Match 1 Wilmslow 3 v 8 Sandbach
Match 2 Wilmslow 1 v 6 Sandbach
Match 3 Wilmslow 5 v 6 Sandbach
Match 4 Wilmslow 5 v 4 Sandbach
Match 5 Wilmslow 1st 2 v 3 Sandbach 1st
Match 6 Wilmslow 2nd 6 v 5 Sandbach 2nd
Sandbach under 8s travelled to Wilmslow Wolves on Sunday with a full squad eager to prove we were equal to one of Cheshire’s elite rugby clubs.
The home team boasted 45 Wolves and asked if we could play six games over the course of the morning to accommodate such a large pool of players.
During the first games it became clear the Sandbach game plan was causing the opposition problems, direct running from Matt and Maya punched holes in their defence while the rush defence closed their runners down in which JP, Callum and Marcus excelled.
The Wilmslow coaches commented on how well drilled and committed our teams played, watching the home team from on the pitch they had no answer to our straight running and we turned the ball over after making six successful tackles many times.
After two emphatic wins the home team swapped players and in match 3 Ike and Ben were the highest taggers while Thomas scored two powerful tries running one from his own half, our third win of the day.
Match 4 saw Marcus and JP do most of the tagging allowing Callum and Maya to score the tries even though we were narrowly beaten by one try.
A 1st team and 2nd team was selected for matches 5 & 6 in which we won and lost by one try. In the 1st team game Wilmslow fielded their strongest seven, I was surprised how much they threw away possession, but on reflection, and viewing the statistics, all the team tagged well and produced some strong defence keeping the ball alive. We scored tries from the dancing feet of Callum and determined running from George.
The 2nd team was coached by Steve and he felt we were unlucky not to tie the game after a spirited fight back. I note Ben was the top try scorer while Josh, Lewis and James “H” tagged the most.
Overall, from a coach’s point of view, I was happy that we beat a strong Wolves outfit that managed to get to the Cheshire Cup final last year. However, as a team, we need to improve our concentration levels, some players are still asking the score during the game. I have set a game plan which will prove, over the course of the year, to be successful for the future development of all the players both in terms of tagging and in providing a platform for next year and full tackling. A special mention to JP who from a wing position tagged 20 times as well as crossing the try line 3 times…voted player of the week….
H (Head Coach)
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