U9s' Tournament report

Sunday 12th October 2008

Experts say that the sign of Champions is to win when not playing well. Well in our first A team match we played OK but eventually got thumped 6-0 by a team of giants - I was totally convinced that one chap was late onto the pitch as he was finishing shaving! No bitterness here, they were big, strong and extremely well drilled. The Bs suffered similarly - but at least kept it to 4-0. Thankfully Tring continued in the same vain all day winning all 10 matches they played - only stopping at lunchtime to each devour a few huge pork and stuffing sandwiches from one of the many tremendous refreshment stalls.

There were 2 hilarious moments during the day - the first being when player Thomas Moore asked the proprietor of The Bluebell Café (Coach Phil Melling) 'If people laugh at him driving along the road in the converted van- as they should', and the second when many of us met Dominic Waldouck of Young Guns Academy, Wasps and one day England fame to be asked by player Sam Roberts 'What do you want to be when you grow up' - to receive the answer 'A rugby player'!!

Learning a little from the opener both As and Bs destroyed Aylesbury 5-1 and 6-0 respectively. Certainly the highlight of the day with much excellent play and tremendous tries. Ain't no stopping us now!..

Henley were the third opponents with the As drawing 3-3 after being 2-0 down at half-time, to then fight back to lead 3-2 only to concede with the final play of the match. The Bs unfortunately came up against a very useful and speedy team to eventually lose 3-0.

Oxford Harlequins obviously did their homework well having been our guests last week at Braywick in the downpour - defeating us on this occasion by 2-1 and 3-1 respectively in two hard fought matches. The As in particular need to learn to make the ball do the work and to use our strengths i.e. speed and finishing. We are not the tallest nor strongest group and hence need to be more clever and versatile. Lessons to learn as we continue along the development path.

Our final matches were against Newbury. The As had to win and score 3 tries to secure 3^rd place, and if the Bs won they would finish 2^nd. The As started well leading 2-0 at the break, but as Newbury adapted better in the second half to our style, the game petered out and remained at 2-0. Another case of learning to change tactics mid-match and changing routes of play, running angles and attack. The Bs unfortunately seemed to run out of steam on what was a long, and by then very warm day succumbing 3-0 to a good Newbury team.

As Player of the Day: Alec McEwan

Bs Player of the Day: Oliver Jones