Phew!
That’s the collective sound of U13 coaches x 3 exhaling a deep sigh of relief, after a very good win in our final game of 2019.
It’s been a challenging last few games, without a win, beaten soundly by our closest rivals in our last outing when we normally win that fixture (no match report available for this, but the score 10 tries to 1 – lovely long distance run by Edo).
Speaking for myself there was some trepidation going into the London Welsh game, on recent form against a team who beat us well twice last season. A few dropouts due to illness and injury beforehand didn’t ease the nerves, leaving us with one substitute.
But the boys trained well yesterday (the importance of making these sessions can’t be overestimated) and the morning before the game.
And we started well. Lots of early possession, straight away upper hand at the breakdown. So a bit of shock when London Welsh took a quick penalty and scored. Then did it again 2 minutes later. But it was so against the run of play that I didn’t fear the worst, and Carter (who did a great job as captain for the day) had some motivating words for his team. And quickly we hit back. We’ve recently fallen into an old habit of bunching up. When we hold our positions, across the field and pass wide (without dropping the ball ideally), we can be very effective. Two lovely moves, ball though hands, out wide and finished superbly by Daniel. The game became something of an arm wrestle for a while, with little break throughs until the stroke of half time Daniel received the ball just inside our half, put on the after burners, went round 3 players and scored. The first two were wonderful team tries, the third individual brilliance. Daniel is a special player, it’s not just his raw speed, but the ability to quickly change pace, and run with incredible balance. A hat trick before half time and a great time to score.
The boys were buoyant at half time. Watch the quick penalties and more of the same please in the second half.
And it was a great second half. Our scrum was the most solid it has been all season thanks to Edo, Holden, Oli, Tana, David and Finely, and our rucking was very effective. Last week we committed too many to the ruck, so we spoke about this, and how players needed to make split second decisions to hit the ruck and make a difference or wheel around and join the back line. Our forwards did this well, with a special nod to Finley and Oli. Oli played in the front row for the first time and did extremely well. I’ve lost count how many positions we have asked Oli to play in this season, and he always gives 100% and makes an impact. Dylan with front foot ball was able to get the ball out quickly with some lovely passing. With lots of possession the tries came. A fourth for Daniel then super bobbing, weaving tries from Jessie and Jack. Our back line can be very effective when in the mood.

The only blot on out copybook was the penalty count against us at the breakdown. Holding on, hands in the ruck, not rolling away, sometimes all three in the hope perhaps this would confuse the ref into not blowing up at all. This enabled London Welsh to secure some ball and score two of their own. But with Oliver and Arthur interchanging on one wing, closing down the opposition quickly and making some lovely runs themselves. And Madoc doing his usual impersonation of two players, one back / one forward, covering every inch of the pitch, the comeback was snuffed out. Our forwards not to be outdone by the backs made a series of huge runs. First Edo bulldozed forward, dragged down just short. Edo, just a season and a half into his rugby career, is one of our most improved players with more to come. Then Tana broke through to score, followed by David. Hats off to the forwards who have to expend a lot of energy pushing in the scrum, to then put in big runs like this late in the game. Daniel’s 5th made it 9 – 4, and the game was up. Daniel came off to a big round of applause from parents and coaches from both sides. A good bunch the London Welsh. That’ll be the Welshness! It did feel a little careless to let in two late relatively soft tries. Just to remind the coaches that there is more work to be done in the New Year? Of course, there’s always more work to be done and improvements to be made, but this was a super way to sign off 2019, and put smiles on the faces of players, parents and coaches.
Merry Christmas all. See you in 2020.