U10’S Make Solid Start to Season in Windsor Scorcher

After four weeks of training the coaches were keen to match the boys against some strong opposition in order to gauge how the team was progressing. The Windsor tournament offered exactly that, with Bracknell drawn in a group which contained Richmond, Saracens and Worthing, as well as the hosts.

Bracknell kicked off the new season with two new faces joining the A team. Both Daniel Webb and Max Hopley impressed the coaches during the 2010/11 season in the B’s and have continued their good form during early season training. Daniel has slotted comfortably into the forwards and Max will be predominantly adding his pace and power to the back line.

So, with a new line up and an influx of new coaches, could the boys recapture their end of season form and get this season off to a flier? Well, no, not really. What they did recapture was that old habit from last season of starting slowly. Perhaps it was to be expected that Richmond would prove to be too strong in the first fixture of the day, with Bracknell exhibiting some ring rustiness in their first proper game of the season. But many felt that the 2-0 score line was a little flattering to Bracknell’s opponents. With the exception of too many missed tackles, which handed their opponents at least one try, and a somewhat tentative start, Bracknell certainly proved a match for the team which went on to reach the finals.

There is nothing quite like learning on the job and the front row certainly got an early education on contested scrums and the advantages that can be gained by actually pushing! But after being turned over in the first few scrums, and losing out on some early rucks, Bracknell soon got to grips with the game and the forwards began to supply ball for the backs to use. Unfortunately the Richmond defence were consistently up onto the Bracknell backline too quickly for the ball to be used effectively, although Paul Studd was unlucky not to get an early score in the first half when he was tackled into touch just short of the line.

As always with the A team, having played and lost their ‘warm-up’ game they took to the field in a far more determined mood for their second match and put in a much more confident display, winning comfortably by five tries to one against Worthing. Judging from their performances at this tournament, and at Vectis earlier in the year, the ‘Green Peas’ don’t so much need a warm-up, they need to be lightly boiled before they can really up their game, and as the sun beat down so they really went to work.

The forwards began to make their physical presence felt, dominating up front, while the backs got their first real opportunity to run and pass. As on so many occasions, Paul Studd got the scoreboard ticking over with the first try. Will Field got one for the forwards and Michael O’Donoghue ran in a third before half time. Michael Dykes got two tries, the first from a cheeky dash down the blind side after the forwards had driven on from a ruck. Between these Worthing were awarded a penalty try when their player was deemed to have been unfairly taken out of play before he crossed the line.

One win can make a real difference to confidence levels and with the temperature rising so did Bracknell’s hopes prior to the big match against our old friends Windsor, and in the first half that confidence did not look misplaced as Bracknell dominated from the start. Paul Studd again scored an early try, breaking through the Windsor defence and sprinting to the line, and there followed a period of intense pressure with Bracknell encamped on the Windsor line but unable to build on their lead. From two brilliant forward drives Douglas McMurray crossed the line twice, only for the referee to blow his whistle, once for the ball being held up and secondly when he thought the ball was not going to be provided from a ruck. Bracknell supporters began to suspect things weren’t going their way when Douglas went over the line for a third time but was penalised for not releasing the ball after the tackle. Their inability to score the vital second try proved telling as the game wore on. Eventually Windsor managed to create a good running move with their backs for the winger to score the equaliser and tie the game at one try each.

If the third game had been a tale of missed opportunities, the last fixture of the day, against Saracens, was one of opportunities taken, with Bracknell running in six unanswered tries. Will Field got the first after a great team effort in a ruck, which drove up to Saracens line. Michael O’Donoghue scored with a fine jinking run after a superb effort from Mackenzie Forth who went into contact with the ball and then wrestled it back to the outside-halves. Michael Dykes also turned in a fine performance scoring a hat trick.

But the award for try of the day went to Scott Harman who rounded off the best running move of the tournament, with the ball being fed along the line, from scrum-half to winger, probably for the first time. As the coaches pointed out later, this was the reward for finally setting up a good attacking backline.

For Bracknell U10A this was a positive day’s rugby with many good performances but plenty of things to brush up on in the coming weeks. Despite the baking temperatures all the players laid themselves on the line for the team and the forwards especially deserve huge praise for their commitment throughout. Harry Worm constantly made his presence felt with the opposition and Will Harding put in a man of the match performance making tackles and doing immense amounts of work off the ball.

With two wins, a draw and a loss, Bracknell finished third in their group of six teams and just failed to qualify for the runners-up play off match. Still the boys can hold their heads up high after an encouraging start to the season. Let’s just hope we get a heat wave this winter!