Match reports from the Wimbledon Festival - 11 October 2009
Under 7's Under 10's Under 11's Under 12's
On Sunday Guildfordians Under 7's took part in their first away fixture - a tournament at Wimbledon. The team had to make a late replacement with Kieron Coles coming in. There were also some concerns about the fitness of Ben Barnes and Jim Woodriffe who'd gone down with bad colds and coughs a couple of days before - but late fitness tests coupled with appropriate TLC from their parents saw them well enough to participate and make important contributions.
We arrived in good time for the match and registered at the control point which is when we had a major shock - we were in the same group as such illustrious names as Richmond and Rosslyn Park! This was going to be a tough challenge for our team.
However, with an average age of 6 and a little bit, the boys were blissfully unaware of past reputations and did not share their parents trepidation. This became obvious early on with well worked victories in the first 3 matches over Rosslyn Park, Chobam and Richmond - epitomising the positive approach to the team took to scoring with good margins of victory with Luke Wyllie, Gaby Urvoy, Ben Barnes and Sam Jones scoring particularly well at critical times.
We went into the final group match knowing that victory against Camberley would secure the group and a place in the Cup Final. However, Camberely had different ideas, having yet to win a match they were obviously keyed up to notch up a victory and started very well running in two quick trys. However our lads responded well and turned the match round with some excellent individual tries with Jim Woodriffe again scoring what could be the try of the tournament with a wonderful length of the pitch solo effort. However this was a team win with important contributions from everyone and the defensive duties of Luke, Max Ardali and Kieron Coles being particularly important.
This victory secured top spot in the group and a final place against Kings who had progressed undefeated in the other group. A nervous group of parents gathered to watch the team lead onto the pitch by captain for the match -Andrew Mead, who had been selected for his great team spirit. A final team huddle and we were ready to go. The match was an epic and clearly emphasised the attacking nature and flare of both teams with the score steadily climbing - 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2 etc. Nothing could separate the teams. We entered the last 2 minutes of the match and we made our final substitution with Seb Bevans coming on. Some excellent inter-play within the Guildfordians team saw us score two tries in succession to take us into a 6-5 lead. The referee called the final play of the match and Kings took the restart - Guildfordians relaxed for a second and Kings took it out wide and pushed up into the corner and went into to score a try. A slight moment of hesitation ensued as the referee considered whether the player had stepped into touch. It was close - but without the benefit of a video replay the ref gave the benefit of the doubt to Kings and awarded the try. 6-6. Final whistle. In the final. What happened next?
After a debate between the organisers, coaches, ref and some bloke with an opinion, it was decided that rather than a toss of coin it should go on points won in the group stages. 12 each - we still couldn't be separated. So it went to a tries scored countback. Unfortunately all the scores were in a tent the other side of the field. We all waited nervously on the pitch whilst the Wimbledon organiser went of to get the information. He took ages!
When he came back he walked up to the Kings coach had a word and shook his hand - my heart sank....
some of our lads were standing near the Kings coach and suddenly started jumping up and down - we'd won!
It was a great day out, capped off with a win. All the games were played in excellent spirit - there were no easy wins and the team played some great rugby to secure victory. What was particularly pleasing was that seven of the nine players have been with us since Micro's so it was particularly satisfying to see them taking their first win!
The squad: Max Ardali, Ben Barnes, Seb Bevans, Kieron Coles, Sam Jones, Andrew Mead, Gaby Urvoy, Jim Woodriffe and Luke Wyllie.
Tim Bevans - U7 Head Coach
The day started brightly as did Guildfordian rugby. Two pools and Guildfordians were drawn against Richmond, Wimbledon Reds, Esher and Chobham. The other pool consisted of Wimbledon Greens, Teddington, Rosslyn Park, Camberly and Old Reigatians.
Our opening game was against Wimbledon and we saw a really focused Guildfordian team starting really strongly. Tries from George, Callum, Alex and Tom saw us take a 4 - 0 lead. Wimbledon struggled to contain the running of Alec and George. The second half saw Wimbledon reorganise and they held on defensively but never looking like they would score themselves. The Guildfordians passing in the first half dried up a bit and we struggled to find the openings but it was an impressive first game with tackles being made by everyone on the pitch and simply giving Wimbledon no room.
The second game against Richmond followed a similar pattern Guildfordians racing to an early 2 - 0 lead with tries from George and Will. Richmond had one player that could run as fast as the deer on the park but he was given no room and always tackled. George's tackling was particularly impressive. Richmond responded in the second half with a try but Guildfordians immediately responded with a try from George to wrap a 3 - 1 win.
Third game was against Esher and we recognised this and the Chobham games were going to be our hardest. The game was fiercely contested but the standard of Guildfordians play was wonderful to see. The players tackled and rucked and put some really good passages of play together. A try from Alec and George took a 2 - 0 half time lead. It was clear though that this game was far from over and Esher were equally as determined and managed to score early in the second half. 2 - 1 A tense last five minutes but it saw Callum charge 1/3 of the pitch closely supported resulting in a scrum about 7 m out from Esher's line. A great drive from the forwards, Chris as scrum half gave a quick pass to George on the blind side wing for him to dive over in the corner. 3 -1 final score.
Last Chobham, whom we know from previous meeting are a very strong side. Unfortunately we had lost Alec and Katie for this match through injury and George had to leave stretching our resources. However the players took it all in their stride. I cannot recall all of the try scorers but the first try was a wonderful phase of play, 2 passes, ruck quick ball two more passes and a second ruck and then two passes for a score. I think it was 1 - 0 half time and then Harry stepped up and drove down the touchline, refusing to be pushed into touch and scoring in the corner and then there was a final try to make it 3 - 0.
That meant we were in the final against Rosslyn Park winners of their group. It was perhaps a bit disconcerting when they lined up it was as if they had 9 Hugh Ts in their team - we had 1!! Rosslyn were incredibly well organised and never really allowed Guildfordians into the game. An early try to Rosslyn and we were trying to catch up and started to get ourselves back into the game. A second try just before half time meant was disappointing but the game was still there to be won. The second half started a lot better and we started tackling and playing the way we had in the earlier games however more injuries meant we were playing rolling substitutes just to keep a team on. An opening would not come and Rosslyn finally wrapped up the game 3 - 0.
The games against Esher and Chobham had obviously taken their toll as well as the injuries. However the whole team played so well. Christopher at scrum half or in the backs never stopped working, tackling or running. Hugh R and Luke had some impressive runs. Hugh T taking the crash ball trying to punch holes in the defensive line. The pass from Hugh T to Callum to George to score against Esher was fantastic. Alex and Tom pop passing to each other and Alex finally scoring. The tackling by all the players and their determination was just great to see. So perhaps not the final result we wanted but at the end of the day we were beaten by a bigger and exceptionally well drilled team. It is now up to the coaches to take away lessons learnt and see if we can come back stronger next time.
The player of the day trophy went to George ( though unfortunately he wasn't there to receive it) for his tackling and running.
Well done everyone.
Simon Hinkley - u10 Head Coach
After the success of last weekend we were keen to play at Wimbledon and continue our winning form. The weather held off for much of the day and the soft ground meant playing conditions were very good.
Our first game was against Esher and we started well with the forwards dominating the game giving our backs plenty of possession. The first try came from another powerful scrum from 5m out resulting in scrum half, Tom Nicole, scrambling over the line to score. This was followed very quickly with some good passing resulting in Matt Wells going on a cross field run to score in the corner. We continued to dominate in the loose forcing Esher to make mistakes, one of which resulted in a penalty, and a quick thinking Tom Nicole took a quick tap and caught the opposition napping as he ran unopposed to score. The second half was a tighter affair with Esher refusing to give in, but we continued to put them under pressure in the scrum and our superior possession finally resulted in another try for Tom Nicole - a great hat trick. Morgan Holden successfully converted all four tries. Final score; a 28-0 victory.
The second game was against Camberley. It was a very closely contested game but we showed little imagination in our game play which saw us play down the middle of the pitch and not use the space to the sides. We did manage to cross their try line twice to score but both times the referee disallowed them, eventhough the Camberley coach said they were both ligitimate tries. The game finished a dissappointing 0-0 draw.
The third game was against Richmond, a team we had beaten the previous week and they were hoping for revenge. However our forwards again dominated the game complimented by some good passing by the backs which opened up space around the field. After some solid forward play Joe Sambrook broke free and went on a weaving run to beat two defenders before making a timely pass to Henry Stevens in support who scored the try. The second try came after more pressure resulted in them kicking to clear away from their try line. An ever vigilant Jack Baldwin caught the ball and sprinted for the corner and offloaded as the tackle came in to Tom Nicole who scored in the corner. These were two excellent tries acheivable only by the selfless play of Joe and Jack. The second half was another tough battle but we won a scrum against the head and passed the ball down the backs to Matt Wells who scored the final try of the game. A 19-0 victory as Jack Baldwin successfully converted the tries.
The fourth and final pool game was against Chobham and we needed to win to guarantee a place in the final. The first half was a very close affair with both sides giving nothing away, but we created chances and that built confidence for the second half. The first half finished with neither team scoring but we came out firing in the second half and started to dominate possession and territory. Our first try came from a great push by the forwards in a scrum, which resulted in a bobbling ball for Chobham that they couldn't control and Jack Lillistone took his opportunity to pounce to touch it down for a nerve settling try. We continued to pressure them and after winning the scrum against the head Tom Nicole took his chance to score the second and final try. A hard fought 14-0 victory. Tom Nicole successfully converted both tries.
This success guaranteed us a place in the final against Teddington. We prepared the team for another tough game in which possession was going to be key and the forwards were going to have to deliver. They did not dissappoint, it was a great game and a real tussle for dominance in the first half which neither team won. However we made our first breakthrough just before half time when the forwards won a 5m scrum and Tom Nicole dived over the line. After a rousing half time team talk (?!) we started to turn the screw and in the second half looked more dangerous in possession. The second try came early in the half when Morgan Holden collected the ball from within his own half and sold two dummies to find a path through for a sprint to the try line. Any sign of nerves were settled when Matt Wells guaranteed the victory with a try in the corner. A fantastic victory 17-0 in which Morgan Holden successfully converted the tries.
The U11's won the Wimbleon Festival - 3 victories in 3 years for this squad!
A truly great day out saw us play some brilliant rugby. The forwards excelled and without a doubt gave us the platform to win the festival.
The winning team which made us all so proud was: Toby Howarth, Toby Hatton, Toby Marsh, Jack Lillistone, Henry Stevens, Miles Crates, Kezia Winter, Imogen Harms, Tom Nicole, Morgan Holden, Matt Wells, Jack Beynon, Joe Sambrook, Jack Baldwin and Harry Kitchener.
Michael Holden - U11 Head Coach
Under 12's results at Wimbledon: