U14 Black lose to Southwold in first round of County Cup

County Cup Round One : Southwold 33 v 10 Ipswich U14 Black (Tries: Charles, Ollie S)

Today we lost a game of rugby. That is basically it. I could see looking round the dressing room after the game how much it matters to some of our lads and I really felt for them because they gave everything for 50 minutes of high level rugby that I think all those watching would have gladly paid to watch. Southwold are a good side. They run everything through four players whilst we are trying to build and play with a 15 a side mentality. We came unstuck today because we made some decisions that we have and will continue to learn from. We had lots of ball, lots of territory and lots of opportunity and the score like last week doesn’t really reflect the game.

I said to the boys afterwards that I wanted them to go home and reflect on what they could do better. Whether that be in their preparation, their game play or both and that we as a coach team would do the same. We can all get better together and learn from today. That said I wouldn’t have traded today’s experience for a 70 – 0 win. We learn so much more from playing in these games and that is why we have the fixture card for this squad that we do.

Some of our play in fits and starts today was outstanding, some of our lines of running sublime and some of our tackling so brave and fearless. Unfortunately for us though it wasn’t joined up enough and there wasn’t enough of it across the fifteen. Southwold played to their strengths and then some and we got caught in a dog fight that we didn’t need to take part in.

That said we are still in the cup and will go again in the next round against Bury. It is still all to play for and we can still go all the way in this competition because of the quality across the sides that will see sides taking points off each other.

Star Men

We had eight or nine good performances today. Within that we had two or three very good performances. At this level, playing the expansive brand of rugby we want to play, we need fifteen good performances plus those that come off the bench. The lads know this and as a coach team so do we but we also remember that they are young lads learning their way in the game. I fully believe they will end up proving themselves to be the best side around if they stick together.

Southwold players put their heads together and picked Ollie S at the meal. Ollie scored a good try and was a handful when we did get the ball to him. I thought Rory was very good generally, Dom, Joe, Haz and Vic ran some lovely lines, Charles danced in for his try after brilliant work by Dom and Kajaei hit a brilliant tackle early on that we all felt on the touchline. Will was his usual foraging self, generally making a very decent nuisance of himself when they had ball at the breakdown.

I asked Jim, Paul and Andy to help pick our coach MoM today. I myself went for Fred von Moll. I thought he had a very fine game at 9. His tackle and distribution were pretty much immaculate all morning. We are very pleased to have him back. The other three coaches all went for Arch. He had a very good morning and again showed his bravery and work rate. How he managed to tackle and turn the big 8 on our try line holding him up by wrapping himself underneath him I don’t know.

Moving forward

We are a very good side. We know that wholeheartedly and todays result doesn’t change that. We have two more games in this competition to put things right and I’m sure we can do that with self-belief, application and determination.

Thank yous

Thank you to all who came today to support us especially to Joe Fairbrother and Sam Wright.

See you at training.