Eastern Counties [South]
Summary of Season 2017/18
Eastern Counties One [South]
Following the decision of clubs in Eastern Counties RU and Essex RU to divide London Three (North East) into two, EC1 was split on a geographic basis into three leagues of eight teams. Clubs had previously told the Competitions Committee that they disliked travelling long distances, and preferred 'local' games, so each club had an initial 14 fairly local fixtures. This did throw up the occasional mismatch, and seven of the 56 fixtures were 'conceded'.
This first phase was completed by mid-January, and the top two clubs – Ipswich YM and Hadleigh – went into a Shield competition, along with the top two clubs from both North and West, to determine the two end-of-season promotees to London Three (Eastern Counties). Fakenham have ended up as champions, with YM finishing second.
The third and fourth place sides – Colchester 3 and Ipswich 2 – went into a Plate competition, also with their counterparts from North and West, and this process continued with a Bowl for the fifth and sixth placed teams – Sudbury 2 and Brightlingsea – and a Salver for the seventh and eighth teams – Mistley and Stowmarket 2. It has ensured that all EC1 clubs have had 22 scheduled fixtures.
The second phase of fixtures seems to have been reasonably successful, with only a few games being conceded. It has also produced some close games, which goes some way to compensate for the longer distances travelled. The balance between travelling and competitive games is a difficult one to achieve, but I believe most clubs have bought into the two-phase concept.
The two relegation places in Division One are to be based on the first phase competition, and Mistley and Stowmarket 2 are filling them. However, as always, things will depend on promotion/relegation issues at the higher levels of the game,and the cascade effect that has. At the moment, nothing has actually been decided.
Eastern Counties Two [South]
There are nine teams in EC2(S), giving everyone 16 fixtures. Again, a balance between 'not enough' and 'too many' fixtures has to be struck. Some clubs want to play every Saturday of the season, whilst others want me to avoid September, half-term holidays, the Autumn Internationals, Christmas/New Year and the Six Nations when I'm scheduling the fixtures. Throw in a couple of weeks of snow, and you soon start to run out of dates!
The original fixtures should have been completed before Easter, but some clubs have re-arranged their dates, with just one game now left. However, the top and bottom placings have already been established, with Halstead Templars finishing as worthy champions and Colchester 4's in the runners-up spot, whilst leaving Thurston 2's and Ipswich YM 2'sto fill the two relegation places. In between, we have Harwich 2's, Felixstowe, Hadleigh 2's, Bury 4's, and Sudbury 3's.
It looks as if Halstead will be promoted, but Colchester 4's cannot be moved up a division whilst their 3's are in EC1.
As always, there have been the dreaded call-offs, with 14 of the games being declared 'walkovers'. Several clubs have taken advantage of the facility, at EC2 and EC3 level, to re-arrange fixtures for new dates, but that's not always possible, and so the games just don't get played.
Eastern Counties Three [South]
EC3(S) is another nine team division, with the same issues as EC2(S) above. One match was unplayed.
Woodbridge 2's pipped Mersea 2's in the final game of the season to claim top spot, but both should be promoted. After the top two, we have Aldeburgh & Thorpeness, Ipswich 3's, and Maldon 3's filling 3rd, 4th and 5th spot, whilst Colchester 5's, Clacton 2's, Stowmarket 3's and Mistley 2's occupy the bottom four places.
Once more, it is the call-offs that give the greatest concern, with 21 matches having to be awarded – far too many! If anyone does have the answer to this problem, please share it with me.
Overall
The reporting of match results by telephone, and the subsequent sending-in of Match Result Cards has been pretty good. The Snowdon's Result Service has usually updated the league tables by early Saturday evening, and I've only had to chase up the odd ones. EC1 have been using Electronic Match Cards this season, and that has not been without its issues. However, the clubs themselves have persevered and, when I listen to the problems in the other parts of the region, I really appreciate the efforts of my EC1(S) 'experts'!
Most of the EC2(S) and EC3(S) match cards are emailed to me by late Sunday morning. There have been the occasional lapses but we're all volunteers, with lives to lead outside of rugby.
If I have one gripe, it's the way we all now rely almost exclusively on emails and texts to convey our messages these days, rather than actually speaking with someone on the phone. Any problems that have arisen this season have invariably been down to a 'misunderstood' or 'not received' message, when a phone call could have resolved matters straightaway. Electronic messages are fine when the information is simple and basic, but you have to go a long way to beat a real conversation to sort things out!
OK – that's me finished. I am prepared to carry on in the role of league secretary for next season, but a subject that comes up in our Competitions Committee meetings is that of 'continuity planning'. I think it's on the basis that some of us are 'old farts', and might keel over at some time. So, if there is anyone out there that would like to become involved with some or all of the tasks, please just let me know.
Colin Garrod
Secretary – Eastern Counties [South]
23rd April 2018