Kent Prelims - U9s

Thanks again to everyone for making the trek down to Cranbrook for this years Kent Prelims...after trips in recent seasons as far as Dover you'll be pleased to know we're in Blackheath next year ! Today was a big competition with lots of clubs present, and so you never quite know what you're going to come up against...but it does mean we get to play a different bunch of teams to normal, from across the county.

Will has kindly provided a write up on the B team below - and got to say although I didn't catch their games due to either playing at the same time or refereeing other games, it sounds like they really gelled and came together as a unit - and if you can do that in rugby its half the battle won - so well done guys....

"The Bs

James summed up this morning/afternoon by saying that the Bs lost two won two as they needed a warm up before each win...

After we'd enlisted Gabriel we managed to rustle up a few Sidcup B strays and we kicked off against Park House. Our first 'warm up' game was a struggle and the eventual group winners scored six tries with nothing from us. It was fair to say
it was disappointing.

A chat, a drink, and 10 minutes running into each other and the boys were now warmed up. Next up were Ashford and it was a different game to the first. Sidcup ran in five tries (Jonathan 3, Owen 1, Zeka 1) but more importantly they only let in one. After my moan in the first game this was an emphatic response! Great team work.

Next up Beckenham, we came in second place but the boys worked hard. We lost eight tries to four (Louis 1 (£2), Zeka 2, Jonathan 1) but this was a tighter game than the result suggests.

The final game game summed up the day. The opposition Blackheath, is a strong Club so required something special from our guys. The lead changed hands a number of times but the Bs play with great spirit and most important of all as a team. There was some selfless passing, where many of us would succumb to white line fever, great support and strong tackling from everyone. The result six to
us (Zeka 3, Louis 1 Jonathan 1, Owen - winning try) and five to them.

I usually make a point of mentioning everyone in the write up. I'll do the same today. They played as a team so I'll name them as a team: Spencer, Jonathan, Owen, James, Nathan, Louis, Billy, Zeka (Player of the day).

Well played boys. Very proud.

Will"

The A team were entered into the main competition to face Old Alleynians (strongest team by far), Cranbrook (home side), Dover, and Maidstone. The first game was tough, OA's were well drilled and very strong - they tackled ruthlessly and drove us back repeatedly. We literally didn't know what hit us, and panicked with the ball, so that at HT we were 4-0 down; although coaches of both teams (credit to OA's) castigated the Maidstone referee that 3 of the tries were given in dubious circumstances with scrum half picking and running and also ripping the ball from our player....next year perfectly legit but not at U9s -and points they'd made exhaustively at the ref's briefing not 20 minutes earlier....anyway 2nd half we got to grips with it and drew that half 1-1, so unfortunately a 5-1 defeat....

Next up Cranbrook, cheered on by home support - and a really keenly contested game which ebbed and flowed...before they edged it by the odd try in 7...so 2 games and 2 defeats and staring down the barrel...so we needed to show some fighting spirit - which we did in spades against Dover and our best performance of the day resulting in a comfortable 5-2 win, that included try of the day as Jack jinked, Elliott barged up the middle and then a lovely offload out the back of the hand and Gabriel dotted down in the corner.....

So final group game vs. Maidstone - a team we've played and beaten twice this season. We played well but allowed ourselves to be pinned near our line after needlessly gifting them the ball from our own restart.....we kept them out manfully but with the final play of the game the ref gave a penalty to Maidstone only a few metres out and they converted in the corner, so a 4-4 draw.....

Not for the 1st time this season it came down to points difference, and we were unlucky to place 4th in our group, behind OAs, Maidstone and Cranbrook....however it meant we qualified for the Shield Quarter Finals vs. Folkestone. After a long wait we kicked off and it was a real end to end game....bizarrely I felt we were always in control, but it ended nervously but we held on for a 5-4 win....and qualify for finals day in April...so well done guys - we're in with a great shout of some Kent silverware !!

As normal some contenders for player of the day.....Lewis for his speed and strength, John for some powerful running but I'm giving to Gabriel, for coming back into the A team and showing why he deserved to be there....he has a languid style but he put in some great tackles today and scored some important tries...

I believe we're at home for training next week, so see you all then - thanks again for the support today.....and we should be proud of the effort all the boys put in today

cheers, Stuart