CVRFC U10's ~ SOMERSET CHAMPIONS

The weather, pitches and organisation were all perfect for a great days rugby at Keynsham.
The Chew Valley U10s team sponsored by local business Metro Rod, were placed in a pool with some very tough opponents especially Bath and last years champs Taunton RFC.

In the group stage we started well seeing off Wellington, Avonmouth and North Petherton.
The final two matches of the group were to be the most difficult.
After losing to Taunton, Bath really needed a win against us but were unable to breech our increasingly impressive defence, and they found it very difficult to get out of their own half. The game seemed to be played within 10 metres of the Bath line, We were very solid and structured but, could not quite cross for the try. A solid and dominant 0-0 draw was the result.
In the last group match, against the pre tournament favourites Taunton, we had to either win or draw to progress. The squad were not going to let this opportunity slip and attacked ferociously from the start, again we spent the whole game camped within 15 metres of the Taunton line... then half way through the game at last we we breached their defence and scored, only for it to be disallowed for an infringement at the attempted tackle... We kept our heads and our cool and from the free pass restart on their line their receiver got on the wrong end of a "Courtney Lawes" tackle by Will Windows, and from there on, the rest of the play was played literally on the Taunton line. Some fantastic cover and scramble tackling from Taunton kept us out. Game over another dominant 0-0 draw. No matter we were through.

So through to the semi finals as Group B runners up to play the Group A winners Keynsham!
I think that in every tournament we have entered we have lost either in the semi or in the final to this very good Keynsham team. We know their play well, spinning the ball wide at speed, so our line speed in defence was key to limiting the space and time they had to work in. We closed them down completely and our strong direct running wore them down, to score two tries and record a welcome, deserved victory for Chew.

Taunton had beaten Nailsea & Backwell in the other semi final, so we had to play the defending champions for the second time in a day. However, after the semi final victory and our dominant group result against Taunton our confidence was high. 10 minutes of rugby to play, could Chew do it this time?
As soon as the whistle went to start the match we knew Chew were up for this. We seemed to play with an intensity, not yet realised and just a few minutes into the first half we broke the Taunton defence to score. 1-0 to Chew. Of course Taunton are not champions for nothing and they came back hard at the end of the first half, but our defence held. Half time 1-0 Chew. We had done our homework well and the boys knew where the main threats were in the Taunton attack. The Chew defensive line speed was swift and the tackling savage which meant that their main play makers could not get the ball out to their excellent back (Billy). Repeated attacks from Taunton were battered back and with a few minutes remaining Chew gained possession on the half way line ... and there it remained. After countless phases we still had possession, we had gone no where, but had counted down the clock.
The whistle! Full Time! Unbelievable! CHEW U10's are SOMERSET CHAMPIONS!

Remarkably just 1 try was scored against us all day, a breakaway try in the final seconds of a group match. Well done boys. Well done the whole squad.

Although only 12 players were allowed to play in the tournament, this win for Chew Valley is much more than the 12 players present on the day. This was most definitely a squad win. There is no way Chew would have won this tournament without the others. There is real strength, commitment, camaraderie and a pure team spirit that runs through the whole 23 strong squad. Twelve players playing for the other eleven.

Well done Chew Valley U10s.

The days scores...

CV 2-0 Wellington
CV 2-0 Avonmouth
CV 2-1 North Petherton
CV 0-0 Bath
CV 0-0 Taunton

Runners up Group B to Taunton.

Semi final
CV 2-0 Keynsham

Final
CV 1-0 Taunton