Build Up
In his pre-match press conference, Head Coach Garry Stratford said “The forecast is for clear skies and it’s going to be cold. With the ground being so sodden it’s going to be challenging...and muddy, time for some real dirty work (Tackling/Jackling/Rucking) from the ninjas. One of the pitches is going to be small which means a tight game in the mud, tackling has to be on point more than ever. Encourage them to visualise some great tackle technique in their minds as we talked about after the session last week. Mental approach is important even at this age”.

Match Report
On a very cold (-2.5), frosty and sunny morning K’s fielded 2 teams (Vikings and Saxons) against a big, talented and physical West Bridgford team.

Kesteven Saxons
Match 1
On the big pitch, team Saxon comprised Oli Morgan, Tom McD, Wyatt, Tom H, Oscar, Jack, Nathan, Ollie H, Ollie Martin, Joe D, Max. West Bridgford kicked off and scored almost immediately against a hesitant K’s defence, 0-1. Wyatt then levelled the scores from the restart to make it 1-1. West Bridgford then scored another before Ollie Martin levelled the score at 2-2. Wyatt then ripped the ball and ran in a winning try to end the game 3-2 to K’s.

Match 2
In the second Saxons game, Ollie Martin opened the scoring before West Bridgford equalised, 1-1. Wyatt then scored a brace to take the final score to 3-1 K’s.

Vikings
On the smaller pitch, team Viking comprised Charlie F, Alfie O, Joel, Bea, Toby, Joe BG, Josh, Zach, Mason, Henry and Alfred.

Match 3
In a hard fought contest where both teams demonstrated strong driving mauls, the match was decided by a Toby Bancroft try. Roving pitchside reporter Zoe Osborn reported a ”good start from the team with a strong chase from kick off”. In a dominant performance, K’s spent the majority of game in West Bridgford’s half, with just one good line break from the opposition. West Bridgford showed great strength in the ruck so the narrow victory was testament to some strong tackling and good movement of the ball.
Some good tackling and movement of the ball.

Match 4
A great performance on a small pitch saw Joel opening the scoring for K’s, 1-0. The lead was doubled by Alfred before Mason added a third to extend the score to 3-0. Joshua scored the fourth try before Henry added a fifth in an excellent performance, the hallmark of which was real teamwork, no one-man rugby, good movement of the ball and support play with touches for the whole team. K’s stepped up in the rucks in this game, competing well with the excellent rucking of West Bridgford.

After the opening 2 games the coaches on both sides mixed up the teams.

Match 5
Taking to the bigger field were Henry, Alfie, Bea, Ollie Morgan, Ollie Martin, Tom McD, Max, Oscar, Mason, Alfred, Wyatt.

Wyatt opened the scoring for K’s to take an early 1-0 lead. Ollie Martin doubled K’s lead before Oscar extended the gap to 3-0. Ollie Martin then bagged another with a strong straight run before Alfie O rounded off a dominant K’s performance 5-0.

Match 6
On the smaller pitch for K’s were Thomas, Nathan, Zach, Joe D, Charlie F, Toby B, Ollie H, Josh S, Jack S, Joe BG, Joel.

Strong tackling from Joe BG plus tries for Joshua, Zach, Joe D and two for Jack resulted in a final score of 5-2 to K’s. Well done team!

Post Match
In his post match press conference, a buoyant Head Coach said:
“What an awesome day for rugby! Some excellent stuff played today by the ninjas. I particularly liked their self debrief, some perceptive points from them. As coaches, we discussed one key difference which was how much more comfortable with the ball in hand we looked than the opposition.

Second to that our defence was better organised and committed. Still work to do here but we’ll get there.

Some great signs from the ninjas. Training next week, then Market Rasen away the following week. A big game and a bigger test”.

Statto’s Corner
- Today we scored a massive 22 tries in total in 6 games
- Even more impressive, we only conceded 5 tries against a strong West Bridgford team
- Testament to the teamwork on show, 13 different players scored tries today: that’s 60% of the players who were there today
- Particular congratulations to Toby and Joe D for scoring their first tries of the season
- So far this season, u11s have 20 different try scorers - that’s 80% of the squad! Amazing teamwork!

Season Statistics
Scored 153 tries
Conceded 48 tries
Difference +105 tries
Won 25
Draw 2
Lost 4