3 T's win the game - Teamwork, Tackles and Tries!

On a chilli and blustery Sunday morning Trojans Blue squad arrived at Gosport and Farehams ground ready for their biggest game of their season the semi final of the Hampshire Shield. This was also the first time this season they played G&F and this team was an unknown to them all.

After a stern but positive prep talk in the changing rooms by the coaching staff informing the players that their fate laid in their hands and it was all up to them now, the players ran out to the pitch together as a squad and continued the rest of the day in the same way, All for one and one for all!

The game kicked off and it was evenly matched in both the forwards and backs. For the first 5 minutes G&F camped in the Trojans half and tackle after tackle Trojans kept them at bay. Then 8 minutes in the forwards won the ball in the ruck and passed it to the back who in turn passed it down the line to Sam Dixon who was like a bullet out of a gun and was off. Fending off a couple of tackles but the opposition could not slow him down and he kept picking up speed to break the tackles to score a sweet try. This try lifted the entire squad and straight away from the kick off Trojans had possession and again worked hard to get into the G&F half and then back with the ball Sam D was cutting through their defence to score another well worked try. 11 minutes in G&F 0 Trojan Blues 10. the next 14 minutes consisted of hard work by the forwards and once again some great tackles with the forwards and backs putting in some excellent work. At one stage we were camped in the 5 meter line with penalty after penalty going against us but some solid defence kept the G&F forwards from breaking through. All Trojans put their bodies on the line to ensure the score stayed the same by half time with some of the best defence work I have seen them put in all season.

Half Time: G&F 0 - Trojan Blues 10

At half time there was not allot for the coaches to say apart from ensure we use our backs and that we keep our shape in the backs.

Second half kicked off and the first 8 minutes started like the end of the second half with allot of pressure from G&F forwards and a couple of times they broke through our defence but were stopped just before the line by same great covering tackles by Joe Bull, Tommy Pilcher and Oli Jarvis to name but a few. However we managed to get back in their half and within minutes of coming on as a sub Adam Southey powered over the line to score another try for Trojans. G&F 0 Trojan Blues 15. The boys were now firing on all cylinders and played some fantastic rugby with the ball going through the hands well and with the forward linking well with the backs. on the 13th Minute mark of the second half Sam Dixon received another ball in his own half and ran 2/3rds of the pitch fending off tackle after tackle to score his 3rd try of the game. If only he was a senior player because then it would of been a jug of beer from Sam! G&F 0 - Trojan Blues 20. This time G&F asked us to kick off which Louis Alford did and found a big gap in their defence. Trojans then pushed up and put allot of pressure on the now back track G&F defence and Trojans stole the ball and gave it to Tommy Pilcher who did not need a second invite and charged his way through some high and hefty tackles but was too strong for the G&F defence and scored a sweet little try. 10 minutes of regulation time to go and it was G&F 0 - Trojan Blues 25 with the scrore as it was we brought Sam D and Joe Bull off and we played with what we thought was 10 minutes to go with 3 forwards in our back line. A couple minutes later Captain fantastic Oli Jarvis decided to tackle a player with his head and had to come off as he was growing a lovely sized golf ball on his head. So now without Fly half Fin Whale playing full back and my second row Tommy Pilcher playing fly half we knew we had a tough few minutes ahead of us but the determination in every single boys face and attitude was just simply outstanding. with more pressure from G&F on the half way line Rodrigo Estiveira (who had only started rugby this season) saw the ball at the bottom of a ruck and was the first to pick it up and he was off. Once again his pace was unbelievable and there was no chance of any of the defence stopping him scoring the last try for Trojans with 7 more minutes to play. G&F 0 - Trojans 30. After a water break for G&F they came at Trojans hard again and to give them credit they never stopped once and never gave up and were a credit to their coaches and each other. Throughout the game they crossed the line a couple of times only to be brought back by the ref due to double movement and other infringements just prior to that. However on the 25th minute one of the strong backs broke though 4/5 missed tackles and went over to score their one and only try of the game. G&F 5 - Trojan Blues 30.
We all thought that was the last play of the game but the game continued on for another 7/8 minutes with both sides now exhausted and wondering why the ref was still letting them play. Finally the whistle went and it was a great victory for Trojans and more importantly Trojan Blues.

I have named a few players during this report but all need a mention as they all played their best rugby they ever have and all played for each other and it was a great spectacle of rugby from both sides.

Every game the blues play they play as a team but I have never seen them all play so well and each and every one of them put in 110% and no coach/parent or team mate can ask any more than that

So we are now just waiting to hear who we are playing in the final, but if i am honest I dont care as today was our final!!!

Trojan Blues Semi final squad was and all deserve the same amount of praise as each other.
Toby Oliver
Aaron Archer
Louis Alford
Tommy Pilcher
Sam Pitt
Mattis Prince
Finley Whale
Sam Dixon
Joe Bull
Bradley Gould
Lucas Datson
Oliver Jarvis
Adam Southey
Edward O’Regan
Fraser Priestly
Alfie Turner
Matteo Lallo
Spencer King
Rodrigo Estiveira

I am honoured and very proud to be able to coach these young men and they behaviour on and off the pitch is a true example of how it should be done, graceful in defeat and honourable when they win. A true credit to themselves, their parents and their rugby club.

The future is bright, the future is Trojans.

The entire Blue coaching team
Mike, Dave, James and Ian