Hitchin U 10s v Leighton Buzzard 9/3/08

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The day after Scotland kick England in the Trosachs, with Danny Cipriani dropped for daring to stay up late, 3 days before an International. Wales gain a Triple Crown.
Hitchin gain a win and and lose two.

Saxons Squad
Daniel, Aaron, Taylor; Frazer, Aless; Sam C, Tom, Oli Red, Ashley.
Hitchin 2 v 3 Buzzards
Oli 2.

Excellent opening exchanges from both sides, but Good Hitchin play was undone, when faced with a 4-1 overlap, the ball was lost in contact and a Buzzard ran ½ the length of the pitch to score. Coach Claire fumed “And that was just what we were trying to get right in training, 10 minutes ago” Some good tackles were put in, by Aaron, Aless, Ashley and Tom, but the big son of the head coach, ran the length of the pitch, to score. 0-2 at HT. Taylor got the bit between his teeth after the break, with a strong drive and Oli Red made a jinking run, but again, opportunities were wasted, with clear overlaps being squandered by runners. Some crunching tackles could not stop them scoring a third, with excellent support play and peeling off the rucks. Oli made it 1-3, with a trademark bursting run, then Sam C showed some of his best play yet, with a good run and excellent fall and turn. The forwards then showed good rucking to secure the ball. Oli made it 2-3 with his 2nd, after very good passing work and so it finished, with Hitchin definitely improving in leaps and bounds. Captain Frazer, delivered a great “3 Cheers..” only for Steve Maxwell to say, “Can’t wait ‘till their voices break!” Maybe he was just gruff, because Chelsea had lost to Barnsley the day before. Coach Bryn was keen to praise our efforts, notably try scorer, Oli and scrum-half Aless. I took my leave to deliver Tom to a friend, on a trip to Saracens (I tried to dissuade him, but to no avail!) and left the next write ups to Tony. I expected them sometime after midnight, when he got back from the pub, but it’s only 10.30pm and they’re in! (PS I understand Tony has many skills, but diplomacy?.... “David has obviously been busy writing songs, as I witnessed today when he sang (tour songs)to me. Great tunes and words, but how do I put this diplomatically - can't see them doing it? Who was it that said to David, “is this your first trial at song writing?” ” ****** cheek.)

David left for the Sarries game early, so he kindly gave me a pen approx 2
inches long and a pad of paper. It seems so long since I've been about and how they have improved! I was given the video of the Datchworth / Welwyn game, and I must say (you missed me!) That was pretty awful. Today was a different story. How one coach can make such a difference amazes me, but then again it is me. (modesty!-David)
The team selections are as follows and we will hold to this as much as
possible. What I now ask is that you notify us of anybody who cannot make the festival on 19th April. This could effect these teams but I hope you are all available as its the pinicale of the season and I really want to push the teams we have selected. As explained, you might feel the teams are not a straight A / B team, but we had to consider cover for key positions and hence (especially scrum half) we needed at least two people in each team that could - FILL IN. Same goes with the forwards.
I believe that we have two very good teams here and they can do a good job for us (ON THEIR DAY!)

Teams will now also split up for training and games away.

So, Cup team (Saxons);
1. Daniel
2. Oliver P
3. Taylor
4. Aless
5. William J
6. Frazer (capt)
7. Oliver, red
8. Ashley
9. Tom
10. OJ
11. Sam C

Plate team (Vikings);
1. Sam (big)
2. Aaron
3. Matiou
4. Christian
5. George
6. Jack (capt)
7. Max
8. Ben
9. Andrew
10. Bradley
11. Conner
12. Toby.

We will now look to gel these players together to get them used to playing
as a unit, only swapping when really needed. If you cannot make the
following fixtures its important to tell me, because we will need to look at
changing things around soonest.

Festival 19th April - allow all day 9.30am to 4pm as we will be in a final
I'm sure!
Cambridge festival - Cup team only, Plate team at Hitchin training 16th
March.
St Neots festival 27th April Plate team only, last weekend before BBQ, Cup
team training or weekend off, To be decided.
Our only other away game is at Royston on 30th March, currently, both teams
to go. Will advise.

Back to today's wonders.

David wrote the first game notes, but I must add two special mentions, The L Buzzard Coach expressing his thoughts about our GIRL! What a player! He remembered her as a fabulous forward last season, and said she's soon picked up the scrum half positional play, still hard as rocks. The other was Sam, who has come on leaps and bounds, his tackling today was wonderful.

Game two, Vikings.. Following the Saxons being beaten 3-2 I must say my
pre-match chat was saying how we ought to show our others players how it should be done, lets turn it round and have a 3-2 win. George of course
expressed his thoughts as he wanted a 3-0 win, I wasn't complaining.
It was a poorish start and Trevor who had just spent half an hour showing
them what to do at the start off, had his hands in his head! How to you get
through to them? When Colin then told George that it was the backs that should have the brains it stopped George in his tracks, he was for once silent?The return of Ben proved a savour when he powerfully put his head down from 3 yards, although he said it was the length of the pitch to get us 1 up. LB equalised following an injury to Jack, so it was great to see him get us back in front minutes later with a real pumping legs try finished with an over exaggerated dive, 2-1 to us. 2-2 then came when, yes another injury halted us, not only with the player down, but Ben (proper team mate, was picking Bradley up) The dying seconds and a forwards push got us over the line. The ref (Colin) asked the away team for their thoughts before awarding the try to Christian,
JUST WHAT I ASKED FOR 3-2- Glad I'm back. I must add we could of won this game easily as we dropped the ball three times on the try line, Bradley, George and Christian, so in all a good battle and win.

The final game, one of two halves. Saxons 1st, lost 0-1 and then the
troopers from the Vikings 0-2, over all a 0-3 win for LB, I forgot to write notes sorry. One thing I did remember though was the LB boy, who did not give three cheers at the end of each game that gave Jack a sideways thump, he'll no doubt be a sin bin player of the future.
As always Colin reffed in his normal fair and good way - top stuff Col, and thanks again. Should of sin binned the boy for the Jack incident though? Colin will probably say he missed it? Overall much better than that Datchworth video nasty. I didn't award man of the match today, but perhaps I should. Hard decision with great contenders. Toby as the new hooker played a great game, Aless for yet again tireless tackles, Oliver red for some really powerful runs, Maitiu for gaining 50 yards every time he got the ball, Jack for the dive try, but my player of the week goes to Sam, for not missing a tackle today and for the very big improvement since the last time I was there, Nov 07 I think! Top stuff.
Good luck to the Saxons next week at Cambridge, Colin, Adrian, David and any other volunteers will look after things, I'll be at training with the
Vikings at Hitchin with Trev and Nick. Win it for us.
Tony, glad to be back. Looks like you need me? Tony Wuidart