Super Tigers Tackle Winnington Park into Submission.

Watching Winnington Park warm up, I was convinced I had brought our Tigers to the under 10s pitch with so many of the home team head and shoulders above our boys. Once it was established that we were indeed, playing a team of giants, we got to work, warming up with some rugby netball as, one by one, the holidaying Tigers returned.

Game 1: Winnington Park 2v7 MRC
Game 1 saw the Tigers winning the toss and electing to run the ball. From the whistle the ball went to Luke and he ran unopposed to score the first try of the day and set the scene for the first half. Every time Winnington Park had the ball, Myles was on hand to subdue their runners with ferocious tackles that inevitably surrendered the ball and Alex was on hand to run in three tries for no return with Winnington Park players slouching off at half time reeling from the tackles and shell shocked from the score.

Winnington Park regrouped at half time and with the Tigers making a couple of substitutions themselves, the second half was more evenly balanced. Winnington were the first to break the whitewash, however the ever graceful Josh was on hand to level the honours straight from the restart with yet another of his jinxing runs which had the defence mesmerised and tripping over themselves, such was Josh's flowing movement with ball in hand. A couple of slipped tackles later and Winnington Park were back over our try line for their second and the game was now on, the Tigers leading 5v2. Again and again Winnington Park advanced only to be beaten back by a determined forward trio of Ollie, Joe and Thomas and some excellent scrum half skermishing from Will, whose awareness of the game was plain for all to see. From Will's passes, it was left once more for Josh to seal the victory with two more majestic tries in the dying moments of the game, though mention must also go to Charles, Luke and Ethan, who supported superbly throughout the game.

Game 2: Winnington Park 0v11 MRC
Game 2 had a starting front three of, Myles and Ollie propping with Alex at hooker. Scrum half in the first half was Joe with Josh, Thomas, Bill, Charles and Luke sharing the back line positions all to excellent effect. Winnington Park had fully rested their starting 9 and so all their new players were fresh faced and ready for the Tigers onslaught in the second of the days' games....or so they thought!! Bill went over for the first try after plenty of battling in the forward line with the ball going swiftly through the hands and once Luke had been held up close to the line it was the Billdozer who was on hand to pick up on the loose ball and push over for his first of the meeting. For such a slight player, Bill has emmense strength and there were examples of his ripping prowess throughout both of the games - if there was a maul it would be Bill in the middle of it, great to see such commitment from this awesome and exciting player. Luke, Josh and a brace from Joe kept the scoreline ticking over and there was absolutely nothing that Winnington Park could do. Every time they had the ball, they were tackled and the ball was forcefully ripped from them again and again as the Tigers determination to score drove them on to victory within the first half.

At half time, Will and Ethan joined the fray with Ollie and Birthday Boy Luke taking a well deserved rest for the last half of the day. Ethan came into the front row where his strength really showed in the ruck and maul and Will went in as fly half to complement Josh's scrum half vision. At the Tigers first scrum of the half, Josh fed to Alex who hooked back sublimely all day and seeing the break, Josh went over for the first of the half taking the Tigers into a 6v0 lead. Thomas took the honours for the Tigers next try when the ball went forward from one of Charles's powerful tackles and he ran it home in the corner to extend the Tigers lead. A knock on by Winnington Park at the restart gave a scrum to the Tigers and when Josh spun the ball out to Joe, there was only ever one outcome as Joe dragged a number of the opposition over with him in his determination to score his third of the day. After that it was all Manchester with Josh linking superbly with all of the Tigers back line to go over a further three times and take his days' tally to a magnificent 8 over the two games.

Todays mighty Tigers were (tries in brackets): Alex(3), Bill(1), Ethan, Josh(8), Luke D(2), Myles(Player of the Day), Ollie, Thomas(1), Will, Joe(3) and Charles.

A great day of confident rugby, played at a pace and style that belays their age. The Tigers were truly awesome today and a real talent in the making. They are coming together as a squad and every player should take pride in their efforts today with Myles a shining example of hard and fast rugby with his endless tackles and yards made for the benefit of the team. That he was Player of the Day without scoring shows what richness of talents there are in this squad and so I look forward to welcoming Trafford MV to Grove Park next week. What more can we expect from this young, exciting team.......I wonder!!