Infamous Elevens finally go Wild in Wigan

Got to the club to join the convoy and no-one was there. OMG – had I got the wrong date? As I am usually late for most things, this was a tad concerning especially given that sat nav was going to be of no use in the wilds of Wigan. Anyhow, turned out I was early!! (please take note that it happens occasionally).

The “convoy” of 2 cars set off in good time and with the navigational powers of Coach Grahamslaw who used the sun, stars and smell of pies to guide us, we arrived at WRUFC in good time. Luckily, Jen’s mini didn’t get beached on the woodland path to the clubhouse. That would have caused a few problems!

So, parents established camp and boys got warmed up. The day was bright and sunny with a brisk chilly wind.

We were in Pool C with Preston Grasshoppers, Sedgeley Park, and Waterloo. All good teams – as expected at the Finals. Boys were confident and focused. Will hand over to Statto here, as he sees things I don’t (like where the ball has gone!) and is therefore able to supply some useful information about the games.

Thanks Steph. We had followed an erratically driven mini careering up the long winding woodland path like something out of the classic 1969 film "The Italian Job" at a lunatic speed. As the car came out of its final spin to a screeching, shuddering stop and the dust, grit and injured settled, I was confidently expecting Michael Caine and Noel Coward to get out, so was slightly surprised to see Manchester’s very own Thelma and Louise emerge.

Match 1: PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS
We’d played this team before recently at the Vale of Lune tournament, so knew what to expect. A good, strong, physical team that are very capable at passing the ball swiftly and, like Manchester, tackle hard. Preston kicked off in the first half and for a long period that was the only time the ball was in our half. Manchester were very committed in the tackle with some great rucking and strong attacking also on display. When the try came it was from a Manchester penalty. A quick feed from our post saw the onrushing player run strongly at the Grasshopper’s defensive line who managed to hold our attackers up well before a Manchester player managed to scramble his way through the bodies to “rat” the try. The subsequent drop kick conversion was made. Half time: Manchester 7 - Preston Grasshoppers 0 and we couldn’t ask for much more from the team.

Rugby is a game of two halves and nowhere is this better illustrated than in this match. Preston completely turned the game round with a combination of hard work great cross field passing and decision making against our boys switching off, complete lack of getting the ball quickly fed across the pitch and poor decision making. Their first try was scored from a nicely passed ball out of their own scrum, but the second one I missed, I’m afraid. I was too busy picking up the strands of hair I’d torn out of my head on the sidelines watching the game slip out of our hands. Rugby (as well as being a game of two halves) is also a cruel mistress and at this point I’d gone completely Cuculus Canorus ( translation from Steph – cuckoo – not from my completely useless Latin O level but the much more useful Google).

Stats for the game showed that we had two lineouts awarded winning one of them, whilst Preston had none. We both won our one scrum apiece and we were awarded five penalties to Preston’s two. Manchester managed to turn the ball over twice to Preston’s none.

Final score: Manchester 7 - Preston Grasshoppers 14

Match 2: SEDGELEY PARK
Almost straight away we were up against our next opponents. Sedgeley Park had been in our qualifying group and we’d met them twice in Lancashire RFU’s weird and inexplicably odd fixtures system. On both occasions we’d beaten them, but our boys knew they could take nothing for granted. As my boss has already said above, all the teams in this tournament are there because they earned the right to be there. We kicked off and immediately put pressure on Sedgeley’s defence which resulted in a scrum to Manchester. This attacking phase of play brought about a penalty to us and saw an intelligent bit of decision making on the part of the penalty taker who saw a gap in the opposition defence and, catching Sedgeley unawares, sped through to score a fine solo goal. Once again the drop kick conversion was executed unerringly. The second try was in complete contrast to the first, a determined Manchester player shoved and pushed his way through both tackles and bodies to ground the ball over the line. Unfortunately the conversion was missed but we’d begun to build up a lead. Try three was met with great cheers, a brave gutsy run through the defence to score in the corner. Once again the drop kick was converted. Sedgeley managed a consolation try late on in the second half with a missed drop kick.

Stats for the game showed that we had no lineouts awarded, whilst Sedgeley had one which we won. We won our only scrum and also one of Sedgeley’s two. Both teams were awarded two penalties and Manchester managed to turn the ball over once (but we had the majority of the possession in this game).

Final score: Manchester 19 - Sedgeley Park 5

Match 3: WATERLOO
After a break Manchester took to the field against Waterloo. And just to prove that rugby isn’t just a game of two halves, all the meaningful action took place in the first half of this match. Once again Manchester started well and after a superb drive at a maul the early pressure paid off with a strong run by a Manchester player to force his way over the try line. Unfortunately the resulting drop kick attempt hit the post and bounced clear. We seemed to be in control of the game when a momentary lapse in concentration allowed Waterloo through to score a soft goal which was to prove costly as their conversion went sailing over the bars!

Stats for the game showed that no lineouts were awarded. We won our two scrums and also three of Waterloo’s four. We were awarded a single penalty and Waterloo two; Manchester managed to turn the ball over five times to the oppositions twice.

Final score: Manchester 5 - Waterloo 7

That result meant that we were playing for the 5th to 8th positions on the day. A semi final against Southport beckoned - a team we had met and had a tough game against at the Vale of Lune tournament recently.

PLATE SEMI FINAL: SOUTHPORT
This would be a good test as to how our boys would respond after the disappointment of the morning’s results. They didn’t disappoint. From their own kick off Manchester were in Southport’s faces and some spirited attacking play had us camped on the opposition try line. Southport managed to keep Manchester at bay for a short while until the ball was scrambled over the line for the first score of the game. Though the drop kick went wide, Manchester were once again putting the pressure on and in Southport’s faces. From a turnover the Manchester player carried the snatched ball through a number of tackles for a fine solo try, the missed drop kick attempt didn’t dampen their spirits as they went in search of try number three before half time and a nicely worked series of short passes looked like it had let an on rushing Manchester player in to snatch another but the last pass was judged, quite rightly, to have gone forward. Half time 2-0 to Manchester who seemed finally that day to have the bit between their teeth!

The second half began in much the same determined way as the first and some great attacking play from Manchester forced Southport into conceding a penalty. The resulting run at the opposition defence was initially held up on the line with some solid defensive work before the ball was eventually forced over for try number three. This time the conversion attempt was successful. The final try of the game came from the ball being fed out from our own scrum, deep into Southport’s half and after a couple of blocked attempts to break through the defensive line a Manchester player managed to find a gap and muscle his way over the line to score. Once again the kick was made.

Stats for the game showed that only one lineout was awarded to Southport which they won. Manchester won their five scrums and also one of Southport’s two. We were awarded three penalties and Southport four, Manchester managed to turn the ball over twice without the opposition replying.

Final score: Manchester 24 - Southport 0

PLATE FINAL: BLACKBURN
This was always going to be tough, and our pack were in for a rude awakening - Blackburn managed to do what no other team has done this season and win all the scrums! That said Manchester took the game to the opposition and the majority of the play was in Blackburn’s half. The boys kept the pressure on Blackburn’s defence throughout the game and some good, strong work at a Blackburn lineout caused them to lose the ball to one of our players who raced over the line to score the only try of the game. But as we’re beginning to realise as parents our U11s don’t do things the easy way, the drop kick was missed, and the rest of the match was a nailbiting affair as we defended stoutly against some excellent Blackburn attacking then broke out ourselves looking to put the game beyond doubt. It was a close game, one I’m sure both sets of players enjoyed being in, played in the right spirit and both exciting and nerve-wracking to watch. Well done to both teams.

Stats for the game showed that only we won our single lineout and both of Blackburn’s. Blackburn won all five of our scrums and their own one. We were awarded one penalty and Blackburn two. Manchester turned the ball over once whilst Blackburn managed to do it twice.
Final score Manchester 5 0 Blackburn

Thanks Statto.

At the end of the day, the boys were pooped. We didn’t win but the stats show they played well against the best teams in Lancashire. They worked very hard – as they always do, and gave their best. Rugby is a hard game, both physically and strategically, and the Team has made great strides this year in developing their teamwork and skills. Whilst they may make errors (I have yet to see an International game where top class players don’t make daft mistakes, or lose their mental focus) our boys keep coming back week after week, showing their commitment to their team, the game and their willingness to work at it.

Parent awards go to Viv Horsfield (self nominated) for the Most Inappropriate Footwear; Jenny Johnson for the Best Tan of the day; Adele for the Most Miles Walked in support of the Team and supply of caffeine for parents and boys alike (thanks Adele).