U15's Match Report

Match Reports - 2011/12 Season 

Sunday 22nd January  – League - Away 

Crowborough 5 – Brighton 57 

With half the Sussex squad in their team, we were well beaten by a physically stronger and tactically better side. The score was 57 - 7 and although they scored ten tries I am not quite sure how they scored seven points for three successful conversions, however by that time I had given up anyway.

 

We had a few players who stood out in the game and my man of the math was Jamie Kay although the referee came up with Tom Taylor who was also deserving of it. However Olly Crane, Alex Purnell, Charlie Butler and Chris Goldfinch all played out of their socks. Chris Goldfinch scored our only try and Ali Main converted the kick.

 

It is just as well we had four subs as they were all used given that a number of the team on the field suffered various knocks and bumps. However we have Worthing at home this weekend and we hope to end the league season on a big win.

Sunday 11^th December  – League - Home 

Crowborough 10 – Chichester 10 

We had a brilliant display of rugby in difficult conditions today with a very wet and sodden pitch so every body got very dirty. We were up against Chichester who were a very big bunch of lads but some of our tackling today was phenomenal and I have to say a very big thank you to all of the boys who kept going right to the end of the match. 

Chichester scored first with a well taken and brutal try in the corner but were unfortunate to not score the conversion. We then scored with a brilliant individual display from Charlie Butler who managed to run straight and true and with great determination to get over the line. Then the end of the first half in which I think we had most of the possession.  

The second half took off with me ringing into the boys ears that we needed to pass the ball around as we were generally much quicker and smoother on the ball. However as the half progressed we got another great try from Craig who powered his way over the line with three of the Chichester players hanging off his back.  

We unfortunately missed the conversion for both of our tries. Unfortunately right at the end of the game with the last seven minutes where Chichester had possession of the ball near our try line we managed to hold them up  but in the end they just got the ball over the line. They missed their conversion and the whistle ended the game at 10-10.  

A great result for both sides I believe, but we were a little unlucky to not manage to keep them out at the end.

Sunday 27^th November – League - Home

Crowborough 51 – Hastings & Bexhill 0

Let me start by saying how proud I am of all the boys who without exception all played their part in our wipe-out of Hastings yesterday. Granted we played fourteen against their thirteen however I a sure that had we both full squads the result would have been the similar if not the same.  

We won 51-0 and had managed to complete this within three minutes of the second half beginning. Hasting decided to pull the game at that point. As I said everyone played their part in what was a very expansive game of rugby where we used the whole pitch and by doing so we got the result that we deserved.  

It was amazing for myself , Coops and Balloo to watch and see the difference that a couple of weeks can make we have never had so many different try scorers and included today were Dan Money who once he got running was unstoppable and Hugo Evans who by being tenacious managed to score the last try of the match.  

Some of the other try scorers were unbelievably good Charlie Butler managing to get onto a kicked forward ball and ground it as well as Rhys Jenner doing what we all know he is good at.  

All in all a brilliant game of rugby to watch and I just hope that we can play a similar game for our last three league games.

Sunday 9^th October – Friendly - Away 

Crowborough 5 – Cranbrook 52 

Well today should be a day to forget, with a shocking display of untogether rugby when although we had a full complement of players, for some reason we did not play as a team.  We were given a sound lesson in how to play inclusive flowing rugby from a very well drilled Cranbrook team who beat us soundly by 52-5.

We never looked like we were going to get on top of this game and other than a good try from Alex Purnell we were always chasing them.  There were two main problems as discussed with the boys in the changing room after the game.

Firstly we never tackled as we can and should have and seemed today to have a preference for grabbing the opposition’s shirts. This was to the point where we would get them down and they would simply stand up again and run off. 

Secondly we had no real defensive line and they always seemed to find holes in it to run through. All of their tries were scored by both wings and perhaps one maybe two were scored by their centres.

Sunday 25^th September – Friendly - Home 

Crowborough 34 – Bromley 10 

Well done boys, 

A good win today at 34-15 to us against Bromley , although once again a much stronger first half but we had to make a couple of changes to the scrum for the second half. It seems to me that when we make changes in the second half our performance overall reduces, however we kept it together for long enough today to see us comfortably through.   

Six tries today, two from Charlie Butler, two from Chris Goldfinch (man of the match) one from Callum and surprise of all surprises Tom Taylor scored a try and played a blinder. A couple of other players shone today, Olly Crane never gave up on anything neither did Dan Money or Craig Paling.  

We played Ali Main as scrum half and he seemed to be able to marshal the troops well, however the Bromley coach complained that the opposition scrum half is not allowed to go past the tunnel, which Ali was doing very effectively. I talked to Graham Pratt (the ref) after and he agreed that he had got it wrong so we need to be aware of this next week.  

Just one last word on the game and that is Tank you are no hooker but at least you did make the effort to support the forward play, well done for your first game of the season.

Sunday 18^th September - Friendly - Away 

Crowborough 17 – East Grinstead 34 

Definitely a game of two halves given that we were clearly better than the opposition in the first half where we had a 12-5 lead and tries scored by Charlie Butler and Alex Purnell and a conversion by Ali Main. We perhaps should have made more use of our strength in the first half but I felt that we were reasonably comfortable ahead.  

The second half and a number of changes that I decided to make did not work out for us and before we knew it they had put in three tries. Some other hurried changes were made once again and on hindsight not the best decisions I have ever made and we were another try down.  A bit of shouting at the lads later we managed to use the wind and between Rhys Jenner and Ali Stokes we had managed to run in another try but could not convert the kick.

There looked as if there was still life in us yet but within a couple of minutes they had run in another try and I have to say our heads fell at that point. The final score was 34-17 and disappointing to say the least.  

A positive is that almost all of the boys realised that we are poor in rucks both getting to them and then working them to our advantage. The scrum was all over the place today and there could have been a number of reasons for that but now is not the time to go into that. Our support play for a runner was once again shown us as being poor although I felt that generally our handling of the ball was slightly better than last week.  

After the match we all agreed that it was an experience and that we need to do a lot of work in scrummaging and rucking as well as looking at our defensive play.  Just keep in mind that today’s game was a friendly that we lost fair and square to a team that lifted its game in the second half, the overall purpose however is to look at position for our team when it comes to our league games.  

This Sunday we have Bromley in another friendly at home and I feel that we need to look to putting out our starting 15 as we did this week and then read the game as it progresses.  Thanks for all of the parent support this week and just a quick mention that once again Tom Taylor and Craig Paling outshone themselves with a great display of aggressive rugby. 

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Match Reports - 2010/11 Season 

Sunday 30th January 2011 - Freindly - Away

Aylesford Bulls 22 - Crowborough 12  

I would just like to say well done to every player today, Aylesford Bulls were a very physical and aggressive side who seemed at time to have a good angle of running and the referee on their side which allowed them to beat us over all. A good performance by every one which lead to a final score of 22-12 from at one point a 12-12 draw, well stuck at it! 

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Sunday 22nd January 2011 - League - Away

Worthing 31 - Crowborough 10 

Hi Guys,

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Sunday 9th Janaury 2011 - Friendly - Away

Eastbourne 5 - Crowborough 83. 

For those of us that were there in Eastbourne yesterday a good game although one sided (ours) was seen. The final score was 83-5 and we I think completely out played Eastbourne. We had perfect weather for the game and the chance to put in some of the players who don’t normally get a full game. We had some wonderful individual tries scored and the one scored by Chris was superb as I have never seen him accelerate and run so fast. Jamie Kay also scored a scorcher of a try and was very close to a second on top of a number of crunching tackles. I also have to mentio9n a couple of crunching tackles Henry Saunders made during the second half of the game as well as playing well in a flanker position. There was one point where I was worried when both Fin and Rhys went to tackle the same player at the same time and although they munched the Eastbourne player the bang of their two heads together didn’t look good, but they both walked away rubbing their heads!!! We were so confident as the game progressed that we had different kickers for the conversions and even Charlie Butler managed to kick a conversion (it was right in front of the posts, but believe me we have seen him miss them loads of times), however the duffest kicker of the game award went to Callum who barely managed to lift the ball three foot into the air and a couple of feet in front of him, he did score the first try of the game within a few seconds though!!! 

Anyway our next game is a friendly against Hastings and Bexhill this Sunday coming over there and we need to be there for 10am suited and booted with towels for a shower after. Again I would like to see as many players as possible there and for the Thursday night training which starts at 6pm. We have Graham Pratt doing a specific training session for us so we need to all be on time, one other thing he did say this week was that he does not want any training/jogging bottoms worn just shorts.

The TOUR which has now been confirmed as I recently wrote that we shall be taking the fees in three separate payments of £40 each and the first in due on the 16^th January (this Sunday) so please bring either cash or a cheque (made out to Crowborough 96/97 Rugby) as I need to keep these payments separate from the bank account in order that I can see who has paid and who has not. Please remember that if a parent is coming (all are welcome including mums!!!) they should also have their £40.  

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Sunday 24th October 2010.

League - Away - Lewes 0   Crowborough 26.  

This is the first league game where we have had almost a full turn out of numbers only two missing Tim was unwell today but I am not sure what happened to Ali Stocks no doubt I will find out at some point. Anyway the game was well played by all involved with the best player by far on the Lewes side being Fergus who was taught everything that he knows by Crowborough as he played with us for a good five years. The team as a whole played well and there was much more passing of the ball this week. We did seem to have some problems with the pack and the referee not being happy with either our binding on or coming out too early. In a couple of weeks time we have two of the coaches from Westcome Park coming down to help us in the coaching and hopefully they will give us some more helpful hints on what and how we should be doing it. Even although Tom Taylor was having his first game today I felt that he did well overall and with a bit of fine tuning will be awesome. It was also good to have Rhys back on the field today trying his winding runs all over the park. We had four tries scored two by Charlie. One by Fin and one by Callum and Ali Main converted three so all in all a good result.

Just a quick reminder that there will be no training now until Thursday 4^th November and this will lead us on Sunday the 7^th November into our third league fixture against Haywards Heath at Haywards Heath.

Have a good half term and please don’t anyone break any bones, you have been warned!!!!!!!

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Sunday 3rd October 2010.

League - Away - Hove 34  v's Crowborough 21

Today we played Hove a team who beat us very convincingly last season 40-0 at home I think. This time we were a number of players down with no Harrison Stevens, Phys Jenner, Max Robinson or Matthew Weston so we were going to be pushed whatever happened. This turned out to be the game of the season so far with a sterling display from all of the boys that made me a very proud man. Hove were up three tries within the first twenty minutes but could not convert from the kicks. It was all looking a bit worrying up to that point. Then to make things worse we lost Tank to his ankle injury (which I think will resolve within a few days) so we were down to fourteen and Hove did not feel like taking any of their players off so we agreed that we would have non competitive scrums. Then Chris Goldfinch managed somehow to get through and force himself to the line and score swiftly followed by the first of Ali Main’s converted kicks. This clearly had an effect on the boys moral and we managed to get to the end of the first half one man down but we had dented the score line. The second half was altogether different although Hove managed to score another three tries we more than coped by Charlie Butler being as tenacious as he is scoring two further tries. Ali Main managed to convert both kicks. There were a few players out there today who gave their heart and soul to the team effort and there were some very impressive tackles particularly by Jamie Kay, Charlie Butler, Chris Goldfinch, Hugo Evans, Fin Cole and Adam Young. We had some great runs from Dan Money, Craig Paling and Ali Stocks. Then there was the supporting play by Callum Helliwell, Tim Mason, Alex Rostron and Sam Edwards. At one point in the second half we were another man down and they fortunately took one of their centres off for a short period of time before out player was able to hobble back on. We had a lot of parents there today which was also I feel a boost to the boys and I think that we were all very proud of our boys. Fin’s mum took some photographs and I will put these on when I file the report. The final score was Hove 34 Crowborough 21. This all bodes well for the season to come and I am sure that when we have a full squad of players we will be a force to be reckoned with. There will be training this Thursday evening from 6.30pm and next Sunday we are playing Crawley at home followed by Bromley at home the following week both of these are friendlies.  Tony Helliwell 

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Sunday 26th September 2010

Home - Friendly - Against Uckfield

Crowborough 78 - Uckfield 3

 

Another brilliant match against Uckfield where we were always expected to win however it was a good run out where we scored lots of tries and conversions against a team who tried but never really got it together.

We scored many tries amongst them three by Charlie Butler who when he has the bit between his teeth there is no stopping, Chris scored either two or three again using his strength to get through  especially in the second one. Harrison who scored his first two tries for the club and was really pleased with himself and Callum scored two with fast runs on the wing as per usual and the second was also a struggle but he kept going. Ali was brilliant with his conversions getting at least five or six of them and one in particular hit the sticks and easily had the legs to get over. The two new lads Dan and Craig did very well Dan was in the front row for the whole match but when given the chance to run he did gaining us that extra space. Craig who played the second half was good for one particular run where he was eventually brought down but gained us the extra space which was what was needed at the time.

The referee John Gibb  ran the match very well but blew up early at the request of the Uckfield team and I felt this gave them the benefit of the doubt a number of times. Uckfield unfortunately did not stay for the meal afterwards although they were specifically invited but never mind a really good game by all involved.

A special mention to Jamie who played his socks off on the wing making some really good and timely crunching tackles. Both scrum half’s played well Sam and Max. Hugo played at number eight for the first time and acquitted himself well.

All in all a game to be proud of however we have Hove away next week and that will be a different kettle of fish entirely with a very good team who play as a team and have a couple of outstanding players who basically control their game. If we target those players we may be able to close them down a bit but I expect that we will be able to get at least one or two tries.

Fin’s mum has suggested that she come along and take some photographs of the games and if we get these they will be downloaded to the club web site so all good. Just as an asides there are still a couple of players who need to provide the club with a recent photograph for their registration.

Marmite and I look forward to seeing as many of you this Thursday as possible as we will have to make sure that we all know what we are supposed to be doing next Sunday, once again thank you to all of the boys for their efforts today.  

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Sunday 19th September 2010

Home - Friendly - Against Lewes 

Crowborough 22 - Lewes 5. 

We had a great turnout for the team today with nineteen lads showing up already and willing to play. We played Lewes who used to be our nemesis, however we were all over them today.

It was asked by Lewis, as I think they had a few players who may not have been their normal first team side, that we play three periods of fifteen minutes.

From the off we were all over them and they found it difficult to get into our half we scored one try and a conversion in that first period. It was a fairly physical game with lots of good hard tackles and one significant one right at the end of the first period where Jamie Kay stopped at full stretch their winger from what would have been a sure try. Jamie also managed to score a try during that period but unfortunately had to go off with an injury to his foot/ankle.

The second period was pretty much as the first where we scored another two trys both good individual efforts but unfortunately only got one conversion. The final period is when Lewes got more into their stride and they managed to score one try but no conversion and they were putting more pressure on us as the period ended but we managed with great effort to keep them from further points scoring. Players of note today were Dan Money who given this was his first competitive game played a stormer and would not be put down. Jamie as mentioned above and Chris Goldfinch who also scored a try. We had another couple of new lads Craig in particular could turn out to be a very handy player again with lots of guts and determination. Hugo managed to score today by playing to the whistle and not stopping when everyone else had to go on and score.

The referee Graeme Pratt was brilliant today sorting out a particularly difficult scrum and having to restart a few times. He was extremely fair and knowledgeable about what was going on in the field of play. Even at the end of the game he spoke separately with both teams and made a couple of suggestions mainly about the boys running straight and certainly being more supportive of each other.

All in all a great and promising start to the season and long may it continue, it is Uckfield at Crowborough next week. 

Tony Helliwell & Iain Watson

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This season, (2010/2011) we are very keen that someone within your age group writes a match report, after every match. With this in mind we have devised a simple template for you to complete. Please see below: 

Junior Match Report Template Crowbourgh U14's  Vs ?

 Date: Sunday ?/?/?

 Score: ?/? 

Trys scored: ?

Conversions: ?

Penalties: ?

Drop goals: ? 

Man of the match: ? 

Other players that stood out: ? 

1st Half Performance: ?

 2nd Half Performance: ? 

Any-other points/mentions/comments: Examples: This was there 5th win in a row.much improved on the same fixture last year.Weather conditionsA player who represnce the county?

 Officials: Ref and Linesmen if known

 

 

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Season 2009/2010. 

Sunday 22nd November - Home

Crowborough 41 - Lewes 10 (League).

The under thirteen’s had a terrific game against Lewes with the whole team working as one and moving the ball around all over the field giving an equal amount of service to all of the lads. We managed to score three tries in the first half against Lewes (who used to be our nemesis) and converted two kicks both by Alistair Main. The first try was a stonker by Reece Jenner who managed to run virtually the length of the whole pitch deftly avoiding all of their defence.Callum Helliwell scored the second try again virtually running the length of the pitch both from the wings. Then Charlie Butler scored from the centre with a display that was full of vigour all be it that he ran the width of the pitch first and then towards their try line - but that’s Charlie’s trade mark  !

After the break, Lewes managed to score two early tries both on the same wing and once we had rallied the troops we soon put a stop to any more being scored. They also missed both conversion shots.We then managed to score a further three tries and another two conversions in the second half. Two fantastic efforts by Chris Goldfinch and a further one, I think by Josh Novell who was nominated as Captain for the Day. He did an amazing job and never stopped shouting at the rest of the lads to try a bit harder.The Man of the Match went to Fin Cole who played as flanker and never stopped for the whole game making some very challenging tackles and runs.Sam Edwards played a stunning role as scrum half this week and was trying to stop lads twice his size which was the vast majority of Lewes. 

All in all I have to say that I was a very proud man of the whole team on Sunday and look forward to the boys doing it again. We are due to play a friendly at East Grinstead this Sunday so hopefully we can get two wins under our belts before our next League match against Horsham early next month.

Congratulations to all involved , on a Fantastic Performance.

 

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Match Reports

Can you help ?

Coach , Coach's Assistant, Parent, Grandparent or Guardian.

We are looking for someone within this age group to write a match report after each fixture.

It doesn't have to be much, You may like to mention the score, try scorers, try saving tackle etc.

If you are intrested talk to your head coach first - then please forward to Ian Geering CRFC Mini/Junior Fixture Secretary before the Monday evening following the fixture. His email address is itag.geering@btinternet.com.

Thank you.