Sunday 29th April 2007 - Vectis (Isle of Wight) Mini Festival U9 Match Report Players : Michael Rochester (Captain), Harvey Bains, Cameron MacAskill, Matthew Tokarski, Elliot Peters, Alex Donovan, Eddie Tolmie, Will Pigg, Josh Frost & Luc Hallam. Record : Played 6, Won 2, Lost 4, Drew 0. Result : Runners-Up Plate Competition 1st Pool Game vs Bracknell RFC “A” - lost 2-1 2nd Pool Game vs Alton RFC - lost 4-1 3rd Pool Game vs US (United Services) Portsmouth RFC - lost 3-1 Quarter Final vs Bracknell RFC “B” – won 7-1 Semi Final vs Harpenden RFC - won 1-1 (won on toss of a coin) Final vs Alton RFC - lost 2-0 Photos of the team in action are here - photos A cracking first game, played with all the heart and spirit that we have come to expect from our squad. Bracknell “A” were a very well prepared team with some VERY big lads who ran with conviction and speed. 2-0 down at half-time (one well-worked try and one breakaway try) and a short team chat later and we came out of the blocks champing at the bit. We clawed it back to 2-1 and kept the game in their half with an outstanding defensive performance. A loss perhaps, but a brilliant display of teamwork and concentration. Then we came up against a smaller Alton RFC side who didn’t seem to pose much of a threat, having watched their previous match. Perhaps the smaller size of the team had some effect on our squad as we just did not defend as a unit and when we got the ball we either didn’t run fast enough or we gave the ball away by trying to pass out of a tackle. We had specifically trained with the squad on Saturday and just prior to the festival and had asked them to look for support or else go-to-ground. Unfortunately, not only did we not support our ball-carriers but our ball-carriers forgot to go-to-ground. Perhaps this is one match we should all try to forget!! We then had to play US (United Services) Portsmouth RFC. Again, they were not very big and didn’t look to be as good as Bracknell “A” but our lads heads were down and no matter what we tried we could not get them to raise their game. Oh well, off to the plate quarter-finals then. We were then drawn against Bracknell RFC “B”. From nowhere, we turned on the style and after showing some great skill and superb attacking, we came out of it deserved winners – 7-1. Matthew Tokarski scoring five of the tries himself. The Semi Final! Drawn against Harpenden RFC. Their coaches were very nice chaps and wished our team all the best before the game. They also asked if they could substitute the entire team at half time as a lot of lads had come on tour and they wanted to give them all a game. We agreed. The first half was a very close affair with Harpenden putting in 1 try to go in ahead. The second half was a brilliant display by Beccs. We camped in their half and drove them back over their line several times before scoring the levelling try with the last play of the match. Festival rules meant that a coin had to be tossed and the duty fell to Nick Hallam. “Tails never Fails” was the motto and it bore fruit. We were awarded the match and progressed to the final. The Final! Drawn against Alton RFC – the team that had beaten us comprehensively in the pool stages. We played uphill in the first half, but some shoddy tackling let in Alton for two trys. Second half and with the hill with us we drove Alton backwards and again played the match in their half but just could not find the finishing touch to score a try. We were the better team (just) in the second half and it would have been nice to score a try to show that but never mind. It was a very warm day and most of our team had been up late for two nights messing around on tour. I think we performed admirably considering. I do think that some special mentions are necessary again; Matthew "Shabs" Tokarski – worked tirelessly, listened to his coaches and scored for fun. He did the work of three lads this weekend. Michael Rochester – ran and tackled hard in every game, despite picking up a knee and head injury in the pool stages – a true Captains performance. Cameron MacAskill – direct running and great support play. Was asked to perform the roles of hooker and prop instead of his normal position as a Centre and did so with such nonchalant ease it was breathtaking. Elliot Peters – kept the back line fed with good passes and tackled like a demon too. Alex Donovan & Eddie Tolmie – our wingers were asked to come into the line and play as inside and outside centres. This involves more positional awareness, direct running and the need to perform some try-saving tackles. Both lads did such a good job – I hope they are proud of their efforts as we coaches certainly are!! Will Pigg – his weaving runs, interspersed with pirouettes and faints, were a joy to watch. He came in well off the wing to assist the forwards with rucks and mauls. One to watch for the future we think! Harvey Bains – despite having just returned from three weeks laying around on the beach being fed pealed grapes by bikini-clad beauties – our man took up the gauntlet and “munched” a fair few opponents. Luc Hallam & Josh Frost – asked to play on the wing, both lads tackled well, ran straight when they got the ball and supported their forwards in the push. A good performance from both of them showing that they have definitely improved their game this season.