Egham Knights RFC - Englefield Green, Surrey

19 October 2008
U11/U12 Match report - Egham Knights 6 : 2 Old Abbotstonians.

Well, the time had finally arrived after six hard weeks of Sunday training and six hard weeks of mid-week training, the first game for Egham Knights U11’s / U12’s. The venue, a mild crisp autumn morning at Egham Knights home ground. The challenge, our old arch enemy, Old Abbotstonians. This, our bogey team, as in previous seasons, our opening match against Old Abbots had proven to be tough and ending in defeat, But Not Today.

With several key players away with parents, and other players carrying injuries, we managed with the help of a few of the U13’s to muster a team, worthy of wearing the Egham Knights emblem. The forwards were chosen, and each assigned their positions. A new face was introduced as hooker. Roll was playing his first ever match for Egham Knights and possibly his first ever full contact match. With a little coxing and words of encouragement from his team mates, he soon settled in. The backs were assigned their positions, the two girls, Tash and Shelby, playing in positions they were not used to, were highly instrumental in the team’s victory.

The first half kicked off, and Old Abbots soon applied the pressure on our forwards, pinning us back in our 22 time after time however the EK forwards were resilient and Old Abbots could not penetrate our defence. After another attack from Old Abbots, the ball came loose to Tommy, and although this time last week he was lying on a stretcher, neck in brace surrounded by paramedics, wearing his heart on his sleeve, collected the ball and managed to weave through player after player, sprint ¾ the length of the pitch to score our first try.

Old Abbots, took the kick off again, a high kick to with we collected with ease. Our forwards took the ball to Old Abbots, we took tackle after tackle, but managed to ruck over most of them. The forwards carried the ball in hand and we started to push Old Abbots back. Another successful ruck over, Stuart (Scrum Half) threw a perfect pass to Cameron, he made 10 yards, and pop passed perfectly to Billy prior to taking a tackle. Billy Whiz weaved a path through the Old Abbots defence to score our second try and his first for the club (a chip off the old block).

With two further try’s by Tommy and Cameron, the half time whistle sounded and EK were in a commanding 4-0 lead. The coaches had a concern over Tommy and his shoulder injury and were ready to replace him, however Tommy wouldn’t give in and wanted to start the second half. With words of encouragement from the coaching team, we entered the next half full of enthusiasm.

Abbots were stunned by our passion, commitment, skill and tactics in the first half, however came out the second half with fire in their belly’s. Their tactics were not to play with speed, but to play with force, and this was successful as they scored the first of their two try’s.

They pressurised our defence, pushed us backwards and managed to scramble the ball over our try line, 4-1. Our teams heads didn’t go down, we went straight back into formation, however with such effort in the first half, we leaked another try after a loose ball was collected by their scrum half and passed to their fly half who managed to float a pass to their winger to score, 4-2.

With a few words of encouragement from the sidelines, our heads were held high and we ploughed on. Scrum after ruck after maul and we entered into their half, another EK attack and the ball gathered by Tommy, he mirrored his first, first half try with another exceptional run through the Abbots defence to score his hat-trick, 5-2. After a few celebrations and another crunching tackle, he reluctantly had to admit defeat and retire from the game, to a standing ovation from supporting parents, players and coaches. Into the game entered Walter.

EK continued to play with the passion they started the game with, and with this passion, hard work and endlessly the whole XII putting in tackle after tackle after tackle, we were rewarded with another try by Cameron, and the final score, Egham Knights 6, Old Abbots 2.

We entered this game, a little apprehensive as it was our first game of the season, however with the whole team stepping up to the mark, we were victorious. Congratulations to all of the players you should all be massively proud of yourselves, and thanks for the support of the remaining U13’s / U14’s, players parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters and friends, helpers.

My last thanks is to the coaches for your continued support these past few Sunday’s, our work and effort, so far has paid off.

Just a reminder, Tuesday training as usual 6:30pm – 8:00pm, and Sunday 26th October we are at home to Phoenix. Lets continue where we have left off.

Don’t forget correct kit, i.e match shirt, gum shield and CLEAN boots ( I will have a kit inspection prior to KO).
PS – One last leaving comment.. “No Pain No Gain”

Well Done All Of You.
Regards
Colin Penton

Training is Sunday mornings
10-12

All welcome

Photos from minis tournament via Phoenix 11/10/09