Numbers of registered players doesn't seem to be the issue - we've got more than enough for 3 Saturday teams it's players commitment to train regularly & play at the weekend. As a result teams seem to be having inconsistent 17's and the quality is going down for me. There are some good teams around the divisions but not the depth of quality teams there used to be. If the problems at youth level continue I can only see that continuing too. Maybe it's just a transition period & it will improve but the signs aren't too good at the moment.
That would be the same with us Morning Glory. We have 40 lads signed on but getting a steady 17 is the challenge.
I think the amateur game will continue in this vein for the next 10 years or so because those playing and those at the higher end of the youth game are so use to playing winter and having the summer available. It will be those kids now playing from about 13 and down, where they wont know any different to playing rugby in the summer so natural to continue to do so in the open age.
I don't think though it will ever be like the 80's and 90's (Which i know of) where the game was thriving. Cold Saturday days in the winter there was just nothing to do, these days playing in the summer there is far more options available and only the true dedicated players will be available week in, week out when sun, family days out, drinking and any other things will be more appealing.
We had a great game on Friday evening against the RAF 2nd team. We had several lads decide they'd rather take in the game with a few pints and we found ourselves 16-0 down at oranges, but we fought back to 16-16 and with the actual last kick of the game dropped a goal from the touchline which went over via the post! Remarkable game. We host Bury this week in a 2nd vs 3rd class and having won our last 5 games we hope to keep our good run going!
Bury scored with their first possession and it was a full on arm wrestle for most of the game. We scored in corner off a kick and converted and added a penalty in the second half. We had Harold Bishop reffing and he had his usual shocker including stopping the game to change his specs! We move up to 2nd now and the top 4 are the same as Div 4 last season!
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