Beaconsfield RFC Spring Festival

Since this was the penultimate weekend before the Herts festival (where selection for league tables depends), the coaches were agreed that we should do our best to ensure it was used to maximum effect to help prepare the squad. Hence we coaches turned up quite early, very keen and buoyed by the promise of vastly better weather than the previous Tring away match.

Our first game wasn’t until 10:55 so we had a lot of time in which we hoped to get the boys in game mode and focussed. The plan was to get aggression up with tackle bags/tackling drills and to hone techniques with passing/set play drills to get prepared. Unfortunately the initial impression was that we were going to be in for a hiding! Not everybody turned up on time, the boys just didn’t seem to be at all focussed, messing about a lot and apart from a few, they generally didn’t impress at all in the training session. At the end of the session the coaches impressed upon the squad the need to play for each other with all their hearts and to get focussed on the games. A note of thanks to those boys who were not messing about and helped switch the others on to the games ahead.

With a poor training session in our minds the first match was viewed with a degree of trepidation by the coaches, however once kicked off we were pleasantly reassured by a businesslike team who fought hard with a good work rate. This attitude paid dividends, holding a good Marlow side to a draw in our first game and then enjoying our confidence in the second game beating Tring soundly. There was a significant waiting period until our next game against Ealing, which unfortunately was long enough for the squad to lose their focus again. Despite re-gaining our game heads and playing some excellent Rugby during the latter part of the match, it was all too late and we lost that game. Then to the credit of the boys they learned that lesson, and despite last match fatigue were totally focussed and came through to soundly beat Chinnor.

What did we learn?
I hope it was clear to the boys that the squad have great potential and all can play very well......... when they learn to focus their attention. So this is an area that they must improve in order to enjoy their Rugby more.
Catching high balls was problematic numerous knock-ons were given away needlessly, this is an area that the boys need to improve, but I’m sure will be easily rectified with practice.

The coach’s mantra was tackle, tackle, tackle, pressure, pressure, pressure! The boys did a great job of this and although tackles were often not on the legs, they did make contact, disrupting and stopping their opponents, which created opportunities.
Apart from one try seeding episode after a restart, our line speed in defence was generally good and this again helped keep opposition sides under pressure so that they made the mistakes, and at times it caused them to look very hesitant at breakdowns which helped us gain the advantage.
These two things made the difference against credible sides. If the boys can gain more confidence to impact on tackling and thus bring down/halt their opponents faster, and to remain energetic and hungry enough to always shut down opposition space, they will become force to be reckoned with, it’s theirs for the taking.

Performances to note:
All the boys gave a good account of themselves and this showed in the score table, coming second overall, however there were some individuals that deserve a special mention:
In no particular order:

Try scorers:
Harry S, took the initiative at breakdowns making crashing runs using his strength and body position to crash through and over opposition players to “splash-down” four great trys.
James E, carried the ball from fullback position to make ground ran into contact, and managed to stay upright and moving, he then gathered much confidence from this spurring him on to run the entire length of the field evading another 2 or 3 tackles and scoring another exciting try.
Owen R, made some great plays from scrum half position using good evasive skills to score 3 trys.
Zac O, used his strength and evasive skills to score an excellent try from the inside centre position.

Tackling:
Harrison, kept up an impressive work rate in blitz defence making some great impacting tackle.
Nathan, had his tackling head firmly on and continued from his excellent showing in earlier training to make some hard hitting tackles including a definite try saver.
Harry M, kept up an impressive work rate throughout the games, ensuring his contribution made a real difference at breakdowns, and making a notable set play. Running from deep at an angle, taking the ball well at speed crossing behind the ball carrier and crashing into the opposition, but was unfortunate to not break through.
Jamie H, kept up a good defence on the wing making several successful tackles.

I’m afraid that this is where the coach’s memory and notes run out, so apologies if I’ve left anyone else out but, as stated before the whole squad should be proud of themselves. They gave a great performance, which should rightly fill them with confidence and resolve to make their mark at the Herts festival.

Bring it on.... One for One and All for All!!!!