Hawcoat Storm - Est: 2008

The last two games of the season certainly turned out to be the most enjoyable. The hospitality, sportsmanship and friendship shown to us by the Millom club should be commended as I know that everyone enjoyed their trip north.

UNDER 8S
MILLOM 13 – STORM 15
A high scoring game played by two well matched teams made for a great opening spectacle for the many spectators who lined the far touchline.
The usual suspects had great games and ensured we just nicked it in the end but what impressed me more was the way the younger players who have at least another season at 8s rose to the challenge.
It wasn’t that long ago when these same kids were on the end of a physical drubbing.
It shows how far they have come and also how brave and resilient they all are. Harvey Cooper bagged two tries and doubled his season total through one piece of individual brilliance and one of supporting the man with the ball (good offload Lewis) all the way to the line. Spencer and Ethan ran straight and hard throughout and didn’t go into touch.
The former also stayed on the field after a bloody nose which is a great credit to him.
Macca certainly had his best game to date and ran straight and tackled hard (hard to believe he’s got two seasons left).
William and Pos Junior also ran the hard, unglamorous yards for the team and I have a feeling that despite the kids going to the 10s we’re set up very nicely for next season.
Lewis, Kian, Marcus and Jake received a well deserved send off from the rest of the team and I have a feeling that all four of them (plus Archie) will become real assets to the 10s in 2010.
Well done everyone and thank you.

Petch and Peter will now take over responsibility for the 8s.

UNDER 10S
MILLOM 17 – STORM 9
An outstanding display with the ball from our tens who, despite missing the big guns, rose to the challenge and threw the ball around beautifully.
The ball from the ruck was wider and faster and consequently we found ourselves able to progress away from the play the ball rather than being snuffed out by the marker.
This then allowed us to run the ball forward and pass along our line.
We did this fantastically and it’s a credit to the kids that they now have the confidence to do this in the face of a team of such quality that gave them such a hard lesson last time out.
A special mention must go here to Connor Sykes who turned our performance around in the second half (with his Millom shirt on inside out.) The way he played so hard against his own team is a credit to him and the way Millom gave over one of their most talented youngsters is a credit to them.
Defensively there were some pieces of individual brilliance especially from Matty, Austin and Jacob but as a team and as a cohesive unit we still refuse to move off the line and we therefore leave holes and allow the opposition to gain momentum - before they knock us clean over!
This is the first thing I, along with Dean will address when I move up with Lewis next season – by fair means or foul or even through a month of doing nothing else or I will come good on the threat of cheerleaders.
Please pass this on to the kids!

Dean and I will now take over responsibility for the 10s with Jason taking responsibility for our new 12s squad (still recruiting).

Thanks to everyone once again for an extremely successful first season. Let’s make sure we get together on September 12th to celebrate the kid’s achievements with all our family and friends.

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