Minis Cooke Match Report – 26th January 2013 Minis versus South Belfast rivals
P4 Report
Following the euphoria of the Ards result the P4’s (and their coaches) were brought down to earth with a very large bump by a stronger, well drilled Cooke side who had a few boys that would not be out of place in a P6 team.
The game was played in a good spirit and the boys put in some very hard work but the noticeable physical difference in the two teams resulted in a very one sided affair.
If the P4 parents could start administering some growth hormone to the boys and Valium to the coaches it would be much appreciated.
Chris Marshall
P5 Match report
The return fixture against Cooke promised as much excitement as the game
at Shaw’s Bridge provided earlier in the season. Little were we to know that
we would witness the stand out performance of the year so far from this P5
squad.
Playing against a team who had some staggeringly large nine year olds,
(have a look at image 12 of Eamon McCoy’s photographs from the weekend
to get an idea) the young men from Civil Service met the challenge with a
level of intensity that was unprecedented.
Our collective aggression in the tackle was matched only by our willingness
to compete at every single breakdown, consistently dominating that area through
the low body positioning of our players. In open play we also saw some fantastic
continuity play, always retaining possession against a stern defence. Our many
scores all came from putting the hard graft in first and foremost.
In such a superb squad effort it would be unfair to single out any particular player,
suffice to say that the level of courage, the willingness defend your try line, (even when
comfortably in the lead) and the guts to put your body on the line, was a joy to behold.
Now that is something you can’t coach.
Well done boys.
David Cochrane.
P6 Report
Despite an evenly fought match earlier in the year, the Civil Service U10s unfortunately couldn’t repeat the feat this time round. Whilst the match was played with great enthusiasm and sportsmanship (always great to see), Cooke were the better running and passing side and executed most areas of the game just 5% or 10% better that Civil which cumulatively made all the difference.
Most important for Civil Service is the need to build tackling skills across everyone in the team as Cooke grew adept at taking advantage of too many slipped tackles. Our core tacklers just couldn’t cover every gap. On the upside, the tackling improved as the game went on, but this is definitely a key area of focus for the coming weeks.
On a very positive note, week in week out our boys play absolutely to the letter of the law with only (very) rare occasions of offside, going off their feet in the ruck, retaining possession on the ground or forward passing. It’s a real credit to the boys that they play such a disciplined game. Roll on Seahorses next week!
Keith Alexander
P7 Report
Civil Service P7 accepted a late request from Ballyclare to host them for a round robin with Cooke and ourselves. This made for a great mornings rugby for all with Ballyclare bringing a split team so all teams played continually.
Civil Service started against the first of the Ballyclare teams and produced a good competitive match producing a win for the home team. Both teams where competitive at the breakdown and some great flowing back moves by both teams. To help out the visitors Bruce joined their back line and gave a cutting edge to attack.
Second up where the Cooke team which was a bruising encounter for both teams. Service produced a great display to produce a 3 all draw. Again the forwards where very competitive and the scrum was solid throughout the games. Backs showed good continuity and quick hands and scored several good breakaway tries.
The final game produced a good win for Service against the second Ballyclare team. Again forwards and backs combined well and played probably their best rugby of the year so far.
The only weakness was some reluctance in the tackle allowing opposition to break the first few tackles on occasions.
The coaches then decided upon a fund raising initiative based upon parent paying for “enhanced child reports” ( ECR). Basically whereby parents have the opportunity for pay for specific mentions and favourable comments of their child within the match day reports.
The following table of charges was suggested;
Passing Mention of good play £2.00
Slight Embellishment of truth £3.00
Glowing endorsement £4.00
Match winning performance £5.00
Overlook foul play £5.00
