Acklam Under 9's hosted the festival at Acklam Rugby Club with 12 team's competing.
Acklam played 3 games against Middlesbrough, Stockton and Mowden Park.
Players Jake, Will, Callam, Daniel, Harley, Ethen and Freddie.
Game 1 Acklam 5 v Stockton 8 tries 4-Will 1 Harley
Game 2 Acklam 3 v M'bro 4 tries 3-Will
Game 3 Acklam 7 v Mowden Park 10 tries 4-Will 2-Freddie 1-Jake.

All players played brilliantly in their first mini contact match with some great team play attacking and defending.

Acklam Under 10's

Acklam Under 10's played at Billingham for their first ever full contact game and we were delighted on the focus and control the players showed with some other coaches impressed with how the team played as a whole.
Acklam played 5 games Player Tom, Philip, Jack, Ryan, Ross, and Harvey
Acklam 1 v Guisborough 5
Acklam 7 v Hartlepool Rovers 5
Acklam 1 v Yarm 4
Acklam 5 v Mowden Park 2
Acklam 2 v Billingham 4
Tries from 6-Philip 2-Tom 2-Ryan 1-jack
3 tries can from players we borrowed as we were short on numbers and thanks to the clubs we played against for the loan of 1 or 2 of their players for the matches.

Durham City Under 13's v Acklam (Durham County Cup)

Acklam travelled to the home of Durham City RUFC for the 1st round of the County Cup.
The day started badly and then continued to get worse as the morning progressed. “What went on I hear you cry “, then I shall tell you.
During our warm up we were informed by the opposition coaches that 3 of our players were ineligible to play as their Registration forms ( these were signed and registered already) had not been registered long enough………yes, I was confused as well. Ok, Acklam took that on the chin . This meant that Acklam had only 14 players left and so had to start the game , 14 on , with no subs. According to the Hong Kong Fooey Book of Kong Fu……………sorry I mean the Durham City Rugby Handbook , the opposition were entitled to start with 15 players…….and so they did. This may have been a rule that you can field your full entitlement , whatever the opposition has but for an U13’s game , cup or not , the spirit of competiton and fairplay were very sadly not on display. As the saying goes, just cos you CAN do something , doesn’t mean you SHOULD.
This made a tough day even tougher for the lads. Acklam stated quickly and found ourselves deep in the opponents half. Sadly we were unable to get and secure enough ball to set our gameplan out. Our opponents were quick , good in the breakdown and good in the tackle , basically they were first to everything, all day. Well done Durhams’ Payers.
Acklam stuck at it and had moments on the front foot but they were few and far between. All the lads worked hard but with the extra man and fresh subs coming on we eventually ran out of stream and shape. Agood lesson for the lads on how difficult and exhausting it is to continually defend and a lesson on just how important it is to retain and keep the ball.
Very pleasing was the bonding that went on . This group , week after week, is developing into a very close knit group. Nobody dropped their heads and nobody allowed anyone’s head to drop. Even at the end , in the changing rooms and in the shower areas , you could hear the wonderful chants of “We are Acklam ! “
Agame to write off as , one of those days. As Shakespear would say ….”Our Cup Run…….eth Over.
Top respect to the players who travelled all the way to Durham to be told they couldn’t play. They took the news with a great attitude and are a credit to themselves and their parents. Congratulations to the Durham players, you deserved your win. Would the result of been different if we didn’t have some issues to deal with………the answer is no. Results come and go but fairness should be continuous .
Thankyou to our travelling support, fair, respectful and loud. To our players, a big tick on our development journey. Attitude and effort – 1st class.
BRING ON THE DERBY !!

Acklam Under 14's 0 points v Stockton 48 points

Acklam were completely outplayed today in all departments. Lessons must be learnt quickly. Well done Stockton!

Stockton Youth 26 Points V Acklam Under 15’s 15 Points.

Acklam arrived at Stockton to a warm welcome with their depleted squad of only fourteen. With five key squad members missing through injury or illness, the day’s work was always going to be an uphill task.
Stockton was generous enough to balance the team numbers by the loan of a player.

The game kicked off and ten minutes of good rugby pursued in the centre of the field, with both packs refusing to concede any ground.
The ball broke loose, the Stockton winger made good yardage with a darting run deep into the Acklam half, good pressure, and quick passing across the line gave Stockton the first points of the game, the following tricky conversion, scored.
Acklam reunited for the re-start and pressed immediately with some good forward play, slowly encroaching their way into Stockton’s territory, with three excellent possession plays, soon we found ourselves camped on Stockton’s 22 yard line, Acklam went again, this time a rupturing run and dive for the line gave Reece Daley his first points in Acklam colours. Well done Reece!
The conversion missed the target and Stockton now only held a slender 2-point lead.
The game soon returned into its highly competitive state in the centre of the field, Acklam’s forward pack making slow inroads into the Stockton half, a loose ball from Acklam, bobbled around before the Stockton winger made a good pickup and raced his way over the line right in the corner. The resulting conversion went wayward.
From the off Acklam responded with some formidable tackling and regain possession, some swift passing across the backs gave Tom Hughes an opportunity to show his pace, Tom found himself with a little space and set off on a dazzling run that outpaced the opposing back-line to score Acklam’s second try of the day. The resulting conversion missed and that ended the half with the score at Stockton 12 points and Acklam 10 points.
The second half got underway and both teams played the game at a rapid pace and with full commitment, which resulted in a great display of youth rucking, mauling and tackling.
Stockton made some ground and pressed the Acklam defence, a good drive by the Stockton forwards was held-up well by Acklam. Acklam reset for a 22 dropout only to find out a penalty try had being awarded for a trip in a maul earlier in the play; this was a hard one to except as the conversion kick was slotted home.
Credit to a somewhat despondent Acklam who just rolled up their sleeves and carried on; the Acklam voices on the field took control and reinvigorated the team spirit.
Acklam played some good rugby in my eyes but momentum was continual lost by some indifferent choices made by the referee. Some good play from Acklam and a ripping of the ball in a maul gave Louwen Labonnette space to run into, he broke the Stockton defence and had a clear run ahead of him, only to be called back (hands in the maul!)
The resulting penalty kick gave Stockton good field position from the lineout. Somehow, Stockton received another penalty, just inside the Acklam 22 line.
Acklam asked the referee if they were back 10. He signalled yes. Stockton took a short kick. The Acklam line rushed forward and won the ball, only to be given offside, again the Acklam line reset, again excellent line speed was delivered, again offside was called, for the third time the line was reset, Louwen Labonnette held-up the player and ripped the ball, this time it was stated that he had come in from the side. Another penalty try awarded.
The Acklam lads were asking the coaching staff what to do, the reply was carry on and do not let things get you down. The response from the team was overwhelming, Acklam pushed forward and contained Stockton in their half; another formidable run from Tom Hughes gave him his second try of the day, the conversion missed and the game was brought to an end.
We asked for a response after last week’s defeat and what an excellent response we got, with every player in an Acklam shirt delivering today. Well done lads! The entire coaching staff and our loyal support were very proud of your efforts today.

Acklam Under 17's 43 points 5 pointsv Cockermouth

A super day weather wise at Talbot Park greeted the 20 lads from the coach after a long journey from their Cumbrian base for the first ever recorded visit of Cockermouth to the home of Acklam RUFC.
Due to none attendance of 4 home players the first job for the coach was to approach his visiting counterpart to assess the player numbers and the game format. In the true spirit of the game Carl from Cockermouth sportingly agreed to a 13 a-side game.
From the kick off Acklam asserted their new found confidence and took the game straight to Cockermouth and following a series of attacks it wasn't long before Captain NAYLOR crossed near to the posts for the first score, the ever improving PEAREY - GILL, at 10, slotted the extras and an early 7 nil lead. More attacking and the hard working BOTTOMLEY burst over following good team work, extras again from the 10 and 14 - 0. There then followed a period of determined stalemate as both sides attempted to assert themselves, despite the early set backs the travellers were giving as good as they got and the introduction of the big number 20 certainly evened up the 'ball carrying' stakes. However, Acklam were not to be denied and following a couple of thwarted attempts SPENCE burst through a flailing defensive line to dot down, PEAREY - GILL hit his best conversion of the match from out wide right, 21 - 0 and half time followed shortly after.

Oranges and a positive team talk to iron out the errors, all the lads were responsive and couldn't wait for the re-start.

From the off the home side made instant progress into the opposition half and began to move the ball through phases to make ground, however some dogged and determined defending by the away side kept Acklam out and it was from one of the opposition counter attacks and following a crunching tackle by RUSTON that the ball was re-cycled and shipped out to him for a 40 yard dash and another score, the extras went begging. Following some more excellent team play, the impressive SPENCE was able to break away again and dot down for his second of the game, extras and 33 - 0 and the Cockermouth lads could have been forgiven if they had given up - but none of it and they stormed up the pitch to camp in the home 22. What seemed like endless re-cycles and two 'held ups' later they got their rewards and got the deserved score, extras went begging. This score however galvanised the home lads and they determined not to let anymore concessions and duly camped in the opposition half with second row NIXON ending another impressive display with two crossings, the game ended with Acklam again clearing their lines and breaking out to attack.

Super game this played with an excellent spirit. The fitness of the Acklam lads cannot be questioned as they more than held their own against bigger numbers and played through phase after phase to move up the pitch. Cockermouth played their part to the full and we wish them the best for the rest of their long travels. NIXON deservedly took the MoM accolade.