Hawcoat Storm - Est: 2008

Games against Askam at Askam are never easy but we came away with two excellent results yesterday. The 8s started very well and went on to complete a try-fest that ended in a well deserved 10-10 scoreline. I'm sure the watching parents would agree that close, high scoring games are what they need after Saturday's bottle of red. the noise from both sets of parents was very healthy and again, the kids responded well. We have improved in every department in the 8s. Ball retention is one of the areas we have been working on and the results are there to see. We no longer run straight into touch either which gives us more opportunities to progress up the field when we have possession. The little guys are running straighter and the bigger guys are looking to pass where they can and our tackling is almost unrecognisable from where we were at the start of the season. To see Bob and Sam G and Morgan getting valuable game time under their belts is great and this game time will bear fruit next season as they straighten up even more and run that little bit harder again. It's also easy to forget just how young some of our "Hollywood" players are. Ethan, Spencer, LJ, Sprinkler, Macca and Adam continue to produce the goods without question week after week and supported by Will and Steph who build the platform with the unglamorous stuff consistently we have the makings of a very good outfit.
 
The 10s enjoyed their own high scoring game eventually running out 9-6 winners. The win was more down to our skills and confidence with ball in hand than our determined defence but we did enough to beat what was a very good Askam side. The high ball catch medals of honour go to Matty and Chaz this week so well done chaps and you now have permission to drop one without fear of ridicule for the rest of the season! We set ourselves up correctly without having to be told which allowed us to play our free running attacking game. Our width was maintained throughout which allowed us to cover the wide positions in defence and also to spread the ball through hands where we could. We still stood on the line watching at times and we must stop making it hard for ourselves by doing this. We need to take as much momentum out of the attacker's runs as possible and this means meeting them half way (preferably with a big tackle.) There were many many improved individual performances on display again this week and as players start to take their natural positions we begin to play like an open age team. Forwards set the platform with some no nonsense running followed by the silky skills and pacey play of the backs to finish off the set. The kids are doing this now without realising it. Well done again chaps.