MINIS - UNDER 9'S

Match Report Grasshopper’s Festival for Sunday 2nd November 2008

Grasshoppers Under 9 Won: 4 Draw: 0 Lost: 0 Points: 20

G’s vs. Finchley 5-2 Tries by Stephen 3, Finlay 2 G’s vs. Pinner & Grammarians 1-0 Tries by Stephen 1 G’s vs. Enfield Ignations 3-0 Tries by Stephen 3 G’s vs. Hammersmith & Fulham 2-1 Tries by Stephen 1, Emily 1 We started off well beating the Runner up in our group with two excellent breakaway tries by Finlay. The game was far closer than the result suggested. The next game against Pinner was a challenge since they had some large kids to stop, but there were some great tackles by Rory, Caleb, Stephen and Joseph and the battering rams of Pinner were stopped in their tracks. Stephen managed to make a break through the middle of the field to score the only try. The next game against Enfield Ignations was another close game although the score was in our favour. Stephen managed to rip the ball twice to make a break whilst the opposition were looking for the ball in the maul and again Grasshoppers tackling held the opponents back from our try line. The final game against Hammersmith & Fulham was another tough game with Emily scoring first showing Hammersmith a clean pair of heels, but it was tough, hard hitting, crunch tackles and they targeted her as a threat and double teamed her. Stephen was substituted in the second half and caught Hammersmith off guard with an individual evasive run. Hammersmith almost came back scoring one try and almost scoring an equaliser if not for an amazing try saving tackle by Rory. Hoppers win Group 1 only conceding only 3 tries far lower than most of the other teams except for Rosslyn Park (conceded 2 and scored 16 tries) in Group 2.

Winners of Pool 2 – Rosslyn Park : beat Bank of England 3-1 ; beat Hackney bulls 2-0; beat Twickenham 6-0; beat Teddington 5-1. The FINAL Grasshoppers unfortunately lost 1 – 3 to Rosslyn Park in a game that I think we could have won. Stephen scored our only try and was quickly closed down whenever he received the ball thereafter. Emily and Joseph made some good runs and Rory was keen to get the ball and run. Rosslyn Park made two illegal tackles on Hoppers that had got clean away, but we failed to take advantage of the free pass penalties metres from the try line. Two of the tries scored by Rosslyn Park could have been prevented with better defensive positioning, something we had got right all day, but was missing in the game that mattered. Still everyone was trying their best and there some wonderful pass moves, tackles, ripping in mauls. We can take much away from a most enjoyable day. Well Done team.

Under 9 Coache’s Player of Festival = Stephen Pickett

Match Report Guildfordians Festival for Sunday 5th October 2008

The U 9’s entered two teams to participate in the festival a B team and a C team.

	Score	Won	Draw	Lost	Points
Grasshoppers U9 B		2	0	2	10
G’s vs Battersea B’s	0-3	3	1	0	17
G’s vs Weybridge Vandals B’s	2-0	1	1	2	7
G’s vs Brighton B’s	0-2	1	2	1	9
G’s vs Old Alleynians B’s	1-0	0	2	2	4

We started off slow and nervous against Battersea with only 7 players on the pitch at the start of the match. We were not picking up the ball up in the loose, not driving over the ball to protect team mates on the ground, we were watching the game, standing too far back and letting the opposition run at us. But we adjusted our game and we were more focused for the other games. We closed the game down and didn’t give the opposition time to think or the room to run at us. You listened and played very well against tough opposition. The 3 Tries were scored by Stephen but there could have been more if we had a little more luck with Emily, Joseph, Caleb and Aaron all being a little unfortunate with their break away runs. There were lots of good tackles put in by the whole team. Well done in finishing 2nd in your Pool Group.

The C Team Results:
G’s vs Pulborough B’s 0-6
G’s vs Guildfordians B’s 0-4
G’s vs Battersea C’s 1-6
G’s vs Wimbledon B’s 1-4

Grasshoppers C team had a difficult pool to play in facing mostly B Teams. They lost all their games but they played with their hearts and were courageous in difficult conditions. There were some great moments by some individuals Alex, Finlay and Conner...evasive running, tackling, teamwork when under pressure. There was a remarkable improvement in the commitment of the team as they progressed in the competition in some terrible weather conditions. Well Done team.

Match Report for Saturday 04th October 2008

London Welsh 6 Grasshoppers 0

Grasshoppers were invited to London Welsh RFC to play the Under 9’s as “Half Time Fillers” for the Senior Game against Leeds.

Fortunately, the weather stayed dry and 20 players from Grasshoppers arrived to take part in a training session at Old Deer Park before the 1st match whilst the senior game was in progress. London Welsh played G’ U9 C team and scored 4 tries to nil. The C team showed some spirit and character. They can hold their heads up high in defeat. The 2nd game then transferred to the 1st team pitch to play in front of the crowd with the G’s U9 B team. This match was very exciting and very close. Emily and Stephen were both unfortunate not to score. We had some great support from the crowd. The game was going from one end to the other and was very exciting to watch with good try saving tackles from both sides. London Welsh won the day and managed to score two tries much to the delight of the home crowd.

An excellent day for the kids, the parents and the coach...You all did me proud. Well done everyone.