OAKMEADIANS U15s ODD SOCK TOUR 2008
07/05/08 16:15
Aptly re-named the we woz robbed tour
Devon was the destination this season we thought we may find some good rugby. Well we where nearly right!!
Dave duly paid for the burger king as promised en-route, though 23 u15s doing the dead ant in the middle of the restaurant was a bit upsetting to the young lad and his mum that came in (and quickly left) in mid flow. We travelled to a friendly drinking house where 45 of us stopped a while!!
We arrived at Dawlish in the rain though it held off for us to unpack and have a few drinks (not the organisers of course), get the BBQ going and round up the troops. A good evening was had by all (except the organisers).
Off to Exmouth on Saturday morning still raining, and a few headaches around, must have been the seagulls pecking at the caravan roofs.
Excellent rugby winning 5-0 against a large team thinking they would walk it! We where made very welcome even though it was still raining. Doing the dead ant on the pitch when the ref blew the starting whistle was a bit of a surprise to Twiz.
Saturday evening saw a great curry and pizza dinner and a few more dead ants in the middle of the children’s show. The lads danced the night away and the parents just about coped with a second night on the town (not the organisers of course).
Sunday saw a brighter morning for those that did not need dark glasses, and off to Exeter Saracens we went. The match soon broke down when the front row started calling the ref by his first name. It was difficult to stay positive after a tackle in the air in the opening few minutes saw one of our lads injured but on we went. When an opponent punched our hooker in the groin area the ref missed it but when he did it again in front of the ref, the yellow card was shown. We lost this match 10-5 and two trys disallowed in the first half, but at least we kept our pride (and all our teeth). It was difficult not to be disappointed especially when the opponants parents apologised for their ref!!!
On we went to watch one of our lads play volleyball in Exeter, we missed his matches but did catch another. Back to the caravans for kangaroo court in the rain, I can’t report on this as WHAT GOES ON TOUR STAYS ON TOUR.
Til next year.
Oaks vs Dorchester 30/3/08
01/04/08 14:13
On Sunday
the U15's entertained Dorchester. After having played on the
Saturday the squad was again only at 17 players.
We kicked off and after a planned move? the forwards mauled over for Matt to score the 1st try in 42 seconds. Tommy slipped taking the conversion and we led 5-0. After sloppy work on the bouncing ball Dorchester equalised within a couple of minutes.
The game ebbed and flowed and from keeping the ball tight Andy went over to make it 10-5. The game was so open the result was anyone's guess. With the ball through the hands Gavin scored and we led 15-5. Dorchester did not give up and from another kick ahead and a bad clearance they scored which was converted. Half time score 15-12.
After oranges and half time team talk the match fell apart and became very scrappy with too many indecisive decisions by the play makers and we bogged down. The opportunity arose for us to get a converted try in front when a penalty was awarded twenty metres out and on the right side only or Tommy to miss.
The game revolved around mistakes by both teams and no further points were scored in the half. Oaks won another home game 15-12.
A much improved performance from Saturday, however with the tour to Devon soon upon us we must up our game accordingly.
Men of the match as chosen by Dorchesters coaches was Gavin and Jack with Gavin winning the hit of the match when he brought their No8 down.
A big thank you to Hayden for refereeing, as without the ref there is no game!!!
I must apologize to Joe who scored a try against Bridport for me to credit it to Didi (who kicked on over the line) you must remember in my OLD age my eyesights not as good as it was!
Next Saturday we have another touring team down and Sunday in the New Milton 7's, the team will be chosen shortly.
See you all at training on Wednesday
We kicked off and after a planned move? the forwards mauled over for Matt to score the 1st try in 42 seconds. Tommy slipped taking the conversion and we led 5-0. After sloppy work on the bouncing ball Dorchester equalised within a couple of minutes.
The game ebbed and flowed and from keeping the ball tight Andy went over to make it 10-5. The game was so open the result was anyone's guess. With the ball through the hands Gavin scored and we led 15-5. Dorchester did not give up and from another kick ahead and a bad clearance they scored which was converted. Half time score 15-12.
After oranges and half time team talk the match fell apart and became very scrappy with too many indecisive decisions by the play makers and we bogged down. The opportunity arose for us to get a converted try in front when a penalty was awarded twenty metres out and on the right side only or Tommy to miss.
The game revolved around mistakes by both teams and no further points were scored in the half. Oaks won another home game 15-12.
A much improved performance from Saturday, however with the tour to Devon soon upon us we must up our game accordingly.
Men of the match as chosen by Dorchesters coaches was Gavin and Jack with Gavin winning the hit of the match when he brought their No8 down.
A big thank you to Hayden for refereeing, as without the ref there is no game!!!
I must apologize to Joe who scored a try against Bridport for me to credit it to Didi (who kicked on over the line) you must remember in my OLD age my eyesights not as good as it was!
Next Saturday we have another touring team down and Sunday in the New Milton 7's, the team will be chosen shortly.
See you all at training on Wednesday
Oaks vs Bridport 9/3/08
11/03/08 09:11
On Sunday
the U15's entertained Bridport. With our squad back to twenty we
kicked off. Bridport were strong into the tackle and our boys were
unable to do the basic tackle (around the legs) and Bridport were
in the ascendancy. However the tide soon turned and after good hand
skills Matt raced down the wing to score under the posts; duly
converted by Didi's drop kick. From the kick off we were soon on
the attack and Jason, after another skillfull run scored under the
posts, converted by Didi. By now the boys were running the ball
well and although the tackling was still lacking further tries for
Jordan and Craig meant we turned round 26-0 up.
In the second half good ball skills by the boys meant they always looked dangerous when going forward. This resulted in tries for Matt (3) Didi and Tom, who also converted two. The final score was 55-0 to us. This meant that the boys have now played two games (two hours) without conceding any points, a good effort.
A mention must be made to Bridport, who although beaten heavily, never gave in.
Men of the match as chosen by Bridport coaches were Tom in the backs and Jack in the forwards, with hit of the match by Jack.
A stiffer test next week away to New Milton where we wont get away with letting the run at us without getting them to the ground.
In the second half good ball skills by the boys meant they always looked dangerous when going forward. This resulted in tries for Matt (3) Didi and Tom, who also converted two. The final score was 55-0 to us. This meant that the boys have now played two games (two hours) without conceding any points, a good effort.
A mention must be made to Bridport, who although beaten heavily, never gave in.
Men of the match as chosen by Bridport coaches were Tom in the backs and Jack in the forwards, with hit of the match by Jack.
A stiffer test next week away to New Milton where we wont get away with letting the run at us without getting them to the ground.
North Dorset vs Oaks 2/03/08
11/03/08 09:09
On Sunday
the U15’s left a sunny and calm Meyrick Park to travel to sunny and
windy North Dorset. After the 1st teams performance against North
Dorset the previous day the pressure was on the boys to get a
result.
Due to injuries and unavailability’s we travelled with a squad of seventeen to find the opposition’s squad had twenty eight players.
In the first half North Dorset had the advantage of the slope and with the wind blowing diagonally towards our try line. From the moment we kicked off it looked like the opposition were more “UP” for it than us and we became encamped in our own half. On numerous occasions they pressed our line and only our stout defence stopped them scoring and the only time they breached the defence we were fortunate that they knocked the ball on.
Half time came with the score 0 – 0 but possession and territory was 80% to North Dorset.
After the half time rollicking from the coaches the boys seemed to wake up and believe that they could play this fine game called Rugby. Sustained pressure on the opposition five metre line was finally completed when Matt went over in the corner (Steve Keir finally accepting the boy’s decision to keep driving on the open side when at last they heard his booming voice to move it blind. By this time Lisa and Karen had left him to his own devices).
This spurned the boys on and you could see the self belief start to flow through the team. A good move involving both the forwards and the backs culminated with Craig crashing over for the second try. Tommy now started to dictate the game with excellent decision making and his kicks being inch perfect kept North Dorset pinned in their half. From one of these kicks Jordan outpaced the opposition winger to touch down for the third try.
Now the boys were in the driving seat and where the North Dorset team controlled the first half going forward they had no reply when put on the back foot. The boys now had the bit between their teeth and from a driving maul Hovis and Toby crashed over together with both trying to claim their first try for the club after deliberation it was decided that “HOBY” had scored the fourth try under the posts. Tommy converting the try with a drop kick. From another kick forward by Tommy the North Dorset fullback took the ball back in goal and touched down to give us a five metre scrum; although North Dorset drove us back Matt picked up and crashed over for his second and the teams fifth try. This turned out to be the last play and the Boys had run out winners by 27 – 0.
The opposition coach in his decision for men of the match told the coaches they had found it hard to choose a forward as all ten players used by us worked hard as a unit but finally decided on Keiron. Again whilst the backs all played their part, Tommy orchestrated them as a true fly half should and was voted in. Hit of the match was Didi who we think did not miss a first up tackle and who has fitted well into the inside centre berth. Good to see Alex Shearsmith and Jake back in the club colours and we hope to see the squad back to full strength in the near future.
It just goes to prove that a good small team can beat a large team if they play as a team, remember there is no “I” in team. Although a very good performance from the boys there was only one criticism from the Coaches. North Dorset had six kick offs and only one was caught, other teams will capitalise on this basis error. But next week we have Bridport at home and we have to maintain the same intensity and belief in our game.
As it was Mothers Day the Boys did their Mum’s proud and in the tradition started last year the Mum’s toasted the boys performance with melon, strawberries and chocolate all washed down with sparkling wine.
Due to injuries and unavailability’s we travelled with a squad of seventeen to find the opposition’s squad had twenty eight players.
In the first half North Dorset had the advantage of the slope and with the wind blowing diagonally towards our try line. From the moment we kicked off it looked like the opposition were more “UP” for it than us and we became encamped in our own half. On numerous occasions they pressed our line and only our stout defence stopped them scoring and the only time they breached the defence we were fortunate that they knocked the ball on.
Half time came with the score 0 – 0 but possession and territory was 80% to North Dorset.
After the half time rollicking from the coaches the boys seemed to wake up and believe that they could play this fine game called Rugby. Sustained pressure on the opposition five metre line was finally completed when Matt went over in the corner (Steve Keir finally accepting the boy’s decision to keep driving on the open side when at last they heard his booming voice to move it blind. By this time Lisa and Karen had left him to his own devices).
This spurned the boys on and you could see the self belief start to flow through the team. A good move involving both the forwards and the backs culminated with Craig crashing over for the second try. Tommy now started to dictate the game with excellent decision making and his kicks being inch perfect kept North Dorset pinned in their half. From one of these kicks Jordan outpaced the opposition winger to touch down for the third try.
Now the boys were in the driving seat and where the North Dorset team controlled the first half going forward they had no reply when put on the back foot. The boys now had the bit between their teeth and from a driving maul Hovis and Toby crashed over together with both trying to claim their first try for the club after deliberation it was decided that “HOBY” had scored the fourth try under the posts. Tommy converting the try with a drop kick. From another kick forward by Tommy the North Dorset fullback took the ball back in goal and touched down to give us a five metre scrum; although North Dorset drove us back Matt picked up and crashed over for his second and the teams fifth try. This turned out to be the last play and the Boys had run out winners by 27 – 0.
The opposition coach in his decision for men of the match told the coaches they had found it hard to choose a forward as all ten players used by us worked hard as a unit but finally decided on Keiron. Again whilst the backs all played their part, Tommy orchestrated them as a true fly half should and was voted in. Hit of the match was Didi who we think did not miss a first up tackle and who has fitted well into the inside centre berth. Good to see Alex Shearsmith and Jake back in the club colours and we hope to see the squad back to full strength in the near future.
It just goes to prove that a good small team can beat a large team if they play as a team, remember there is no “I” in team. Although a very good performance from the boys there was only one criticism from the Coaches. North Dorset had six kick offs and only one was caught, other teams will capitalise on this basis error. But next week we have Bridport at home and we have to maintain the same intensity and belief in our game.
As it was Mothers Day the Boys did their Mum’s proud and in the tradition started last year the Mum’s toasted the boys performance with melon, strawberries and chocolate all washed down with sparkling wine.
Oaks vs Lytchett Minster 10/2/08
10/02/08 19:10
On Sunday
the U15's entertained Lytchett Minster.
After a minutes silence for Steve Mason, a stalwart of Lytchett's Youth Section, who sadly died in the week, the game started. The boys were quickly into their stride and from a quick ball Jason went over in the corner only for it to be called back for a forward pass.
The game ebbed and flowed and the boys once again threw the ball through the three quarters with Jason driving over in the corner. The boys kept the pressure and on Lytchetts throw in 15 metres out Matt took a clean catch and was attacking the try line only to be called back for not a straight lineout (no advantage played). Half time came with us leading 5-0.
We turned round for the second half and once again the boys allowed the opposition to gain the upper had and after sustained pressure they went over to score the equalising try. From the ensuing kick off Lytchett regained the ball and it was only a last ditch tackle from Jordan that saved them going in front.
We were then awarded a penalty 15 metres out and Matt took a quick tap and went on the outside to score in the corner. Once again both teams were playing flowing rugby through the hands and at the the boys won a hard fought game 10-5.
A good performance by all the squad.
After a minutes silence for Steve Mason, a stalwart of Lytchett's Youth Section, who sadly died in the week, the game started. The boys were quickly into their stride and from a quick ball Jason went over in the corner only for it to be called back for a forward pass.
The game ebbed and flowed and the boys once again threw the ball through the three quarters with Jason driving over in the corner. The boys kept the pressure and on Lytchetts throw in 15 metres out Matt took a clean catch and was attacking the try line only to be called back for not a straight lineout (no advantage played). Half time came with us leading 5-0.
We turned round for the second half and once again the boys allowed the opposition to gain the upper had and after sustained pressure they went over to score the equalising try. From the ensuing kick off Lytchett regained the ball and it was only a last ditch tackle from Jordan that saved them going in front.
We were then awarded a penalty 15 metres out and Matt took a quick tap and went on the outside to score in the corner. Once again both teams were playing flowing rugby through the hands and at the the boys won a hard fought game 10-5.
A good performance by all the squad.