Under 12's Match report Sun 2nd May 2010

After a season of great promise and improvement the Under 12s squad made the trip to Rochdale on the last Sunday of the season to take part in their rugby tournament. It was a great chance to pit our improving side against some of the better sides in the region and also the chance to meet up with a few old friends.

The day started in bright sunshine with our first group game against Widnes. The format of the tournament was 13-a-side games of two 7½ minute halves but in this first game we decided to let Widnes start before us and run up two quick tries. However, Faraaz Mohammed and Dylan Hibbert grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and kick started the Bolton comeback. Faraaz performed a marvellous tackle and steal from the Widnes attacker and the Dylan made a typically mazy run down the left wing beating defender after defender in the tightest of spaces. That gave the rest of the lads heart and during the second half they really turned on the style. Bolton were on the attack the whole time and only stout Widnes defence kept their line intact. The Bolton coach made his first good decision of the season when he called the move from a tap penalty 5m out and Wills Bridle crashed over the line leaving a trial of Widnes shirts in his wake. Unfortunately, the boys couldn’t register a second score in the remaining minutes and the game finished with Widnes 2-1 victors.

After a rest the second game was against the home side and this was a very close affair. Rochdale took the lead when their scrum half raced over from the back of a scrum but this just fired up the Bolton lads. From another tap penalty Harry Stocks fed a rampaging Tom Hill who drove to within 10m of the home line. The coaches purred with delight as Joey Gore perfectly bridged over the ball to allow debutants Joel Thompson and James Hind to combine and send the latter diving over in the corner. In the second half Danny Turner, Firth Lord and Alex Ratcliffe made some beautiful breaks in the backs whilst Jordan Ashton and Joseph Partington worked their socks off up front. However, despite their best endeavours and playing to the very last peep on the ref’s whistle the lads again came up short to lose 2-1. Not a bad effort at all against the side who were the eventual runners up of the U12s tournament.
A long break before the final game allowed the guys to “bond” and we had several burgers and bacon butties (didn’t we Harry?) and all tucked into our picnics and watched Joel ease back in his chair and work his way through his flask of tea. We also came across one of our old players now turning out for Sedgley Park and our coach relived a few past moments of glory with several of the lads he used to play with at Leigh who were there either watching their own children or coaching.

The final game was against a strong Leigh outfit who were pushing to qualify and just to make things even more interesting the heavens decided to open and so we were all completely soaked and freezing cold as the first whistle blew. To spice things up a little more hail started to blow right into our lads eyes. I think I have laid down enough excuses for the 4-0 defeat now but despite the conditions and the size and skill of the opposition the lads were by no means disgraced and still managed to play some “lovely stuff”. Joe Hill was the pick in the bunch with several excellent plays and I think summed up the sportsmanship of the day when he happily shook hands with the Leigh player who when stretching for a tackle had almost taken his head off. No malice intended and none taken.

I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day despite the rain at the end and the excellent rugby and superb camaraderie of the squad summed up the whole season. Well done to Trafford Metrovick who won the tournament and all our best wishes for a speedy recovery go to the poor lad in the Under 10s competition who looked to have been seriously injured. (We have just heard that thankfully a second scan revealed no lasting problems and he should be back playing again shortly).

Coaches Jonathan, Paul and Peter hope to see you all down at the club next season for another exciting year of rugby. We will be playing 15-a-side on full pitches next year so we will have lots more skills to learn but more room to show our paces. Training will commence at the start of July so don’t forget to let us know which evenings are best for you.
Thanks to everyone who has pulled on a Bolton shirt this season for all their excellent play; we just wish we could have taken the full squad to Rochdale. The final word goes to all the U12s’ parents for the selfless way they run around after the guys this season. All the lads and the coaches would like to give you a massive thank you as without you none of the enjoyment and fun of the season would have been possible and without you on the sidelines cheering the lads on it wouldn’t have meant half as much.