Vs. Oakmedians II = Won 3 – 0 (scorers Luke, Ben, Jack P)
Vs. Fawley = Won 6 – 0 (scorers Ben 3, Jack P 2, James 1)
Vs Oakmedians I = Lost 0 – 4

They had nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. So said Winston in May 1940. He could have been 2 i/c to that other great Brit and coach TK. If, by a quirk of time travel, he been watching Fordingbridge under 10s today he might have been moved to carry on:
“In war: resolution, in defeat: defiance, in victory: magnanimity…”

The under 10s were sensational. They won with resolution alright, blood by the cupful, toil throughout, a fair bit of sweat and the odd tear. They lost a match they could have won through a moment or four’s inattention but with defiance.

Chief among the blood donors were James Cook and Ben Potter. But James had another problem: the title of most fearless tackler is no longer a nailed on cert. at the Cook household.

In a display of utter disregard for personal safety “Jack 2” aka Jack Wells put in the most titanic and eye-watering performance as a sort of human lawnmower. We may have to call him Atco. His tackles have that quality so sought after by rugby coaches worldwide - they are always aimed somewhere between the laces and the ankle; they are normally delivered at speed and they almost always connect. Tackling is normally the matchwinner; anyone can touch the ball down but you need the lawnmower in there to win possession, to terrify the opposition into dropping the ball and passing it in a haphazard fashion.

James Cook’s tackling and general devotion to the cause was inspirational, Ben Potter the same. But the honours went all the way across the pitch.

It seemed to dawn on Hayden 1 that he is very strong, can pass, and has a legitimate opportunity to steamroller people, he saved a try in the second match acting as a human wall.

Max ran and ran, normally into contact, but he has an uncanny ability to wrong foot the oppo and find a gap, and, perhaps most important, he never gives up. He was unfortunate to be judged in touch when within a stride of scoring. “Unfortunate” is perhaps generous to the Fawley touch judge whose frustration was beginning to show, “robbed” might be closer to the truth.

Gabby? What can one say, the only member of the team who isn’t ugly but she threw herself into tackles and contact as well, driving upfield on occasion and twice within metres of scoring. Perhaps Griffiths senior should p/growl the touchline at every match.

Archie was a giant in the middle. In every team there needs to be a Steve Borthwick or a Martin Johnson. Men whose contribution isn’t normally glamorous or even obvious but who are in there, somewhere, winning the ball, tackling and slowing down (should that be wearing down?) the opposition. We won the world cup in 2003 not because Jonny dropped a goal but because seconds earlier Martin Johnson took the ball from a ruck and drove 10 metres further upfield so that Wilkinson could take the kick. That will be Archie, his contribution was important.

Luke was unlucky. Normally the best runner in the team and ounce for ounce the toughest tackler, he lacked the space he needed. Half a yard is enough for Luke but Oakmedians I were well drilled and there weren’t many centimetres let alone yards. He and Max are a handful as individuals, if they start to pass to one another they will become an opposition’s nightmare.

Finley underlined what he showed last week and the one before. He is the best free transfer of the year, a sort of rugby playing Eric Cantona. He repeatedly stripped the ball off opponents and was ALWAYS at the breakdown. Like Atco the fear gene appears to have bypassed him. His effort and bravery were unflagging.

And that’s it…well not quite, but Jack 1 is blood so I need to tread carefully, but he played well too.

Any criticisms? They are not quite the finished article, even for under 10s. They need to listen to TK and to work on discipline in training and there is scope, of course there is, for being better drilled (as they have been) in certain areas: at the breakdown, supporting those driving upfield. But they are good, no doubt about it and they have the opportunity to be very, very good. If several of this team aren’t playing representative rugger within 4-5 years then I’m a Dutchman, and I’m not.

They learned this week that, entertaining as it is to watch Ben catch the oppo’s scrum half at every scrum, you need fast hands when it’s your own put in or you will suffer the same fate.

They are all committed. In the last match today when things were perhaps beginning to look a little too easy they were surprised and caught out. But they never gave up and their tackling saved them from any shame; they remained defiant and proud and they have courage in spades. They are still motley and long may they remain so but they are fearsome first; TK could be forgiven for adopting Wellington’s estimation of his soldiers:
“I trust that when the enemy reads the list of their names he trembles as I do”.

We miss the gallic je ne sais quoi of Hubert. Does anyone know where he is? For all the coaching brilliance and discipline of TK, Hubert has an insouciance that I miss. As a pair they would be devastating. Perhaps we ought to put a price on his head – 25 Euros and a string of onions to whoever can bring him back.

Finally next week is NOT a match week. Totton has been cancelled for 27th October.

We are also missing 2 match shirts – numbers 1 and 4. Return them next week, laundered, or the co-ordinator will get cross and, trust me on this, that is best avoided if at all possible.

Players:
Gabby, Max, Hayden, Ben, James, Finley, Jack 2 (Atco), Jack 1 (Pawson), Luke, Archie.

Attendance: about 25.

Fordingbridge Rugby Club

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