Hastings Mini Rugby Festival U10's Winners 2015

Hastings & Bexhill U10 Rugby Festival
Match Report: Adrian Jackson
6 mins a side

It was a warm sunny welcome on the arrival to the Ark William Parker Academy. Crowborough Team 2 need to retain their title, not an easy task! We had been selected to play in Pool A, with Pool B teams playing adjacent to us.

Game 1 – Crowborough vs Lewis

This is a key game to begin well and gain team confidence. The game started at a steady pass, passing and rucking well. Those training rucking drills now being tested in a game, but it was Lewis who put in some good tackles and got the first try within two minutes. We needed to get into the game and our response was from Oscar who received a accurate pass of the ball, sprinted half of the pitch and gain a try, to level the score. George Clark and Archie working hard in the centre saw the ball in the hands of Daniel who scored our second try.

Half time: Sam on for George Clark

The teams confidence was growing now as Dylan ran in for our third try. From a quick pass Will gets a fourth try and nearing the final whistle George Jobber seals it with a impressive 5-1 win to Crowborough.

Game 2 – Crowborough vs Haywards Heath

The team were aware Haywards Heath had played well in their opening game with a 4-1 win against Heathfield 1. Crowborough started with good passing from Henry, George Clark and Archie, this gave the opportunity for Will to get our first try. Haywards Heath responded with a try and just before half time they got another. We needed to bounce back in the second half as they game could slip from us.

Sam worked tirelessly in tackles and scrums to pressure their full backs, this allowed a well worked ball to come to Will for our second try. Time was running out, Ollie did a fine pass to James who passed to Dylan with a fast sprint to score our final and winning try ending the game 3-2 to Crowborough.

Game 3 – Crowborough vs Eastbourne

This proved to be a game of few errors by Crowborough. Some brave tackles from Archie and George Clark saw James open with our first try, a good phase of play. George Jobber ran down the outside wing which made it two tries to the Crows. One particular player shone in this game with effort and confidence to get stuck in, this was Alex Huddle, well done.

Second half we felt we were not going to lose this game, Will got our third try and our fourth came from James with a clever dummy pass to fool their defence. How many more tries could we produce? Answer, two from Will giving him his hat trick in this game. Final score was 6-0 to Crowborough.

Man of the match: Alex H

Game 4 – Crowborough vs Heathfield1

The last game of our Pool A draw and the hope of a win would allow us to be in the final. The whistle blew, it was the perfect start with a quick ball to Ollie saw him fly over the line in about ten seconds for our first try! Good passing and rucking by us saw Heathfield going backwards by our pressure to drive forward. James sent a long accurate pass to Dylan to see him score our second try. Henry and Daniel’s tackles delivered were clean and on a Heathfield break in the second half Dylan stopped a try with a good tackle. Dylan scored our third try and Archie finished with a well collected loose high ball and score the fourth. Final score 4-0 to Crowborough.

Final – Crowborough vs Heathfield 2

Yah the team had made it to the final! Will gets the Crows on the scoreboard with the first try. Heathfield respond quickly but James tackles to prevent the try.

Half time: Ollie on for Oscar

Dylan runs through with two chasing opposition players at his heels for our second try. Scrum to Heathfield with two minutes remaining, we need to keep the pressure on. Dylan run’s down the wing with the ball but he is tackled, a off-load pass to Daniel who passes to Ollie. It’s a very fast phase of play, Heathfield player down injured, Ollie runs for the line but receives a high tackle, the try is awarded to Ollie. The final whistle blows, cheers and clapping erupt from around the pitch, we had won the U10’s Festival, winners for the third year running! Final score 3-0 to Crowborough.

A big pat on the back to the team who deservedly won, it was enjoyable to watch with one referee complimenting our game of rugby. The crows had scored an impressive 21 tries and only conceded 3.