Sidcup U12s continue winning run

Another beautiful sunny, fresh morning (don't worry we'll get some wet, cold, muddy proper rugby weather soon enough Frank) greeted Sidcup U12s as we welcomed our old friends Mark and Mark and their team from Park House.

After a brief warm up and briefing from the referees (Steve and I, we can only manage half each at our age) we were good to go - and after a cagey couple of minutes, Sidcup began to get on top, winning ball at the rucks, stealing well in mauls and switching the ball from side to side quickly, albeit running a bit to laterally. Gradually though we remembered all the messages from training to run hard and straight, looking for gaps in the defence and before long Josh bowled over for the opening try. It served to open the floodgates a little bit and we managed to score a further 4 times before HT. To be fair Park House, played some of their best rugby just before the interval and after winning a penalty when 3 Sidcup players dived off their feet at a ruck, got the ball wide quickly allowing Draven, on temporary loan, to scoot down the wing and score in the corner, so 25-5 at half time.

Second half continued in much the same vein, with a pretty even contest taking place in the main, but Sidcup with a mixture of more aggression and quick ball at the breakdown from our half-backs, and a bit more grunt up front managing to keep the opposition at arms length, scoring 4 more tries as the opposition tired and chins started to drop. Some slack defending and another speedy twisting run from Draven allowed Park House the try that their efforts on the day really deserved and so final score of 45-10 to Sidcup, at the end of a cracking game, played in a really good spirit. The Park House coaches have emailed us to say thanks for the hospitality and "players and parents had nothing but favourable comments about Sidcup RFC", which is a great reflection on our squad of players and parents - thank you.

Special mentions to our try scorers (which I think were Josh, Gabriel, Tom, Dan, Lewis and Sam - apologies if I missed anyone and they're written in Steve's little black book if so), to Alex and Dylan who played their first competitive match for SRFC and who didn't look out of place at all, carrying well, making their tackles and generally giving an excellent account of themselves, and to Sam B who I thought was a bit of a revelation in the full back position. Also to Tommy, Jack and Draven who kindly volunteered to make up the Park House numbers - they all put in great displays (not too great, as we'd asked them !!).

Also want to mention and thank the new players who continue to turn up and train with enthusiasm and who really supported their new team mates. Hopefully it gave them all some insight as to what's required and whetted their appetite to get involved in the weeks and months to come - it will really boost our squad options!

Lastly - thanks to the volunteers who served up the unusual but tasty post match food of sweet and sour chicken and rice - went down well with all of us !!

Good luck to the squad playing in the triangular at Beckenham on Friday night, I'll see you all at training next Sunday, ahead of Beccehamians and Sevenoaks to come who will serve up sterner and more physical tests before Christmas.....for now well done guys - proud of you all.

Cheers, Stuart