Really Good, OK and hmm what just happened !!

This was our last ever 'traditional' fixture that the U12's were taking part in, so we decided to do things a little bit different.
For game number 1, the players played in their favourite/preferred positions and as a unit they played really well.
The tackling was committed, passing was crisp, rucking was effective and the team played heads up and confident rugby.
Smiles all round and Kendal came out of Round 1 on top.

For game number 2, we changed things around with some players playing out of position, some trying a new position for the first time and others sticking where they were.
Straight away, it was clear that some of the cohesion had gone and 1 or 2 players started to drop off. The Blackburn players could sense that the tide had turned and came back at us with a venegance.
Some smiles, some frowns and (hopefully) a chance for the players to reflect.
Honours even in Round 2

For game number 3, we took the last ever opportunity to really mix things up. In the respect of letting players try a new position, it was a great success. In the respect of running in tries, it didn't work anywhere near as well !! We were unrecognisable from the confident group that played in game number 1 and Blackburn came out comfortably on top.

Hopefully, the coaches and players will be able to stick to the good things, work on the areas that need improvement and reduce the areas of weakness.

This fixture was the first time we had ever played Blackburn, played on a Saturday and travelled with the First XV on the coach.
It was a very positive experience for all of the U12's, that hopefully we'll be able to repeat it in the future. It couldn't have happened without the wholehearted support of Steve Whitehead and Chris Downham and it was a great initiative of theirs. A thank you also goes to the First XV players who made the U12's welcome and who watched our games from the touchline. Cheers gents.
& a final Thank You to Goughy for the quiz that he organised and hosted on the way down for the U12's. It set the tone for a cracking day out