U9s Pop over to Mansfield for a run out...

For a change as Ozzy Osbourne sits down for his birthday breakfast, can you find his albums in this report.

Sometime these match reports read as a diary of a madman, but no rest for the wicked.

On a warm December morning as the dark rain threatened, the Panthers arrived at very eager Mansfield which had already started ½ an hour early! I then realised I had made the ultimate sin in forgetting my note pad. (Hence the lack of quotes this week I'm guessing - B)

The panthers rolled out 3 teams to Mansfield’s 2. Andy and Richard coached the first games as Garvin warmed up the third.

The teams were made up with six on each side, with plenty of subs, although Oli showed Garvin his displeasure on being temporarily substituted from the game, which left Garvin walking funny for a few minutes. Watching Richard and Ella working the sub’s list was a pleasure to watch.

The change from the last game is noticeable, passing the ball is now becoming more common and not so much a rarity. The offensive and defensive lines are forming without Garvin, Andy and Richard shouting too much. A large smile was starting to form, when Richard started to shout forward. Garvin’s new phrase for the match is “Not the blind side again” as he almost Barks at the Moon. As the game got more enthusiastic Dave was finding it more and more difficult not to be trampled the rush for try’s.

The standard of rugby is improving with each match, some players have even started listening to the coaches, I could almost scream at my kid sometimes?

The consensus among the parents each match is getting more enjoyable to watch, the games are definitely getting live and loud.

With the mild weather and good hosts in Mansfield RUFC, a great day was had by all.

Thanks as always to Ben, Garvin, Andy, Dave and Richard for making it all possible.

Thanks

D.A. Cooke (Roving Match Reporter, U9’s

I’d just like to add that I thought there were some fantastic performances across the board on Sunday. I’ve been really impressed by the development in tackling from the whole squad recently and I thought the players really responded well to the step up in physicality this week. I felt we had the usual strong performances, as needed, from some of the more experienced players, but the less experienced players are now getting involved to a far greater degree, and dare I say it, we’re starting to play more as a team than individuals. I could find real positives in all the players performances this weekend and I’m really looking forward to the games against Sheffield Tigers on 17th.

Ben