A season summary as Withy give local rivals a run for their money......

It's safe to say say that this season has had ups and downs.

Mostly downs if I'm being perfectly honest and it all started even before the 1st kick of the season. After the high of last season, where the team took huge strides forward to culminate in a brilliant conclusion at the Totnes Festival, when news filtered through that our very own Billy Whizz was out for the start of the season. But he'd be back - surely?

Then the 1st game of the season - an excellent victory over Paignton - saw our talisman, Harry W, get concussed resulting in a 30 day graduated return to play. 2 down. We had a 3rd injury I'm sure - It was probably Evan.....:-)

We also had the immense pleasure of welcoming some of the (recently folded) Exeter Athletic team to Withy. Raging Bull, Noah, Stephen, Callum and Mikey all coming in to bolster our numbers and thus ensuring that we could fulfil our fixtures and get the boys playing rugby. I think it's safe to say that had we not had these boys come in we would not have had any season at all.

In addition we gained an additional coach in Rich - who, it has to be said, has been absolutely superb this season with his unwavering support of the team, even when Callum may not have been in a position to play. For the record - Rich: we thank you.

And as for the boys - it must have been unsettling for them to come into a new team - and at time it was challenging: as coaches we tried as hard as we could to integrate the boys into one team, yet give the Athletic boys a sense of their own club. I hope we succeeded in that in some way.

The season continued with a thumping win over Sidmouth, and an indifferent performance against Exmouth at home, before back to winning ways against Teignmouth away. We followed that up with an absolutely awesome performance against Topsham in which we properly rattled them - and they had to resort to the big guns to win through. Things were looking positive as the team started to find its feet.

But with 2 boys out for the long term, it now looking like Dan was out for the season, the team still seemed short of depth - and sure enough we entered a really difficult period. A thumping defeat to Okehampton, followed by a patchy effort against Exmouth (Which we should have won), followed by another thumping defeat to Chard, left the boys down and disconsolate.

What remained the same however, was the drive that they all had to turn out to training, have some fun, and try to get better. It was evident from several Wednesday training sessions that there was something there ready to spark......but how as coaches could we find it, and ignite it???

We also had some new additions to the squad. Earlier in the season Kai, Todd and Lealan had joined us to further bolster our numbers. All 3 showed good promise and turned their commitment into game time over the course of the middle part of the season. And this spark I mention was somewhere in there.....but where!

And then - Notably for me it - started to glow during (arguably) our biggest defeat.

Chard were enormous. No one can deny that. Absolutely huge. And to go with that they were physical. And this combination caught our boys a little by surprise. We conceded a hat load of tries - yes a hat load - but this was a blessing in reality. The reason was this: because the score didn't count the boys actually started to play rugby. They also showed some real aggression and physicality themselves whilst not really caring about the score. They got up, and went again. Then got up and went again.

This was the moment when I think the squad woke up.

There was new energy at training, and some renewed focus from us coaches on pushing the boys harder. And they lapped it up. A loss to Honiton followed, but a much better performance - the boys being unlucky not to get on the score sheet.

And another new arrival in Kean meant that we now had proper numbers - and more strength in depth with Kean augmenting our runners with his speed and power. And so to Brixham. An excellent performance all-round and the boys ran out comfortable winners, scoring at will and showing real intent - much to the delight of the traveling fans, not so much to the home referee......

And so to what will ultimately turn out to be our last game of the season - of course it had to be Sidmouth. A final runout for the twins, Zac and Luca against their old side before they most likely head up the motorway and into the setting sun for next season. An honourable draw it was in the end - probably a fitting end to a season that arguably ended too early for us - yet to really hit our peak - just as we were finding our way. But a really pleasing way to end the season it was - a result that the boys deserved because of their hard work and commitment.

And on refection it has been a season of ups and downs - but it has also been a reconfirmation that this is not about results, this is about the journey. It is about the boys working together for each other. It's about them all having their roles - and doing them to best of their ability. And as coaches it's been tough - but our jobs is to make it such that the boys keep coming back. And they seem to.

Wherever we find ourselves post Pandemic, I believe we've all moved forward as a result of this season. It's been a pleasure to coach the boys and see them grown and improve. And I look forward to next season where it goes to another level again. But this group will undoubtedly rise to challenge and succeed. I have not doubt.

A big thanks to:
You - the traveling parents who graciously bring your clean boys to training and matches, and get filthy boys back. Every week.
To my fellow coaches - Warren and Scotty (I'll miss Scotty's full-Glaswegian over the summer)
To Rich and Wendy - and the other Athletic parents - we look forward to having you as part of our team next year if you want us
And to Zac and Luca - All the best in your futures - thank you for your contribution. You are always welcome back!
To Dan W - we miss you and get well soon

And finally - to all the boys (new and old) who have been part of this amazing U13 team during the 2019/20 season. Thank you for your commitment to each other and drive to get better - regardless of the score.

Stay healthy, stay fit, and see you next season.

Best wishes,

Bill