U13A vs King’s Rochester
In their first game of a triangular match, the U13A team faced King’s Rochester and, despite a rocky start with a try conceded within the first 30 seconds, they made a strong comeback. The team excelled in attack and maintained solid possession during the breakdowns. Player of the match was Beracah, who was recognised for his excellent carrying throughout the game.
U13A vs Vinehall School
The U13A team achieved a surprising victory against Vinehall School, especially notable given that Kings had recently lost to Vinehall by 25 points. Our team played exceptional rugby, effectively creating space on the wings which resulted in a significant number of tries. Joseph was named Player of the Match for his thorough knowledge of the rules, outstanding jackaling, and securing several crucial turnovers.
U12 vs King’s Rochester & Vinehall
On Wednesday, one U12 team headed to Vinehall with Mr. Steele while another travelled to King Rochester (Kings) with Mr. Gurran, both playing contact rugby with mixed-ability teams:
U12 v Vinehall
One group of U12’s kicked off their rugby season against Vinehall. Understandably, given that it was their first fixture together, it took a half of rugby to find their feet against a side that was dominated by one very strong player. Having conceded 6 tries, the team never let their spirits drop and fought back, ‘winning’ the second half of the game. Special mentions must go to Grayson, Nolan and Henry for their outstanding effort in defence.
U12 Navy vs King’s Rochester
The team at King’s began the match with nine Holmewood players and three from Kings, rotating players each quarter to adhere to full U12 rules, including five in the scrum. The match started challenging as we faced uphill against a strong team with robust forwards and quick backs. Our team passed effectively, gaining ground when in possession. However, handling errors, particularly during offloads in tackles, led to King’s executing strong counterattacks, either breaking through our lines or outpacing/ overpowering our wingers. By the end of the first quarter, the boys were down 25-0 and feeling the pressure.
The tactical changes focused on maintaining possession by going down when tackled to allow our forwards to secure the ball and set up subsequent plays. This strategy paid off, and the boys earned a penalty on the opponent’s 22-meter line, leading to Eli breaking through to put Holmewood on the scoreboard. Over the next 30 minutes, through persistent running and effective rucking, we matched a now-frustrated Kings side. Digby contributed two tries with direct runs, and Eli added four more from close range drives. Additionally, three tries were scored by Kings players temporarily on our side, leading to a narrow 45-40 victory for Holmewood. However, the mixed team composition means we can’t fully claim the win.
I was incredibly proud of the boys who showed the resilience required to change the direction of the game and come back from a 5 try deficit.
U11A & U10A vs Vinehall School
This week, the U11 and U10 rugby teams from Holmewood played their season opener against Vinehall. Holmewood maintained strong control over the ball, quickly scoring several tries against their opponents. The U11s, playing at home, took advantage of their lead to rotate in multiple substitutes, giving more players the opportunity to gain match experience. Meanwhile, the U10s focused on developing their teamwork, emphasising passing sequences over individual efforts to score tries. Both age groups have upcoming matches this Friday against King’s Rochester, who boast larger team sizes, enabling both A and B teams to compete. This will serve as excellent preparation, especially for the U11A team, which will participate in an IAPS rugby tournament in Brighton on the same day.
Boys-U9 Rugby Festival at Great Walstead
The A team competed in three matches against Handcross Park, Cumnor, and Great Walstead, displaying exceptional rugby that suggests they are shaping into a formidable side. They secured victories against Handcross and Cumnor but faced a narrow defeat against Great Walstead. The team’s blend of strong runners and cohesive teamwork allowed them to effectively pass and create scoring opportunities that might not have been possible with a different approach. Standout individual performances came from George and Charlie, but the overall team progression was most notable. They evolved from relying on individual efforts to executing well-coordinated passing sequences. Despite some excellent individual tackling, enhancing our defence could lead to even more time controlling the game with the ball in hand, as we continue to develop as a unified team.
Boys-U8 Rugby Festival at Great Walstead
The two U8 mixed ability teams travelled to Great Walstead to play five games against Handcross Park and Great Walstead. The boys displayed outstanding athleticism and showed potential to become a very strong rugby side. Both teams achieved several victories and a couple of draws, with no losses. The team’s success was particularly pleasing due to a blend of strong runners and the start of a cohesive team approach. At times they showed fluent passing and the creation of opportunities that would have been difficult otherwise, including wide passes and quick short passes to supporting players. There were excellent individual performances, but the highlight was the overall team progress as pupils became more familiar with tag rugby. While individual pressure on opponents was a strong point, we will look to enhance our defensive skills, which could lead to more turnovers and more possession in future games.
