Westcombe Park Mini Festival Sunday 20th April 2008. Under 7’s report. Under 7s have a good time Giving up the Good Times” (No more Champagne for them) As we race toward the end of the season our under 7s faced their last game of champagne rugby (Nobody wins, nobody loses and we watch all the other age groups get the cups/shields plates etc.) A cold dank morning at Combe but with the promise of some sun later; A full and healthy squad of 12 with 3 coaches plus a pre-planned running order designed to give all the boys an equal amount of time on the pitch. We start against Old Alleynians who along with Old Eltamanians should change their names to Big instead of Old. Both teams having a substantial number of oversize players compared to our wee lads. Luckily Coach Joe keeps the side on an even keel for this first match. So Big Allaynians start and within two or three tags turn the ball over to us. Ben V is our first surprising runner of the day and after charging up the middle he swiftly passes backwards to Ben S who also runs straight and then as he is tagged throws a flat pass to Miles who runs it into the corner. (Hard nosed pros may say the pass was not flat as it travelled at least 5 feet backwards as well as the required 3 yards across to Miles but in the world of Under 7s this was bordering on forward) We stop them getting to our line again and after turning them over and restarting Ben S runs straight in for a try. (or at least as straight as Ben ever runs straight) Stop that big boy goes up the shout but to no avail and a plump giant of a lad puts Alls on the board. Liam runs tight up the touchline and cuts in beautifully but he gets tagged on the touch line, his pass finds Ben S and we are 3-1 up. Alls come back and draw our defence into one corner of the pitch before a large fast boy runs across the extremely wide pitch to score in the opposite corner. This is to become a constant weakness as our defence, strong in its collectiveness gets pulled out of shape and concedes to cross field runs. Robbie is our next runner and after he is caught his pass is knocked on by Ben S and the ball is given back to Alls. We stop them with our signatory tagging frenzy and turn them over on our line. Henry takes first Run and despite going up the wrong side (according to Coach Robin) his dazzling footwork sees him zig zag through the defence to score. Half time 4-2 First Runner Miles does his Billy Elliot impression and after shimmying and stepping he spins from the jaws of a certain tag to run in for try number five. Again alls draw our defence before running across fields to score unchallenged. Liam runs the restart and passes to Henry who makes good ground before tripping / falling with a loud thump. The ground where he falls is dented and Henry is substituted by an eager Ben S. Retaining possession The Sullivan twins hurtle up the short side and then Ben S. steps over to score. A last ditch pride restorer from Alleynians sees Harry planting his feet in the touch down area to prevent the ball being grounded and eventually we stop them. Before we can restart the final whistle goes. Comfortable at 6-3. Big Elts up next and coach Entwistle in charge. Should be a breeze. Again we do not start but we tag them into touch and turn the ball over. Charlie takes first run and scurries off up the field with deceptive pace. The giants only just catch him before the line and his exploding bomb pass is brilliantly caught by Harry who skips over for try number one. Elts send a grown adult (at least a child in an adult’s body) against us but he too is ushered none too gently into touch. Toby takes up the ball and with a delicate (never thought Toby would be delicate) body swerve and side step (never thought he’d be doing that either) he takes out half the giants defence offloads smartly to Ben S who takes out the other half to score. Now they are at us and despite several tags and blocks Elts are finally given a try although to the bias observer it looks to be held up by some over active Becs defenders. Mathew (with shirt tucked in) shows a blinding turn of pace as his arced run scores in the corner without a hand touching him. Elts bring in the heavy plant and we are bulldozed flat. Harry breaks the first line takes it up the middle offloads to a fully recovered Henry who finds the gap cuts back and scores. We turn them over but half time come before we can impart any more damage. 4-2. Miles takes the first run but is forced into touch. He makes up for it with a great flying tag which makes the goliath drop the ball. Ben S picks up and runs the length of the field only to trip or be tripped with yards to go but he pops the ball up to Henry who is also tripped and the ball is spilled. Suddenly size seems to be important and despite brave and foolhardy attempts we are unable to stop Elts from running the length to score. Harrison carries the ball up but looses it in a melee and a wrestling match ensues. We loose the wrestling and a try. 4-4 this is getting hairy. Ben S steps forward and although stopped short gets a flattish pass away to Harrison. He in turn is stopped (tagged by an associate of Gulliver) before another flattish pass to Miles who shows us his Jason Robinson feet as he dances over in the corner. Elts have the last play and unluckily (phew) they knock on. A tight win at 5-4. Those in the know said Maidstone might be tough and our fixed rotation schedule left our first half team lacking a little in experience but they were to prove they lacked nothing in heart and ability. Our coach also lacked experience at this level. Hammys first run out as controller in a festival game. Again on the first play we turned the ball over, our fierce tagging driving them into touch. Harry stepped up to the plate and carried it forward passed to Robbie who was tripped (accidentally?). Still we retained the ball and Harrison crashed forward only to be held up and the ball turned over. Maidstone swept up the field passing as we tagged and tagged> Harry managed to knock the ball out of their hands but the ref wagged his finger and gave the maids the ball back. They took one tag and broke through to try. Thomas took them on and a mazy run ended when he was (accidentally?) tripped. Still we retained possession and Toby carries, offloads to Harry who is just stopped short of glory but offloads to Mathew who is (accidentally?) tripped. Half time 0-1 and with the impact players coming off the bench we were well in the game. Our start: - Robbie to Ben S to Harry and glory this time. Harry then stops the maids with a classic wrap around the legs tackle which is followed up by a team defensive drive and the maids are in touch. Ben S takes the start and runs straight down the line for a try. Maidstone knock on and Harrison shows his pace as he flies up the pitch. Nervous moments and shouts of “Stay in Touch” but Harrison knows what he’s at and as he is tagged he offloads to Ben S who sails into the opposite corner. We stop them again and again both with tagging and physically blocking; the ball is dropped and after a bit of pushing and shoving Ben V picks up and breaks out with the ball. He starts the move of the day by running straight up the middle, gets tagged, spins around and passes to Ben S who side steps a defender breaks the line and gets tagged, throws a long (4-5 yards) to Harrison who catches it clean, goes forward gets tagged, and throws a space making (flattish) pass to Miles who dispenses with his dance moves and crashes over for the try. Instant applause from all the watchers; both the neutral and especially from the not so neutral. Maidstone start but they are beaten and when we stop them again the ref blows for time. 4-1. As expected Hammy is a natural and takes all the plaudits. Undefeated…. Last Game….. Westcombe Park. Arch rivals and hosts of this tournament…. The coaches meet… “Let’s tweak the rotation system” … Lets put our stronger boys out…..NO… All our team are good enough. Take it away Coach Entwistle. We start for once and Harry charges straight through the middle of the Combe for a try. We stop their attack but they cut around the side of our defence and score. Liam arcs his run and then squeezes himself at great pace down the touchline and scores in the corner .Westcombe are blocked out in the corner but their fast guy runs across and away to the opposite corner nobody home. Robbie, no messing, tears holes through the Combe defence and scores. Now we get amongst them and under pressure Westcombe knock on. Liam fires away up the line and in a last chance pass Harry crashes in for another. Again severe tagging pressure causes Combe to knock on but Matt falls with the ball and they have it back. We force them back but after more then several tags and phases a tall Giraffe of a lad gallops across and away from our defensive mass to score in the opposite corner. Half Time 4-3. We start the second half as well as the first and Henry runs straight then passes to Ben S who does a mini tour of the pitch before scoring. They come again.. Mathew is given offside but as they restart we tag them into touch. Ben S carries, takes the tag and passes long to Toby who shows a great turn of pace to open up the defence. As he is tagged he turns to pass to Ben who in his eagerness to take the pass does not fix his tag properly and we are penalised for only one tag. WP race up the other end and score. Mathew beetles off on an arcing run and as he ghosts past the Combe defence we are amazed how he manages to avoid loosing his tags to the grasping defensive hands. “His shirt it’s His shirt” cry Westcombe. Sure enough with his shirt outside hi shorts Mathew only displays about two inches of each tag. The ref orders a restart and Mathew calls their bluff by running the same arc again but he is stopped before reaching the line and Ben S knocks the pass on. Matt goes offside but we cant stop them and they score in the corner with a very fast running try (looks like coach was right about the running bit) We restart and Harry opens them up for Ben S to score. (combes defence is a little suspect; right again coach) Surely that’s the last play. But no Combe have one last chance to level the scores…. They attack fast and we tag and tag pushing them back but suddenly one of them breaks down our line and he’s quick. But surely we’ll block him into touch but no he’s too quick and our first wave of defence misses him. Surely he’ll put a foot in touch but no he’s experienced and shows good balance. He is going to make it; he’s going to make it…. and with just three paces to go it looks that way but Thomas with a brilliant flying covering Tag saves the day and as the ball is grounded (the lad thinks he’s scored) the ref blows for a dead ball and time. 6-5. PLAYED 4 WON 4 Undefeated Sounds great and this was by far the best all round performance by the under 7s. A seasons training and practice all coming together. Lets hope it stays with our Lads and that when we get to the IOW Vectis haven’t changed their format from last year and we too will be playing for more then imaginary champagne. Well done to the coaches and the magnificent 12. To cap it all as we entered the bar the Sun came out. Great Tournament Westcombe looking forward to next year already. (And will that be our last festival of tag)