Wild Ducks Tour
Well, what a weekend had by all!! Rugby- what’s that! Far too many late nights and early mornings for the under 9’s to comprehend and play!!!
What a shock to hear that Stanford Tigers were all tucked up in bed and fast asleep by 9.15pm!!!! WHAT - we are on tour!!!!!!!
Not a good start to the day. The boy’s were totally defeated by a much stronger, well drilled and wide awake team. Even the pink tutu’s didn’t put off the opposition!! Neither, unfortunately did Florence (in his theatre blues, and nurse’s hat and blood stained gloves hanging from his pocket!!!). We did have to tell the other teams he was qualified but that he was also certified!!!!
The boys were deflated after a 8:0 defeat but there were moments of good play from the boys. Dylan E made some great tackles. Well done Dylan – lots more to come from you, I believe!
Next up were Maldon and all the team got stuck in, with lots of passing and less hanging back and playing as a team. Ryan did some fantastic rucking and Dylan WT supported his mates well, along with Joe. Ciaran and Iwan did some fab passing and looked for space which helped Dan get 2 tries. Will made a great tackle into the flag – always good tackles these!! This is how to play the game boys – well done
Final score Medway 2 Maldon 3
3rd match against the hosts Holts– well not a lot to say. Another big defeat but Ryan was leading the team well but he wasn’t supported enough so the opposition ran away with them! Great thinking and off loading of the ball by Iwan was noted – great work Iwan! The pep talks from dad are obviously working!!!! Another good match for Dylan E with excellent running and getting much more stuck in
Final score Medway 0 Holts 7
The last game was against Tring and WOW what a way to end the festival – on a high with a win. This is what it’s all about – the team working together, running as a line and defending and attacking like the demons they are. Great driving with the ball by Ryan, Cameron, Ciaran, Dylan and Dan and as a result they covered lots of ground and helped score a try. The tackling was so much better and the ball was being passed more freely. Everyone of the team played their part in this match YIPPEE. Owen scored 4 tries, Dan 1 and Cameron 1, all as a result of the team playing as a team! We parents and coaches were so proud and boy did the boys have happy, smiley faces!! Oh yes!! Sorry, but I have to add here about Dan’s dad, being the proudest, but only as a result of Dan sticking up for himself after being goaded, kicked and pushed by a couple of the opposition. Dan decided enough was enough, the pin was pulled and “punch”, and the rest is history. What happens on tour stays on tour!!! Even the ref didn’t bat an eyelid! He had seen it coming! The ref is always right.
Old Colfeians Festival
Well the boys haven’t played a competitive game for ages so who knew what today was going to bring?
First up was Medway V Bromley The first try came to Bromley within the first 15 seconds of the game – wow what a wake up call to the boys! They rapidly responded and played so much better, with great passing and good defensive play. They were actually playing as a team. Patrick was Scrum half and he did an excellent job and made some great decisions. Our fall down was the rucking. All the team ploughed into the ruck but no-one grabbed the ball – except the opposition!!
The ball was ripped from Callum’s hands and this unfortunately allowed Bromley to score a try. Good tackling noted by Ryan, Tom, and Dan. Dan scored a try after great set up by Owen.
Final score Medway 1 Bromley 3
Next up were the Old Alleynians
Great passing from Owen to Sam this match and Joe upped the anti after a Pep talk from his dad. What great tackling!! The lads stopped a try too by holding the ball up on try line – so exciting. Ciaran tackled well too. Dan made a run for it and scored. The score was 1:1 at half time and Iwan had a “talk” from his dad which included knife and fingers!! Well all I can say is “more of it” cos it certainly did the trick – Iwan tackled like a demon!
Dan had a big task too and that was to stop Speedy from the opposition running for the try line. Well Dan certainly didn’t let us down as he hurtled from one side of pitch to the other and knocked him into touch on the flag!!!! Mind you just after this Dan penalised for handing off – now, now Dan! He did make up for it though as after a fab drive by Ryan he managed to escape with the ball and get another try.
There were a few mistakes from both sides, forward passing and knock ons but it was to be our game as Patrick grabbed the ball from the scrum and ran for the try line!
Final score Medway 3 Old Alleynians 2
Our worst nightmare came next as we were up against Sevenoaks
Not very much to say about this game except Sevenoaks ran rings around the boys. I must mention Dylan W. here as he was awesome in the maul. He so wasn’t letting go of that ball for anything or anyone!!! Patrick saved one try by tackling well and put them out of play. The boys lost heart and were deflated and almost gave up. No-one was tackling.
No more to say except – RUCKING – “WHAT’S THAT!!!!!!!!
Final score Medway 0 Sevenoaks 7
Final game – against Blackheath
Callum and Tom did some great tackles here and Tom listened about rucking( sorry to keep mentioning this!!)
Better tackling and play all round this match – thank goodness. Ryan was unlucky when at try line he reached over with the ball but it wasn’t quite there – so wasn’t allowed! Dan was “taken over” at the end by frustration and anger! (not sure where this came from), but he ROARED green teeth and ran like the wind to score our only try. Blackheath looked on in amazement at this demented boy!!!! Mind you his dad was dead proud!!!
Final score Medway 1 Blackheath 3
Scribed by Sue Clark
Upminster Festival
Not a lot to say today (for a change I hear you all say) about the matches played. There were more players to mention concerning good tackles and getting a bit more involved in play, but there is still a distinct lack of team work and supporting each other during matches. As a result they lost all their games BUT not to be despondent yet as its early season and it gives the coaches and manager lots to work on!!!! We don’t want their job to be easy now do we?
Joe, who I think got out of bed the wrong side this sunny morning, once he was persuaded to get on the pitch did a few awesome tackles and proved what he is capable of. Maybe we need to annoy him and wind him up before matches!!!
Tommy, when he decides “I’ve had enough of this being beaten lark” really made his mark and tackled with real determination and purpose!!!
Dan, Mr stroppy pants and so frustrated my team aren’t B****y tackling, hit hard and with pure focus of the job in hand!!! Also scored a try- thought I’d best add that bit!
Iwan, the welsh one (say no more), was fantastic at “holding up the ball” on the opponents try line, by crawling underneath it, so preventing a couple of tries. More of it please!!!
Patrick, who did some great runs, scored a try!! (YIPPEE) and who looked for support and someone to pass to – glad someone listens to the coaches!!!
Sam, I’m going to “drive” like a tank when I get the chance, did some great “pushes” at the rucks, tackled well and showed what he is made of!! (not sugar and spice)
Harry, the quiet little one, was noted doing some good tackles, when he thought no-one was watching!!! Keep it up Harry- you maybe little but don’t let that stop you!
William, who always likes to run backwards, once he ran forwards, got the team a good advantage with his speed and determination but the opponents quickly sussed him out and tackled him as soon as they got the chance. But don’t forget to pass Will!!!
Last but by no means least Ciaran, who made his mark in the last match by getting himself more involved. He passed the ball well down the line and tackled like he really meant it!!! Keep going at it, as it will stop your mum nagging you!!! (sorry Nikki).
Sorry I can’t mention all the team individually, but well done to each and everyone who played. Keep up the great work, practice hard and we will succeed.
Medway Festival
This is the start of the season and the first games of contact rugby at our own festival in the glorious rain! So we had no idea what we were up against but what a welcome to rugby!!
Unfortunately we had Sevenoaks as the first game who are a very strong club. The boys put up a brave fight- they tackled well, but were too hesitant and held back too much. This turned out to be a very frustrating game for everyone as Sevenoaks played well by being consistently off side in our rucks and got away with it!! But hey-ho here we go again- the ref is always right! We lost 8:0.
The second match gave the boys the boost they needed as they were up against Upminster. They were allowed so much space that it was more like a “tag” game with lots of running allowed and tries scored easily. Won 8:0
Next up Sittingbourne our good ole rivals- but it was an even game with better tackling and rucking. Ben was noted for a well caught ball and a great run but he was unlucky and tackled out of play near the try line. Lost 2:1
Whitstable was the last pool game to play and more impressive play from the boys- Ryan was great at pushing in the ruck(more of it please), Tom for some fab tackles and Dylan E – wow –very impressed with his tackling and hanging on to the ball whilst the opponents tried to “rip it”. Unfortunately we lost this game too and somehow still ended up with one last chance for 4th place when we were up against Barking. This was more like a wrestling match with nose bleeds, punches to the face and head but the boys still kept going and it was a close run game. Unfortunately it wasn’t going to be their day and they were beaten by one try.
Well done to each and every one of you.
The boys can hold their heads up high- it is only the beginning of the season and we have lots of potential and great players. We need to continue to train hard and work better as a team with each and every player getting more involved with tackling (whatever size their opponents) and better passing. But this can only happen if players support each other more and run as a forceful line instead of bunching together.
Here’s to a fantastic season with hopefully better weather, and whatever happens, we can be a force to be reckoned with!!