Baptism of Fire for Sub-16/18s

Tackling (or missing tackles) was the order of the day for the sub-16s

Both sub-16/18 teams got serious wake-up calls last Sunday when things began to unravel fairly swiftly after a wonderful Club Brunch.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Around a hundred or so punters turned up for an excellent late breakfast/early lunch ahead of the debut performances of our two senior teams in the Campeonato Nacional A league last Sunday. Sadly, the results on the pitch did not match the fine fare at the brunch.

Indeed, both of our teams were on the wrong end of cricket scores as they were confronted by last season's champions/Cup winners.

The sub-16s in particular got a brutal introduction to the realities of playing against teams that are physically stonger, technically superior and tactically more aware, conceding over 100 points and rarely able to get and keep possession of the ball. They will have to climb a very steep learning curve and develop a more cohesive and committed defence if they are to adapt to life in the A league jungle.

The sub-18s also lost heavily, but showed an admirable collective spirit and occasionally even threatened with ball in hand. Too many times, however, they were flustered into mistakes that gifted possession back to their opponents, who gave a lesson in how to build pressure and capitalise on it.

Not even the superb efforts of our troupe of sub-8/10 mascots, who acted as water carriers and tag rugby half time entertainers, could stem the black and red tides, but they certainly brought some much needed light relief during the afternoon's trials and tribulations.

Click here to view Fernando Santos' images from the sub-18 game: http://goo.gl/wcPtw

Click here to view Fernando Santos' images from the sub-16 game: http://goo.gl/OR4Gz

Click here to view Peter Fay's images from the sub-18 game: http://goo.gl/1odc8

Click here to view Peter Fay's images from the sub-16 game: http://goo.gl/44y2C