Under 10s News

Under 10s

Match Report V Gosport & Fareham U 10’s

Such is the fervour nowadays at Vectis U10’s that coach Ollie Kearney can turn out two teams with enough talent to make the differentiation between A and B barely distinguishable.

Consequently, opponents Gosport and Fareham had to deal with Vectis A1 and Vectis A2 in a furious round robin that left them as dizzy as the proverbial Oozulum bird.

Team A1 crushed the first challengers 7 scores to nil with the flying Danny Rackett notching up four tries ably supported by Will Vaughan with two and Harry Hopper with the remainder. It wasn’t without the need for some stalwart defending and the imposing scrummaging of Cider, Kearney and Matthews. In the second game it was a harder fought 3-0 victory with Rackett, Vaughan and Hopper again turning well won possession into definitive points.

Vectis A2 started less well, losing 4-1 in a game that saw some remarkable defensive tackling by Matthew Smith and Aaron Moore and fine driving forward work by Lachen Downs. Evan Toms also latched onto a long pass from James Stevens to score an excellent consolation try.

In the second game, however, Vectis regrouped, with a much deserved hat-trick of scores in the first half from the remorseless Smith. Joe Doyle and Evan Toms completed a 5-0 rout with matching end to end solo tries. Gareth Jones capped a solid performance by getting the squad Man of the Match award.

The ‘strength in depth’ of the U 10’s is a continuing success story and a fitting testament to the efforts of the coaching team and not least the resolute support of the parents. Long may it continue.

Full Squad ; K.Blair, L. Cider, L. Downs, J. Doyle, J. Gant, A. Hall, T. Kearney, D. Rackett, M. Smith, J. Stirling, J. Stevens, , G. Jones,  J. Matthews, W. Vaughan, A. Moore, H. Hopper, E.Toms, T. Jackson, Jacob

Match Reports on Trojans Festival
Sunday October 28th 2007

After a buoyant start to the season the hopes of the U 10’s for a successful inaugural Festival were as high as the wind and as intense as the rain that swept across the Trojan fields.

However, the first pool game against eventual tournament winners Banbury, saw the Vectis defence creaking and leaking like the parents gazebo under the incessant deluge. Banbury ran out winners by four scores to nil but this failed to dampen the spirits as Vectis launched straight into the fray in the second game with the more familiar foe of Basingstoke. A narrow defeat by one try only galvanised the determination to take home something more from this Festival than pneumonia.

It all came together in the third game against Portsmouth and after two successive Vectis fumbles on the line, Linton Cider eventually broke the duck with a powerful drive-over try followed quickly by another from Joe Doyle who came out the back of the scrum to careen through the mud bath. The opposition failed to respond and Vectis had done enough to secure a place in the Plate semi final.

The fourth pool game against US Portsmouth was immaterial but saw the emergence of Will Vaughan as a mini whirlwind – hunting, tackling, rucking and scoring the second of two Vectis tries with fellow tornado Danny Rackett getting the first. USP, unfortunately, scored three but attention had already begun to focus on the semi final versus hosts the Trojans.

It was a stormy affair but Linton Cider opened the scoring with Vaughan proving that where there’s a Will there’s a way and adding a brilliant second.  The Trojans replied with a try late (but too late) in the second half and Vectis had made it at last – their first final in three long years.

It would have been nice at that point if the clouds had parted and the sun had broken through but meteorologically speaking it was beyond possibility. Nevertheless, the Plate final against US Portsmouth started very brightly with a Vectis try after some irresistible hounding from Danny Rackett. However, USP were out to rain on the Vectis parade and not only levelled the score by half time but inched in front early in the second half. Then the referee inexplicably blew early for time simultaneously extinguishing the fading Vectis fire and handing the Plate to the opposition.

All in all it was a proud day with not only the glint from the hard won medals breaking up the gloom but also the glow of rising stars such as Vectis Man of the Tournament Will Vaughan making the future for the U 10’s even brighter.     

Full Squad ; K.Blair, L. Cider, J. Doyle, J. Gant, A. Hall, T. Kearney, D. Rackett, M. Smith, J. Stirling, J. Stevens, B. Ham, J. Matthews, W. Vaughan, J. Holbrook, H. Hopper, E.Toms

Match Report V Overton U 10’s

October 14th 2007

With World Cup fever inspiring every young boy’s dreams there could have been no better weekend than this to kick off the U10’s season.

The first of three games saw Vectis win comprehensively by four tries to nil. Almost immediately the forwards dominated and the Overton front row knew what it felt like to be Australian as they were pushed down, under, back and out of contention by an awesome Vectis threesome of Jake Matthews, Tom Kearney and Linton Cider.  

Linton Cider opened the scoring with a typically powerful drive over whilst Danny Rackett carried on from where he left off last season with two scores including a Habana like interception to run the length of the field. Jake Matthews capped a fine debut performance with a steal at the lineout to crash over.

The second game was closer with Overton scoring early and leading at half time despite Vectis being camped in the opposition’s half and Ashley Hall coming within inches of the line on two occasions. However, after the interval another debutant, Joe Holbrook, made several powerful runs then getting his just desserts with a fine solo try. The winning score came after some fine mauling work with Matthew Smith and James Stirling jointly claiming the touch down.

By the third game, someone swore they heard the Overton front row humming  ‘Waltzing Matilda’ as they were once again bushwhacked and the backs enjoyed lots of possession as a consequence. This produced some fine passing movements with scrum half Joe Doyle running in a try and then a long awaited stretch of the legs from the classy Ben Ham to leave everyone in his wake for the second.

Special mention must go to the other new boys Will Vaughan, Toby Jenkins and Gareth Jones for looking like they had always been there and also the more experienced James Stevens for a dogged performance that warranted the coveted Man of the Match award.

Vectis must be buoyed by the acres of new talent that has joined the club this year and together with the ‘old heads’ there is surely a Festival trophy on the cards.

Full Squad ; K.Blair, L. Cider, L. Downs, J. Doyle, J. Gant, A. Hall, T. Kearney, D. Rackett, M. Smith, J. Stirling, J. Stevens, B. Ham, G. Jones, T. Jenkins, J. Matthews, W. Vaughan, J. Holbrook, A. Moore, H. Hopper