U15 Tour

The competition was a good standard in our group we had Old Rutlishians Dubai Exciles, Ellesmere Port and Sittingbourne.

Our 1st match was against Old Ruts a team who 3 years ago stuffed us, Ruts started well opening the scoring, Sidcup responded mauling from a line out on Ruts 22 they drove towards the line, changing the point of attack brilliantly they rolled and trundled over to equalise the half finished 5 -5. Ruts scored next from a slack clearing kick the winger was given too much space and scored a good individual try, from here onRuts didn't see the ball the forwards stepped up and rucked them off the park and battered them on the fringes the backs ran everything and Sidcup scored another 3 try's finishing 20- 10, a good solid start.
Dubai were next, a solid team who tackled well, Sidcup started brightly dominating ball and territory, little mistakes and the odd wrong decision stopped them opening up a lead and was clearly frustrating our boys, some chopsing off reduced us to 14 men but was the catalyst that made them click, it wasn't long before Sidcup opened the scoring backs and forwards combining sucking in the oppo to create space in the corner. The start of the second half Sidcup suffered their 1st casualty Hooker Miles off concussed, adjustments made Sidcup powered into a 3 try lead the game finished 15-5.
A two hour wait gave us the chance to cheer on the U14's and get some food on board eventually we kicked off against Sittingbourne it's fair to say we controlled the game well they never looked like scoring against us it finished 10-0, a good days rugby.
On Sunday we played our final pool match v Ellesmere Port Spartans a really tough game Sidcup opened the scoring early the boys showed real tenacity and defended stoutly winning the game by a solitary score the defence was absolutely superb, the spartans would have needed the 300 to break through Sidcup, unfortunately the win came at a price another injury Ben is unable to play any further. Sidcup finished top of group A and booked a semi against Old Ruts B disappointingly and even though they had circa 40 kids on tour they were unable to field a team and gave us a bye to the final
So patched up, battered and hung over our brave lads prepared for the final against Bath Development. With only 16 to choose from we had some difficult decisions on who played where, our best options were to move Dami from the wing to the flank and put flanker Theo in the centres. The lads played very well tackling everything that moved more injuries ensued and we lost Arby, out of players the boys still performed, having some good spells taking it to, through, round and over Bath before being beaten 0-15. Only the second defect of the season, can't help to feel it could have been different with a fully fit squad but on the day Bath deserved the win.

All things considered the lads did very well and should be proud of what they have achieved this season, the tour squad was:
Finn Britton, Jimmy Dole, Miles Sheriff, James Fairbrass, Harry Jones, Tom Slater, Spencer Hills, Arby Kehelt, Finn Woods, Theo Maloney, Charlie Stewart, Callum Innes, Ben Hart, Kwame Afreh, Dami Odeyinbo, Alex Owens, Henry Foster, Oli Burgess, Heikel Edwards