U10s participate in Havant Festival
Match Report: Havant Emerging Players Festival - 1st March 2009.
Jersey’s U10,s Emerging Squad experienced their first taste of festival rugby this weekend during their two day tour to Havant.
Jersey were well beaten 6-0 in their first match against a well drilled and competitive Cobham side (who went on to similarly beat the remaining pool teams!). Nevertheless spirits and confidence were still high when Jersey only narrowly lost to the hosts 1-0 with strong displays put in by props Oliver Ashbolt and Jamie Kearns and tackling sensation Jean Barbe Pinel.
In the subsequent game against Gosport Jersey were rewarded with a 2-1 win with surging running tries from Max (Smiles) Smale and Harry Phillips. Lead Coach, Phil Dennet applauded his teams’ commitment to tackling and emphasised their need to follow up with the necessary rucking to secure the ball.
Despite having the lions share of the ball in the penultimate match against Portsmouth, Jersey lost 2-1 (Max Smale both scoring and covering 40m to deny an odds on breakaway try for the opposition). With energy levels dropping and injuries taking their toll, Jersey put in one more spirited effort against Salisbury in their final game, losing 4-2 with excellent tries from winger Harry Hutchinson and the ever tenacious scrum half Cameron Smithurst.
Jersey’s emerging players may have not won many games on this tour but they have bonded well together and in the words of one onlooker "were exemplary in their approach and behaviour" - a view echoed by their coaches and attendant parents. It is hoped that the experience will serve them well and bolster their confidence to progress upwards through the squad.
Team: Alexander Burgess, Cameron Smithurst, Harry Hutchinson, Harry Phillip, Jamie Kearns, Jean Barbe Pinel, Liam Roberts, Max Smale, Oliver Ashbolt, Raul Lai, Thomas Hanby, Thomas Lumborg. Coaches: Phil Dennett, Simon Thomas, Simon Burgess, Alex Margaroli & Kevin Barry.
The JerseyAcademy is sponsored by Bedell Group, Dandara and principle sponsor and Moore Management.