The Under 10s hosted Exeter Athletics yesterday morning for a joint training session before our first fixture next weekend. U10s are going into a season of learning contest on the ground, rucking, jackling and mauls too - a significant step up for junior rugby. It was great to have so many coaches together and we arranged a round robin of rucking, stealing, and mauls and scrums to improve skills- we finished with a mixed teams game zone which incorporated all new drills and also had some Exeter and Withy’s friendships developing! Very beneficial day and the most satisfying being that parents commented that ‘this would not happen in football’ coaches getting together and talking the best way to teach and improve skills.. results next weekend - go on team!

Under 11s

Pre-Season Training

Under 12s

Pre-Season Training

Under 13s

Final Score: Withycombe – 5 | Plymstock Oaks – 30

Withycombe faced a tough test against a well-organised Plymstock Oaks side in their latest fixture. From the first whistle, the visitors applied early pressure, breaking through a disjointed Withy defence to score the opening try of the match. A quick second followed, capitalising on further defensive lapses.

Despite some determined phases of play, Withycombe struggled to convert pressure into points. A series of forced errors, including a crucial mistake deep in their own territory, gifted Plymstock a scrum near the try line, which they didn’t waste.

Disorganisation in defence continued to plague Withycombe, and Plymstock exploited the gaps efficiently, running in a fourth try before the break. Issues around high tackling and slow reactions at the ruck were evident, with the team clearly needing to tighten up across the board.

Half-time: Withycombe 0 – Plymstock Oaks 20

The second half saw a slight resurgence in Withycombe’s energy. They came out more focused, showing glimpses of what they are capable of with more structure and commitment.
Unfortunately, Plymstock's cohesion and tactical discipline proved too strong, and they added two more tries to extend their lead.

However, Withycombe did find a silver lining late on. In the dying moments, Reece crossed the line to score Withy’s first try of the season — a moment of pride and promise in an otherwise difficult afternoon.

While the performance was below expectations, particularly in terms of discipline, organisation, and teamwork, the final try offered a flicker of what the team could achieve when they work together.

Withycombe will need to regroup, reflect on this performance, and come back stronger next week — more united, more structured, and more determined.

Player of the week: Reuben – for positive attitude in training and the match and for a strong game covering most of the pitch both attacking and defending

Man of the match: Cameron - for perseverance and high work rate, tackling well.

Key Focus for Next Week: Improved tackling technique, quicker support at the ruck, stronger communication across the field and teamwork!

Under 14s

[b]WITHIES DEBUTANTS STEAL THE SHOW[/b]

Front Row - Fin Bowman, Jacob Fairbanks, Baxter Purves
Second row - Alfie Bryant, Archie Thompson
Back Row - Rhys Lloyd, Jago Coates (Captain), Louie Shand

Backs - Oli Smith, Charlie Eade, Jonny Ewart (debut), Lucas Bennett (debut), Charlie Evans, Alfie Phillips & Plymstock player (Will 1st Half, Noah 2nd half).

So often when writing match reports it becomes a politically correct exercise in boosting morale, calling it a team effort and making sure everyone gets a mention. There is no need in any such ego massaging in this one: it was a team effort and the Withycombe Under 14s performed as one, with everybody taking a share in the victory.

Kick off away at Plymstock Oaks RFC was at 11:30, waiting for the U16s to end their match -. As the first match of the season, it was time to put into practice the well drilled pods and rucks set pieces. It was also the first time the team had to play on a full-size pitch, do non-competitive line outs, and function with a full scrum. Sadly, due to football infringements on Rugby Sunday, Withycombe could not field a full team, but Plymstock were gracious enough to lend us Will and Noah who took up the challenge to play against their own team with sportsmanship and aplomb. This did however mean that yet again, Withycombe had no spares and so had to play the full 2 halves without the safety net of substitutions.

The game started positively with Rhys Lloyd providing the turnover ball off a high tackle penalty that saw Charlie Eade feed the ball out to new player Jonny Ewart. Jonny showed his Topsham credentials and set his after-burners on - down the left wing bringing the score to 0-5 after the conversion was missed.

Plymstock came back strong and despite a barrage of tackles from the boys and high tackle penalties against us, a scrum inside our 22 released their talismanic winger who weaved a route down the left wing carving his way to a try that was also not converted - 5-5.

After some excellent forwards' pressure and successful scrums, as well as some clever territory kicking from new player Lucas Bennett, Withycombe began to find their rhythm. Charlie Evans made some dominant tackles on the wing, and a well-set scrum saw Charlie Eade dummy a lazy lope through a confused Plymstock to bring the score to 5-12 after he converted his own try. The score remained here in the first half, after some attritional breakdown work by flankers Rhys Lloyd and Louie Shand and surging breaks of the line by Jago Coates and Fin Bowman.

The second half started off shakily when an uncharacteristic knock on from Charlie Eade led to a 70-yard sprint from the Plymstock winger under the posts to bring the score level at 12-12.
Many teams would have faltered at this point, but after a turnover win by Eade, Fin Bowman charged forward with the ball deep into Plymstock territory to pass back to Charlie who "chicken-winged" a clever pass to Lucas Bennet for his debut try. Eade converted this to bring the score to 12-19.

Plymstock piled on the pressure making it up field to the 5-metre line with a series of off-side penalties, but a searing run from Louie Shand saw the ball returned to their 22 with a scrum awarded to Plymstock for a forward pass. Somehow Jacob Fairbanks managed to hook the ball and turnover the scrum, which allowed Eade to march the 15 metres needed with a well-placed hand off. Lucas Bennett converted the try - 12-26.

Daylight was appearing in the scoreline and with it the Withies' confidence as Alfie Phillips, Fin Bowman, and Louie Shand made dominant line breaks bringing the team to a pass down the line play which saw opportunist Archie Thompson thunder down the wing for a well-earned but unconverted try - 12-31.

The match ended with a performance full of Withycombe dominance and Jonny Ewart pick-pocketed the Plymstock line to stretch his legs and run a try in from his own 22 which was summarily converted by Eade bringing the final score 15-38.

Afterwards, in the clubhouse filled with smart tie wearing young men, I asked the Topsham boys how their debut with Withycombe had felt. "It was very different," answered centre Lucas Bennett. "In Topsham, it was all about the backs, but this team has really strong forwards, so it felt much more balanced." It is of course, all about balance - and if this performance was to represent the reward for the dedicated pre-season training that the coaches have been drilling the boys with - then the scales of justice are for now tipping in our favour.

Club captain Jago Coates gave his verdict on the game. We came here with a strategic gameplan, at times early on in the game we were a bit sloppy but as the minutes went on, we found our feet and some structure to our game. As the second half hit, we really started to gel. The forwards all battled for each other and our backs reaped the rewards.

Back of the match awarded to Lucas Bennett, forward of the match to Fin Bowman.

Under 15s

Withycombe U15 v Plymstock Albion Oaks

The Withies turned up this morning with a depleted squad with injuries reported through the team
Albion Oaks showed strength in their sizeable pack and were able to test the Withies defence.
Much possession was given to a well drilled Albion oaks that attacked the fringes with powerful carries.

Withies fronted up well and tackled the pack with grit and determination.
A stretched-out hand intercepted the Withycombe line and scrabbled to score in the corner. 0-5

Some good kicking from Harry Moore allowed Withycombe to gain some territory but phase after phase took its toll and the Oaks managed to score and convert. 0-12

The set piece for Withycombe looked good with Zac Nevinson on debut holding his own at prop and Harry Winks (hooker) Jacob Thompson (prop) managing to get the ball back from their front row positions at the scrum. Oaks scored again before half time able to carry and make ground with their pack. 0-17

Withycombe receiving the ball looked capable of scoring but just could not break the Oaks defence.
Stern tackling from the Withies back row was continuous all morning and really did well to nullify the Oaks game plan. A stretched hand from their forwards saw Oaks score again after a few phases
0-22.

The Withies showed character and tried to attack but the bounce of the ball or a pass could not go to hand.

Admiral defence from the pack always looked strong but it was the Oaks backline that managed the final score to make it 0-27.

An incredible effort by the team today who really stepped up in their structure and decision making.

Special mention to Jacob Thompson who was relentless in his tackling around the fringes.
The boys battled well, and their incredible work rate was never rewarded against a strong and physical Oaks team.

Under 16s

Plymstock Oaks 45 - Withycombe 28

Tries: Riley Withers (2), Ollie Cowling, Evan Bevis
Cons: Evan Bevis (3)

A solid effort by an understrength Withies caw them come up marginally short in an evenly balanced contest on the furthest rugby pitch from civilisation.

With only a 17-man match day squad the boys knew today would be tough….and so it proved. A big PAO team were clearly well drilled and came out of the blocks quickly, but the pattern was set for the day as Withy did all the hard work only to concede possession through a mistake in their own half - try conceded in 4 minutes.

Soon Withy were ahead as Riley Withers split the midfield and powered over under the posts - Evan Bevis converting to go 5-7 up. With the game fairly even the error count started to climb as Withy would repeatedly gain a foothold and then present the ball back to PAO. This gave the oppo field position and possession - the wind behind allowing them easy exits and then scores. The game quickly went away from Withy as PAO’s tally rose to 30-7 at half time.

The team talk at half time was mature and level - the boys definitely showing how far they’ve come - Captain Cowling leading the charge. It felt like Withy were still in the game…

However multiple compounded errors saw PAO score in the corner to take the game further away.

However as ever, the boys never stop and kept in the fight. The backs started to move the ball with more fluency, and some great hands saw Mikey Mclaughlin fix his man and send Elliot Clarke free for the score - only for the referee to call it back inexplicably for a Withy Penalty. Ollie Cowling grabbed it, tapped and went - over the whitewash for a deserved score (Evan converted). 30-14.

The lads felt empowered but made an error - knocking on the kick off. With another probable PAO offensive move brewing the lads stood off and sure enough they went over to score under the posts. 45-14.

But that wasn’t the end - Withy still had more to say on the matter. Namely in the form of Riley Withers who was now back on the pitch after overcoming a leg injury. Some good forward interplay saw Riley carve through the midfield and power through multiple tackles to go through under the posts (Evan Converted). 45-21

And with 7 minutes left there was a chance of an unlikely comeback. Again, Withy took charge with PAO definitely on the defensive - again the backs starting to work the ball and create space - Evan Bevis going through after running a sweet line to score under the posts. A 2 footed tackle on him as placed the ball down led to a penalty only for some unnecessary Argy bargy to see the game finished. Withy definitely had momentum and could have gone on to further scores…. alas not to be.

Some good performances today - particularly up front from newbies Marcel (Carried well), and Sam (also ran the ball into contact nicely). The usual work horses applied themselves well - including Henry L, Fred C, Ollie C & Riley W.

The backs had to work hard in defence and fight for attacking scraps - Henry B was good on comms, Dan with his sniping, and Evan improving his reading of the game.

Also, a shout out to Elliot for being Mr Utility and playing in 3 different positions! BRAVO!

But the MOM today was Sam Wood for being small and mighty - hitting those breakdowns and being in the right place every time.

Key to remember how long the season is and that we ALWAYS get better as we go. The boys should be desperately seeking those improvement so we hit our stride earlier in the season…..If they do that this will be a great season.