Home | MORE NEWS | Sub-14 Toulouse Tour Report and Video

Sub-14 Toulouse Tour Report and Video

By
Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font
Sub-14 Toulouse Tour Report and Video

Read Oliver Hartwright's Tour Report and view the Tour Video and image gallery here.

 

.

.

.

.

.

Click here to view Martial Rodrigues' Tour Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6FvoBnEuqw&context=C3bb2b5fADOEgsToPDskKrQ-orG0QKUR9_6chE6l0F 

Tour Report by Oliver Hartwright

A rugby tour is much more than just competing in a match, it is a team experience that lives long in the memory of all involved. It is stressful at times for the coaches, but equally, perhaps the most positive experience for all in the whole school year.  Whilst that may seem paradoxical, the effect of the tour on the boys' character is unquantifiable.  The Sub-14 squad left for the tour having not won a match all year, but bonded together, stood together and won together as a team unrecognisable from the early months of this year.  Many of them left doubting whether they could reach their ambitions as rugby players, but returned having learned the lesson that they are stronger together.  They were a credit to the school and the club.

Players stood up as leaders throughout the tour party, but none more so than our enforcer and captain Diego "Hustler" Hernando.  He set the tone of the tour throughout, leading by example with his exemplary behaviour off the pitch and by striking the fear of God in the opposition.  Nothing was more instrumental in our victory than his sycthing tackle on the opposition fly-half in the first minute of the match, because from then on they were always passing the ball to try to avoid our terrifying Spaniard.  Even the experienced Sub-18s shuddered when I showed them the video footage of his tackling.  A captain and man of whom club can be extremely proud.

Forwards review

Gui Guimaraes may have won the "Teddy Bear" prize for daftness, but he also ran strongly from the back of the scrum and scored two important tries.  Manuel Coelho in just his second month at St. Julian's Rugby Club was outstanding, with his surging runs and sense of humour off the field.  Jeremy Frost put powerful tackles in throughout the match and quickly became Mr. Steele's favourite member of the tour party for his acerbic asides.  Duarte "Barrell" Baccelar made the break of the match. The sheer size of Manuel "Jose" Neto must have attracted the attention of the only female player on the opposition team, for she enjoyed many a run in with our aggressive Second-Row enforcer.  Martial Rodrigues was indispenable both on the field and off the field, from police stations to speeches to indefatigable enthusiasm he was the star member of the tour party and unlucky not to get on the score sheet.  Vicente Chaves came off the bench to carry the ball well and dominate with a strong rucking performance.  Antonio Reis terrorised the opposition with some rather high tackles, but also rucked well, protecting our possession.  Filipe Figuereido was in his element being thrust onto the flank, tackling and rucking as well as entertaining the tour party with his off-field antics.

Backs review

One back who made a crucial contribution to the tour was our scrum-half Charles Trodd.  Charlie "My mum cuts my hair" Trodd is a real rugby fan and this shows in his understanding of the game.  He was crucial in keeping our rhythmn, as well as the deceptively strong Francis "Fierce" Braddell-Dawson who dictated play at fly-half as well as putting in a share of tackling that would impress most forwards.  Other players who proved that they have come of age were Jacob Costa-Correia and Christian Bader, who surprised the opposition with their strength and won plaudits off the field for being the politest and best behaved tourists.  Francisco "Frankie" Garcia blew the opposition away in the first half with his now customary hat-trick.  William "Mamba" Ferreira was outstanding in the number of metres that he carried the ball, with his undeniable athleticism and a new found determination keeping the opposition on the back foot.  Salvador Mendes, our toughest kilo-for-kilo player displayed outstanding technique in the tackle and in support of other runners - he was very unlucky not to get onto the scoresheet himself.  Antonio "Princess" Freire, our lightest tour party member dictated play at scrum-half in the second half and shamed the forwards with some of his tackles.  Another new member of the club, Francisco Almeida, made surging runs on the wing, including one supporting run which produced our most attractive rugby of rapid offloads.  Virgile Henriques had his game of the season, tackling like a demon and ensuring that the opposition never made progress down our left flank.  Adam Shaw made his best tackles of the season and always made five metres when he got possession of the ball with his powerful leg drives.

Awards

Player of the tour:   Diego Hernando

Tackling and rucking has been our weakness throughout the season.  Hustler made the opposition fear receiving possession and regularly turned it over when they had it.  His leadership by example was exactly the message that the team needed.

Best tourist:   Martial Rodrigues

It wasn't just his pizza ordering ability, nor his ability to negotiate with the Toulouse constabulary, but rather his positivity and genial attitude that made him indispensible to the tour.  Outstanding in every sense, both on and off the field.

Most improved forward:   Manuel Neto

Before the match he was the player who put the aggression into the team.  He was Hustler's perfect lieutenant and kept the pressure on the opposition throughout the match.

Most improved back:   Virgile Henriques

For his willingness to tackle, to pressure the opposition and to ensure that no-one passed him he was outstanding.

Finally, I would like to thank all of the parents for all the encouragement and support that they provide for our players.  Our players thrive on the support that they are given and your support was crucial in the success of this tour.

 

  • Email to a friend Email to a friend
  • Print version Print version
  • Plain text Plain text

Tagged as:

No tags for this article

Image gallery

Rate this article

5.00