For any boy with an interest in rugby, playing and
winning at Twickenham is a dream (even if they have Scottish ancestry). For
14 boys from Derby that dream became reality on 30 May when they defeated
West Norfolk Under 9’s in a thrilling, high-scoring final to lift the
Gulliver’s Bowl. In so doing they became the first Derby RFC side to win
at Twickenham.
The final was a remarkable end to a roller coaster season
and particularly rewarding for two particular reasons. First, for seven of
the squad who represented the club at Twickenham this was their first full
season of rugby and second, the Gulliver’s squad only actually played
together for the first time in early March! So to go on to win a national
final just two months later is a phenomenal achievement.
The victory was a well deserved reward for all the hard
work put in by the entire Under 9s squad since the turn of the year and the
willingness of all the players to listen to the coaches and then apply the
new skills in drills and matches.
To prepare a team to play in such a prestigious match
requires an enormous team effort and before reviewing the game it is
important to recognise all those who contributed to that success.
The coaches (Alan Cook, Steve Lees, Karl Leeming, Kevin
Tomlinson and Phil Eades) could not have developed the squad and helped them
achieve so much without the help of the following:
Glyn Castledine and latterly Martin Kent, for their
invaluable input at training (welcome to the coaching team for next season
guys!)
The other members of the squad, for helping in so many
ways to develop the Gulliver’s team, and for their continued support and
encouragement
The parents, for their endless support and encouragement,
getting the boys to training on time and bearing with us if sessions over
ran (as they often did)
Harriet Kent and Kristy Tomlinson (aka the ‘water girls’),
for ensuring the players always had a drink available (shame at Twickenham
that there was so much left in the bottles to soak the coaches with!)
Glenn Martin and the under 10s squad, for their
encouragement and support at Nottingham and Twickenham. Their advice on what
to expect helped ensure the squad was in the right frame of mind for the
game
Oliver Cook, for providing the extra helping hand at
training
Liam McNeilly, for accepting the challenge of teaching
the team the haka and then leading them as they performed the haka after the
game. I won’t comment on his ability as a touch judge!
Mike Jay and all at Burton under 9s, for providing some
much needed match practice the week before the final, and finally…
Nick Pressling, head coach at West Norfolk, for agreeing
early on that the key objective was to give all the boys a day to remember
and that all players in the squad should play a part of a game. Thanks Nick.
Comments on the Final :
Arriving at the Stoop at around 8.30, you could sense the
excitement tinged with expectation and nerves. All these feelings heightened
as the boys were lead onto the pitch surrounds to be greeted by the
tumultuous cheers of the assembled throng of Derby supporters in the South
stand. This certainly gave the boys a lift.
Following a last minute team talk it was time for the
short warm up we were allowed. This nearly ended in disaster when Barnaby
Parkes took a nasty fall and needed almost 5 minutes treatment from a nearby
paramedic but nothing was going to stop him playing.
Knowing we were up against a hard tackling and committed
side with some powerful runners, the game plan was to put their midfield
under immense pressure and move the ball wide wherever possible. It is a
credit to all the players that they stuck to the game plan throughout the
final.
The side took the pitch with a determined look in their
eye and in the first half proceeded to play the best seven minutes of rugby
they had played all season. There is no doubt they had benefited from the
practice game against Burton the previous week and looked sharper than their
opponents.
The wise call of ‘scissors’ allowed Captain David
Eades to win the rock, paper, scissors variant for deciding kick off. With
the advantage of ball in hand, Derby executed a perfect ‘Norwich’ move
(many calls were named after Norfolk rugby sides) and George Castledine
scythed through the West Norfolk defence before eventually being stopped
midway into their half of the pitch.
As expected West Norfolk looked to drive us back but the
forwards led by Luke McNeilly were up to their task and offered a determined
defence including achieving early turnover ball. Alistair Wolff and the rest
of the backs made life difficult for the West Norfolk playmakers, starving
them of both space and time. When West Norfolk got the ball wide, their
winger ran into Max Cook and George Marston who bundled him into touch.
From the following line out won by Reece Harrison, Derby
set up the ruck and scrum half David Eades fed George Tresidder who surged
past the nearest defenders before outpacing the winger to score the first
try of the match.
West Norfolk came back hard but Derby refused to yield
with Joseph Booth and Reece Harrison making a number of key tackles.
Whenever they had ball in hand the aim was to vary the point of attack and
following the ‘North Walsham’ call, Joseph Booth was almost put in the
clear.
Shortly after, the ‘T’ call saw George Tresidder play
a switch with David Eades before charging over in the opposite corner
leaving a number of West Norfolk players trailing in his wake.
Tresidder completed an exceptional hat trick just before
half time following a good turnover ball by Luke McNeilly and an initial
surge by George Castledine. He would have had a fourth try had it not been
for determined cover defence by two West Norfolk players.
Half Time Derby 15-0 West Norfolk
The second half saw West Norfolk come back hard and test
the Derby defence across the pitch but Derby initially refused to yield with
Alex Tomlinson, Barnaby Parkes and Tom Kent putting in important tackles.
Eventually however, the sustained pressure paid and West Norfolk got on the
score sheet with a well-worked try.
Derby came back and worked hard to forge an opening.
Barnaby Parkes was prominent in a number of drives while half backs David
Eades and Alistair Wolff looked to vary the game making use of the blind
side where Tom Kent had an exciting run but West Norfolk worked
exceptionally hard to keep us at bay. On the other wing Jordan Lees tried
hard to create an opening before he was forced to leave the pitch with an
ankle injury.
Once again West Norfolk upped the pressure and it was
Derby’s turn to have to man the defences and Thomas Doyle was conspicuous
in their efforts. Derby thought they had won the game when David Eades broke
blind from a scrum and was driven into touch close to half way. With 5
seconds on the clock, surely the line out would be the last play and with
the Derby pack marauding through the line out and putting huge pressure on
the scrum half it seemed that the game was over.
But the referee (who had an excellent game) had spotted
one of the Derby backs offside and gave West Norfolk a penalty close to the
Derby line. They moved the ball well and their winger squeezed over in the
corner. But the whistle for the try was also the full time whistle and Derby
had won.
The trophy was presented by former bath, England and
British Lions prop Gareth Chilcott and the presentation was followed by wild
celebrations, but only after all the players had commiserated with their
gallant opponents. The haka was superbly led by Liam McNeilly.
As well as winning the trophy, Derby Under 9s were the
top scoring mini side in the Festival, had played in the highest scoring
game and George Tresidder was the top try scorer of the day.
The triumphant Under 9s squad was: David Eades (captain),
Luke McNeilly and Alistair Wolff (vice-captains), Barnaby Parkes, Alex
Tomlinson, Reece Harrison, George Marston, Thomas Doyle, George Castledine,
George Tresidder, Tom Kent, Max Cook, Joseph Booth and Jordan Lees.
Who said dreams never come true?
U9s Report by Phil Eades
