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Sat 02 Dec 2023
Saracens vs Northampton Saints - U11 Festival
Under 11's
11:00
U11s Defender Cup - Stone-X // Sarries vs Saints Dec 2 2023
Matthew Lane4 Dec 2023 - 23:25
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Young Lions out of town!
Our U11s travelled along with the U12s to the StoneX Stadium on Saturday. We were supposed to play in the Defender Cup at Belmont School, but this was unfortunately postponed last minute due to pitch conditions and anticipated freezing weather. However, the Saracens community team hastily re-arranged a slightly smaller U11 & U12 Festival at their ground ahead of Saracens vs Northampton Saints.
Both teams and their accompanying parents met, bleary eyed at the Drill field for breakfast? at 06:00⏰, perfectly cooked up by Rob and his kitchen staff?. After a quick scran, we met the coach, loaded, and were on our way! After the initial sleepy tone, the noise and excitement soon ramped up and we arrived at the ground by 09:30. After going through the turnstiles, we found a corner inside the East Stand and set up camp for the day. The U11s had been pooled against 5 other teams and were eagerly awaiting their first game.
?Vs Harpenden
Lost 20-10 [?Stanley Preston, ?Arthur Warner]
The team ran out for the day with Tommy Lane Captaining, and Arthur Warner as V/C. The first game against Harpenden was close, with plenty of battles around the pitch, Deal & Bettes were strong at the breakdowns but were often beaten there in speed, a slow start from the boys meant that instead of almost equalising just before close of play, in the end, Harpenden ran 1 more in for the win by 2 trys. Not the ideal start, but not outplayed and despite the sluggish start were competitive around the park and from the Lions coaches, very winnable!
?Vs Old Colfeians
Won 15-10 [??Stanley Preston (2), ?Arthur Warner]
Our second match saw us up against Old Colf’s. A familiar foe with strong pedigree. Another well contested and physical match up, with some big frames in front of the Deal players. Despite the generally larger size of the OC team, the Lions were rallied well by T Lane and the young lions defended robustly, A Warner chopping every opposition he could get close to, and the larger OC runners were taken down in pairs superbly demonstrated by most, but particular mentions to Kenzie B-C, H Smith, Mason C-M and Rod D. We saw some great play straight from recent training sessions and support was in abundance creating some great opportunities for Stanley and Arthur to put scores down.
?Vs Newbury
Won 15-10 [?Stanley Preston, ?Tommy Lane, ?Rod Dechamps]
Straight off the back of OC’s we went directly in to playing Newbury. The lads were still drawing breath as we kicked off. Again, the support play of the young lions was immense, and from great rucking and tenacious work at each breakdown, it afforded us clean ball and opportunities for Harry Marler, Stevie Watkins, Kayden Harlow and Harry Waters to carry and make critical ground. This then allowed releasing wide to our faster legs on the field, and enabled by great speed of ball through the hands of Kenzie B-C, Tom Henderson and Fin H for Stan Preston to touch down over the whitewash. The next score came from some excellent footwork and gained yardage by Reuben Herbert which was eventually slowed down, just before the line, and despite calls from the side line to fire out wide, was picked and battled over the line for another great score from T Lane. Last up was Rod Dechamps, with a blistering run splitting apart Newbury’s defence, ran in a fantastic try from near our own 22. A great win and tremendous team spirit.
?Vs Battersea Ironsides
Lost 25-10 [??Stanley Preston (2)]
Game 4, the toughest of the day. Our Deal & Betteshanger lads were met by a well drilled and much larger team from Battersea. We started well and played as we had done quite successfully elsewhere on the day so far, but it never felt quite enough to get the edge on the young Ironsiders. Every run or move we tried seemed to be answered. Despite the score however, we played well, defended with strength and discipline and heads never dropped. Continued rallying cries form Capt and VC saw the Lions battle endlessly, 2 trys held up and 2 trys pushed over saw this one end against us, but the display of grit, determination, pride and passion was the largest of the day. Aiden Campling and Arthur Warner prime examples of body’s being put on the line, saw them both coming off with injuries sustained, whilst Stanley ran back on after having his busted nose patched up.
?Vs Westcliff
Won 20-5 [?Mason Clements-Mills, ?Tommy Lane, ?Finn Harrison, ?Stanley Preston]
Our last game of the day was against a strong Essex Side. Another game on the bounce directly after the previous, some tired legs and we were also now down a couple of players and V/C through injury. The boys needed to dig deep for each other in this last hurrah – They did not disappoint! Tremendous work from our boys in all areas. More big carries in to contact from our runners, quick ball from the break downs from our 9, and great footwork, pace and ball through the hands from our players in depth and out wide. Westcliff were put on the back foot from KO with a great chase, and the Deal side never let them gain momentum. Some massive tackles this game form Fin Harrison, Mason and Harry Marler, great carries from Harry Waters and Kayden H enabling the legs of Fin and Stanley to punch 2 over. Further tenacity saw Mason reach the line, and Tommy nicked a cheeky spilled ball near their own line. Another absolutely fantastic team performance and a great way to cap the day off before lining up to form the guard of honour for them main fixture. [ML/GJ]
Both teams and their accompanying parents met, bleary eyed at the Drill field for breakfast? at 06:00⏰, perfectly cooked up by Rob and his kitchen staff?. After a quick scran, we met the coach, loaded, and were on our way! After the initial sleepy tone, the noise and excitement soon ramped up and we arrived at the ground by 09:30. After going through the turnstiles, we found a corner inside the East Stand and set up camp for the day. The U11s had been pooled against 5 other teams and were eagerly awaiting their first game.
?Vs Harpenden
Lost 20-10 [?Stanley Preston, ?Arthur Warner]
The team ran out for the day with Tommy Lane Captaining, and Arthur Warner as V/C. The first game against Harpenden was close, with plenty of battles around the pitch, Deal & Bettes were strong at the breakdowns but were often beaten there in speed, a slow start from the boys meant that instead of almost equalising just before close of play, in the end, Harpenden ran 1 more in for the win by 2 trys. Not the ideal start, but not outplayed and despite the sluggish start were competitive around the park and from the Lions coaches, very winnable!
?Vs Old Colfeians
Won 15-10 [??Stanley Preston (2), ?Arthur Warner]
Our second match saw us up against Old Colf’s. A familiar foe with strong pedigree. Another well contested and physical match up, with some big frames in front of the Deal players. Despite the generally larger size of the OC team, the Lions were rallied well by T Lane and the young lions defended robustly, A Warner chopping every opposition he could get close to, and the larger OC runners were taken down in pairs superbly demonstrated by most, but particular mentions to Kenzie B-C, H Smith, Mason C-M and Rod D. We saw some great play straight from recent training sessions and support was in abundance creating some great opportunities for Stanley and Arthur to put scores down.
?Vs Newbury
Won 15-10 [?Stanley Preston, ?Tommy Lane, ?Rod Dechamps]
Straight off the back of OC’s we went directly in to playing Newbury. The lads were still drawing breath as we kicked off. Again, the support play of the young lions was immense, and from great rucking and tenacious work at each breakdown, it afforded us clean ball and opportunities for Harry Marler, Stevie Watkins, Kayden Harlow and Harry Waters to carry and make critical ground. This then allowed releasing wide to our faster legs on the field, and enabled by great speed of ball through the hands of Kenzie B-C, Tom Henderson and Fin H for Stan Preston to touch down over the whitewash. The next score came from some excellent footwork and gained yardage by Reuben Herbert which was eventually slowed down, just before the line, and despite calls from the side line to fire out wide, was picked and battled over the line for another great score from T Lane. Last up was Rod Dechamps, with a blistering run splitting apart Newbury’s defence, ran in a fantastic try from near our own 22. A great win and tremendous team spirit.
?Vs Battersea Ironsides
Lost 25-10 [??Stanley Preston (2)]
Game 4, the toughest of the day. Our Deal & Betteshanger lads were met by a well drilled and much larger team from Battersea. We started well and played as we had done quite successfully elsewhere on the day so far, but it never felt quite enough to get the edge on the young Ironsiders. Every run or move we tried seemed to be answered. Despite the score however, we played well, defended with strength and discipline and heads never dropped. Continued rallying cries form Capt and VC saw the Lions battle endlessly, 2 trys held up and 2 trys pushed over saw this one end against us, but the display of grit, determination, pride and passion was the largest of the day. Aiden Campling and Arthur Warner prime examples of body’s being put on the line, saw them both coming off with injuries sustained, whilst Stanley ran back on after having his busted nose patched up.
?Vs Westcliff
Won 20-5 [?Mason Clements-Mills, ?Tommy Lane, ?Finn Harrison, ?Stanley Preston]
Our last game of the day was against a strong Essex Side. Another game on the bounce directly after the previous, some tired legs and we were also now down a couple of players and V/C through injury. The boys needed to dig deep for each other in this last hurrah – They did not disappoint! Tremendous work from our boys in all areas. More big carries in to contact from our runners, quick ball from the break downs from our 9, and great footwork, pace and ball through the hands from our players in depth and out wide. Westcliff were put on the back foot from KO with a great chase, and the Deal side never let them gain momentum. Some massive tackles this game form Fin Harrison, Mason and Harry Marler, great carries from Harry Waters and Kayden H enabling the legs of Fin and Stanley to punch 2 over. Further tenacity saw Mason reach the line, and Tommy nicked a cheeky spilled ball near their own line. Another absolutely fantastic team performance and a great way to cap the day off before lining up to form the guard of honour for them main fixture. [ML/GJ]
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