Gowerton away

Don't forget the team that were selected against Bryncoch are at Gowerton this week (10.30am meet). The others meet at 10am in the park for training (if they are brave enough!)

Dan

This week and the weeks ahead

Another lovely day's training in the sunshine and some fantastic progress in terms of the players' development.

Training is on Wednesday at the Astro and then there is a match against Gowerton (away) on Sunday. All those players who were due to play against Bryncoch will play in this match. For the rest, there will be training at Underhill at 10am.

I know that the Social Committee is already in the latter stages of planning another "Girls' Night Out". In the meantime, there is a proposed Dad's night out to coincide with the France v Wales game which is on Friday 27th February. A full evening of entertainment is planned. Please drop me a line to confirm your availability.

Other events are in the pipeline with breaking news this week I hope on certain things.

Dan

Sunday training

Thanks to all those who were able to stick around for our trip to the castle.

It was a very positive training session and made Mike (M) and me realise that we had just as much fun training and playing against each other as playing in matches.

This week, training on the Astro at 4.30pm and then we will train at 10am on next Sunday morning as a whole group (subject to a surprise group fixture for U8-U11). It would nice to have a chat afterwards to get some feedback and talk through some of the ideas to the end of the season.

Here are some of the thoughts:
1. A day trip to Bath
2. Wine tasting evening
3. Boys night out
4. Another girls night out
5. Summer training

Dan

Bryncoch on Sunday

Lyndon has arranged for us to play against Bryncoch away on Sunday. (kick off approximately 11.20/11.30 am)

If we meet at Underhill car park at 10am then we can all go together. Otherwise, drop me a line to say if you are going direct. There will be training for everyone else at 10am.

Here is the matrix team:
Cam
Connor
Rhys D
Liam
Dom
Harry
Alex
Lloyd
Ben H
Aled
James
Nathan

Basic directions:

At the Amazon roundabout, take the 1st exit onto B4290
Go through 1 roundabout
Turn right at A4230/New Rd
Turn left at Longford Rd
Turn right to stay on Longford Rd
Turn left at Dyffryn Rd
Turn right at Tyllwyd
Turn left at Farmers Rd
Continue on Tyllwyd
Destination will be on the right

The Memorial Recreational Ground
Tyllwyd Road
Bryncoch
Neath
SA10 7DQ
TELEPHONE01792 812187

Swansea Uplands 2 Crusaders 3

The Crusaders opened the new year with a hard fought victory at local rivals Swansea Uplands. We were glad to get any rugby with all the frost about. The pitch was a little boggy and the kick off was delayed by 20 minutes. However the boys were patient and Max captained the side.

We choose to play down hill in the first part of the game, split into two eight minutes, a five minutes and a final eight minutes at the end.

Some sturdy tackling kept the Uplands boys at bay, and then some good work in the tackle area led to Jack Park skipping through some tackles to run through for the first try.

We turned around in good spirits and again pressurised the Swansea Uplands line. They kicked out of the 22m (a little bit to our surprise!) and from a couple of good plays, one of their players went over in the corner.

The next five minutes was played downhill and Rhys dipped under a high tackle to squeeze over in the corner. The Uplands then pulled together some dogged drives, and despite a great last ditched tackle by Max, ran over to even up the scores.

The final quarter played uphill saw some of the best tackling of the season. Rhys scored his second try after a couple of passes with a final pass from Tom G. There was a little scare at the end when Max kicked outside of 22m area only to confuse some orange peelings for the 22m markings. Luckily all saw the funny side and we were able to play on.

Finally Max did kick out of the 22m, and excellent follow up work meant that the game finished in the Swansea Uplands half with the scores 3-2 to the visitors.

Everyone made a telling contribution and the tries were preceded by a number of passes and turnover work, showing the team effort required. The tackling was excellent, low and hard, and meaning we had an opportunity to compete for the ball on the ground.

Training is again at Ashley Road at 4.30pm. We will continue with the carousel of skills and game awareness.

We are not certain of whether we have secured a fixture for this weekend, but all the boys who didn't play this week will figure on Sunday in some form.

Swansea Uplands Away Match: GAME ON!

GAME ON. Just got confirmation from Uplands that the pitch is OK. See you there 10:30

If it is on, meet at 10.30am at Swansea Uplands RFC. Parking is notoriously bad.

Here is the matrix team:

Ben M
Cam
Cian
Jack P
Keiran
Lloyd
Max
Rhys C
Sam
Tom G
Tom L
Tom P

Non travelling reserves
Harry and Alex (we will ring on Saturday if you are needed...there is some sickness about!)

Training on Wednesday

Don't forget training at 4.30pm at the University on Wednesday.

ALL RUGBY OFF THIS MORNING

Due to frozen pitch. Unfortunately there is no suitable spot for training either so everything is off. We'll be back in Astroturf training this Wednesday at 4:30 and for an away fixture with Swansea Uplands next Sunday.

Sunday v Penlan

In the hope that it will help with any early frost, Penlan will be coming down a bit later, so we are now meeting at 11.00am at UNDERHILL for a 11:30 kick off. Bishopston is currently out of action for repair work.

If the game is frozen off, Mike and Lyndon will still have some training, with touch rugby.

It is a matrix team, with a new matrix for 2009.

Team:
Tom G
Liam
Lloyd
Cam
Keiran
Connor
Aled
Cian
Harry
Alex
Rhys D
Tom P
Jack P