U10
Matches
Sun 04 Mar 2012
Chipstead Rugby Club
U10
10:00
Chipstead U10s - Golds
Beccehamian RFC "B" Festival - Chipstead U10s Win

Beccehamian RFC "B" Festival - Chipstead U10s Win

Peter Hutton4 Mar 2012 - 17:17
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Chipstead Exiles "Golds" squad collects Silverware at Kent Festival

Team: Bradley ; Daniel ; David ; Finlay ; Geoffrey ; Jack ; Jay ; Lewis Bra; Lewis Bro; Marcus ; Nathan ; Rafe ; Tommy & Xavier.

This was not a day for silky skills and polished handling. This was a day of unremitting rain and a cold damp that got deep into your bones. It was a day to dig deep and play for your team-mates. It was also the day the Chipstead Exiles Golds finally got the silverware they deserved to add to the cabinet back at the Meads.

What was refreshing about this development festival hosted by the Kentish club Beccehamian RFC was that it was a proper development festival with no teams looking for a cheap trophy by fielding an A team. This meant that the Golds were able to get a real gauge of how they have progressed against comparable teams.

And how well they have progressed! In the first game against the first Beccehamian team we ran in five unanswered tries. An early indication that something interesting could be about to happen. Final score 5-0.

Watching the other teams in our group it became clear early on that Old Cats (our final group opponents) would be the main threat. Before then however we had to keep warm, keep dry(ish) and keep focused.

Match two saw us up against Mitcham Baa Baas. The boys duly kept their focus and a real team effort saw another solid win with tight defence balanced by solid route one running with ball in hand. Final score 3-0.

By this time the cold was really beginning to have an effect with handling errors becoming more frequent. However this was a feature in all the matches and was reflected in a more tolerant approach to interpretation of the rules by the referee which allowed for a series of fluid rather than stop-start games. I am sure all the players appreciated the opportunity to keep momentum on the pitch, and hence keep warm.

Our third game was against Park House and only a fantastic defensive effort by the Kent side prevented the Golds winning by more than the two winning tries. In this game, in addition to two successful grounding of the ball, Chipstead crossed the line on at least three other occasions only see their efforts end in a knock on or the ball being held up. Final score 2-0.

So to our final game against Old Cats. Having beaten our Surrey opponent on previous occasions we knew what to expect. However Old Cats had steadily progressed un-defeated through the group stages and this was going to be a tough game. Perhaps it was the fact that we had played three and won three. Perhaps it was the cold. Perhaps Old Cats just wanted it more. Whatever the reason this was our first (and only) defeat as a lack of focus on the pitch gifted Old Cats two tries. Final score 0-2.

However we had done enough to ensure a Plate Final game against Cranbrook RFC. The weather conditions were worsening – if that was at all possible – and so the boys had a quick five minute breather between the Old Cats group game and the final. The weather may have been dreich, but the boys knew that they had an opportunity here. And so they took to field, fired up despite the cold. Fourteen minutes later the final whistle signalled a comfortable but hard fought win for the Golds. Final score 3-0.

So in conclusion what can we say? This was a real team effort by players, parents and coaches. The overall impression is that the Golds are coming together as a real team, playing for each other and supporting each other either on the pitch or from the sidelines. All the boys played their part today in delivering a winning performance that was a reflection of how they have come on as a team.
Well done everyone.

Next week we have the Mitcham Festival. Let's aim for the same level of focus, spirit and determination.

Match details

Match date

Sun 04 Mar 2012

Kickoff

10:00
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - Furniture Village
Shirt Sponsor - Xolent Scaffolding Services
Shirt Sponsor - Macar Developments