Sunday 7th October

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Two Teams Two Fine Performances!

Match report from MK by Jill
Hitchin 5 Milton Keynes 7
A late start, overgrown pitch and strict refereeing from the MK coach didn't dent our teams enthusiasm. We went 1 - nil down very quickly but a very strong run to the try line from David levelled things. Milton Keynes then went two ahead but a brilliant piece of team work from our two longest serving team members got us back into things, a long straight run from Sam who passed quickly and accurately to the perfectly positioned Alfie who finished the move off with the try. Unfortunately we never managed to get ahead as MK scored again. Alfie with a fine solo effort and another superb strong run from David kept us in the game. There was some very good tagging and general defensive work from Rhian and Joe and with the last play, Rhian squeezed through to get our fifth.

Hitchin 6 Kettering 4
We started this game strongly with Alfie scoring first from a fine pass from Elliot. Rhian then picked up a loose ball from our try line and ran the length of the pitch to score again. Another fine piece of strong straight running from Sam, enabled Harry L to take the pass in space and score. Kettering pulled a try back to make it 3 - 1 to Hitchin at half time.Kettering scored again from the restart but a fabulous run down the whole length of the wing from the energetic Elliot, left the Kettering players standing. He was miles clear of everyone when he put the ball over the try line to score. Minutes later he did exactly the same thing to get his second and Hitchin's fifth of the game. Kettering battled hard and great defensive work from Joe in particular forced a few errors from them and a turnover. Following some great passing and general all round team play, Alfie, supported by Pippa finished the game off with his fourth try of the day.
Well done.

Away at Harpenden

Mark and Myself took a mixture of the new ones and last years team to Harpenden for a hastily arranged fixture.

Harpenden were very welcoming and we joined in with their warm up, doing some drills we hadn't done before. We shall do some of these when we are back at home in the next couple of weeks.

The matches'

Match 1 Harpenden 5 Hitchin 7
Tries from:
Harry D 2
Ben 1
Alex 2
Jordan 1
One missing if anyone can tell me!
Alex captained well, with Hitchin playing very well

Match 2 Harpenden 7 Hitchin 5
Tries from:
Jordan 4
Ben 1
Harry D was captain and marshalled the troops well.

Match 3 Harpenden 0 Hitchin 2
Tries from:
Harry D 2
Jordan was captain with excellent defence from Hitchin preventing Harpenden from scoring

Hitchin performed really well, with the new boys leading by example and the new ones rising to the occasion - I felt that they did the club proud! The new ones were well and truly "bloodied", in the case of Jack literally (I hope the tooth fairy brought the appropriate reward!). I felt the boys passed well, did some good running and supported well, we just need to get back quicker and focus sooner as we let Harpenden have some easy tries especially in the 2nd game.

Just leaves me to say thanks to Mark, Caroline for the photo and Harpenden for their hospitality

Training for the next couple of weeks and then a visit from St. Neots. We are aiming to get the players to arrive at 10.15, so they can be tagged and ready to go at 10.30 and maximise our available time. Just a reminder that we need to have completed membership forms and rfu forms (including photos) as soon as possible.

Simon

'Coach's Comments'

Well done to everyone who turned up at both Harpenden and Milton Keynes.

Simon and Mark were very impressed with the efforts from those at Harpenden; a positive training session and 3 good matches.

Chris and I were equally impressed with the efforts at Milton Keynes. We had to wait a while for our first game, but you delivered 2 very good displays.

There were impressive performances by all our new players in their first matches and responsible performances by the experienced players - thank you, and well done!

The positives today were the forward running; running into space (not face!!) and I was particularly impressed with the 'running support.'

The passing when tagged was also quicker, which led to some excellent support tries - well done, let's keep it up!

We had a 'strict' referee today at Milton Keynes and we can work on a couple of areas at next week's training.

We ALWAYS have to be ONSIDE - between the opposition ball carrier and our try line - when tagging
Stay ON OUR FEET when scoring a try
Allow the FREE PASS and then get the tag - we can move as soon as the ball leaves the hands of the player taking the free pass - BUT it is a good idea to just wait a second to see which way the receiver runs, then we're more likely to get the tag - as we showed.

The choice of Player of the Week was very difficult this week with so many excellent performances, at both Harpenden and Milton Keynes. However, for his immense display of tagging, scintillating tries (a couple of which were from our own try line) and his leadership (in lining up the 'Defence') this weeks's award goes to Elliot Willoughby - excellent Elliot, very well deserved.

I am really proud of everyone's performances today and I really feel I have the makings of an excellent U8 squad.

See you all next Sunday - remember 10:15.

Eric