Sunday 25th March and overview of remaining fixtures
An excellent days rugby on Sunday in great conditions saw Spitfires and Hurricanes hosting a very capable Barker Butts team. Having played six matches we ended up winning four and drawing two, continuing what has been a great run of results. Player of the week for Spitfires was Harry K for some awesome tackling and for Hurricanes Ollie S who showed determination and drive throughout the games he played in.
Next week we have our much anticipated Saturday fixture against New Milton who are based at:
Normans Way
Ashley
New Milton
Hampshire
BH25 5FN
We are planning to meet at 9.45 for 10am start. Ideally we are hoping to have 2 sides as NMRFC have a large squad and we can keep everyone playing most of the time rather than having 4 subs etc. I have 11-12 committed players but also some who have expressed an interest but not yet confirmed. Please could everyone who is planning to attend please confirm by email to me. There is at least one player and adult looking for a lift so if you are travelling down on the day and have two spare seats please let me know and I’ll put you in touch.
In view of the Saturday fixture we are not running a Friday evening training session.
On Sunday, for those not on holiday or recovering from NM we have the last training session of the 2011/12 season (I can’t believe its nearly over!). The following week (8/4) is Easter and we are not training. On the 15th April we are again fielding three teams with a team visiting Stratford, Hurricanes away to OL’s and Spitfires home to Old Sils so definitely a tough day. 22/4 Hurricanes are at the Leamington Festival and Spitfires at home to OLd Lauents before we finish the season with our own festival.
Presentation day has been set for Sunday 13 May 2012
A brief view of our stats shows we have now played 96 games, winning 87, drawing 5 and losing 4 – this is set to be our most successful season so far and we still have some great rugby to look forward too.
17 March 2012
Hi everyone
We hoped that by fielding three teams we would achieve two objectives, firstly allow everyone to play more match time and secondly generate some stiffer competition for the teams.
At Claverdon we achieved both objectives, at the end of the first 10 minute half the score was 0-0 and with 9 a side on a narrow pitch very congested. Claverdon are a good side with some great runners and strong players and pushed the K’s all the way in the first game and subsequent matches. We ended up playing 3 games and won all three without scoring more than 5 tries in a single game. The pressure the team were put under through all three matches meant they had to lift their game and that in itself was great experience for them. Player of the week was Finlay who made some great runs, tackled well and scored a good individual try in the final game to round off an excellent performance, well done.
Spitfires visited Berks and Balsall and despite only six players turning up played and won all three matches although I understand the final game was called a draw by the ref. Here again players had the opportunity of playing in every match and against competition we greatly respect delivered a fabulous result.
Tornado’s visited Leicester Lions for a mini tournament. Their first game was against Leicester’s A team who were a big and powerful outfit playing to non pilot rules. The game finished 0-0 although the players felt arrived at a try being disallowed in the final seconds when they all believed that Johnny V had grounded the ball. This is a hugely credible result as Leicester unlike us pick their strongest side and to hold them to a draw while playing non pilot rules was an excellent result especially when we easily beat the Leicester B team and the other opponents Oadby and Jimmies. Again our objectives for the day were met with the first game being the first time we have failed to score a try ever in my memory, Joe was very impressed with the way all the players committed to tackling and running and referred to it as a great team effort. We will look to a fixture next season v Leicester as their A side are certainly capable of giving us an excellent game.
Next week we play host to Barkers Butts and both Spitfires and Hurricanes will get the opportunity to play them.
Sunday 4 March
With weather to die for (or die in!) we had teams at Rugby St Andrews and Keresley for their festival. The festival unfortunately collapsed into something of a farce with teams not turning up, teams arriving then departing and sadly poor organisation. On behalf of the club apologies to everyone who went to Keresley, what happened was completely unacceptable and ruined what should have been a good days rugby. Kenilworth did register a win in their only game against Pinley so this offered some compensation.
The remaining players arrived at a cold, windswept and wet RSA ground to be warmly greeted by their u9 squad who kindly stepped in this week when we lost the Stratford fixture at short notice. There was no doubt which players had eaten three Weetabix's for breakfast with Kenilworth showing dogged determination, ferocious tackling and great running and support play. We agreed to play 9 a side to keep as many players moving as possible and ended up playing two games. Kenilworth scored tries at will and contained RSA despite them fielding a big and powerful squad. The hi-light on the day was undoubtedly the tackling with every player getting stuck in throughout both games. under these conditions it was almost impossible to pick players of the week but Joe and I finally agreed on Dylan B who played superbly in both games and offered great support play and Milan who tackled anything that moved (even his own team and the ref kept away from him!) A quick mention for the best timed pass of the day, Cameron and Harvey were running through on the last defender, Cameron drew him in, committed him and then played a perfectly weighted pass to Harvey to run trough and score, getting injured in the ensuing tackle.
Next week while the dirty dozen are touring, Gary has lined up a special treat for those players remaining at home with Broadstreet agreeing to visit Kenilworth next Sunday.
Congratulations to all the players today (and parents) who showed real commitment in the face of awful weather to put on a great display and we should also applaud the RSA players who despite finding themselves outgunned kept going the whole time and didn’t let their heads drop.
Regards
Peter
9/10/11 March - The Tour
Hi all
Firstly an update on the tour to Dorset. At almost the last minute we gained a Saturday fixture, making up a triangular with Bournemouth RFC and Wells RFC (who last years tourists will remember from Taunton, where Wells were the only team to take points off us). Bournemouth are a big club with great facilities and were both very welcoming and well organised with some great warm up routines. For today we played standard continuum rules as Dorset are yet to join the pilot. Our first game against Bournemouth resulted in a win, following this BRFC took on WRFC, where one Kieran Behan starred for the home side with some brilliant tackling and the try of the tour running from deep inside his own half through the Wells team through four tackles before scoring helping BRFC to victory. Next we took on the Wells side running our 6-0 winners, an excellent result but marred by Sidney losing his took in a maul that resulted in an early exit for he and I. I’m delighted to report he’s fine, unfortunately the tooth could not be refitted and a denture will be the short term solution for him although he’s taken it all in his stride. A further game were played against both teams followed by one v a Barbarians side. We won all 5 games scoring lots tries and conceding 2, an excellent result. Sunday saw us travel to Lychett Minster, a village club with a ground overlooked by thatched cottages that everyone thought idyllic. As befitting the location the coaches, parents and players were very welcoming and an enjoyable morning was had by all. We played and won all three games with Sidney running line while only conceding once. Overall the tour was a great success with excellent weather, great rugby, good accommodation and a great pub for dinner!
The fixture against Broadstreet saw the K’s play 5, recording 2 wins, a draw and 2 narrow defeats, player of the week was William Woolvine for great tackling and running.
Next week we have three fixtures:
Spitfires away to Berks and Balsall
Hurricanes away to Claverdon
Tornado’s away to Leicester in a triangular with Oadby RFC
We will be inviting players to play for Tornado’s over the next couple of days. When we are fielding three teams it is essential we know if players are definitely unable to attend so we have the right number of players at a venue, therefore please drop me a line if you are not able to play this weekend.
See those of you at Claverdon next week with a resurgent Sidney ready to recommence his rugby career
Sunday 26 February
Hi all
A great day for Rugby with blue sky's and a warm sun, what a contrast to recent weeks!
Hurricanes visited Earlsdon who as always were both friendly and welcoming. Team A played in two very competitive matches winning both but only by one try in the second game while team B against the same opposition ran out more comfortable winners. There was some good tackling in all games with an excellent example of a try saving tackle that took the opposition attacker straight into touch from team A ‘player of the week’ William Woolvine who also made several strong runs and scored tries. Team B player of the week was Sam Peppitt for outstanding try scoring.
Spitfires hosted Pinley who are new to the mini’s circuit this season and are still finding their feet struggled against a strong Kenilworth team who won all three matches, this is the first time we have entertained Pinley and hopefully it will become a regular feature on our fixture list in seasons to come.
Next week we have a team at Keresley for their festival, Gary and John are taking the team down and the players involved have been notified, they can be found at John E. Radford Fields, Burrow Hill Lane, Corley, Warwickshire, CV7 8BE. As a festival please expect a mid afternoon finish and to arrive in good time as parking will be at a premium, where car share is an option it would be a good idea. Lunch will be provided but as always some healthy snacks and lots of drinks will keep the players fuelled.
The remainder of the Spitfire and Hurricane squad travel to Stratford on Avon for what will be as always a very competitive game against a well drilled and capable side. Stratford play at Pearcecroft, Loxley Road, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 7DP. Please be there for a 10.30 prompt start.
The following week some of the squad are touring, the remaining players will all be training as usual.
Regards
Peter
