Team News

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It was cold, damp and grey on Sunday, but the pitch conditions were fine and we managed to have a good training session. This week we specifically looked at our attack play and worked on our passing, running and handling skills, with the emphasis being on moving the ball into space and working more as a team. We focused on some specific handling and 2 v 1 exercises and then developed this into some small sided 6 v 3 games. We finished the session with a 9 v 9 match and some unopposed team runs.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Congratulations goes to Alfie Canon who won the “Player of the Week” award on Sunday. Alfie had a very good morning, I was pleased with his concentration, effort and work rate during the session and he showed some very good handling and passing skills in all the exercises and games. In the team run at the end he twice drew the defender and put his team mate away to score in the corner, which was exactly the skill we had been working on all morning. He also showed good contact skills in attack in the 6 v 3 game, he offloaded well and when needed rucked very well. On one occasion Henry & Dylan were about to turnover ball with some excellent defensive work at the breakdown when Alfie came storming in, cleared them out and literally “smashed them into next week”. Alfie, this is the type of aggression at the contact area I want to see from you every week!!! Well done, an excellent morning.

TACKLER OF THE WEEK
Congratulations goes to Samuel King who won the “Tackler of the Week” award on Sunday. Samuel always gives 100% every week and again on Sunday his effort and commitment was first class. He tackled particularly well in the small sided 6 v 3 game, when as one of only three defenders against six attackers you have to tackle and work very hard. He also tackled well in the 9 v 9 game at the end and put in two or three crunching tackles. Well done Samuel, keep it up.

SUNDAY 21 FEBRAURY
This week, Sunday 21 February we have an away fixture at Old Albanians and we will be taking two teams to this fixture. Each team will be playing two matches and can I ask all players to meet at 9.30am, so we can have a squad warm up and get prepared for the games. Matches will start at 10.15.

The following players have been selected for the OA’s fixture: -

HITCHIN COUGARS
Alex Baber-Norris, Ethan Brace, Connor Dudley, Rory Fookes, Guy Honnywill, Harry Hughes, Ethan Lavialle, Morgan Noble, Kai Prpa, & Ciaran Sale

HITCHIN JAGUARS
Dylan Crofton, Laurence Hidle, Daniel Hill, Chris Holes, Sam Humphrey, Samuel King, Jack Petre, Hadley Reed, Naomh Taylor, Henry Tucker & Max Ward

Old Albanians Rugby Club
Woollams Playing Fields
160 Harpenden Road
St. Albans
AL3 6BB
Website – www.oajrfc.com

Please note our pitches will be located at the far end of the club, close to the cricket nets. As you come into the club, do not park in the first car park on your left, follow the road around to your left and park in the main car park the other side of the 1st team pitch.

Important Note: Due to the size of our squad I am unable to select all players for this fixture. If unfortunately you have not been selected this week you will get an opportunity to play next week as we will be fielding three teams against Letchworth & Harpenden on Sunday 28 February.

Please note there is no training at the club this week, Sunday 21 February.

SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY
On Sunday 28 February we have a home fixture against Letchworth and I have also arranged an extra fixture away at Harpenden. We can take two teams to Harpenden so all the players in our squad can play some matches. If you would like to play on this Sunday and have not advised me of your availability please let me know by Monday 15 February.

SATURDAY 20 MARCH
As mentioned on Sunday, we will be hosting a touring team from Old Sillhillians Rugby Club at Hitchin on Saturday 20 March. They will be bringing their U7, 8 & 9’s to us to play some games in the morning 10.30-12.00. On this weekend we also have a minis fixture at Tabard on the Sunday. The teams and details for this weekend will be finalised nearer the time, but thanks to all those players who are available to play on the Saturday, this is a good opportunity to play an extra fixture and it should be a good morning.

See you on Sunday at OA's.