Sunday 27th April

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Not quite a "big" as last week but brace yourselves anyway!

Sunday 27th April

Lions are away at the St. Neots Festival. Team as follows:
Angel Eyes, Alfie, Elliot W, Jack, Jordan, Harry D, Harry L, Niall, Rhian, Sam

Please be there for 9.15. Be prepared for a long day, as the final is at 2.15 (approx).

Directions below:
Heading north up the A1, ignore the first junction which is signposted for St Neots, A428 and Cambridge, continue ahead on the A1. Also ignore the second junction signposted for St Neots, Kimbolton and B645, continuing ahead on the A1. Take the next slip road which is signposted for St Neots and Little Paxton. At the end of the slip road there is a T junction with the flyover. Turn left at the T junction and continue ahead. There will be a housing estate to your left and open fields to your right. Keep ahead until you see a building on the right, this is St Neots Tool Hire. On the other side of the road to St Neots Tool Hire is a T junction. Turn left into the T junction. Continuing ahead, you will cross 2 narrow brick bridges and the road will bear round to the right. After the second bridge you will come to a set of traffic lights. Go straight over the traffic lights and continue ahead for 300 metres. The entrance to the St Neots Rugby Club will be on your left hand side.

Below is part of the pack sent out by St. Neots

Festival Philosophy

The St. Neots Festival of Rugby is, and always has been, a true celebration of the skill and enjoyment of young people in playing our magnificent sport. Although we recognise the role of winning in motivating young people, we place greater emphasis on way in which the game is played. Sportsmanship and Fair Play sit at the heart of our festival.

The festival’s top prize, the Hansard Trophy, is presented to the club which demonstrates across all age groups the highest and most consistent levels of Sportsmanship. There will also be a fair play prize awarded, for the most sporting team in each age group. All registered players will receive a commemorative festival medal and meals will be provided.

There will also be a prize for the team that wins the final between the top two teams in each age group league.

Please note the following rule:

1. Any team, including their coaches and supporters, who abuse match officials will be disqualified from the Festival and their Club will become ineligible to compete for the Hansard Trophy.

If you need more details please let me know.

Tigers are at home against Cambridge (I haven't had definate confirmation of the fixture - I will ensure that if it doesn't go ahead I will let you know. Team is as follows:

Jonathan, Joseph Wilkinson, Ben S, Ben L, Pippa, Rees, Iago, Joe Waterhouse, Daniel, Elliot S,

Please be there for 10.00. Charles will be running things for the Tigers. All willing volunteers for warm up etc. much appreciated. Caroline, if you could "pen" some match reports it would be much apreciated.


As mentioned in last weeks' mammoth message, many of the players are planning to go on the Socious Sports course. There are a number of dates, but looking, the Letchworth one looks the most convenient (11th Aug). I have negotiated a deal where the club gets 2 balls for every player we enter (no matter which date). If you are interested let me know and I will forward you details. If you have already booked let me know and I will claim the balls...Alex, Harry D, Harry L are all planning to go, with Jordan also expressing an interest. I think this is a great opportunity to get the players warmed up for the new season. They do "contact" so all the experience they can get will be good prior to the new season. Looking at the fixture list for next year we have about 4 weeks before the first game

Tigers match reports; courtesy of Caroline Lasage

Match 1 - Tigers 7-4 Letchworth 'B'

The Tigers start and immediately Niall is away for an early score. Great defensive play by Tigers, but Letchworth score on the 6th tag. Tigers respond with good play between Jack and Joseph, before Niall goes in for the score. Tigers immediately get a turnover from the restart and a good run by Joseph is held up in touch at the Letchworth line. Letchworth gain the advantage and score. Tigers reply immediately with Rhian grabbing a try. Letchworth push towards the Tigers line, but good defensive work gains possession and a good run allows Niall to complete his hat-trick. Half-time 4-2.

Letchworth start the second half, but Tigers defend well and force turnover. Good work between Joseph and Niall ends with Niall scoring his fourth. Good team defence holds Letchworth up but they eventually score. Tigers start well, but knock on. Not to be beaten, great defensive work leads to the turnover, whereupon good work between Joseph and Niall leads to Joseph's first try. Tigers continue to defend well and turnover the ball on their own try line. The team then push forward and Joseph shows good support to score his second. Letchworth work hard and are rewarded with the last try, but the Tigers win the match 7-4.

Match 2 - Tigers 15-6 Letchworth 'B'

Tigers attack straight from the off and Jack scores. Letchworth respond, but great tagging by Tigers keep them at bay, until they score on the last tag. An individual run by Ben Stephens regains the lead.
Letchworth get to the Tigers line, but we turnover the ball and good work between Ben S, Niall and Joseph ends with Joseph scoring. Letchworth attack, but again Tigers steal the ball and good work leads to a Niall try. Yet again good tagging leads to a Ben S try. Letchworth cut the deficit, but Niall scores again. Quickly Joseph adds to the score after good teamwork. Tigers and Letchworth then trade scores, Niall grabbing his second for a 8-3 half-time.

Letchworth start but Tigers grab the ball for Niall to break away and score. Repeat performance sees turnover ball and an individual breakaway try for Ben S. Good defence again wins Tigers ball and this time Joseph runs the length of the pitch to score. Finally Letchworth are rewarded to cut the score. Jack nicks the ball away and runs away to score his second. Letchworth start with pace and score. Tigers respond and Joseph grabs another. Letchworth attack, but lose the ball on the Tigers line and Rhian breaks away to get his name on the score sheet. Not content with one, he does it again! Last play sees Letchworth use width to score in the corner. A thumping 15-6 win - well done Tigers!

Lions match reports; courtesy of Beckie Willoughby

Match 1 - Lions 12-10 Letchworth 'A'

Lions start on what, compared to last weeks Herts festival, is a very short pitch.
1-0 Letchworth; 1-1 Harry L; 2-1 Letchworth; 2-2 Harry L after good passing and a great pick up by Jordan; 2-3 Sam scores after great tag from Sam and great run by Jordan; 3-3 Letchworth try; 3-4 Jordan after lovely run; 4-4; 4-5 Solo try by Sam; 5-5; 5-6 Alfie after lovely pass by Harry D; 6-6 half-time - this is tight!!!

6-7 Harry D; 6-8 Solo run by Elliot; 7-8; 7-9 great side-stepping by Alfie; 8-9; 9-9; Elliot after great pass from Alex; 10-10; 10-11 Elliot; 10-12 Alfie after great teamwork.

Match 2 - Lions 13-11 Letchworth 'A'

Hitchin start 1-0 Alfie after great support work; 1-1; 2-1 Harry L after good pick up by Harry D; 3-1 Great solo run by Jordan; 3-2; 3-3; 4-3 Harry L; 5-3 Harry L after great inside step and outside pass by Harry D; 5-4; 6-4 Elliot - half-time.

Letchworth start 6-5; 7-5 Elliot after great outside pass by Harry L; 7-6; 8-6 Elliot after good team support; 8-7; 9-7 Harry L after good team passing; 9-8; 10-8 Harry L after good run and pass by Elliot; 10-9; 11-9 Try of the game by Alfie; 11-10; 12-10 Alfie from great Jordan pass; 12-11; 13-11 Elliot.

Coach's Comments

Excellent displays by both the Tigers and Lions.

Tigers, boosted by the return of Niall and Jack, did well in all areas of the game with excellent running; great finishing; strong support play and great tagging. The whole team contributed and as the matches progressed they got stronger and stronger - very well done.

The Lions, introduced a 'running free pass' to their game and this put the Letchworth defence on the back foot. They created space well and this week there were some excellent passes to create space wide, with the strong support delivering the tries and the wins. We'll need the same again next Sunday if we are to repeat last year's performance at St. Neots - you have it in you, just keep focused and work together as a team; lots of communication!!

This week's Player of the Week goes to someone who is new to the squad this year. In that time he has progressed steadily and is now really starting to show his rugby skills and contribute to the success of the Tigers. A try last week, his fourth of the season, and a hard working performance today mean that Elliot Sprawson is our well deserved player of the week - Well done Elliot, more of the same next year please!!

Eric