Teamwork and effort in the sun

Last week when asked why Wales were doing so well in the Rugby World Cup (Prior to the little ref issue on Sat morning!), Shaun Edwards replied “ Its down to the lads, they have come together and used the limited time they have had very well. They have worked hard and got some good results from that hard team work”. I suspect if you quoted Edwards in your A level English exam you wouldn’t get a pass but in rugby circles he is about as close to rugby royalty as anyone. In many ways us coaches feel the same about our lads as Shaun feels for his elite athletes.

In August/Sept we didn’t know what we’d got. Players come and go at this age and many clubs are seeing numbers drift down. Our numbers keep going up and up. The boys as a group have worked hard on skills, displayed a positive attitude and developed the type of comradeship that Anselmians is famous for. Parents and carers have shown the highest levels of dignity and respect on the sideline and your support and kind words as we take this age group through a transitional period is much appreciated.

Today at Malone Field our friends from Parkonians came along with c20 players of a mixed ability – but all improving fast. The Saints gave starts to some of our newer players and rested a few old heads as part of our rotation policy. In the end everyone who came down got min 15mins which worked out well for all.

Matt, Matt G (Capt) and Connal did well upfront from the kick off. John K’s quick setup session from the warm up gave us good shape. We just need to remember to set up that way for all kick offs – esp when we are a bit tired! Tom S had a standout game making yards, offloading the ball and generally getting himself over the gainline – top work – every week from now. Gio and Floyd shared the other birth in the engine room and impressed with effort and grit, Floyd even took a high ball then make a few yards – when he figures out hes as big and abrasive as anyone else on the pitch he will be a real handful...just imagine they are all Dylan (his brother) and it will all drop into place. Andy P came on half way through after Matt Mc’s back gave in after a bizarre trampoline event the day prior...dont ask! Direct and powerfull he made yards and go over the whitewash to get the Saints on the scoreboard in the first half.

When Pete came down we played him in the backs, hes pointed out he wants to play upfront and today he stepped up. Head Coach Ian said “he was impressive throughout, no one got round him and he knocked over the big Park runners on more than a few occasions”. Nuff said – every week now Pete, you have set std now lets build on it! George and Sam O played in the rest of the backrow and worked well. George has played superbly through the season and today when asked to go up front owing to a couple of late changes he did himself proud. Sam O when he remembers hes a creative backrower and not a biffer was a real menace – turning over ball and moving the ball into space is his role – leave the direct stuff to others eh? His quick thinking saw him go over in the corner after he took a quick tap penno. See – you are the creative player not the biffer....!

In the backs Morty and Mike K were given a game to work together at 9/10 and they looked impressive. Morty’s service was secure and he pushed around the fringes. He kept the Park guys guessing by dropping off balls on the tight and wide sides and in all looked good – just work on your service in the weeks to come – nice tight low passing, and stop messing with the ball when you are off your feet! Mikes coming on week on week, he enjoys his rugby and it shows on the pitch. Hes a bit eager in coming up fast and either puts the big hit in or leaves a gap – gotta bring the guys with you mate. Hes started to stand a little narrower thus not giving the 9/10 a gap to run though. Passing and tackling all good – just back yourself in open play, you have gas and great engine (code for hes faster and fitter than the coaches – not hard really!) – use it. Tom Evans has been a real find in the backs and he worked his socks off, making tackles, move the ball and providing support. Always safe I don’t think he missed a hit all day – well done.

Our back three look a form act. Daniel with the ball in hand is elusive and and sets the ball up well when he is taken down, a long ranging runner when he gets space the Park lads didn’t like having to track back against him. When one big lad decided he try out the metal of our new winger it was a massive clash and the both went down. Great courage – a few others would have stepped aside but now our pacy wingman! Tom O at full back always makes yards with ball in hand, he got stuck in to the tackling like a veritable tiger and hit the odd ruck when required to clear out – impressive. George Mc on the other wing ran his heart out, he got some ball and is one player you know will run straight when he gets it. He was up against a rapid Park winger who made him work hard but he kept up the effort and grappled his oppo to the ground most of the time – keep improving mate, you always give 100%.

With a few people out of position and not having a few recognised game breakers it was interesting to see the boys play. Park were big and direct – No 8 and 6 stood out but all the team played well, their backs had a couple of great players and if it had not been for a great team effort by the Saints lads then they would have scored bucketfuls of tries.

After kickoff the ball moved up and down the pitch as both teams tried to find space. Park scored after 5mins when their talented No8 made a great break, he stepped a few defenders and broke a couple of loose tackles. Saints came back hard but with a great turnover and moving the ball wide Park again scored. The lads were disappointed but they knew they had got enough possession and just needed to go fwd. Without game breakers they worked the ball around and one by one people stepped up – seeing that it was their job to make ground and not just follow others.

On 18mins Sam O crashed over after a long period of strong possession in Parks half and 22m “red zone” with a quick tap and go. On 22m after a great run from Mike, Pete and Daniel, Park counter rucking saw them move the ball through the whole backline and score a ¾ of the pitch try that made their coaches proud that the hours of drills do pay off – one of the best team tries we have seen all season. In the last min of the half and after the ball was moved wide after a 4 or 5 phases Andy showed why hes a very difficult player to bring down, nice try in the corner – capping off a great team effort.

10:17 at half time

Following our game plan changes were made at the break. Floyd came on to give Gio a break. Alex swopped with George at 8 – George looked exhausted hes run his heart out for 25mins. Nathan came on one wing. And Adam and Matty G came on early in the 2nd half in the backs.
With the team now established and playing well, it gave Alex a good platform to do what he does best. Fast, direct and physical running. Interestingly with many of the boys having stepped up in the first half, they knew they had to run in support and Alex was able to off load and so the team created 3-4-5-6 phase plays that got the Saints close to total rugby. He also ran the length of the pitch for a try as well just to prove what a class act he is!

On about 35mins with a few lads feeling the heat and the pace of the game we rotated on Sam S, Sean, Adam and Matty McN. Sean was light footed in the middle of the park and kept his oppo guessing, he lauched one attack from deep inside his half. Sam S feeding him early ball, Mike K putting him into space and he was gone – if we covered him in axel grease he counldnt be harder to get hold of. When brought down – 3 Saints hit the ruck and won quick ball, quick pop up to Alex and 7pts in the bag. Great team effort.

Matty G returned to the Sainst in style – he kept his concentration, marked his man, caught the ball under pressure and put a big hit in on a lad twice his size – welcome back , keep up the focus and you will get better and better. Nathan was strong in the backs, he clears out rucks well and sees space, he made a couple of good runs and is always willing to put body on the line – a real team player who typifies what an Anselmians RUFC player is all about.

Adam put in another solid shift. He never lets his team down and plays some smart rugby – seeing space and putting others into good positions. Matty McN played some of his most creative rugby we have ever seen, hes growing in presence and ability week on week – adding skill and poise to the heart of a lion his teammates know he has.

Park played a great second half and didn’t do anything wrong. They won ball and moved it wide when ever possible. The main difference was they didn’t get as much possession and didnt manage to keep hold of the ball for multiple phases. Sainsts were a bit too strong for them in the second half but Park never took a backward step and came off the pitch proud of their efforts.

2nd Half – 24:0
Game 34-17 to Saints.

To finish lets return to Shaun Edwards....there is an air of old-fashioned courtesy about Edwards, which has a lot to do with his strict working-class upbringing. “Everything I do, really, is to try and make my mother and father proud of me,” he says. “I don't think there's anything wrong with that, even when you're 41.”

Enough said...have a good week. C u at training on Tues and we will have a game amongst the boys at training on Sunday as its half term.