U11s - Ampthill at home - match report 27 Jan 08

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After a bright start, building on the work done at the previous week's indoor training session, we finished off with nothing to show results-wise but a sense of quiet encouragement with the forwards especially. In the first game especially we were on top in virtually every discipline so we were left bemused at the scorelines (especially the second halves!).

As we experienced earlier in the season, Ampthill are a well-drilled and disciplined side with a squad-size similar to our own and after we had beaten them last time - perhaps to their surprise - we expected a tough re-match. In the first match we were especially convincing in practically all areas and it was hard to understand how we could have lost. As a result of this Ampthill were able to puncture our 15 (22) metres only once, but unfortunately managed to score that one time whilst we continually failed to capitalise on our territory and superior possession.

One explanation might have been that the pitch was narrower than perhaps we have become accustomed to so we were less able to release our nippy wings. This seem to stifle the creativity as well with more predictable lines of attack than in our better performances. And whilst Ampthill also possessed some very quick backs, who made use of good feet to cut back and dummy, they were taking the ball down the middle taking the ball through more from the stand-off/centre area.

After the forwards' dedicated session with Andy last week at St Christopher's, there was more intensity and a (little) more communication. In the first half of the first match they were incredibly impressive but this level of energy needs to be maintained - which is where we slipped in the final match. We had managed to claw our way back in to the match with Jamie's hard-earned try to equalise but then it all seemed to get away from our grasp with frenetic play as the defence was pulled out of shape.

A special word of thanks go to John Cauldwell for his refereeing, building once more on some of the advances we had made at the end of 2007.As one of the kids put it succinctly "it made a change to have a professional". It certainly was refreshing to not only have running series of explanations, from which the children should have learnt something, but also a halt to some of the continual infringements by the opposition that we experience most weeks. Thanks also to Tim Jeffries for explaining the rules to John the previous night: he's evidently a quick learner and we'd be chuffed to have him back again.

Match 26 v. Ampthill Lost 0-7 (HT 0-0)

Ellis, Will N, Joe, Lewis, Jamie, Harry, Dom, James D (sub Guy), Ruiri, Simon, James W, Tim

Match 27 v. Ampthill Lost 7-28 (HT 0-7)
Peter, Will N (sub Lewis), Brandon, Jamie, Guy, Chas, Ruiri (sub James D), Beth, Harry (sub Tom), Kate, Tim (sub Will T), Simon

Try: Simon - put quite simply "how did he do it?" - Simon somehow managed to tackle and rip the ball and sped off down the line for 30 metres to put it.

Match 28 v. Ampthill Lost 7-21 (HT 0-7)

Ellis, Will N, Joe (sub Brandon), Lewis, Jamie, Harry, Dom, Peter, Ruiri, Simon, James W, Tim

Try: Jamie - smartly followed up behind the maul that had formed after Simon had made yardage up the sideline, coming at a more oblique angle than the rest of the forwards and turning round and over.

Finally a reminder about training. We have very few training sessions from now until the end of the season and whilst up to now we have ensured that everyone who turns up on a matchday gets to play, we are moving towards where this can no longer be guaranteed. It is very important that everyone should turn up for every training session for two very good reasons. Firstly, we are now working hard on gameplans and moves, so in order to know what is happening generally and not let down teammates you need to be there to learn the new things. More importantly there is a health and safety issue as matches are generally getting harder so each child needs to know what to do.