Thanks, first, to Dunvant for squeezing us in to their fixture. The boys had a tough intro to full contact when they came up against a very strong Porthcawl side. The first half flew by, and so did the big Porthcawl players. A stirring half time team talk from Mike The Morgan, and the boys stepped it up for a closely fought second half. After watching Porthcawl dispatch Dunvant with a similar score, it looked like we were heading for a tight encounter with two evenly matched sides. It was Mumbles though, that had learnt the most lessons from the first game. The tackling never let Dunvant into the game and the ball retention improved dramatically as Mumbles opened up an early lead and continued to build on it all through the game. As you missed it Dan, check the video evidence. Tom L takes the ball ferociously into contact, retains possession. Mumbles recycle. Max looks for the open field. Numbers! Lloyd is there to cross in the corner. Text book stuff.
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Calling All Rugby Mums
Calling All Rugby Mums...........
Do you fancy a night out in Mumbles ?
We are arranging a get together for the girls on FRIDAY 10th OCTOBER.
We will meet at OCEAN , Newton Road for drinks at 8 pm followed by a curry at CHUTNEYS.
Do come along - it'll be great to see you.
If you are able to make it, please see Kay Midha or Donna Marsden at training. Thanks.
If you are able to make it, please see Kay Midha or Donna Marsden at training. Thanks.
NOTE FROM COACHES: Does this mean we are allowed a boys' night out?
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
Details for Sunday 21st
This week we are playing all the boys who were down the park last week, plus a few others because we are now reverting to the normal 10 a-side games.
The Team for Dunvant is:
Cam
Alex
Ben H
Connor
Rhys Davies
Jack
Thomas P
James
Max
Lloyd
Kieran
Liam
Tom G
Tom L
Ben M
Training down Underhill Park
Aled
Nathan
Cian
Dom
Harry
Sam
Rhys C
For Dunvant- meet at the Broadacre Ground at 10:45. (Directions below).
For training - meet Dan at Underhill park at 9:15 for a 9:30 start. You know how strict Dan is.
The Team for Dunvant is:
Cam
Alex
Ben H
Connor
Rhys Davies
Jack
Thomas P
James
Max
Lloyd
Kieran
Liam
Tom G
Tom L
Ben M
Training down Underhill Park
Aled
Nathan
Cian
Dom
Harry
Sam
Rhys C
For Dunvant- meet at the Broadacre Ground at 10:45. (Directions below).
For training - meet Dan at Underhill park at 9:15 for a 9:30 start. You know how strict Dan is.
Directions to Dunvant
For directions to Dunvant RFC. Click here. Drive up through Sketty and onto Gower Road towards Killay. At Killay, take the right turn (at roundabout) onto Goetre Fawr Road, towards Dunvant on the B4296. Take the second left onto Broadmead, and the Broadacre Ground is at the end of the road.
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Pontyberem Sevens Report
Ten boys travelled the 40 minutes or so over to Pontyberem to play in their Sevens tournament.
On a bright day, we faced two other teams in our group, the top teams going through into the Cup semi finals and the bottom team the Plate semi final.
Our first game was against Tumble. It was their first game of contact as well, so both sides didn't know what to expect. However seeing the son of the former Welsh International and Wales strongest man line up for the opposition was a little daunting. We decided not to tell the most worried mums that a child of Robin McBride was about to engaged in physical combat with their little darlings.
We lost the toss and Tumble tapped off. In a sweeping movement, the ball bypassed the McBride boy, but fell into the hands of their quick winger who cheerfully stepped his way through our boys to open the scoring with only a few seconds gone. Revenge was swift though. New self appointed coaching supremo Donna Marsden's Ben, took the tap and ran into level the scores. Both sides then discovered tackling and the game rattled on at a fair pace. Cameron Lewis sparked into life and Lloyd John began drive players back in the tackle. Some great support work, with Rhys Cottrell showing the way led to an eventual 6-5 victory. Cian Lewis was ever present around the ball and Harry Thomas took the ball forward vigrously. Rhys Davies got his knees up and when he ran forward, he was particularly dangerous. Having run into touch once he was warned by the coaches that he was walking home if he did that again. Dad Mike agreed immediately and this did the trick.
With Cian's dad, Adam, handing out ice packs as fast as Mike Morgan leaves a curry house, the team rested. Rest it seems means re-enacting wrestling moves, rolling in the mud and eventually disappearing into the woods. Meanwhile the parents discussed the finer points of the game. Max's dad, Brett won guess the weight of the coach and his prize is to cook a team chilli, without peppers. Kay Midha offered to do the washing up because apparently men make too much mess in the kitchen.
Suddenly it was time for the next game. With a quick warm up and huddle, the boys went onto face Pontyberem, who had earlier beaten Tumble. The first half effort was magnificent, because the boys refused to let a couple of early scores dampen their spirits. Aled Midha and Dom Marquis got themselves more involved in this game and with Max Jones' elusive running and solid tackling from Rhys C, we turned over the home side 5-4.
This meant a long wait until the semi-finals against Kidwelly. In the meantime Nick John, Lloyd's dad was able to exhibit his scrum half skills with the boys, before Ben's mum told the coaches exactly how the game should be played.
The team gathered for the game, by which time it was nearly 3.30pm. Kidwelly were, in the end, too strong on the ball for our boys. Ben scored in the first half and Max's two tries in the second half were not enough to prevent some good running and support play from Kidwelly. Only some excellent tackling from Rhys C again, Cameron and Lloyd prevented more tries. But, when you looked around at the end of the game, not one of the boys had not put their full effort into the game.
Reflecting on the day, all the players can be very proud of their achievements. And this comes back to the whole squad. We emphasised the importance of our core values and held it together until almost the final whistle. With Mike Morgan reporting a great session from the park, we have a lot to pleased about in terms of the way we want to play the game. Of course there is plenty to learn from the day. But not one player looked out of place and two or three boys achieved things on the field beyond their own expectations.
Of the tournament itself I would say it was well run and played in completely the right spirit. Perhaps one or two decisions did not go our way, but we reached where I think we deserved to be at the end of the tournament. Praise goes to our upbeat and positive parents as well: proud of their sons' efforts but also supportive of how we should behave.
On a bright day, we faced two other teams in our group, the top teams going through into the Cup semi finals and the bottom team the Plate semi final.
Our first game was against Tumble. It was their first game of contact as well, so both sides didn't know what to expect. However seeing the son of the former Welsh International and Wales strongest man line up for the opposition was a little daunting. We decided not to tell the most worried mums that a child of Robin McBride was about to engaged in physical combat with their little darlings.
We lost the toss and Tumble tapped off. In a sweeping movement, the ball bypassed the McBride boy, but fell into the hands of their quick winger who cheerfully stepped his way through our boys to open the scoring with only a few seconds gone. Revenge was swift though. New self appointed coaching supremo Donna Marsden's Ben, took the tap and ran into level the scores. Both sides then discovered tackling and the game rattled on at a fair pace. Cameron Lewis sparked into life and Lloyd John began drive players back in the tackle. Some great support work, with Rhys Cottrell showing the way led to an eventual 6-5 victory. Cian Lewis was ever present around the ball and Harry Thomas took the ball forward vigrously. Rhys Davies got his knees up and when he ran forward, he was particularly dangerous. Having run into touch once he was warned by the coaches that he was walking home if he did that again. Dad Mike agreed immediately and this did the trick.
With Cian's dad, Adam, handing out ice packs as fast as Mike Morgan leaves a curry house, the team rested. Rest it seems means re-enacting wrestling moves, rolling in the mud and eventually disappearing into the woods. Meanwhile the parents discussed the finer points of the game. Max's dad, Brett won guess the weight of the coach and his prize is to cook a team chilli, without peppers. Kay Midha offered to do the washing up because apparently men make too much mess in the kitchen.
Suddenly it was time for the next game. With a quick warm up and huddle, the boys went onto face Pontyberem, who had earlier beaten Tumble. The first half effort was magnificent, because the boys refused to let a couple of early scores dampen their spirits. Aled Midha and Dom Marquis got themselves more involved in this game and with Max Jones' elusive running and solid tackling from Rhys C, we turned over the home side 5-4.
This meant a long wait until the semi-finals against Kidwelly. In the meantime Nick John, Lloyd's dad was able to exhibit his scrum half skills with the boys, before Ben's mum told the coaches exactly how the game should be played.
The team gathered for the game, by which time it was nearly 3.30pm. Kidwelly were, in the end, too strong on the ball for our boys. Ben scored in the first half and Max's two tries in the second half were not enough to prevent some good running and support play from Kidwelly. Only some excellent tackling from Rhys C again, Cameron and Lloyd prevented more tries. But, when you looked around at the end of the game, not one of the boys had not put their full effort into the game.
Reflecting on the day, all the players can be very proud of their achievements. And this comes back to the whole squad. We emphasised the importance of our core values and held it together until almost the final whistle. With Mike Morgan reporting a great session from the park, we have a lot to pleased about in terms of the way we want to play the game. Of course there is plenty to learn from the day. But not one player looked out of place and two or three boys achieved things on the field beyond their own expectations.
Of the tournament itself I would say it was well run and played in completely the right spirit. Perhaps one or two decisions did not go our way, but we reached where I think we deserved to be at the end of the tournament. Praise goes to our upbeat and positive parents as well: proud of their sons' efforts but also supportive of how we should behave.
Friday, 12 September 2008
Pontyberem Tournament Sunday 12th September 2008
The tournament is going ahead.
Pontyberem off Jn 48 of the M4:
At junction 48, exit toward Pontarddulais
Turn right at A4138/Pontardulais Rd
Turn left at B4306/Heol-y-parc
Turn right at A476/Heol Morlais
Slight left at B4306
Turn left at B4317/Heol Capel Ifan
Turn right at B4306/Heol y Parc
I am going from the Mumbles RFC car park at 9.15am, so if people want to meet there, and follow me (and my Sat Nav).
It is supposed to finish around 3.30pm with the first games at 11.00am.
We are in a group of 4 other teams, with the top two playing the winners of the top two of the other group. The bottom two teams in each group will play in a plate play off.
Please bring sufficient supplies for the day: food (I am not a fan of tuna by the way), drink, chairs, warm clothes...
Rhys Davies, Cian Lewis and Lloyd John will need to bring a proof of age as well, because the WRU have yet to return their cards.
The players not involved in the tournament have training in the park as normal at 9.30am.
Pontyberem off Jn 48 of the M4:
At junction 48, exit toward Pontarddulais
Turn right at A4138/Pontardulais Rd
Turn left at B4306/Heol-y-parc
Turn right at A476/Heol Morlais
Slight left at B4306
Turn left at B4317/Heol Capel Ifan
Turn right at B4306/Heol y Parc
I am going from the Mumbles RFC car park at 9.15am, so if people want to meet there, and follow me (and my Sat Nav).
It is supposed to finish around 3.30pm with the first games at 11.00am.
We are in a group of 4 other teams, with the top two playing the winners of the top two of the other group. The bottom two teams in each group will play in a plate play off.
Please bring sufficient supplies for the day: food (I am not a fan of tuna by the way), drink, chairs, warm clothes...
Rhys Davies, Cian Lewis and Lloyd John will need to bring a proof of age as well, because the WRU have yet to return their cards.
The players not involved in the tournament have training in the park as normal at 9.30am.
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