This really is the match of the County season for the girls.     Its the one that is talked about the most by the players, coaches and parents.

We set off eventually (due to administrative error by coach company) 30 mins late with my u18 lead coach getting all worked up that we now wouldn't have the time to stop 15mins out so the girls could get a breath of fresh air and stretch their legs (am told this is how it happens).    Anyway we all made it onto the coach and just driving over the Tamar Bridge the sun burst through and it looked glorious over the Cornish countryside.

We arrived at Newquay at 12.30 and the coach was silent (you could hear a pin drop).   The pressure on the u18s is immense as it is year 5 undefeated and for the u15s nothing to loose but everything to win.    I am one of those that seems to absorb all the nerves from the girls and first thing was to find a bush and puke - totally glamerous - but thats how I am before every match.

Maggie my cornish counterpart as efficient as ever was there to meet us with changing room keys and took the coffee order for the coaches.

Still the atmosphere you could cut with a knife and just gave them 20 mins to get changed and be out for warm up.    My u18 coaches were getting a tad worried because they had never known it this quiet and Mark was concerned that his on the coach talk might be the reason why.

Warm ups for both squads went well and then back to the changing room for a 5 min group session before k.o.

They were so fired up and ready to kick arse.      The match sort of passed by in a blur and I kept getting calls from Karen with the u15s on the top pitch that it was half time and 10-0 up.    Our match was delayed due to neck injury stoppage with a cornish girl going to hospital.   Anyways back to the match 25 mins in 5-0    35 mins - 10-0       55 mins 15-0     60 mins 20 nil.    The girls were formidable - front row immense in every sense - we won every scrum -   Jess my little scrummy was like a jack russell with a dobermans bark, the two Hollie's on the wings were flying the ball was flying out with Jess screaming black or red the girls playing wide open rugby with the Hollies having the time of their lives.     Little Miss Kennard was like a bulldog and for all of her 5'3" was bulldozing her way through the cornish.     All my girls were awsome and even now am sat in work with very little voice and a huge stupid grin on face.

Anyway back to karens calls - the u15s were 10-0 up at half time and then the anialation and the frequent calls came - 15-0 up, we've got a penalty, one cornish player sent off, we have a try, its converted with the final score coming in at Cornwall 0 - Devon 34.     It was the lift the u18s needed as their game was progressing into tiredness and not so sportsman like play from the Cornish.

The final whistle blew and it was then that I realised that this was why I do what I do.    There were so many tears and so many hugs but so few words.

There is a lot that happens as Team Manager away from training nights.   This year has been really heavy on the political side of things.   For once I have actually questioned as to why I do this and why cant people use common sense instead of having to toe the party political line.    This is grass root rugby at its best we are not England Elite but we are getting the girls on the player pathway so that at somtime they may trial for England u20s.

There has also been a massive conflict between coaching staff which resulted in me wading in and sending one coach home - the words used were not lady like - but I do not like being pointed at and shouted the immortal line "I will tell you this only once......"

Our home club has now decided to cut ties with the girls from the end of this season, with no reasonable excuse given, but with the RFUW directive of pushing the girls to the front and getting the clubs so 'sponsor' them a little more is proving more difficult for some than others.

My caterer for the home fixture decided she cant do the job for the home fixture, again with no reason but I just figure that as she is contracted to the club and they have cut ties then so has she.   Clouds and silver linings is that I have found an outside catering team for half the price.

Onto the senior ladies - they are now on their 3rd home of the season - but it looks like this club will become the future home for all squads.      The team manager has resigned due to difficulties with the lead coach (because the wife wasnt selected)!!!    But on the plus point they are off to Newquay on the 15th to hopefully bring back the Senior Ladies shield.

So as you can see its not all fun and games but we Programme Managers have a lot of spanners and politics to deal with.

HA - its now wednesday 14th October 2009 and all are starting to gather at Cullompton RFC but there is an added twist tonight - Senior Ladies playing their first match against the Royal Navy (who by all accounts are ment to be shit hot, and not ones to be trifled with).

Anyways back to the first training session for the u18s and u15s again the little C1 is loaded to the hilt with kit can never persuade the coaches to keep it!!!   Pull into the car park and its absolutley heaving girls from Plymouth (60 miles) Barnstaple (45 miles) and lots of points inbetween.  

There was such a buzz outside the club house with the girls chatting and even discussing the Cup Match on the 8th Nov.     Then there was the parting of the sea the u15s going to the 3rd team pitch and the u18s down on the 2nd.    

First of may calls from Dave "Cindy" Crawford who one minute wasnt sure the ladies were up to it as he had no credible 8 to the next call of not to worry all would be fine.    Just told him to stand on the line and shout a lot and let the ladies do their thing.

I wander over to the u15s to see how things are progressing as this is a brand new line up for the coaches and just wanted to make sure that Chris (lead coach) had control on things - I needn't have worried as there were 26 u15s all looking at him as if he was the only thing that mattered and his delegation to the other coaches was sublime - not much to do there so I toddled off to the u18s.

Not quite the same happy scene as 4 girls on the sidelines already (not through training) but match related injuries the previous sunday - and all to play for - I could see from Marks expression that as a side of quite a few new young players he would have his work cut out for him.

Anyway call in from Cindy that they were 5-0 down at half time me personally expecting an absolute drubbing.

Back to the club house for a warm up coffee and to get some admin out of the way and before you know it 2 hours are up and the room is absolutley heaving with parents and girls.    

Really not much to report from this weeks training session but should develop more next week and just to end on this note

DEVON COUNTY LADIES 34 - ROYAL NAVY 5

Sunday 27th September 2009

After a long and sleepless night where the mantra seemed to be - coaches, referees, tea, coffee, lunches, venue, good weather, players for trial?   What if I forgot stuff, had given out the wrong date - anyway.....

The day was absolutley beautiful a light frost overnight and beautiful sunshine things were looking up.  Loaded up the little C1 with all the kit that car is like a tardis 3 giant kit bags 4 first aid kits associated training equipment and food.     Arrived at the club at 0900 and already there was a small gathering of girls and ladies eager to make their mark and get selected.    The coaches arrived and it was a 101 questions to be answered and the registration room to be set up.

1000hrs - u15s and Ladies in for registration it was amazing how many girls and ladies were there and the quiet thought of its going to be a good season ran through my mind.   1030 and they were on the pitch for a 2+ hour trial, see the girls can trial and be selected on the day the boys have to go to boot camp etc etc.    The sun continued to shine and 3 coffees later it was time for lunch - the infamous Dunsmore sausages, chips and beans coupled with a lengthy discussion on selection. 

Chris my new u15 lead coach has really taken on the role with a vengance and firmly made his mark on who he wanted in his squad which did not go down two well with two other coaches as their daughters were trialling (but there was a  quiet snigger from my corner).  Am now finding myself looking at him in a more maternal rather than original pervey way now that I found out I was old enough to be his mum!!!!  Lunch done, selection done the ladies propping up the bar discussing the mornings events and all was well with the world.

1400hrs the u18s appeared - my girls - some that I havent seen all summer and so much gossip to catch up on but that would have to keep till later.   1430 all registered and out on the pitch - Mark has the pompous 'I am lead coach' look on his face and in no uncertain terms told them that they would be blowing out of the arses after the warm up - I think some of the younger ones thought what the hell am I doing here and really should have stayed fit during the summer.     Out there watching I can honestly say that there was not one of the 46 that you instantly said 'shes rubbish' and immediately discarded her on the selection sheet.

1630hrs back to the club house for more deliberations wishing we could do it in the XFactor tradition of saying either sorry girls you haven't made or You're In.   But no 2+ hours later our decisions were made everything packed up and we all headed for home.   The forwards coaches happy, backs coaches happy and me happy just cause they were.

At 1130 I finally headed off to bed - all phone calls made to just under 100 triallists and all thankyou emails sent out to those who had helped during the day.   Did partially loose the hearing in my left ear as those that had good news tended to scream directly into the phone - but hey I feel like a proud mum.

I am quietly confident that when we head to Newquay on the 8th November for the Tamar Cup matches we will have good solid squads at all levels and hopefully the cups will be back in Devon for the 5th year running - but as they say its a funny old game.

Well - the meeting went as planned (or according to my little mind)   Introduced the new lead coach to the others and a lot of teddies started flying around the room - how could I?   who is he?   I've been here longer and its my right!!!!!   But anyway upshot is they all know what they have to do when they have to do it and I think the team balance is right on the coaching level - will find out tomorrow at trials.

Anyway to introduce you - MARK WEEKES (aka SHREK) - lead coach for the u18s completely anal and ritualistic (but not in a satanic way)   must always do the same things at the same time on match days etc possibly wears the same underpants for every match but hey ho the girls are undefeated in 4 years so who cares.

NICK MANNING - senior fire officer and so laid back to the horizontal not only does he coach but has the unenviable task of keep his 17 year old twin daughters in line aswell - think I would have had myself committed if they were mine !!!

GARY KENNARD - lives breathes eats sleeps and talks about only 3 things rugby rugby and sheep - hes welsh so we have to let that one by - last years mascot was a sheep (not a real one hasten to add) but Gary guarded him like a man possessed.

ADRIAN WATTS - the gentle giant immensely tall, immensely well built, even his wispers are loud!!!   This will be his first full season coaching so more details to follow.

CHRIS - cant remember his surname the new u15 lead coach, stumled across him (not in a drunken moment) but has the looks and charm that should win over the parents (they are a hard bunch to please) and I do find myself staring possibly in quite a pervy way as he reminds me of someone but cant quite put the name to it.

MHAIRI McCALL - Brillient, no nonsense, scottish lady with possibly a daughter on the u15s and one on the u18s has progressed from our travelling lines person to full fledged coach this year.

HAMISH - really continuing with the scottish theme - loves his drink. loves the ladies, loves his rugby but has a real aversion to work.

DAVID BROWN - the man with the most passion I have ever met with regards to the female game.   Not many people in Devon who havent heard of him, a real technical genius who if given the chance would have the PC attached to the body so he could power point his way through the training session.

Well the final numbers are in for trials u18s - 43 for 22 squad places     u15s - 40 for 20 squad places as for the ladies unknown quantity just see who turns up on the day!!!!!!!

The countdown continues - the paperwork is endless and then the RFUW decide to adopt ELVS (bloody pixies) only 12 months after the men (not that we're backward or anything) and then bloody Vetting and Barring scheme gets announced - more frigging paperwork and websites to trawl through just to see if we can escape its clutches before the end of the county season.

On the plus side have found a brillient photographer who will be documenting the whole season for us so will get some of the girlies in action on the site for you.

At the moment on the pritty booring stuff but I am sure the excitement will kick off on monday when the u15 coaches get introuduced to their new lead coach!!!!!

Well its 16 days to county trials - have the coaching staff in place, the physio/first aiders in place, all administration in place just need to players to turn up for trial - on paper we have 52 u15s for 22 places 60+ u18s for 25 places and the worst one to select 32 Ladies for 25 places - I would hate to be the one of 7 rejects.

Organised to military standards and I promise to publish our full squads on this website and maybe start a little feed of guess the match scores!!!!!