The Hong Kong tour was a fabulous first for the U12s. We played a combined SKS/DBP team on Saturday, winning 39 to 17, and then HKFC on Sunday, winning 19 to 5. We also watched the Bledisloe Cup and sat behind the goal posts where the last kick flew over in extra time. The boys watched The Omen until I told them off and sent them to bed at about 2230!
This was our first trip to HK and our first 15 a side match with pushing in the scrum, so the boys did well. In fact the overwhelming sense was of delight that all the players played well, with the less experienced ones stepping up and playing the best I've seen. The commitment to the tackle was superb. A few players, including JG, Harrison and Marcus, had fun kicking in open play - another first for our boys - with interestingly variable results! Louis had to be physically restrained from trying for goal - great attitude!
This was a forwards dominated weekend but the opening score by the backs on Saturday put the team in the driving position within the first minute. We had the kick, the forwards won the ball, the backs flew forward, drawing the opposition, and Harrison (Cpt) cut through near the posts. James-Guilio, at No.8, took both games by the scruff, including some lovely picks from the back of the scrum. He captained the game against HKFC. Andrew du Plessis, back from a few months off injured, played his best: he was everywhere, both stealing and distributing well but still attacking and punishing. While these three had high profile positions, all 22 players contributed to a 'team' performance. Daelan was dynamic, on constant watch, defend and attack, defend and attack! Thanade, especially for a full 25 mins against HKFC, passed quality ball further than I dreamed: a credit to drills with Justin! He also picked up a lovely pop pass from Michael who had rescued us from a dangerous kick and sidestepped the chaser and then counterattacked up the wing. Nick made his best ever tackle at full speed, intercepting a dangerous attack without any further cover behind him as we were fully stretched. Ben Wright and Jonathan Ashby seem to be leading the boys in 'vocal' communication - light at the end of the tunnel?!! Both are tackling, passing and catching better than ever ... it's very exciting to see these leaps in performance. Jamie's first match with TRC was as fullback; he looked comfortable and showed commitment, so we are going to let him stay! Andrew Meaney was solid as ever, tackling well and an ever present threat. We need to get more ball down the line to release him from the chains of positional play! Nathan took a subtle pass so smooothly it wasn't even a 'pop' pass, more like a steal at pace, from another player being dragged down; pure magic! Matthew Horner proved solid under the high ball and calmly cleaned up probing kicks. Everyone contributed enormously! Marcus seemed to repeatedly emerge from loose play with the ball and drive up field, John Mortimer was a terrier, closing down the opposition when they won scrum ball, as did Louis and Matt James (who drank 7 ginger ales on the return trip!). Ben Wraitt is an emerging force, as are both Alex and Jared, in the scrum; strong boys beginning to realise and use their strength. Together with Isaac and Oliver, who played their normal game of doing a forward's job of getting and keeping possession, these lads are going from strength to strength! This tour will have given all the boys an enormous boost - it certainly did to the coaches and parents on the sidelines!
Players: Harrison, James-Guilio, Matthew Horner, Jared, Marcus, Isaac, Nathan, Jonathan Ashby, Matthew James, Michael, Thanade, Andrew Meaney, John Mortimer, Nick, Oliver, Louis, Ben Wraitt, Ben Wright, Jamie, Daelan, Andrew du Plessis, Alex.
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