U11B Rugby v Ratcliffe 16 November 2017
It was a pleasure to manage this team for the first time, and watch such a fantastic game. We often talk about whether school should be a "Results Business" or a reflection of Effort and Performance. This was the latter, it was a proper sporting contest... it was life... sometimes it doesn't quite go your way, but much more importantly I saw a collection of boys taking the field, and 40 minutes later I saw a team of young men head for tea....
Captained by Oliver Miller, we lined up against a physically imposing Ratcliffe side. We started slowly, they didn't..some quick inter-passing and a few sidesteps later we found ourselves two tries down with hardly a touch of the ball. Harry and Harley started the fightback with some ferocious tackling. We picked up.. James and Tom using their loose play skills to link with speedy William, Frankie and Oliver. We gained ground and retained possession through good work from our forwards. With four phases of possession linked together we finally stretched Ratcliffe, and our speedsters raced in for a well worked try. As expected, Ratcliffe came straight back at us, and great credit must go to Frankie for two absolute last-gasp solo try saving tackles which kept us in the game. Raj, Saiyan and Gilbert were eager for the ball and involved in the action, so despite conceding one more try, we finished the half pressing their line and going mighty close to a deserved second score.
Talking to the boys at half time they made up their minds that they were not going to lie down. We started the second half with much more intensity, the turbo-charged Harry putting his body on the line again and again, Harley, Tom, James and Oliver making decisive breaks, and the illusive Frankie running rings around their backs to gain big yards. We pressed again and scored; Gilbert gratefully seizing the opportunity for an old fashioned forwards try! The game was end to end, at one point our pack held them on our line for what seemed like hours, great teamwork and determination by everyone. When we retained possession and passed wide our runners caused chaos in the Ratcliffe defence, so it was no surprise that we scored out wide again. 3-4. Five minuets left. Game on.
With one minute left on the clock we were holding out near our line, refusing to give away another point. Surely we couldn't salvage a well deserved draw from this position? Again the team dug deep; we broke forward, runners were supported, off-loads went to hand, Frankie weaved some magic in the midfield; we were moving forward with purpose. Seconds left now...Captain Oliver, ball in hand, screaming down the touchline going for the corner....Hes in! Ooooh so close. Inches from the line he is denied by a match saving tackle. Touch. Whistle.....
Wow. Time to get you breath back. We finished the match the wrong side of a 3-4 scoreline but in all honesty, who cares? The boys had competed with grit, heart, skill and determination against a very good Ratcliffe side and just come up short. This was sport, we all knew it, and we had loved every minute of it!
Well done boys, especially the Men of the Match; Frankie and Harry.
Keep it up!
Nick T
Captained by Oliver Miller, we lined up against a physically imposing Ratcliffe side. We started slowly, they didn't..some quick inter-passing and a few sidesteps later we found ourselves two tries down with hardly a touch of the ball. Harry and Harley started the fightback with some ferocious tackling. We picked up.. James and Tom using their loose play skills to link with speedy William, Frankie and Oliver. We gained ground and retained possession through good work from our forwards. With four phases of possession linked together we finally stretched Ratcliffe, and our speedsters raced in for a well worked try. As expected, Ratcliffe came straight back at us, and great credit must go to Frankie for two absolute last-gasp solo try saving tackles which kept us in the game. Raj, Saiyan and Gilbert were eager for the ball and involved in the action, so despite conceding one more try, we finished the half pressing their line and going mighty close to a deserved second score.
Talking to the boys at half time they made up their minds that they were not going to lie down. We started the second half with much more intensity, the turbo-charged Harry putting his body on the line again and again, Harley, Tom, James and Oliver making decisive breaks, and the illusive Frankie running rings around their backs to gain big yards. We pressed again and scored; Gilbert gratefully seizing the opportunity for an old fashioned forwards try! The game was end to end, at one point our pack held them on our line for what seemed like hours, great teamwork and determination by everyone. When we retained possession and passed wide our runners caused chaos in the Ratcliffe defence, so it was no surprise that we scored out wide again. 3-4. Five minuets left. Game on.
With one minute left on the clock we were holding out near our line, refusing to give away another point. Surely we couldn't salvage a well deserved draw from this position? Again the team dug deep; we broke forward, runners were supported, off-loads went to hand, Frankie weaved some magic in the midfield; we were moving forward with purpose. Seconds left now...Captain Oliver, ball in hand, screaming down the touchline going for the corner....Hes in! Ooooh so close. Inches from the line he is denied by a match saving tackle. Touch. Whistle.....
Wow. Time to get you breath back. We finished the match the wrong side of a 3-4 scoreline but in all honesty, who cares? The boys had competed with grit, heart, skill and determination against a very good Ratcliffe side and just come up short. This was sport, we all knew it, and we had loved every minute of it!
Well done boys, especially the Men of the Match; Frankie and Harry.
Keep it up!
Nick T
its a "dab" ....apparently?!
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