Prima Cup - Great day out for the U10's

Market Harborough were drawn against Kenilworth in the Super 16 Stage of the Prima Tiger Cup at Leicester Tigers, Welford Road.

The more hardy tourists gathered at MHRUFC for their own double-decker ride into Leicester. There will be an early sitting of the tour court in Spring for a certain member for delaying our departure then eating his sausage cob (sorry, sausage pitta bread) in front of a hungry bus. A dress wearing punishment seems inevitable. As the matter is under investigation we are prevented from naming him here, but he seemed willing to take the punishment so long as one of his own prints was used.

So to Welford Road ... we managed to get everyone in with a variety of ticket options for the less organised and made our base in the Leicestershire Room. Our coffee soaked base camp was soon departed from for the hallowed turf whilst the boys warmed up behind the posts at the Clubhouse end.
We watched parts of the first games taking place and saw good rugby played, but nothing to fear.

Then came Kenilworth. As the game started we were soon under pressure and despite some resolute defence, the gifted opposition found their way through for an early lead. In a first half dominated by the opposition, they scored 2 more for a 3:0 half time lead. They were very well drilled, disciplined at the ruck and played flowing rugby in attack too. They deserved the half time lead.

Into the second half and Harborough upped their game. This time it was us who were camped in the Kenilworth half, but the killer pass or incisive run never happened for us and the second half ended try-less, despite our best efforts.

As such, we return to do it all again, this time in the Prima Tiger Bowl competition in late January.

As for the rest of the day ... well a great experience was had by all including all the other members of the U10's who had turned out to support the team and to share in the half time lap of honour. A Tigers stewards remarked on the size of our squad ... then was told the other half weren't here!

Thank you to all the parents for their support and the other relatives who traveled from far afield to share in the experience. A lucky few can now say they have played at Welford Road. For the others they will also remember their half time pitch experience. We hope it was worth it and they all enjoyed the day.

The hardy few made it back to base camp following a muddy game of rugby on Mandela Park waiting for the bus, ready to do it all again in January.