Sheffield get back to winning ways

Thank you to the Tupton coaches for making us feel so welcome and organising the day for us.

Again, a big thanks to all the parents. It was wonderful to see so many kids raring to go on a cold and wet Sunday morning! Thank you also to Dave Gamblin for reffing the first game for us, next time i promise we’ll give you prior notice mate!

MATCH 1 – Tupton 0 – 9 Sheffield
Team: Gabriel, Sam, Archie, Louis M, Ben, Ronnie, Will J, Alfie, Jeremy

Sheffield started this game much the same way that we start every game, slowly! A storming run from Tupton took us deep into our own half. However, this was exactly the wakeup call our lads needed. Will J got us off and running with a darting run to dot down the ball for the first score. From then on Sheffield showed some classy rugby. We dealt with Tupton’s attacks fantastically well with some brilliant counter mauling and rucking notably from Ronnie and Archie. Will J added another before Ben W scored a typical scrum half try. After we had been awarded a penalty Ben noticed a huge gap on the right hand touch line. He tapped the ball and went for it catching us all by surprise! Ronnie added another score just before the break to make it 0 – 4 at half time. The second half went much the same as the first. Ronnie added four more astonishing scores made by our forwards work in those mauls and finished with his incredible speed and vision. Gabriel finished off proceedings with his obligatory try per game to make the final score
0 – 9 to Sheffield
Scorers – Will J (2), Ben, Ronnie (5), Gabriel

Individual notes – Gabriel. Really good performance again buddy. Excellent work in the line outs. Sam. Awesome tackling and running yet again. You are a flanker in the making mate! Archie. When you want to play, my word do you play! Brilliant defence and you always made ground with the ball in hand. Louis. Never one to give up, you stuck at it and got yourself into some better positions today. Have the confidence to get that ball in hand and get them legs pumping forwards! Ben. A true scrum half performance, quick at getting the ball away and little sniping runs. Deserved your cheeky try! Ronnie. More like the Ronnie of old today! Devastating in attack and put in some brilliant cover tackles. You have much more awareness now and look to give the pass if you can. Will J. Two very well taken tries fella. A team always needs a finisher and we certainly have one with you. Your work in defence is improving as well. Alfie. Your best ever performance by a mile! You got so involved today, tackled everything that moved and ran us into some great positions. Jeremy. Fancy footwork again got us out of sticky situations. You deserved a score today.

MATCH 2 – Tupton 0 – 10 Sheffield
Team: James, Zack, Louis, Harley, Will G, Kai, Will J, Louis M, Jeremy

The six boys who didn’t play in that first match were desperate to get going! In all fairness to Tupton their boys had to play another full game while we had the luxury of playing some fresh players. However let me take absolutely nothing away from what was almost a perfect game of rugby from Sheffield U10’s. We spoke before the game about trying to play some attractive running rugby and keep away from mauls and the boys certainly delivered that. Will G got the game going with a trademark score. He finds gaps that no one else can see. Harley scored a mind blowing score soon after, running the full length of the pitch with three Tupton players on his back! But this performance resulted from the work done by quiet assassin Zack and Louis. They won so much ball from the contact area and with the ball getting to the backs so quickly we ran amok. Will G ended up with many more tries and Harley added another great score. But by far and away the best moment of the game came when we turned over Tupton ball, Jeremy got the ball to Will G who carved through the Tupton defence for a simple run to the line. However he then selflessly passed the ball to Zack who had supported so well all game for him to score his first try of the game. Team spirit is SO vital and I think the boys proved we are developing well in that department as well. A job well done boys. Final score 0 – 10
Scorers – Will G (7), Harley (2), Zack

Individual notes – James. Great tackling, great passing and a great comic moment when you forgot that jumping on a player’s back is not allowed in rugby! Muppet! Louis. So strong in the contact area today. Your understanding of the game seems to have improved as you are always in the right place at the right time, well done mate. Zack. Brilliant intensity in defence and as also gained ground in attack. Totally deserved you try at the end. Harley. The tries you scored were unbelievable and more importantly the speed at which you get the ball away from rucks and mauls is creating so many try scoring opportunities for the team. Will G. As I said above, you find and get through spaces that don’t exist. Brilliant tackling and ripping in the mauls. A touch of class by passing to Zack at the end bud. Kai – A different type of game from you today and lovely to see. Didn’t get the ball in hand much today but made up for it by tackling well and rucking well to give others the opportunity to score, good lad.

All the boys should be proud of themselves. David and I thought you all played a part in the wins today. The most important thing though? You all had smiles on your faces before, during and after the games. Its so nice to see that you all enjoy playing rugby. You all work so hard, we couldnt have asked for anything more today. Thanks boys