Rugby Academy Tournament November 12th 2014
Report by Sporting Elite Media Officer Jack
Carr Hill’s Rugby Academy was one of many teams that participated in the North Lancashire FE10-a-side Tournament. The team consisted of 10 sixth formers; Max, Jacob, Jordan, Rhys, Connor, George, Aidan, Sam, Connor and team captain, Will. As it was an FE tournament, which stands for Further Education, only Year 12 and 13 academy members could play.
Before the tournament even started the team were working well together, stretching, warming up and practising techniques, particularly team captain, Will and team mate Sam. Even in the warm up the team were showing signs of determination to win.
The first match of the tournament kicked off against Blackpool Fylde College. As soon as the match began Carr Hill players were straight into it. There were great scrums from both sides but Carr Hill managed to do be the better team. Carr Hill never gave up Aidan showed this in this match as even though he lost the ball, he always chased after it.
Carr Hill players kept on passing the ball to one another to get it down the pitch as fast as possible and they succeeded. The first try of the match was scored by the team captain Will and the players achieved this through great team work. Carr Hill players were really showing their skills and pace. Meanwhile on the side-line coach Mr Penney was giving the team helpful advice, telling them what to do and how to improve their play. The advice paid off as Connor and Jacob demonstrated some brilliant passing, which lead to another try scored by team mate Sam.
As the second half began Carr Hill knew they couldn’t let Blackpool take the lead. Rhys and Max showed how skilled they are by making some excellent tackles and again this lead to Will and Sam both scoring. Connor and Aidan were also impressive both speeding ahead down the pitch, which lead yet again to a perfect try scored by Aidan. Carr Hill won their first game, 36 to 0.
The second game came and it was against Preston College. Carr Hill had to get straight into the game and, after a successful start to the tournament, Max was one of the players who did just that delivering a great tackle. This lead to another scrum and after it Aidan chased after the ball, Sam then took the lead and scored.
Unfortunately, Preston College scored but Carr Hill didn’t let that stop them. Connor got straight back into the game and ran with the ball down the pitch. Rhys helped Connor all the way. After a break Connor scored a try, while Sam came close to scoring one. Quickly after this Connor scored another try. Team captain Will, took the lead keeping control of the team. Sam scored numerous conversions during this game and Jacob scored his first try of the tournament! Carr Hill won their second game, 28 to 7.
After two wins Carr Hill were in high spirits but could they keep up their winning streak? Carr Hill faced off against Blackpool Fylde College once again. Having already played them once, they knew what they were going up against. When the match began Jacob received the ball but he got taken down, however teammate Max was there to help him. Later on in the game, Aidan, Connor and George showed great team work. They helped one another along the way with their passing. Max showed off his outstanding tackling skills and Connor demonstrated quick thinking techniques. George picked up a try for the team but Sam missed the conversion however the team carried on.
After a break the team got back into it. Connor was taken down by the opposition but this didn’t accept morale as they carried on. Just like the previous games Carr Hill players were fast to deal with the opposing team. Coach Mr Penney continued to offer support and encouragement from the side-lines and at the end of the third game the score was 35 to 5 to Carr Hill.
The fourth match was against Preston College again. Just like the previous game Max and Will made great efforts to help out the team with their tackling skills and they both got involved in helping the others to have the best opportunity to score.
Jordan and Aidan where both fast on their feet in this game helping to get the ball to the other side of the pitch as fast as possible. Will scored the first try of the game and Sam followed the try with a conversion. Jordan followed this success with a great tackle on the opposing team and Sam scored. Shortly after this Max gained a slight injury however he didn’t let this stop him and he carried on playing.
After a break Carr Hill got back into action. Aidan once again showed brilliant running skills, getting the ball up the pitch as fast as possible with the rest of the team supporting him. The final score for the fourth match was 24 to 0, meaning Carr Hill had won all their matches so far.
Winning all four matches meant that Carr Hill had secured themselves a place in the final. Carr Hill would face for the third and final time, Preston College. Once again, Carr Hill had a great start to the match and the players gave Preston a challenge. Preston scored which meant Carr Hill had to score soon. The techniques from Carr Hill players were all on point and Sam soon scored a try. Connor and Will both came near to closing in a try but sadly missed. It was a tense match to watch as no one knew which way it would go.
In the second half of the match Jordan and Aidan were both taken down however George managed to score a sensational try which put Carr Hill were in the lead. After great team work from Aidan and Sam and an amazing tackle delivered by Will, Max scored his first try which was followed by a conversion. With help from Connor, Aidan quickly scored the next try. This was the last try scored in the game and meant that Carr Hill had won the tournament!
Aidan’s mum, Mrs Clow, watched the tournament. She said: “I think the players have worked really well together and have played some great rugby! For me the standout players were Aidan, Will, Connor and Rhys.”
Team captain Will said: “The team played well today. I am very happy to win the tournament as our players overcame some tough challenges. Well done everyone!”
Coach Mr Penney said: “The players worked well and played against quite big players but the team tackled them well and they used their superior skills to their advantage.The player of the event for me was Sam but Aidan also played very well after being injured for four weeks.”
Congratulations Carr Hill! You did an excellent job supporting one another and all the training has clearly paid off.
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