Under 11s Oktoberfest of Rugby - Round Up

Folkestone RFC Under 11’s have continually been short of competitive matches due to local clubs in the area not fielding teams in their age group , so it was a bit of an escape from continual lone training at home to be set with three consecutive away festivals and matches to coincide with Oktoberfest*.

The oompah band** struck up, sausages were sizzling, the bar was open and all that was missing at Sheppey for the start of the adventure on Sunday 20th October were young ladies in dirndls but our boys didn’t mind that too much. A threatened rainy day held back and in some sunshine the matches went so:

v Canterbury. Sleepy sleepy start, worst boys have played, 10-0 down at half-time, stern talking to by coach Parmenter, better second half no further tries for either team, finished 10-0 to Canterbury.

v Thanet. Could have gone either way, defence dug deep, Thanet snuck over for a single try to decide matters.

v Sheppey/Sittingbourne. Another fairly even match, home support expected victory, Sheppey/Sittingbourne took lead, Cameron Brown tapped and went three quarters of the length of the pitch and just held off two desperate chasers to equalize, Brown puffed his cheeks and on went Folkestone, final seconds and Joseph Faiers went on one of those mazy jinking runs, head down, full steam and crossed the line for a 10-5 Folkestone victory.

v Ashford. Ashford won 15-0, two of the tries were from Folkestone turning their back on the play and missing the tap and go from Ashford, could have been closer, Ashford were better and deserved their win but Folkestone again defended well when they concentrated and gave their all.

v Whitstable. Whitstable went 10-0 ahead through pure size and strength carrying them over the Folkestone line, Folkestone got back into the match through a good passing move started and finished by Tristan Parmenter, Whitstable brought back on a couple of their big boys they’d just taken off (a minute earlier) and held out for the 10-5 win. Close again.

v Ash. Close again, Folkestone 5-0 up, Parmenter again. Ash equalised and then got a winner. Jos Marnham played for Ash, Folkestone very unlucky. Tom Cloke injured making a tackle and out for following week.

And that was part one of the trilogy over, the matches were all extremely tight bar the 1st half against Canterbury and Ashford being better on the day, Ashford went on to win the festival but there were a lot of close games throughout the day and a lot of positives to take from the experience. Unfortunately there were some negatives too, nothing to do with the play or the organisation of the festival but we won’t dwell.

Sunday 27th October at Cranbrook.

Proper storms threatened, Cranbrook went ahead with the festival anyway and the sun shone so they judged it well, it was windy though. We took a smaller squad which was missing some of our experienced players and was in the spirit of the festival.

v Bromley. A physical encounter, nothing in it. Bromley won by a single try, Kian Supple and Cameron Brown scored for the Stones, 15-10 Bromley.

v Beccehamians. Lost TJ Leather with concussion in a very physical game, Tristan Parmenter in his element, having his hair pulled by Beccs amongst other indiscretions. End to end stuff decided by how penalties were given, Beccs won 15-5, same team that had won the Foxbury and Bromley A Festivals so no disgrace as not much in it, Folkestone stopped playing at one point as a giant of a lad playing for Beccs plundered his way from the half way line to the try line with at least three Folkestone boys hanging off him including Tom Reina looking a little high hanging around the big lads neck. He was big, tackles Folkestone, tackles…

v Cranbrook. 20-15 to Cranbrook, could have gone either way but a dead rubber for both teams. Folkestone tries from Kian Supple, Cohen Double and Tristan Parmenter who gets an added mention as he had been first to the breakdown on most occasions on the day.

And that was part two finished, back home to let the storm blow over and enjoy half term until…

November 03rd at Whitstable with Thanet.

Played Thanet and Whitstable teams twice, Folkestone were short on squad numbers and not helped by an immediate injury to Alfie Dove (leg) and one shortly afterwards to Kieran Dorrell (arm) and to Dominic Bowden (foot)this left the Stones down to the bare bones for the second week running. I didn’t keep score, disallowed try early from Faiers for no apparent reason after an attractive build up in 1st match which would have given the boys some much needed extra confidence as an early lead would have been taken. This was a shame and typical of Folkestone’s luck (do you make your own luck, I’m not so sure at this age group?).

Rest of matches followed the pattern of the previous two festivals, very close and Folkestone lost tries mainly due to the pure size and strength of the Whitstable and Thanet boys and Folkestone just failing to deal with bigger opponents when they should have. Folkestone did look collectively quicker and fitter than our opponents and added some attractive attacking, passing the ball very well in patches. I’ll get some grief from the team by not adding the try scorers but who crossed the line wasn’t important in these matches, it was playing well collectively as a team which is what happened, despite a small squad and with all of our players involved no matter what their experience.

And then the fat lady cleared her throat and that was the end of the Under 11s Oktoberfest of rugby.

So what did we learn? Andy will call it better than me back at training this week but…

There is a very slim margin between victory and defeat in this age group; our boys have been unlucky not to get better results.

Folkestone have a smaller squad in both numbers and physique than most other sides and need all players to turn up fit, determined and confident if they are going to turn narrow defeats into victories.
Tackle positions need to be better. The reason the bigger boys from the opposition are breaking the Folkestone defence is that players are too high in the tackle and getting brushed off.

In patches Folkestone have played some excellent rugby, it isn’t much consolation for the boys being told they’re playing really well when they haven’t won but if they carry on in the same direction, train hard and believe in themselves and their team then they’ll win festivals soon.

The Folkestone squad over the Oktoberfest period: Alfie Dove, Archie Green, Ben Povah, Cameron Brown, Cohen Double, Dominic Bowden, Ethan Holt, George James, Jos Marnham, Joseph Faiers, Kian Supple, Kieran Dorrell, Leon Gurr, Lewis Hammerton, Ryan Adams, Tom Cloke, TJ Leather, Tom Reina, Toby Walton, Tristan Parmenter.

Please note - The author reserves the right to have made factual errors when summing up the matches, like the referees I can’t see everything.
* Hang on, Oktoberfest starts in September and ends on the 1st Sunday in October doesn't it, not the 1st Sunday in November, that would spoil the theme of the report though wouldn't it.....
**Much to our disappointment there was no oompah band, just the radio in the Sheppey clubhouse, there were sausages and beer though!

Andre, bring your pen and pad next time...