Final game win for Old Leamingtonians Colts

Friday night, a rain free sky and the the 1st team pitch at the Crofts looked perfect. The end of the season game (and the end of the 'age-grade' line for 15 senior colts ), OLs welcomed Sils to a final game for teams placed 2nd in the unofficial Warwickshire colts league.

A messy start and some hard hitting runs allowed the first score to go to Sils. OLs not to be outdone returned hard and were rewarded with an equalising touchdown... 5:5

from this point on I admit I lost track of the scoring whilst doling out bandages for injured players but I believe it was 12:5 at half time after a magnificent 30 yard run from Joe England punching through the Sils defence.

The second half saw OLS add 2 more tries before Sils were able to put another on the score sheet. 24:10

With 5 mins to go OLs added a 5th to go 31:10 up, however a cracking run from the SIls wing broke several of the OLs tackles to award Sils with a 70th minute try, allowing Sils to go home on a high.

Final Score 31:5

So many thanks required for getting this and all the games played in such a short timespan:

Firstly the Warks refs society for supporting every game with 3 officials
Damian Dixon for his support for arranging the refs.
Scott Craig, Head coach for his enthusiasm in getting these players gelled into a fantastic team
Rob Semple for beasting them into a well oiled machine.
Andy and Chris Carrington, Alan Edwards, Andy Hart, Dave Brooker and Neil Hastings for their skill in coaching the game.
Michelle Edwards for patching the boys up before and during the game
Chairman Lucas Wager for supporting us these last 6 weeks , he know its been difficult at times.
Craig Ellis for support in arranging pitches for training and matches
Phil Eales for getting the pitches looking perfect for playing.
Julie Liddington, Charlie Sabin and the bar staff for their unenviable job of waiting on the tables. (Jules, wish you well with the wedding plans)
Chris McCarthy and Mark Edwards et al - cracking job on the bar renovation.
Dick Selwyn , we had clean and sweet smelling tops for every game - not sure they were returned to you in the same condition.
Kate Walsh and the rest of the kitchen helpers, you know who you are.
Dicky Davis et al for arranging the two 666 tournaments - very enjoyable.
Other club committee members for your support, some that I don't know what you do but good job anyway
Colts parents, thanks for supporting, don't be shy to help out going forward
The U16s who played and trained with us this past few weeks, good luck for next season.

For those still bothered to read on - this is a few paragraphs sent to the Warks colts rfu for their AGM . Seems poignant to add it here too.

After an abrupt end to the 2019/2020 season, the 2020/21 almost suffered the same fate. Return to play training was staggered in line with the rfu recommendations and with 12 clubs in Warwickshire desperate to play some meaningful games, the season was anticipated to start in the late Autumn term and failing that, in February.

Eventually thwarted by a return to high virus case rates, the season was delayed again until the end of April. Early on in the season the Warwickshire Colts RFU society decided it was not viable to hold an official league and for the second year running the league Warwickshire cup was cancelled. In light of this and as it was clear that there was significant interest to play adapted rules full contact rugby, coaches from Old Leamingtonians RFU worked out a plan to get 12 team playing 6 matches each before the end of the season. The county was split roughly in half, North-South to make two mini league pools. Each team would play the other 5 in their league and and eventual pool position would determine which team you would play from the opposing league in the final weekend of the season.

The fixture list was aggressive and the rfu highlighted concerns on player welfare suggesting an alternative 4 game strategy. All but 1 club rejected this in a vote and opted to stay for the 6 game plan with the first games being played on Monday the 26th April. Unfortunately Newbold RFU colts decided then that this league was not for them, thinking that they would be severely outmatched and dropped out from the south Pool. The teams remaining in the South pool were CLaverdon Kenilworth, Leamington, Old Laurentians and Old Leamingtonians. North Pool teams consisted of Barker Butts, Earlsdon, Nuneaton,Old Coventrians , Silhillians and a Warwickshir Babas team consisting of Berkswell and Balsall/ Stratford players.

The games were tough and injuries played a big part in some teams decision to cancel some fixtures towards the end. Eventually the final pool games declared Kenilworth and the Babas as pool winners with Kenilworth coming out on top in their final on the 29th May. Second place teams Old Leams and Sils had a cracking final of their own on Friday 28th may as second placed pool teams. Old Leams eventually coming out on top. Third placed teams Barkers and Claverdon completed their finals fixture on the 29th, with Barkers securing the victory. The remaining finals did not take place due to injuries and availability over the bank holiday weekend.

I believe that all games were well supported by the Warks ref society who informed me that they were eager for the games to commence and I personally thank them on behalf of all clubs for their support. Newbold fulfilled many friendly fixtures beating many of the teams they would have played in the pools. Claverdon, who did not take part in the league last year are now contemplating a switch from a midlands wide development league to the arguably more competitive Warwickshire league.

Personally, watching this age group of players miss out on the final year of their childhood, I wanted to get something in place that (a) for the older colts, gave them the last chance at age-grade rugby to play competitively, enjoy the social aspect of the game afterwards, and maybe retain some of them to rugby who may have been lost to the game for good, and (b) show the younger colts what Colts rugby is all about and they would be able to seamlessly continue the legacy on next year. I won't lie, I have found it tiring and it has consumed the last 3 months of my life but when the whistle went on that final game and seeing some of the coaches (an players) well up with tears for the effort, heart and soul that the players put in for that last game, it was all worth it and exceeded all the targets and expectations that, we as a coaching team had burdened upon ourselves. And for some of the coaches and boys marks the end of a 13 year journey with their clubs, turning tiny boys into brilliant young men.

Jez