Paul Gaskin 07792 953516 RFU Level 1 Coach
Eddie Brooks 07779 887081 RFU Tag Rugby Coach
Tony De Jaeger RFU Tag Rugby Coach
24 January
Colerne
The U-9s took on Colerne on a cold but clear morning. After a prolonged Christmas break due to the weather, the teamwork came back quickly. To avoid standing around in the cold, Greg, Oscar and Seb agreed to play for Colerne, and everyone played in one game. The first half saw us draw slightly ahead at 2-1, with some great mauling and shoving off our line on more than one occasion. In the second half the team found its rhythm, and despite Colerne pulling back one more try, we scored another 6 to run out winners at 8-2. Despite the scoreline, the boys worked hard for the victory, and all credit to Colerne, who never gave up.
Congratulations to Ross on being awarded Player of the Week – great work in the maul, robbing the ball and running clear – well done.
13 December
Chew Valley
The U-9s hosted Chew Valley last Sunday, and played well against what was a strong side, ably assisted by good play by Jake Brookes, who was lent to them to make up the numbers. In the first game we dominated the first half, with some good running and passing, scoring 4 tries. In the second half they came back strongly, and with some determined attacks managed to score 3 tries, leaving us the winners at the end in what was a close-fought match. The second game was almost a reversal of the first, with Chew Valley dominating the first half and scoring 3 tries. Team spirit lifted the BOA side in the second half and pinned Chew Valley back for most of the half, although we were only able to score one excellent try, the game ending 3-1 to Chew Valley. Each match was a good hard-fought contest against worthy opponents. Congratulations go to Oscar Powell for Coaches’ Player of the Week, and welcome to Max Gordon, who has just joined us.
22 November
Bath & Midsomer Norton
The Under-9s visited the Rec in Bath on Sunday to take on Bath and Midsomer Norton. Despite the wind and rain, we turned out 2 squads and took part in a mini-tournament, with each squad playing 2 Bath teams and the Midsomer Norton boys. Once again, the other sides seemed to have a size advantage and initially were able almost to break through. However, our sheer determination and courage pushed them back time and again and once the ball was in our hands, play soon moved to the other end of the field, where we were able to use the running skills of the wings to score time and again. Of the 6 games we played, we won a very creditable 4, and the coaches decided to award ‘Player of the Week’ to the whole squad for their team spirit, drive and energy. Well done to all the boys!
1 November
Trowbridge
The U-9s took on Trowbridge on Sun 1 Nov in a howling gale, rain sleeting down across the pitch. In order to involve all the boys and stay warm, BOA lent Harry and Greg to the Trowbridge side, and we had an 11-a-side match. Apart from the weather, it was a tough game against determined and robust opponents, and BOA led by one try at half time. Trowbridge used their big players well, and our boys had to dig deep and tackle with great determination to stop the attacks. We got on top in the second half, and ran out deserved winners at 4-2 at the end.
The second game involved those who could stay, and this time we lent 3 players to make up a team of 9 on each side. The weather had cleared a bit, and our tackling remained strong. The smaller number of boys on the pitch led to a greater score of 6-3 to us, with some good support running and offloading.
Well done to Jack Huxham for being Coaches’ Player of the Week – good running that took some stopping!
25 October
Frome & Ivel Barbarians
In the first game the BOA U-9s took on the Frome side and played uphill in the first half. Despite some good Frome attacks, against which we defended well, and by some good running and support play, BOA were just ahead at half time by 4-2. In the second half the boys gathered themselves and played an aggressive defence that kept Frome on the back foot for most of the half, and we were able to run in another 3 tries, finishing the game 7-2 up.
After a pause we played St Ivel Barbarians for our second game of the day. They too had beaten Frome, so it promised to be an exciting contest. A very even game in which neither side was able to get a clear advantage left BOA 2-1 up at half time. A try each just after half time maintained the tension and a long period with St Ivel camped on our goal line was eventually beaten off. They came back again and were able to score the final try in the closing moments, and although BOA attacked again, we were unable to get through, so the final score was a well-deserved draw at 3-3, with both sides having played hard and well to have kept the scores level.
Congratulations to Jordan for his well-deserved Coaches’ Player of the Week award, which he earned through some excellent team play.
18 October
Devizes
The U-9s took on Warminster on Sunday, and played 2 squads to their one. In the first game, Warminster used their larger boys to good effect in the first half and took a 5-0 lead. However, the BOA boys responded well to the challenge and the eventual score of 5-1 showed fine team spirit and determination, with some very courageous tackling against big opposition. In the second game, a slightly more tired Warminster squad was unable to find any counter to some very good BOA running, and well supported by the first squad, the second ran home winners at 6-2. Neither game was easy, and Warminster made good opponents, with some excellent rugby on both sides
4 October
Salisbury
The Under-9s played against Salisbury in our first-ever contact match on Sun 4 Oct 09. The squad was divided into 2 equal parts, and each part played a short match against the Salisbury team.
Game 1 was the closer fought of the 2 contests. Salisbury’s tall and fast runners were negated by some determined tackling and following up. When Bradford got the ball they were able to run at the Salisbury side, and get the ball to the wings in space. Quick handling off the floor and rapid passing enabled Bradford to pressurise Salisbury throughout, and they were unable to make good use of the ball they got. Despite their best efforts, they were also unable to deal with the rapid Bradford attacks and the breaking of many tackles. A better performance in the second half did not stem the tide, with Bradford running out winners 7-2. .
Game 2 saw a fresh Bradford side take on the Salisbury team, who brought on a number of substitutes to replace some tired legs. The same determined Bradford tackling kept pressure on throughout, and Salisbury were not able to plug the gaps caused by some good ball carrying by Bradford. Again the ability to break tackles meant that Salisbury were often on the back foot, and although they were able to break through for a good well-worked try, it was late in the second half. Bradford in the meantime had often been able to find or make holes in the defence, and emerged fairly comfortably the winners at 10-1.
The coaches awarded Murray Dewar Coaches’ Player of the Week for his excellent and powerful running in Game 1. We hope to have a second trophy for the parents to award each week shortly.