Hawcoat Storm - Est: 2008

UNDER 10s

A massively improved attacking performance was overshadowed by a weak defensive display from the 10s.
Centrally we leaked some easy tries and out wide we leaked some even easier ones to a much organised Marsh Hornets attack.
Before the game we told the boys that they would have to be at their defensive best to thwart the would be attackers and on reflection we were probably given a master class on how to open up a disjointed defence.
Again and as with everything else in this wonderful game, the fix is relatively easy and one or two sessions will iron out our defensive weaknesses.
The boys responded well throughout the game and Elliot bagged his first try for the club which is no easy task against an experienced side.
The attacking display was fantastic with ball retention, strong straight running and a massively improved kicking game on display for the full 40 minutes.

The second half was unrecognisable from the first as the team set about addressing some of the issues from the first half immediately.
Team spirit, determination and playing to the whistle have become the norm as and coaches we were extremely proud of all the boys today, regardless of the result.
We proved against a good Walney team last week that we have what it takes to win games in our first season and we will kick on from this knowing that to compete we must defend and to defend effectively we must move off the line and make our tackles stick whether they be individual or of the ‘one high, one low’ variety. It’s that easy and we’re improving week after week.

UNDER 8s

A closely fought contest resulted in the 8s enjoying another win as they continue to gel as a team.
It was the turn of the little guys this week with Macca, Adam, Sam and Harvey putting in some extremely brave performances (and the latter two enjoying a little lie down in the sun as a result!)
Physics dictate that the big guys will run over the small guys but the fact that all our smaller players had the nerve to have a go speaks volumes for them as individual players and the things that they will do for their team. Well done boys.
The usual suspects found themselves on the score sheet again but this week it was a little different.
The individual half pitch runs are now turning into passing moves and the ball is moving through the hands of supporting players as we realise we CAN keep the ball alive and we CAN score from passing moves.
As we begin to pass the ball we will naturally begin to see some different names on the score sheets.
We’ll be telling the boys to support the runners and to expect a pass so please have your wallets ready for the mandatory “first try fiver”.
Defensively we look the business and the proof is in the pudding as we can proudly say that in the last hour and a bit we’ve only conceded 5 tries – a fantastic statistic and significantly less than Bradford.
We consistently move off the line together and we consistently make the tackles stick.

As individuals grow in confidence through game time we can only improve further and with our DEFENCE WINS GAMES mantra, should be the team to beat next season.

A brilliant team performance – again.