Saracens Amateur RFC Limited

B TEAM

Some of the older hands at the club will always ask about the B team results first. They reckon it tells them most about how an age group is doing.

They'll be delighted to hear that our Saracens U12 B Team beat two of the most fancied teams in their league. And did it by scoring enough tries to claim a bonus point in both games.

First up was Twickenham RFC - their A Team.

The opposition played a disciplined, direct game with a sniping scrum half.

Our half backs, Ellis and Conner, killed off the threat while delivering quick go-forward ball. Ellis tackled like a knarled blind-side flanker and Conner repeatedly dominated contact and won the space behind to play his support runners in behind the opposition defence.

He also broke clean through to score.

The centres, Robert and Josh A, pressed up with real aggression that forced panicked mistakes from their opposite numbers. There were some beautifully weighted and timed passes from the centres that could have been used as textbook examples of how to draw a man.

Matt and Sachin showed some great evasive running on the wings and Josh J impressed with his typical tenacity in contact. Angus showed his great game sense and all-round strong footballing brain as he was called upon to play in several positions

Full back Freddie repeatedly joined the line in attack at pace, timing his runs to create real threats - which earned him a well-deserved try.

Every boy in the squad played and helped earn the 1-3 bonus point victory.

Our second game was against Rosslyn Park.

They had several 'big units' in their pack, but our forwards outplayed them in ever area.

There was some technically excellent mauling, including a great drive off a line out, that Rosslyn Park did not know how to handle.

The tight five players - Paul, Joseph, Zane, Thomas, Toby H, Daniel, Rowley, Josh S, Joel - were magnificent at the set pieces.

In the loose, Joel often powered his way to the line forcing at least three tacklers out of the game.

Josh showed real pace and power, playing to a plan to back up the centres and be first at the breakdown.

He scored our traditional dissallowed try against Rossyln Park.

It was a delight to see leaders express themselves on the pitch. During a break for an injury Robert called the team into a shoulder huddle where Rowley inspired and Ellis castigated in equal measure.

The result was another1-3 bonus point win.

The coaches take real pride in seeing the B Squad boys play so well - and enjoy being forced to rethink future A team selection.

We hope that the B team success proves our coaching philosophy right- that all boys count equally and are coached equally.

Many clubs and coaches succumb to their egos and focus on the A team players while the potential of the B team players is left unrealized. This is anathema to us.

All of the boys are improving as players and maturing into impressive young men. It is fitting that the B Team squad will be playing predominantly A teams on Finals Day in March.

MOM: Conner



James