This is an exciting season for the players as we make the step up from tag to contact rugby.

We train on Sunday mornings from 10am-midday, with each session focussing on skill development activities followed by matches.

There are a number of home and away fixtures against other local mini clubs and we participate in several festivals throughout the season.

Our U9 squad comprises over fifty players from a wide variety of local schools and we aim to create an environment where players get to make friends and enjoy the sport of rugby.

Reports from Festivals, April 1st 2007

Teddington C - Plate runners up

The C squad put in a solid and gutsy performance at the Teddington C festival and achieved far more than the results would have you believe. First up we were up against Sutton and Epsom, this was a great game of rugby, we battled hard and the half time score of 2-1 to Sutton and Epsom was also the final score despite some very good second half pressure from Cobham. An early try in the game against London Irish was enough for us to win the game. In a game that we needed to win or draw against Teddington '2' we were a tad unlucky. In the last play of the game Teddington looked to have breeched our goal line defence and a try was given. The replay (the vast gallery of travelling supporters) shows that the ball was dropped over the line, however the boys accepted the decision like true sportsmen and were determined to do well in the plate competition. A comprehensive victory against Ealing saw us through to the plate final against Sutton and Epsom. Sadly the result did not go our way but the boys fought until the final whistle.

The boys gave it their all in every game we played and I was hugely impressed by how the team played together. Positional play was outstanding, running lines were straight and there was good work in the rucks and mauls. I am very proud of all the boys for their courage on the pitch and their professionalism in dealing with adverse decisions and events. Well done to the plucky C team. (from Bernie Abrahamsen)

Effingham B - cup runners up

What a great day for the boys (and Mums and Dads!). The Under 9 B's worked really hard for each other and put in a great team display of rugby.

The boys walked onto the pitch as a team and played as a team. Captain for the day was Munro Cockburn who marshalled the side well from Scrum Half. First match of the day was against Portsmouth (previously unencountered opposition), as with all opening festival games the boys were excited at the prospect but kept their concentration and worked the game well winning in the end fairly comfortably 5-2. The good support play and strong tackling lifted the boys confidence for their second fixture against Old Rutlishians, Ruts had a couple of very tall nine year olds but a few great tackles from Cobham's smaller boys McKenzie Wright and Munro Cockburn eased all fears of dealing with them. The backs leading the way on showing the forwards how to tackle, the forwards then showed the backs how to run straight, most notably Rahul Shorthose making a bursting break through Ruts defence running in the try from 25 metres out. It was closely contended and Cobham ended winning 2-1.

One of our regular opponent teams: Old Reedonians 2 were the next opposition. Although slightly more diminutive in stature than Ruts they played with well drilled organisation and were in front at half time. The Cobham boys got straight back into it with tries from Daniel Hirst with a great burst through the middle as well as a memorable try made by William Hornby making a nice pick up deep in Cobham's half and laying out a great pass to Ollie Manning who saw the gap in Reeds defence and took the ball the full length of the pitch to score a match winning try.

Our toughest match of day was Richmond who fielded a very strong side who like Cobham had won all previous games in this festival meeting. Cobham were strong moving the ball forwards with Alastair Green, Joseph Griffiths and Seth Tait rumbling forwards and William Harris and Robert Singleton moving the ball out and making darting runs. Richmond were excellent defensively and equally assertive moving forwards. The boys defended Richmond's attacks valiantly and were pinned into their half for most of the second half, in the end, the ball spilled out into open play and a bounce that favoured Richmond in their onslaught saw them pick up the ball and take it over the try line. Final score 1-0 for Richmond. Cobham were able to leave the field of play with heads held high knowing they had played as well as they could and certainly laid down a marker for their next encounter with Richmond!

By the fifth and final game of the league against Old Reedonians 1, Cobham were looking tired but lifted themselves for the final performance. It proved to be a battle of wills with Rahul taking the ball deep into Reeds territory only to see the ball run back into Cobham's half. Stout defending by both sides saw the game end in stalemate 0-0.

Five games with three wins, a draw and one loss made Cobham the league runners up and the boys proudly collected medals. (from Neil Wright)

Effingham A - cup winners

The U9s A team, in common with many other teams, had several holiday absences among the regular A teamers at Effingham festival. We are a big squad however, and starting to build some strength in depth. It's to the credit of the boys (and of course the coaches) that those asked to play up a level rose to the challenge and performed well. In fact, more than well - we had never won a tournament away from home until Sunday when we broke our duck!

Our pool group consisted of Cobham, Richmond and Chipstead - three very evenly matched teams. We played each other twice. Cobham drew with Richmond 2-2 and 1-1, we beat Chipstead 1-0 and later drew with them 1-1. Chipstead and Richmond beat one another once each. So with 5 points, Cobham were pool group winners and went straight into a final against our hosts, Effingham (semis got cancelled somewhere along the way). A second half try from Cobham was all that separated the two teams and for the delighted Cobham boys it was a trip up to the clubhouse balcony as U9s winners to collect a splendid trophy. Let's hope the new clubhouse minis trophy cabinet is a big one!

Regards
Vanessa Goss