15 Grant Hancox vc
14 Alex Everett-Bolter
13 Freddie Gleadowe
12 Scott Chislett
11 Gareth Wyn Roberts
10 Adam Davies
9 Sam Hardcastle
1 Tom Napier
2 Patrick Fraser
3 Alan Manning
4 Matthew Christopher
5 Adam MacDonald
6 Richard Sharp
7 Axel Bennett
8 Joe Rees c
Replacements
16 Frazer Wilford
17 David McDonald
18 Alex Sutherland
A view from the pitch
The first team over the last few weeks. After a little blip in our first game against Newbury,where we didn't play like a team and lost to a team who weren't as good as us individually but stuck to their game plan and shows better team spirit, we have really played well the last few games.
We have listened to our coaches and have focused on our basic skills like passing, tackling and rucking. We have also all stuck to our jobs with forwards carrying the ball straight and hard, half backs organising the team and the wingers keeping out wide to finish off.
We have also improved our communication and have made sure that we all talk clearly on the pitch so that each one of us knows our jobs and what the other is doing. This could be calling out who has which opposition player in defence or letting someone know where the gaps are in attack.
Last week we played away in Bristol against a team called Cleve. They were good and well organised and things didn't start well as there was a crash on the motorway so we were very late arriving.
Despite this we were very professional and we didn't let this bother us and we played very well. Unfortunately we didn't quite manage to win and ended up losing 28-25 but we got a losing bonus point for losing by less than a converted try (which I'm sure you know is 7points). As a team we managed all the points I mentioned above and in the end it was a very close match between evenly matched teams.
Personally I was please as I scored a try by beating several defenders on the wing by running straight and fast.
However I was also a little disappointed as I had a chance to score at the end and we would have won. Now there were many reasons I didn't score but I could have given myself a better chance by doing two things which you can all work on;
1 - if you are running for the corner to try and score always hold the ball in the outside arm (that's the one closest to the touchline and furthest from the defender, or the right on the right wing and left on the left wing). This means if someone comes to tackle you the arm closest to the tackler is free to try and hand them off and also the arm with the ball is free to stretch and score.
2 - if you are running for the corner and you don't think you'll make it then cut back inside. You are less likely to score but you will be more likely to keep the ball alive and then the team will have another chance to score somewhere else. This is an important lesson in patience and not being selfish!
I hope you all find those tips useful and the insight into the first team interesting. Next week we have a very big game against the league leaders, another team from Bristol called Dings Crusaders. Dings haven't lost a game yet so it will be tough but we are going to do everything we can to beat them!
Yours in rugby,
Wyn
Bournemouth 2nd IV v Dings Crusaders 2nd IV
Kick Off 14.00
Ding Crusaders have called off their 2nd IV game against Bournemouth 2nd IV as they have been unable raise a side. Bob has worked his magic and we have picked up a great fixture at Cobham 2nd IV. Kick off is still 14.30 but the 2nd IV are now away to Cobham.
Cobham 2nd IV v Bournemouth 2nd IV
Kick Off 14.30
Memorial Ground, Fairmile Lane, Cobham KT11 2BU
15 Luke S Jenks
14 Josh Wright
13 Joe O'Hehir
12 Johnny O'Hehir
11 Dan Stewart
10 Joe Gwyther
9 Sammy Veneroso
1 Jo Joe Spiller
2 Riad Lynch
3 Jack Palmer
4 Tom Stevens
5 James Fisher
6 Conrad Carkeet
7 James Bellamy
8 Dean Smith
Replacements
16 Joseph Burns
17 Harry Davis
18 Carlos Snell
Bournemouth 3rd IV v New Milton
Kick off 1500
15 Andrew Kingswell
14 Callum Gartshore
13 Ben Hatch
12 Leon Eveni Esera
11 Toby Widger
10 Chris Jeffes
9 Danny Kirkpatrick
1 Billy Boy Maidment
2 Max Noble
3 Pete Oram
4 Aaron Hayman
5 Simon Pell
6 Damian Carroll
7 Anthony Dunkerley
8 Bonz Brereton
Replacements
16 Anthony Hanmer
17 Domenick Davies
18 Finn Graham
