Battling in Bosworth

Tigers Game 1 & 2:
We were playing on pitches the size of postage stamps which forced us to play a very straight game and remain disciplined about not pushing players wide. Games 1 & 2 were quite similar. We stuck to the game plan and together with an excellent tackling performance were easily the better team. Our tackling was so good to knocked the confidence out of the opposition and we won numerous turnovers on the seventh tackle. Everyone played their part with Oli T gaining in confidence and tackling well, Max G ran straight and made some great yardage, Fergus G stole away for a number of impressive tries, Toby G has found a side step like a hot knife through butter, Jake D punched well above his weight in all aspects, Marcus K just loves tackling, Lawrence Pugh ran like the wind, Joel H was brave in the tackle and Oli C was always there in support.
Game 3:
We started slowly and went down 2-0 within the first 4 minutes due to a couple of missed tackles. We managed to pull back and went into half time 3-3. Not a good half of rugby! We had a good chat at half time and came out fighting in the second half. The tackling was much improved with Jake D tackling everything that moved, Fergus G making hits with extra gas and Toby G pulling off by far the most impressive technically perfect tackle. The team certainly woke up and were comfortable winners in the end.

Coaches Notes: We do however need to work on our off-loading and ball placing in the tackle. Something for next week.

All Blacks:

It was certainly good to get the AB's back into playing competitive games given the long layoff. The pitch was somewhat shorter and narrower than we have been used to which required the AB's to play a different type of game in taking 3 or 4 tackles in the center of the pitch sucking in tacklers to create space out-wide, Bosworth were playing exactly this type of game and the strike runners they were using were able to gain more meters than we would have liked leading to some "all hands to the pump" type defense but Bosworth ran out eventual winners 7-4. In the second game the defense was immense and the AB's managed several turnovers threw gutsy commitment all round, the players also executed the simpler game plan with more confidence and with them now placing the ball rather than trying trying to force the offload they made impressive progress this game finished 3-2 to Bosworth and as the scoreline suggests it was a very closely contested game.
By the time the third game came the players were able to play to the limitations of the pitch better and keeping pressure on in defense managed a number of turnovers, try's game easy enough in this game and the communication between players was a lot better meaning gaps were quickly closed in defense and the pitch was covered in a Black shirted brick wall defense which refused to be yield.

Coaches Note: Many positives to be taken from the game and also lots to work on next week in training as we build ready for our own festival.