ADHRC Festival Report - Al Ain 7s – 6-7 November 2009
Abu Dhabi Harlequins were delighted to be able to field two Squads in the Al Ain 7-a-side festival this weekend. With a very strong 1st Squad selected it was a tremendous opportunity for regular forward players to develop and improve the catching and passing side of their game in a fast moving and dynamic environment. Whilst in the 2nd Squad, allowing a number of promising backs to gain more experience in a pressurised situation than at training and without the regular leaders who were playing in the 1st Squad.
Squad 1 – Day One:
In a league consisting of five other teams, Day one (Fri) had us initially playing Exiles II. Any Exiles team is always well drilled and no easy task. Throughout the game, 3 tries by Jacob, Fraser & Harry, along with a couple of conversions from Thomas, put this one to bed. Strong forward play displayed by all, which set the platform for the backs who displayed some very good, slick handling. This was an excellent start and certainly something to build on.
In the second game we were up against Sharjah, who we played and beat a fortnight before at 12 a side. Yet again we were far too strong in all areas of the game. The forwards dominated possession and delivered good controlled ball to the backs who cut through the Sharjah defence. As a result, 8 tries scored and a number of conversions from Thomas, none against. It was evident that confidence was building throughout the day, the squad was really coming together, and all taking responsibility for their actions, to witness this was extremely pleasing to the coaches.
Thirdly, and the last game of the day, we were pitted against Exiles III, yet again, as we expected, a well drilled outfit. A 6 try win proved that the squad was as determined at 5 in the afternoon as they were at 9 in the morning, and they should be applauded for that. The tactics adopted of ‘pressure’ from the outset in all of the games worked very well. All in all, a good day of rugby where the squad put into place a number of the drills they had been exposed to during training. Communication and team cohesion were the key aspects of success.
Day Two:
Day two (Sat) of the festival started with bad news, Cameron Bunch unable to continue from an injury received on the first day (we wish him a speedy recovery). As they say the show must go on, and it did to devastating effect, with now, a Squad of 9 players. Al Ain was the next opponents and they were comprehensively beaten. Strong, direct, powerful forward play supported by a very impressive back line performance resulted in a 9 try win. 8 of the 9 tries coming from the backs that were outstanding. Defensively, we were just as determined, as by this stage, not a point had been conceded.
The last league game of the day was against Hurricanes II, and the same pattern developed. Another 8 try win, less Thomas in the forwards getting one, all came from the backs. In addition to a hat-trick from Fraser, Molly Maddocks dropped an opposition player like a sack of coal in a try saving tackle on our own line and then promptly ran the length of the pitch to score at the other end, “Molly Power to your Elbow”. This type of courage and commitment was there to see for all who watched the games. A further reduction in the squad as Chris Blackburn injured his back and was taken to hospital for a check-up, thankfully, not too serious (we wish him a speedy recovery). Still at this stage not a point conceded.
Outright winners of our league, saw us progress to the Semi-Final of the Cup Competition, where we faced Hurricanes I. A wake up call in the first couple of minutes as our defensive line was breached for the first time in the competition. All upped their game as they very quickly realised, “loose this and you are out”. Back came the communication, support play and power of the forwards and eventually, they were beaten by another Fraser hat-trick and tries from Daniel and Thomas. Late in the game Thomas Mason injured his neck and was doubtful for the final.
Through to the final, played early in the afternoon against Exiles I, Thomas recovered enough to start but the injury was further aggravated and had to retire. Ezra from the 2nd squad duly obliged and the team was hastily re-shuffled. With a depleted squad and a powerful display by the opposition, we lost this game by 5 tries. Never once did any one player give up, the courage, commitment and persistence was outstanding. Tijn suffered what was initially thought to be a broken arm, thankfully it turned out to be a fractured wrist, he will be out for three weeks (we all wish him a speedy recovery).
Squad 2:
It was always going to be a difficult first game against the well disciplined and coordinated Exiles I who were just too strong for us in our opening encounter.
We were very proud of the way that the team picked themselves up for their second match against Quins III (our first team U11 team). While we gifted 2 early tries to the opposition through lack of basic tackling, our forwards steadied the ship and despite conceding a further try just before half time it was clear that this was a game with a little more awareness of where the opposition were and the application of pressure we could still win this game. Consistent pressure was rewarded with 2 tries in the second half. All players were gaining in stature and confidence. Despite being camped on the opposition try line for the last few minutes of the game we could not get the 3rd try that we deserved to cap a great comeback and a probable win. Final score 14 – 17.
With the team starting to improve basic structure and defensive alignment a confidence was growing and the final match of the first day Vs Sharjah showed a tougher defence and a more confident attacking side. Lapses in basic skills saw us concede early tries but we stuck at our task with forwards being very committed and backs being more expansive and we were rewarded with an excellent try. While the game was lost it was clear to all coaches and parents as well as to the players that they had improved through the day and were getting better and better. A tremendous late cover tackle by a player who had ran a covering line from the other side of the pitch demonstrated that players were starting to read and anticipate the game.
Day 2 started with a final pool game against Hurricanes I, a team that had only been beaten by Exiles I on day 1. Once again a committed performance demonstrated the improvements made on day 1. The structure was generally good and it was good to see players increasingly focusing on where the opportunities were in front of them in attack and where the opposition were in defence. This awareness still has to be backed up with basic individual skills and while commitment was tremendous from all players we did occasionally let ourselves down with weak tackling. This is an area that we as coaches will continue to work on. While the game was lost we had given a very good account of ourselves against a team destined for the Cup semis.
With the Pool games over Quins II were given a final opportunity to demonstrate all the improvements made over the 2 days with a Bowl Final match against Hurricanes II. This was a tremendous game played with total commitment by all players. The forwards consistently knocked the opposition back and secured good ball for us while disrupting the oppositions play. This was backed up with some fine running and passing from the backs. A first try was driven over by the forwards and then converted. This was then followed by a super backs try in the corner which was also converted. A converted try from the Hurricanes just before half time ensured that the nerves were jangling as we went into the second half. These were eased a little by a snipping blindside try for the Quins, however it was unconverted and the Hurricanes launched wave after wave of attacks and stretched our defence to the very limit as the second half progressed. Heroically we held out. A memorable cover tackle a yard short of our try line by three Quins players on a flying Hurricane forward typified a fantastic performance and a deserved victory. We are Bowl Champions after a 19 – 7 victory.
Thank you to all players for your great efforts and you earned a deserved reward. Congratulations. We have learned lots of lessons this weekend and we hope that you will remember them and build on them as the season progresses. Attention to individual tackle skills will be worked on at training and we hope that you will remember this festival and commit yourselves to those training sessions in order that we all continue to improve.
Lastly, players please join me in thanking your parents for their efforts in getting you to Al Ain and for their commitment spending their weekends supporting you. Thank you all.
Finally, the coaches would like to thank Lisa for all her hard work, administratively, behind the scenes.
Steve & Jerry
©2009 Abu Dhabi Harlequins All Rights Reserved.