Winning is knowing you tried your best

Caldy festivals are a high point of any junior clubs season. Many want to attend, but we were lucky enough to get a limited edition invite. The organisation was top class and many thanks to Jason Ralph and Lynn Ridgeway (plus everyone else)for all their efforts.

Note to readers – I ref’d alot today so didn’t get to watch a whole game, but this is what I saw. If anyone would like to write up some extra commentary and send it to me I will incorporate. I could tell you at length how well Caldy, Wirral and Chester played at U14 level but thats not the real point of this match reprt!!!

We drew Chester, Ruthin and Wilmslow in our group. The other group was AK, Caldy, Wirral and Sandbach so their would be no hiding place as these were all top tier outfits who can play great rugby from anywhere on the park. A last minute cancelation meant that our group was one down, but the lads shading under the Saints gazebo look chilled out and calm in the hour prior to our first game.

First up was Ruthin, they had given us a great game in pre season training mode and we knew they were a dangerous running team who play neat rugby. The opening exchanges were tense, each team testing each other out. Skills were high across both teams. We punch holes and Alex LK was unlucky to be held up short of the line with great Ruthin defending. In turn Ruthin moved the ball well their No12 pressing home attacks with great skill and running angles. With games only 8mins each way, it was important to strike hard and early. We managed this, the forwards winning good ball, the backs pressing home advantage. Good team rugby. Nice to start the day with a win. (Can someone help me with the score!)

Bit of a rest and up were Chester. Wed had a good game vs them in the Cheshire Cup first round, but against their full A team they were too hot for the boys. Chester are in the top three teams in our fixture card and play great rugby which we must aspire to. To remind us of the cruel nature of sport we had a long stoppage while ambulances and helicopter tended to a injury on another pitch. We wish the lad and his family all the best and pray everything is OK. Played 2, won 1 lost 1.

With the re jigged fixture card this put us direct into the Cup semi. This was great news, we have worked hard this season and performance and skill has increased each week. In order to get better you must play the best and next up were the hosts.

From the kick off Matty McA took the ball and broke through a number of defenders, off loading the ball down the line Alex was unlucky not to get clean away, but against the better teams they will always have that last defender. Dylan made a storming run in the second half that against another team would have seen 7 points, he was brought down and we were not as quick to the breakdown as we should be. Verse the top teams support running is as important as your strike runner – we need to all work hard.

At this point I had to ref another game so missed the action so more commentary please.

With Caldy using their pacy winger TJ to devastating effect we went down 3 tries to 1. Great effort but not Cup final for the boys this time, however like time our boys cant be stopped. They were full of beans, know they had all performed well and surprised a few people with skills and patterns that are difficult to defend against. Defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it, the Saints came out of today a better and more unified outfit. Lets keep our eye on improving week on week and building great team commitment. To put things in context Ruthin went on to win the Plate completion, they improved throughout the festival and were deserved winners against our old comrades Sandbach.

Thanks to Damian and Connor for volunteering to ref, to Ian and Brendan for keep the boys in peak condition (no mean feat with a chip van 20m away). To Charlie and his team of pitch marshals for keeping things running smoothly and finally from all the lads; to parents and relations for bringing them down and supporting them with such passion and support. In the end a strong Chester team won the U13 Cup against a Caldy team who defended well but who just couldn’t control the total rugby Chester play. Well done Noel and the boys, unlucky to Andy and our gallant hosts.

I will sign off with a quote from a classic sporting film..up in my top 10 watches..."I came here to teach basketball, you became students. I came here to teach boys and you became men." Coach Carter