HRFU

Season 2008/2009

Under 8 End of Season Report

In what feels an age ago the U8’s (year 3s at school) set out back in September for their second and final year of tag. Having undertaken a strong recruitment drive in the summer the squad was reinforced by a very encouraging batch of newcomers to add to our wily experienced campaigners coming up from the U7’s. As a coaching and management team our goal was clear from the off, to hook as many new players as possible to this fantastic oval ball game.

Our first half of the season was notable on two fronts, one negative and one positive. On the one hand there was the poor weather which saw several training sessions, fixtures and tournaments cancelled including both the challenging New Milton and Harlequins competitions. On a positive note the hard work that all were putting in on the training grounds was beginning to show some very promising returns. Trojans Under 8’s got two genuine emerging players teams (made up entirely of new or less experienced players) right through to the main Cup final of the two prestigious emerging teams tournaments entered at New Milton and Havant. Every bit as important as the promising rugby played by the emerging talent was the fantastic spirit in which the game was played; a spirit displayed not only amongst themselves but also towards the opposition and referees. A credit to all the guys involved

In the latter part of the season, which in this context really means the tournament season of the last 6 weeks, things really took off. There were highlights aplenty, including loads of sunshine.

In the Trojans club “acid test” of the Hampshire County Tournament, we went on an excellent run, losing only to Vectis the “shortly to be crowned” county champions. We went into the 2nd place group competition and ultimately through drawing with Winchester in the final jointly won the Plate. At Overton Tournament on a balmy Easter Monday, this time with a mixture of veterans and newcomers, we carried off the Overton plate. 

Two weeks later we took a strong squad to the prestigious Havant tournament. Game after game of flowing tag rugby was played with Trojans winning the group and then subsequently running all the way in the knockout to the final. Unfortunately it was then we came up just short against Edenbridge, a good, but physically imposing rugby team.

In the last tournament of the season at IOW we put out two large U8’s squads as we did at Trojans in the first tournament of the season; pretty much everybody was fully involved. Even here there was a very creditable performance with one Trojans team being knocked out of the Cup in the quarter finals by the Hampshire County beaten finalists Romsey (again a good but physically imposing rugby team) and the other team progressing all the way to the Plate semi-final, where they lost (running out of steam) to eventual Plate winners US Portsmouth.

So all in all 5 major finals from 7 tournaments entered, but as important with our pre-season goal in mind 28, of our players participated in one or more of these tournaments; the majority having played 3 tournaments or more. As the team size develops next season to 9 from 7, and as we move into the first stage of contact, strength in depth will be vital. In my experience it’s really rare and extremely promising to be entering contact with such a proven depth of experienced tag rugby talent.

All coaches would like to thank the huge commitment of both players and parents to enable us to take this hugely enjoyable journey through tag to the cusp of contact. Bring on next year; we as coaches are confident that we can build on the great foundations of tag. We can show we are not only a very good tag section but we can step up to becoming a strong contact team and take on and beat Edenbridge and Romsey next time around.

E-Mail  web@trojansrugby.co.uk or phone the Club on 023 8061 2400 (Bar) 023 8061 3068 (Admin)      

This page last updated:  01 December, 2011