Under 10s vs Littleborough

The last day of the month is always a trying time for this author. The month end needs a bit of baby-sitting from 17:00 through to about 04:00 on the first. So it was with lack of sleep I set off from Fleetwood under scattered clouds to what looked like being a pleasant day. Half way there, my optimism for a pleasant day evaporated as the rain descended.
We had been told the day before that our manager would be unable to accompany the team due to pressing domestic issues, so she deputised Natalie to take charge of things managerial. Dressing room talk had it suggested that our manager had forsaken the team to take care of the Abercrombie Christmas tree. Matt did try valiantly to defend her honour, but certain photos seen on Facebook later in the day seem to suggest that the boys may well have been right. Texts received on the way shared that Billy and Ben would also not be able to join us.
My original meteorological optimism that was drenched by the rain en route was rekindled as we drove through the very picturesque settlement of Littleborough towards the rugby club situated in the Rakewood valley underneath the Rakewood viaduct with the now bright sunlight reflecting off of the road making driving conditions a bit hairy, two dog walkers almost becoming hood ornaments.
12 Tries - but none of them Fleetwood’s.
Despite missing two of our number, we still managed to get 12 players to the venue, an excellent turnout. The players representing the Green & Gold were Marcus, Sam, Robert, Bailey, Archie, Garrick, James, Isaac, Max, Tom D, Tom F and Ethan.
Coach Tony suggested we split the boys into four groups of three, and as we were playing two games of 9-a-side, field three groups per half, theoretically giving each one the same on-field time.
Some excellent ball work, quite magnificent tackling and discipline were undone by a better schooled opposition, some bad ball retention and, at times, wayward running. Unfortunately the hosts were just too good at the art of stealing the ball from our boys and making haste for our goal line. Both games ended in a 6-0 score in favour of Littleborough.
Given that this is only our third game this season, some excellent playing patterns are starting to develop with Sam, Bailey, Max, Marcus, Isaac and Ethan all having some spirited runs up the field, only to be caught by a stronger defence. Marcus, Garrick, Sam and Bailey had put in a great deal of excellent telling tackles. Marcus in particular was seen flying out-stretched to bring down an opposition player in full flight who had an otherwise clear run to the try line.
Unfortunately, our boys also managed to lose their sense of direction, and either swing from one side of the pitch to the other without moving forward, or in one case, take the ball from well within the opposition half all the way back to their own try line, lose possession and concede a try. On a positive note, Fleetwood were awarded far more penalties than they conceded.
It is a difficult thing to try and convince the reader that the boys have improved in leaps and bounds from where they were mere months ago when faced with a scoreline presented here, but I do believe they are settling into a brilliant team. They all support one another, and their heads never drop no matter what the scoreline. With this in mind they can and will start winning matches.
Player of the day.
Deciding on our player of the day was made more difficult due to the lack of scoring opportunities. Tony, in summing up the match, said that he wished that the ribbon on the medal was big enough to stretch around the entire team, given the way they had stayed committed to the end. Medal ribbons don’t stretch, and out of a squad who could all be singled out for some excellent individual contributions, Marcus was chosen as the Player of the day.
Our next match is to be played away against the Vale of Lune on 15 December.