Windsor U12s - Worthing Tournament
24th April 2005by Garry Irwin
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Further Pictures to Follow
Well 06:40am on a Sunday morning came very quickly indeed, especially as only 5 hours earlier I had still been singing Karaoke at a neighbours birthday party (so much for me sticking to my “slipping away for an early night” plan).
Note: Before anyone criticises the length of this Tournament Report, let me point out that it contains basically five match reports in one (at no extra cost – a bargain), so if you think this is long you should have been there for the entire day, then you will know what long is! I did actually think of writing “we ran up their end, the pushed back and ran up our end, whistle went, game over” but where’s the drama and spectacle in that…………..for the die hards amongst you please read on.
Sam and I arrived at 08:40am (a smidge early to say the least) even ahead of the stern Worthing RFC parking enforcers, just two yellow cones greeted us, so I drove innocently around the edge of our U12 pitch and parked up a few short yards from our likely tent location. Sniffing the foggy air, we promptly detected the distant scent of low calorie food being hygienically prepared and went in search of a nutritious bacon butty, as one does when your lad is preparing for a day of running about and athleticism.
It wasn’t long before the usual Worthing Tournament gridlock was in full swing, evident from frantic arm waving of the high-visibility-clad parking officials. It wasn’t much longer before a group of Windsor parents had now started to congregate around a pile of green bags, but without Barry the Barn at this point we were nomads, it never quite felt like we had a HQ to call our own (where was Kev with our canvas paradise?).
Finally the “Richardson Voyager” arrived (caught up in the surrounding traffic), fully laden with two tackle bags, two children (Billy with his arm in a sling) and the rest of the car’s internal space totally consumed with a boxed up “Barry the Barn” still looking pristine. Now I had not seen this canvas beastie before, boy it was impressive, it could so easily have been called Malcolm the Marquee (weddings and barmitzas etc.), clearly Windsor had brought its own castle. Now it has been a while since the parents have had to erect such a proud structure using instructions only (Terry the Tent had become second nature), but expertise gained from the previous week had suggested that the side panels were clipped to the structure before being raised, evidently children on parental shoulders where used last time. Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks?
Once all settled in, and sun lotion applied (yes it was really sunny now), we started to read the Programme, it was only then that it started to dawn on people that we were in for a long day, our games were 10:50am, 11:50am and 14:40pm with the finals planned from 17:30 onwards and the very first games were already 20mins overdue! We were there long enough to get the full range of weather from foggy through sunny to torrential rain, but no fear we at least had the flood lit pitch.
Note: The games were 6 mins each way (which doesn’t give much time for a team to settle or score for that matter) and substitutes were only allowed at half time or to replace injured players.
Before the game started, John Thompson told the boys that we had a number of new players, some players out of position and demanded that everyone lifted their game accordingly (well I believe they did……..)
The squad consisted of the following boys:
James Dean, Jack Richardson, Adam Bailes, Colin Thompson, Tom Cumplen, Charlie Turnbull, Harvey Thomas, Will Sage, Tom Brocket, Theo Brown, John Luxmore, Sam Irwin, Alex Cook and Michael Chambers.
Game 1: Windsor v Westcombe Park (Strip: Black & White Hoops)
WP started with the kick and they were immediately applying pressure on Windsor and only the great defending kept them from scoring early on. Michael managed to get a clearance kick away, but WP were straight back and very nearly scored, their appeal for a try was dismissed as a double motion (a decision that was confirmed to be correct by our very own impartial sideline judge - Cheryl Thompson). Just before half time Michael managed to burn up some turf and let loose a pass to Sam who was in hot pursuit but it just didn’t quite connect.
HT 0 – 0
WP must have been aggrieved that they weren’t winning and applied absolute full-on pressure again from the onset. A lineout to WP a few yards out nearly opened the scoring, but again they were to be frustrated by some excellent defending and the ball was judged to be help up. Windsor finally managed to breakout, but was turned over in a loose ball and WP nearly scored to our right wing twice but were again frustrated. You would have to say that Windsor was the happier team with the draw than Westcombe Park probably were, but what a fantastic display of defensive play under some extreme pressure from a good side.
FT 0 – 0
Game 2: Windsor v Worthing (Strip: Blue with yellow/brown thin hoops)
This game was very even and the game settled into a real middle of the pitch battle for domination, neither side willing to concede any turf. If anything separated the two sides, it was in the rucks and loose balls, Worthing were very quick and able to turnover situations, however this was equally balanced by Windsor’s ability to make penetrative runs.
HT 0 – 0
Coaches Comment: John said “A real gutsy performance – they don’t like being run at!”
The second started off with Windsor dominating by starting to run at them. Theo made a snaking run and connected with Alex Cook on the left wing who was nearly bundled into touch, but the ball was swiftly passed back across the field and Windsor was now right up in their faces. This pressure led to the inevitable fumble in defence, the clearance kick was knocked down by Theo who continued his decent on top of the ball for a try (I would use the word “pounce” rather than fell on the ball – its more dignified). 5 – 0 to Windsor.
Worthing came straight back at us forcing errors at the back and the penalty was given for Windsor hands in the ruck. The penalty was taken very quickly (only 5 yards out) and a Worthing boy barged through to equalise. 5 – 5
Windsor so very nearly got the winner just before the end, but unfortunately the attempted try was unceremoniously bundled into the corner flag.
FT 5 – 5
Now at this point we now had nearly two hours before the next game:
It was not an uneventful period of time though. Whilst the ace reporter was taking a well earned 40 winks several things occurred.
• One of our boys had kicked a practice ball, which unfortunately pitched up and caught James Dean’s granddad a right cropper on the bridge of the nose, breaking his glasses in the process (should have gone to Specsavers I hear you shout) and cut his nose in two places. So when I woke up granddad was covered in plasters and tissues looking like he had been two rounds with Tyson.
• Another team coach had come up and asked where we had purchased “Barry the Barn” from.
• Evidently John Thompson (whilst refereeing another match) had fallen arse over elbow
• Finally it was pointed out to me that a local helper had decided to repaint the pitch outline with the white paint wheelbarrow and had either had way too much to drink or had decided to go around people that were stood on the touchline rather than ask them to move. I have never seen a line like it. I kid you not; any drunk could have passed the Field Sobriety Test on this line marking.
All this whilst I was asleep……………………….
Game 3: Sleaford v Windsor (Strip: Black & Red hoops)
This match turned out to have a disastrous start, the Sleaford kick was not caught cleanly and ended with a penalty for accidental knock on, the resulting penalty kick was tapped forward and the maul was pushed over our line for a try, all within the first 2 minutes. 5 – 0 to Sleaford.
The response from Windsor was immediate, which culminated in a couple of moves that nearly equalised, a scrum to Sleaford just 10 yards out from their end was won by an almighty push which set Michael up for a run at their left corner, but he was just felled at the last knockings. A second move involving a big deep kick from Michael, which was returned but sliced by a defending Sleaford boy dropped into the waiting arms of Sam, who was just bundled in to touch before reaching the try line.
HT 5 – 0
The second half was very close, with Sleaford making significant runs down our left, but great defensively play denied Sleaford a 2nd try, and our Windsor boys were not opposed to making a few runs at them either. All in all, 5 – 0 was not an unrealistic scoreline and was all down to the very first sleepy lapse at the beginning of the game, the rest of the match was very even indeed.
FT 5 – 0
So at this point we had drawn two games and lost one and so had Worthing. So joint 1st place was Westcombe and Sleaford with Windsor and Worthing in joint 3rd place.
The “toss of the coin” scenario beckoned and John Thompson trudge off to the organiser’s tent with that same look that the England footballers have when taking penalties against Germany. Typically John had not won the toss, but by some strange fortune it meant that as best 4th place we got a bye from the Quarter Final of the Shield and were into the Semi Final (well done John – resisting the temptation to use his lucky double-headed gold rand had paid dividends – quite perversely – we knew John was a strategist).
Now this left us with the spectre of having finished our last game at 15:30pm and waiting for the Semi-Final at 17:40pm which was actually looking like 30 mins later than that). At this point the boys seized the opportunity to spend some of this valuable time in mental preparation, additional training and preparing games plans. Yeah right…………..this is Windsor U12’s we are talking about; they entertained themselves in the following manner:
• Scrounging money of their parents and buying burgers, coke and ice cream. Michael was seen to eat a Mr. Whippy soft cone whilst still having his gum shield in (only a mum could catch that in her hand).
• Spending time in the Simulator attraction and making themselves feel sick
• Destruction testing the tackle bags
• Watching a portable DVD player and listening to iPODS
• Inventing a new game called “Knee Rugby”
The finer points of “Knee Rugby” explained
Knee Rugby consisted of the boys forming in to two teams of seven. Each team faced up whilst on their hands and knees. The game involved using a 3” long imitation Gilbert rugby ball, with rucks, mauls, wingers (Theo was still lightning quick even on his knees) and what appeared to be American Football style forward passes. I must admit this entertained the boys (and parents) for some considerable time and was clearly attracting the attention of other teams of boys who appeared to be forced into performing unnatural acts, like sitting still in their groups and being quiet. To be honest, this is why we love our Windsor boys; they really do enjoy each others company and loving the whole day, even when it drags on.
Game 4: Shield Semi-Final – Windsor v Upminster (Strip: Gold and Blue Hoops with Black Trim)
Try their website http://www.urfc.com/ it has a nice rendition of Sweet Chariot on the piano (after a minute).
The game started with an almighty deep kick from Upminster that kept us pinned down for most of the initial period; resulting in a mass bundle on our try line, fortunately the ball was held up. Windsor finally managed to break out of our half and both Michael and Theo made some testing runs but to no avail.
HT 0 – 0
The second half was to be a stunning performance by our boys, with immediate Windsor pressure putting Upminster on a back foot. The try came from a lovely worked piece of superbly quick passing and crossing back and forth with Theo making a run for the try. Unfortunately the ball was snatched from Theo and turned over actually on the try line but recaptured by an almost possessed Adam Bailes who dropped on it like a stone to score the try for 5 – 0.
The second and final nail in the coffin for Upminster came from another beautifully worked move involving Tom passing to Will then onto Theo who ran to the left hand corner and scored the try for 10 – 0. This was all that was needed as Windsor closed the game down and never let Upminster back into the game.
FT 10 – 0
Game 5: Shield Final – Windsor v Gravesend (Strip: Black and white hoops)
This was an electric game, our boys really wanted this, the larking about had stopped, they were seriously thinking about taking home some hardware. Right from the opening kick, Theo caught the ball and nearly scored, however he did the right thing and went to ground, however the bizarre thing was that he got turned over (as our support was a little late arriving and who can blame them – who can keep up with Theo), but the ball was fumbled and Theo who had now got back on his feet, stole the ball back again for the try. This was to be an all round great performance, with Colin playing out of his skin. Several boys had a go at the try line, Sam nearly scored but the ball was held up. Finally Tom broke to the right, across the field; pass to Harvey, then on to Jack Richardson, who simply loved scoring that all important 2nd try before half time.
HT 10 – 0
Gravesend were no push over, in the second half they wanted this final as much as we did and they fought tooth and nail. It was held to the 10 – 0 on just pure gutsy defending and superb tackling and we simply did not loose grip. I have to mention that guys like Will Sage, John Luxmore, Alex Cooke, Colin, Charlie etc were just on fire and put in some of the finest tackles we have seen to date. I sincerely apologise to any of the boys I have not mentioned, because it was quite simply a 110% performance from all 14 players and unfortunately the report only captures the headline catching moments.
FT 10 – 0
The end of a long and gruelling day, Barry the barn was taken down in a flash (even though it was now raining quite heavily (and had been for two hours), however it was not quite looking as pristine now. We all piled over to the clubhouse for the presentations of medals and of course the all important shield (I am sure Simon Brocket has some great pictures to go with this). The trophy was presented at 18:36pm, so for some of us that arrived at around 09:00am it had meant a total of 576 minutes, which included 5 x 12 minute games. Was it worth it……………..of course it was, to see the boys with some hard earned tin was tremendous and they looked thrilled to bits! It was just a shame that two important members of the coaching staff were not there to witness it.
What a tremendous prospect we have for the juniors next season.
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Final Results and other information can be found at the following URL http://www.worthingrfc.com/festivals.asp?page=Festivals&filename=4
Cup Winners & Runners-up
U7 - Brighton beat Richmond
U8 - Richmond beat Crowborough
U9 - shared by Windsor and Worthing
U10 - Sevenoaks beat Richmond
U11 - Richmond beat Sevenoaks
U12 - shared by Richmond and Sevenoaks
Shield Winners & Runners-up
U7 - Westcombe Park beat Gravesend
U8 - Sidcup beat Sevenoaks
U9 - Sidcup beat Ely
U10 - Maidenhead beat Beccehanians (toss of coin)
U11 - Old Elthamians beat Sidcup
U12 - Windsor beat Gravesend
Plate Winners & Runners-up
U7 - Windsor beat Old Elthamians
U8 - Hove beat Worthing
U9 - Maidenhead beat Crowborough
U10 - Hove beat Worthing
U11 - Treorchy beat Westcombe Park
U12 - Crowborough beat Brighton
It’s quite nice to read the positive remarks made about the Windsor U9’s (under Credits) on the following URL http://www.worthingrfc.com/matchreports.asp?team=Minis