Great win for U14 Black today at the lane

Ipswich U14 Black 58 – 12 Wymondham A (Tries: Haz, Joe F, Gibbo 2, Harv, Ian, Tom, Ollie S 2, Call C Conv: Vic 2, Rory 2)

A great day.

We hit levels in patches that will set us apart from everyone else if we can learn to demand those output levels of ourselves as standard and then ultimately string phases together to let us play with the kind of intensity and freedom that those levels allow. Some lovely tries and some stellar performances. Units looked good and we were very pleasing on the eye. I’m enormously proud of the group, not just those that played but also those that came and went through the tackle camp session that weren’t picked for the game. You’ve shown commitment today boys to your team mates and also shown your love of the game. Well done.

Today

Wymondham are a very good side, they’ve proved that with their results again this season. After our Black side came out on top narrowly last week up at their place we wanted to really show what we are capable of today as a bigger group and challenged the boys selected to go for the jugular with high tempo, fast flowing rugby whilst displaying a real commitment to contact. I think we can say we did that with bells on throughout the game today. Well done boys, so proud of you all.

We lost Murph in the first minute to what looked like a broken arm but having just returned from hospital I am glad to report it is nothing more sinister than a bad strain and that he will be back with us in a week or two. Hurry back Call. Arch and I also bumped into Ryan at hospital who was having his hand looked at. Keep us posted Ryan please and well played today.

Haz opened the scoring today and was very good throughout. His running and rolling was strong and he is really growing into the role of a centre. Joe F got in with the second and he is lovely to watch in full flight. So full of energy and aggression, I feel there is much to come from Joe as we move into the later stages of this season. Gibbo got the third. He went on a devastating run, shredding the Wymondham defence. It was beautiful to watch, more please Gibbo!

Wymondham came back at us with a try of their own but we felt we could have defended better on this and ultimately kept them out.

Harv then got in out wide right after we’d put Wymondham under pressure and gone through hands and from the restart Ian gathered out wide left and went on a brilliant solo run that saw him score under the posts. Vic followed up with the second of his two conversions on the day and we went in at the break 29 – 7 up.

The second half started where we left off. Tom gathered a high ball on the charge without breaking stride and showed his heels to score a wonderful solo effort under the posts. Ollie then turned on the gas to score two tries in in a row and we were flying now, again he is majestic in full flow. Rory notched conversions on the Tom try and one of Ollie’s.

Wymondham then scored again and again we felt we could have defended better before Gibbo got in for his second and Call C showed great body shape to score and finish of a great day for us as a squad.

Mentioning Call C brings me onto the forwards. Today we worked hard in our forward unit regardless of who came on or went off. We changed all personnel in all positions a number of times throughout the game, just like we did in all positions in the backs. Losing Murph was a big blow early on but Bill and Will both did admirable jobs and are a great example of how this group has the ability to swap and change without losing skill sets. The hard work the coach team have put in over the last few years is really paying off and I am very grateful for all the work that they and the whole of the back room team have done to get us to where we are today.

Great to see Matty back in the shirt today running at opposing players. Great to see lads like Ben, Ryan and Bill taking their opportunities.

Star men

I asked Paul for the Backs player and Jim for the Forwards player today. Whilst they won’t always pick them this will be the theme between now and the end of the season where we have a bigger squad and the fixture allows.

Paul mentioned Fred von Moll in dispatches. Great to see you back Fred after your injury. We’ve missed you pulling the strings at 9 for us in recent weeks. He also mentioned the power houses of Haz, Gibbo and Ollie. Devastating today men. Long may it continue.

He went with Ian though as star man. Well done Ian, keep it up. Great try and grabbed your opportunity and a fair few Wymondham players in the tackle as well.

Jim was very pleased with the pack today. Our scrum was good and we looked full of options regardless of who we put into play. Jim liked the work rate of Bill and the aggression ball in hand of Dom today but he went for Arch though as star man for sheer tackle completion numbers and go forward ball in hand.

Summary

It is an exciting time for this age group. We are in the throes of finally building something truly extraordinary I feel that has real depth and quality. Any boy can be part of it but they have to go out and grab it. It won’t be given, it has to be earned, craved, wanted and battled for.

As always as a player, if you don’t like where you are, work harder and if you do like where you are, work harder. If you need help, ask. If you don’t understand, ask. Never just go through the motions and always grab your opportunities.

Thank yous

Thank you to all who roared us home. It makes a huge difference to us as a squad to have you there. Thank you to Dougie for the food and to the Mum’s who helped out in the kitchens. Thank you to the lads not selected who stayed to watch.