With a few absent due to the half term holidays and some late absentees due to sicknesses, two Panthers teams rolled out into the cold to face their opponents.

Ben, Garvin, Dave, and Richard did a great job of warming the squads up against the biting cold and within 20 minutes the hoodies were coming off. With the muscles warm the kids were ready for a good game or two!

The first games started slow, with the players getting the feel of playing after so many called of matches, but the training and skill started to show through within minutes of the game beginning.

Panthers fought well in their first match, with solid defence and attack “solid competent performance”, “very competent” and “movement of the ball”. Both teams showed improved teamwork, calling for the ball and tackling. This match reporter’s favourite moment, hearing the dulcet tones of Garvin’s gentle voice drifting across the pitch “stay in the lines!!!!” and “Run into the space!!”.

After a rest, the rugby faithful ran out for a second match and at that point things got better. Passing, tacking, calling for the ball, offloading the ball, passing (I know I’ve already said this, but) and the runs made everyone smile. Nothing makes a rugby fan smile more than a good run. As always, the coaches were positive “best I’ve seen the team”, “solid team work”, and “massively improved team work”.

A couple of my favourite moments, Ben walking towards the try line with several players hanging off him, Ella hammering thought lines of Long Eaton players, Oli H making try scoring offloads repeatedly.

As always, the moment I go and take photographs of the other squad, my son starts making great runs and try’s ~sigh~.

Whenever I approach the coaches, for a quote I get a look of horror, a panicked look to make a run-for-it or worst-case scenario a hand off! (only happen once ?). Today the superlatives rained down on me, the coaching team this season wanted to focus on tackling and the match showed the players are nearly there. I’ve never seen the coaches smile so much with the interplay between players.

The quote of the match goes to Amy (Garvin’s wife); “well the kids have no problems hearing you do they?”. It’s good to see a man so passionate about his squad and a supportive wife lol.

The man of the match was Oli H, for try scoring runs and, offloads/passing that led to try’s.

A special thanks to Long Eaton for a great game, and a wonderful lunch (although some of the players may have wanted seconds?). As always, if it was not for Ben, Richard, Garve and Dave whose endless patience makes this a great event every Sunday.

Thanks

D.A. Cooke (Roving Match Reporter, U9s), proof reading Rachel Cooke any comments please email: Rugby@dacfox.com.
Thanks for that Cookie, another master piece to add to the collection.

I’d just like to add that I was really impressed with the performances at the weekend. After several cancelled sessions and fixtures and finally getting the chance to play a game against a good Long Eaton side (thanks for hosting) everyone made the most of the opportunity it didn’t take long for the players to get into their stride

I don’t think I’ve watched us play games where all the players have been so involved. No one could be found trying to hide in any corners and it was great to see everyone wanting to be part of everything and working so hard for each other. Both squads showed some fantastic teamwork both in defence with numerous group tackles where necessary (and then even realigning in defence - brilliant), and some powerful running with amazing support lines and offloading to go with it. We ran hard up the middle of the pitch, drew players in, held our width, and then spread the ball to great effect. I think that this was probably our most complete performance of the season, and although the man of the match deservedly went to Oli (his “legendary” off load in the last play of the game certainly helped the vote in his favour), the performances from numerous other players could have received it on any other week. Well done to all - BP

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