|
Maidwell 25 Winchester House 10
A very pleasing start to the season for the Under 9s. They played really well throughout with bags of enthusiasm and show potential to be a strong side. Hugo Manners is an intelligent player and a good runner. William Owens was ferocious as a prop and was key in pounding the opposition in rucks. Tom Pumphrey also seemed to relish being in the thick of the action. Freddie Simpson most certainly did his bit and charged towards the opposition fearlessly. Oliver Shields-Portersfield was another key player with fierce attacking play. Henry Wakeham-Dawson put in an impressively amazing number of tackles – good lad! Our backs, Oliver Stroud, Fergus Dewhurst, Ben Holborow and Alex Harvey-Perkins had a steep learning curve, but they did well and seemed to enjoy themselves. We have plenty of things to work on before our next match which is against Spratton. Well done boys!
Maidwell 20 The Grove 20
A very well supported match in glorious sunshine. A tougher game today due to four Under 10s in the opposition resulting two tries all at half time. We were grateful to Felix Holland-Bosworth and Tom Fountain who were then brought on and bolstered our backs. The rolling rucks were good and our forwards kept up momentum. The man of the match, though, was a girl who turned out to be a very good player and gave our lads something to think about. Our try scorers were Hugo Manners, Tom Pumphrey, Tom Fountain and Freddie Simpson. Well done lads!
Maidwell 0 Spratton 35
I am very pleased that this is the first of two matches against Spratton this season. They were very good at getting the ball out from scrums and line outs down the line. This moved the ball away from our stronger players, inadvertently causing them to run ragged around the pitch doing the backs' work. William Owens, Tom Pumphrey and Hugo Manners played brilliantly. I am pleased to report that, in the face of defeat, our boys remained good sportsmen and held together. Well done lads!
Maidwell 15 Stoneygate 5
It was an unusual game because Stoneygate request touch rugby due to the firmness of the ground. The boys had one session the day before on the rules of touch rugby and strategic implications. When each boy held his position and didn't "poach", then they covered the whole width of the pitch without gaps. It was only during a prolonged series of rucks that a large gap appeared and the Stoneygate scorer nipped through. Considering their newness to this version of the game, their win was quite an achievement with three excellent tries, each one a tribute to their maintained effort and assertiveness. As a consequence of playing, they have found that their passing and positional play has been greatly helped. In a few days time our next challenge will be against Bilton Grange. Come on!
Maidwell 35 Bilton Grange 15
A fantastic match against a stronger, faster, but less skilled Bilton side. If the match were later in the season, it might have gone the other way. Our lads played brilliantly. Notable tries were those of Oliver Shields-Portersfield and Oliver Stroud. Tom Pumphrey's beautifully timed tackle on their winger: the ball was going down the line, Tom started accelerating towards the attackers and as soon as the ball reached his hands he was going down. William, Hugo, Freddie and Henry also had a great match. Our forwards rucking over relentlessly was our winning suit. A great game, very well done boys!
Maidwell 0 Beachborough 45
The outcome of this match was never really in question. It is with regret that I concede that the opposition played very skilfully and outmatched us in every area. Our boys have certainly got some stiff competition coming up three times a year for the next five years! Our lads did well, though, in the face of the onslaught, not to turn on each other, but kept up fierce, defiant defence right up until the final whistle. Well done boys!
Maidwell 0 Witham 35
Maidwell were outclassed today by a very good Witham Hall team. They were never really in the game as the bigger and larger team steamrollered themselves to an impressive win. Confidence needs to return before the tournament on Saturday.
Winchester tournament
Played 5 Lost 4 Won 1
The tournament was a non competitive one with many schools taking part and some not even playing each other. It was well run but any success was going to be limited having had some injuries and illness prior to it. It took a little while to get going but the team enjoyed some good battles.
Maidwell 10 Grt Houghton 20
The boys played really well today. Freddie was sadly missed due to his broken arm and his rucking vim could have tipped the balance. William Owens had a great game and did well to charge deep into the opposition pack as a standard move. His two tries were thoroughly well deserved. Ollie SP and Ben Holborow played their part well and got stuck in. For Ben, in the thick of things, it was his best game of the season instead of standing as a winger on the end of the line. Hugo Manners made some good, quick decisions and was a fierce tackler. Tom Pumphrey, as expected, did the job of several positions at once and gave it is all. It was also good to see that Henry WD has at last got back into his good tackling habits. Ollie Stroud and Fergus Dewhurst got their hands dirty a couple of times with tackling. Well done all!
Maidwell 5 Bedford 25
Maidwell played very well against quite a strong Bedford side. In the first few minutes of the game it looked like we would walk over them, but the tide soon turned with a vengence. Well done to Hugo for scoring our only try. Once he broke out into the open, he just had to keep on going to score. Again, due to his broken arm, we missed Freddie Simpson and we therefore playing one man down. William Owens was the star forward, supported by Ollie SP and Ben Holborow. Tom Pumphrey was in his usual good form and Henry WD was tackling well. They finished the season well. Well done boys!
|