7 Games of competitive U11's rugby at Stamford RUFC

Written by: Alan Staines
Checked by: Ann Gooden

We had a short trip south down the A1 in an eagerly anticipated double header against our hosts Stamford who impressively boast sufficient numbers to field 3 teams and their other guests Peterborough who brought 1 large team.

With a chill in the air several of our boys took a while to "get their heads on" struggling with basic warm up techniques, maybe a hangover from not training last week due to frozen pitches at Kelham road!

We travelled with all the available players and split into two teams, Blues and Whites both having 3 games against the 3 Stamford sides and combining with remaining players to play a final fixture with Peterborough.

BLUE SQUAD
Coaches; Richard/Vince
Players; Noah, Henry B, Oscar, Joe R, Joe D, Tom, Harry, Alexander, Lewis, Joshi, Alex G, Dom, Harley and Kye

The Blue squad started really strongly with a text book early try after linking several phases of play, Henry catching the ball deep in our half and running straight, great support rucking, presenting and recycling the ball, moved out wide quickly, Alex G drew the last defender and put Noah into space still in our half who injected pace to score unopposed, at times it's an easy game! Occasionally lost our defensive shape giving good Stamford players too much space and at times got dragged into a battle rather than move the ball out wide.

After a pleasing performance in game one, the 2nd fixture saw an improved performance against a better Stamford team. The boy’s commitment in the tackle and at rucks meant that we edged position and when the ball was moved along the line, we saw scores from Dom, Joe and Alexander. The latter meaning that we edged a terrific close fought contest.

After the final whistle, the referee congratulated both teams for their desire to pass the ball and for playing the game with great sportsmanship. This was perhaps exhibited no better than by Dom, who after a Stamford player lost his mouth guard in a maul, Dom picked it up and passed it to the player when he appeared from the maul!

So after 2 extremely competitive games, the 3rd fixture followed in the same vein. The lads really stepped it up and showed great resilience in a close hard fought contest. Teamwork was in abundance and some great defensive organisation led to a terrific interception try by Noah.

Stamford resorted to channel one, with a particular player using excellent low to high shoulder charging technique knocking off plenty of our defenders from pretty much every restart. This particular challenge was met literally head on by our boys, with Josh, Harley and Alexander proving that the bigger they are, the harder they fall!!

Stamford then proceeded to dominate possession. Credit to the boys they remained totally committed in defence, holding up their player on 3 occasions on our line when scores looked likely.

A Terrific game played again in the right way.

WHITE SQUAD
Coaches; Rushie, Jason & Ian
Players; Josh, Tommy, Finn, Freddie, Teddy, James, Elliott, Matthew G, Jack, Thomas, Calum, Matthew W, Harvey and Henry M

The White squad however struggled with a lack lustre defensive line which gave Stamford space and allowed good players to sidestep their way through most of the Newark defence. 3 tries down and never looked in the game at half time, the lads re-grouped and stepped up across the board as a team and impressively winning the start in the 2nd half.

The Whites took their improved form into the 2nd game, playing some truly outstanding rugby. Stamford didn't have an answer for our defensive line speed, getting up as a line and into their faces constantly putting them under pressure and pushing them back. After a period of constant pressure pinning Stamford back deep in their half, after particularly good recycling phases of play, we moved the ball wide with James drawing the last defender and floating a beautiful weighted pass over the top to Matthew G to run onto and squeeze into the corner to score. The day’s biggest achievement was preventing a very capable and talented Stamford side from scoring in this game, great D's win you games, the number of tries decide by how many! A great turnaround from a disappointing 1st game. As always the fantastic line speed and tackling was led by Freddie the destroyer! Good to see both Tommy and Thomas finding space and running strongly with the ball.

In the 3rd game on the largest pitch with a decent slope we played up hill in the 1st half but failed to exploit the space........

In the 2nd half we really started to move the ball and play some impressive rugby, we used the slope well and kicking the ball over and chased excellently, strong straight running by Teddy, Thomas and Elliott who kept driving forward with players hang off him to score on several occasions. Kye received the ball just inside their half on the right hand side and ran across the pitch into his supporting player’s space (we don't coach this!!) but straightened up and injected pace down the touch line to score in the corner, most impressed that every player on the pitch ran and congratulated Kye on scoring his first competitive try! Great awareness and teamwork lads.

Newark Blue & White Combined V Peterborough

After the 3 games v Stamford and effectively the end, Peterborough asked if we wanted another game, we combined the players who could or wanted to stay from both teams for another game on the biggest pitch. Most impressive was the desire and want to play from all the lads even after 3 hard fought games against very good Stamford teams.
Pleased to see that the two teams combined well and continued to move the ball into space, Peterborough were a physically large side but our fast co-ordinated defensive line simply didn't allow them space or time. We had the pleasure of seeing the lads really enjoying their rugby in this game, a fitting end to an excellent morning of rugby.

We had a few injuries, hopefully Reuben, Lewis and Alexander all recover quickly.

I'd like to thank Nigel who refereed four games! Great effort, nearly as tired as the lads!

Another fixture next week but at Home against Paviors, team selection to follow. Please set your availability and be ready to warm up pitch side BEFORE 10am! Training will run alongside the match for those not playing.