Welwyn Under 9's Complete the Double and 3 in a Row at County

What a weekend for our fantastic squad at the annual County Festival held at Harpenden RFC. Once again we produced an impressive display of open and powerful rugby to bring home both the County Cup and Plate. This made it 3 consecutive years that our A team have been crowned County Champions and our B team won the plate for a second time having previously won the competition at Under 7 level. It was almost a clean sweep for our squad as the C team went mighty close to claiming the shield in a very tight contest.

A and B team County champions

A and B team County champions

A Team

We will start with the County Cup and our A teams quest to defend their reputation as County champions but this time in the world of contact rugby rather than the TAG form of the game. We were drawn in group 3 alongside Hemel Camelot, Tabard and Letchworth. First up were a Hemel side that we had beaten 20 nil at the recent Tring festival and we were fully aware that they could mix it with most sets of forwards. However whilst our forwards, Gus, Harry, Cameron and Luca were effective it was our backs that reminded us why we had been so good at the TAG game. Some brilliant quick hands from our backs allowed Kier, Kyle and scrum half Alfie to grab a brace of tries each to record a convincing win. Final Score was Hemel Camelot A 10 Welwyn A 30

Next up were Tabard and whilst we once again started a little slowly we soon took a grip of proceedings by picking of our opponents at the breakdown. Kier and Alfie again grabbed a brace each but this time they were joined on the score sheet by our powerhouse forward, Luca, who ran the full length of the pitch to score in the corner. Final score was Tabard A 0 Welwyn A 25

So we went into game three against Letchworth knowing that a draw would secure our place in the last 4. The result was never in doubt as we simply swept our opponents of their feet with our speedy winger Johann tormenting our opponents with 4 tries of his own. Again Alfie, Kier and Kyle joined him on the score sheet whilst this time it was the turn of another one of our forwards, Cameron, to run half the length of the pitch to score. The final score was Letchworth A 0 Welwyn A 40.

In the semi final we were drawn against Old Albanians who had survived the “group of death” to go through as the best runner up in the competition. Unfortunately for Old Albanians they had also suffered a number of injuries in their games and needed to patch up their side during the 90 minute break between our final group games and playing the semi final. However they found us to be in less than a sympathetic mood as we spent most of the match in the ascendancy. Cameron opened the scoring when the forwards worked well to push a rolling maul near to the OA’s try line. This was soon to be 10 nil as our super charged Centre, Kier, raced away from the back line to open his try in every game account. No further scores before the break left us in a commanding position going into the second half. Once again we started the half in the ascendancy and some magic at the scrum by Alfie meant the ball could travel all the way along the backs of Jack, Kyle, Andrew, Louis and Isaac before releasing Kier again to torment his markers and race into the corner for try 3. With the game seemingly wrapped up we then took our foot of the gas and let OA’s in for a soft try. This however only seemed to spur our boys on to greater heights and Kier returned to the fold to complete a fantastic hat trick of tries. Final score Old Albanians A 5 Welwyn A 20

So we moved into the County final for the third successive year where we were to face a Hertford side that had sneaked into the game via the nerve jangling “toss of a coin” route following a stalemate with the hosts, Harpenden.

Finals are always tense and this was to be no different. Hertford started strongly and whilst we had the so called advantage of going down the slope we spent the first few minutes withstanding our opponent’s artillery in mid field. The tension was relieved however when a free pass to Luca left him with acres of space to drive down the touchline and towards the Hertford line. His pace and power was that strong that he even managed to sidestep an encroaching Hertford coach and we were awarded a penalty try in the corner! 5 nil soon became 10 nil as once again some effective rucking gave Alfie the opportunity to release Kier to drive over the whitewash and give us some breathing space. Credit to the Hertford boys as they did not allow this to affect their determination and they were rewarded for their persistency when one of their forwards powered his way past our defence to score in the corner on the stroke of half time. This obviously gave Hertford a confidence boost and the start of the second half was going to be the key to our success. Our boys knew this and stepped up their efforts for one final push after some 7 hours of competition! The second half was almost exclusively played out in the top corner of the pitch close to the Hertford line. Unfortunately our opponents kept us at bay and flowing Rugby was exchanged for resilient defence. We had to be wary of the counterattack but on the two occasions when the break seemed on, our scrum half Alfie seemed to find an extra gear to catch his man and thwart the danger. A safe passage to glory was negotiated with relative comfort and the referee signalled that time was up and the Cup was ours. Final Score Hertford A 5 Welwyn A 20

A team celebrate 3 in a row

A team celebrate 3 in a row

B Team

Over in the Plate competition our B squad were drawn against Royston’s A side, Hitchin B and Harpenden B following the late withdrawal of Letchworth B. Unfortunately this withdrawal meant that our first game would not be until nearly 3 hours after the competition started. Therefore when they pitched up for the first game against Royston they were understandably looking a little match rusty compared to their opponents who had already got one game under their belt. That said, they took the game to the opposition and dominated proceedings from the kick off. Saul opened the teams try scoring account early on and we held this lead right until the last few moments of the game when Royston broke away to equalise and share the spoils. It was tough on the team but they were to show great character to bounce back in the next few games. Final Score Royston A 5 Welwyn B 5

In game two they dispatched a plucky Hitchin B side with relative ease. In truth it was a bit of a miss-match as we managed 7 tries without reply in just 12 minutes of fast running rugby. Callum grabbed 4 and Saul 3 as they both made the most of the space the forwards had created with their powerful bursts into opposition territory. Final Score Hitchin B 0 Welwyn B 35

So we went into game 3 knowing that a win over the hosts B side would qualify us for the plate Semi Final. Once again the win was never in doubt as an almost faultless display saw us power passed the stunned Harpenden side. James Wooley grabbed his first festival try with a smart piece of finishing, whilst again Saul and Calum added one a piece to keep the official scorers on their toes. Our forwards of Bradley, Adam, Saul and Captain Morgan (yes we have used the Rum joke in the past!) were really beginning to warm up now and their efforts did not go unnoticed as the opposition committed more and more players to the ruck to compete. This allowed Hugo, Guy, James Cory and Daisy the space to set things up and that they did! Final Score Harpenden B 0 Welwyn B 15

Like the A team the B team were also drawn against their peers from Old Albanians who had stormed past them in the previous year’s tournament. In truth it just would not be a proper county report if it did not include our friendly rivalry with the boys from St Albans! Spurred on by the ultimate price of a place in the Final, the B team played possibly their best rugby of the day to sweep aside the OA’s side by 4 tries to 1. The forwards once again used their enormous power to unlock the defence and assist Callum in setting up our set plays from the back of the ruck. In defence we held firm and whilst we conceded just our second try of the day this was to prove to be no more than a consolation for our opponents. Another hat trick from the rampant Saul and a fine effort from Harry Macer completed a comprehensive victory. Final Score Old Albanians B 5 Welwyn B 20

In the Final we renewed our acquaintance with Royston A who had knocked out the Chess Valley A side on the toss of a coin in the other Semi Final. We knew that despite being a B side that we were the favourites as we had most of the possession in the earlier game. However, we also knew that our opponents had a fast set of backs on the counter attack! We started brightly and as before enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession. The first half was a reasonably tame affair but the quick thinking of Saul at the breakdown put us one try to the good and one hand on the cup. In the second half we had the advantage of going down the slope and we continued in the ascendancy with some more powerful work from our forwards and centres. This finally paid dividends when our backs were afforded the time and space to set up our speedster Nathan to race away and score in the corner. This was a certainly a poignant moment as the last festival try Nathan had scored was in the Final of the Under 7 plate competition having spent the last 2 years in Singapore! The team closed out the game very effectively by denying Royston any free ball to record their second County Plate Festival win in 3 years.

Therefore Captain of the B team, Morgan Wynne joined the Captain of the A team, Jack Briars, to lift their respective trophies and complete yet another County Festival win.

C Team

C team in the shield competition

C team in the shield competition

Following a successful season where the C team has grown stronger and more adept we headed off to Harpenden aiming to finish the season with a set of performances that would do the team justice.

In the first game we played Tring C. Although we were slow starters we were only 5-0 down at half time and the team upped their game in the second half with Charlie scoring a fantastic hat trick. This combined with stout defence, and try saving tackles from Charlie, Jack Byrne and John meant we successfully closed the game out 15-5.

Next up was Hertford C who would provide a stern test of our abilities. In the first half, one of our 2 debutants on the day, Eddie, opened the scoring and put in a try saving tackle and we went in at half time 5-5. In the second half a momentary lapse of concentration led to us conceding a soft try. Charlie made a break in an attempt to even the scores but it was ruled out for a hand off, but Eddie managed to again cross the whitewash. Hertford then scored another despite an inspired defensive performance from the team. Special mention here to Dominic who hit a purple patch driving his larger opposite number back time after time. Alas it was not enough and we lost 15-10.

Clearly we were now up against it in terms of trying to win the shield as we had to rely on other results to go our way.

That said, the boys maintained their focus in the next game against our hosts, Harpenden C’s. Oscar scored a tremendous try from short range to open our account and we led 5-0 at half time. In the second half we really turned it on and played our best rugby of the tournament. Dominic was still in the zone scoring a try and saving one too with a great tackle. Charlie scored a brace of tries (the second of which followed an electric break and sublime pass from another debutant, John Passmore). John like Eddie really stepped up to the plate on their first competitive outings for Welwyn. (Here’s too many more of the same lads!). Hence we won 20-0.

Following a long break we faced our local rivals OA’s C’s in a bruising encounter that saw us lose 15-5. By this stage we believe that the length of the day and the fierceness of their efforts in previous games took its toll, and we lost our shape conceding three tries and scoring one. Another barnstormer from Eddie who managed to score the try with one of their defenders on his back! This result effectively ended our hopes of securing the shield for Welwyn, and with one game left it was going to be interesting to see how the squad would respond to this setback.

As in the previous months of the season, the team didn’t disappoint and got back to their winning ways with a convincing victory over OA’s D’s by 20-5. Eddie scored a hat trick and John scored another.

For the statisticians amongst you we played 5, won 3 and lost 2. We scored 14 tries (try scorers were Eddie 6, Charlie 5, Oscar 1, John 1 and Dominic 1), and only conceded 8.

These results meant that we finished in joint 3rd place but with the knowledge that we had beaten the eventual winners, Tring C during the competition. Well done to the whole squad Oscar, Armand, Bradley W, Jack, Charlie, James Weston, Nicholas, Luke, Dominic, Josh, Eliot, Finlay B, Eddie and John. They displayed great grit, togetherness and determination throughout the tournament.