with Basford pressing forward and Crawley having to kick into touch to clear their lines. From the line out, the ball came to you-know-who, who ran over the line from 5m out, and then converted her own score 0 – 36.
Basford were starting to enjoy their game with great play from both the forwards and backs. Special mention to Cherelle, who took off down the wing with a look on her face that said ‘I don’t do running, will someone come and get this bloody ball off me’. Her team mates obliged but not until she had run for 40m or so!
Basford forced Crawley to clear to touch again and from the line out, after a good set of passes, the ball came to Sarah McB,who went over for her second of the game 0 – 41.
After another 5 minutes of Basford pressure, up stepped you-know-who again, and went over for her fifth try of the game 0 – 46.
The Basford girls wouldn’t let the pressure off and this time Natalie broke off the back of a scrum to go over from 5m out 0 – 51. Scottie kicked the extras 0 – 53.
Before the end of the game, the forwards decided they would have a try, and after some excellent forward play, Sarah C went over with a dive from 2m out 0 – 58. Scottie again converted 0 – 60.
As a spectator, I’d like to congratulate all the girls from both teams for the spirit in which the game was played – hard but fair. Special thanks to the girls from Crawley / E Grinstead for not letting their heads drop and for making a game of it right until the final whistle – well done – we look forward to meeting you again later in the season.
And from a Rochford / Basildon perspective, a special ‘well done’ to Kate, Natasha, Sam, Amy, and Katie on making their debut for the team – I hope you all enjoyed it and look forward to seeing you play many more times!
One last word – Scottie! 5 trys, 5 conversions – fantastic game!
Final result: Crawley / E Grinstead RFC 0 Rochford / Basildon 60.
Vs.
Combined Crawley / East Grinstead Girls U18
Sunday 23rd September 2007
Match report courtesy of Phil French
Another girls rugby match, another sunny day! Even Mr. Carmen turned up! (only to show off his new car though!)
The game was played with 14 a side - both teams blooding some new players – and very well they all did.
Crawley kicked off and with a sign of things to come, the Basford girls pressured the home side right from the start - forcing a scrum 5m out on their first attack. The Crawley girls tried to defend, but Basford’s pressure forced another scrum 5m from the line. The scoring was opened when a Crawley player mishandled the ball and Scottie picked up and dived over the line 0 – 5.
From the restart, Crawley brought the ball in to Basford’s half and forced a line out 5m from the Basford line. The line out went Basfords way and they worked the ball from the danger area with Sarah McB making a great run to over the half way line. The ball was popped to Scottie who completed the length of the pitch for her second score 0 – 10.
Basford kept the pressure on with most of the play taking place within Crawley’s half. Crawley cleared to touch and from the resulting line out, the ball was passed across the backs for Sarah McB to touch down 0 – 15.
In what was rapidly becoming a one-sided game, after the restart the ball was recovered by Basford, and passed to Frenchie who broke through the line with a run of 40m. She popped the ball the Shivvy (note the spelling!) who finished the move with ease 0 – 20. Scottie converted 0 – 22.
With Basford’s forwards dominating the set piece and linking well with the backs, there was still time in the half for another score – Frenchie supplying yet another telling off-load for Scottie to score her third try of the game, (yes – that was a jug Gav had to buy!), with a run from 20m out 0 – 27. Scottie again converted 0 – 29 and the half time whistle blew.
The second half started much as the first ended with Basford pressing forward and Crawley having to kick into touch to clear their lines. From the line out, the ball came to you-know-who, who ran over the line from 5m out, and then converted her own score 0 – 36.
Basford were starting to enjoy their game with great play from both the forwards and backs. Special mention to Cherelle, who took off down the wing with a look on her face that said ‘I don’t do running, will someone come and get this bloody ball off me’. Her team mates obliged but not until she had run for 40m or so!
Basford forced Crawley to clear to touch again and from the line out, after a good set of passes, the ball came to Sarah McB,who went over for her second of the game 0 – 41.
After another 5 minutes of Basford pressure, up stepped you-know-who again, and went over for her fifth try of the game 0 – 46.
The Basford girls wouldn’t let the pressure off and this time Natalie broke off the back of a scrum to go over from 5m out 0 – 51. Scottie kicked the extras 0 – 53.
Before the end of the game, the forwards decided they would have a try, and after some excellent forward play, Sarah C went over with a dive from 2m out 0 – 58. Scottie again converted 0 – 60.
As a spectator, I’d like to congratulate all the girls from both teams for the spirit in which the game was played – hard but fair. Special thanks to the girls from Crawley / E Grinstead for not letting their heads drop and for making a game of it right until the final whistle – well done – we look forward to meeting you again later in the season.
And from a Rochford / Basildon perspective, a special ‘well done’ to Kate, Natasha, Sam, Amy, and Katie on making their debut for the team – I hope you all enjoyed it and look forward to seeing you play many more times!
One last word – Scottie! 5 trys, 5 conversions – fantastic game!
Final result: Crawley / E Grinstead RFC 0 Rochford / Basildon 60.
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