An Action Packed Week of Sport with Skill, Teamwork, and Fun!

U8 Hockey Festival at Winterfold House – Mrs Clark 

On Tuesday, our U8 girls’ hockey team took to the field at Winterfold House and as the festival began, the weather took a turn, with rain pouring down. However, the girls showed great resilience, pressing on without complaints despite getting very wet. 

The progress they have made so far this term was evident on the pitch. The girls were confident with the ball, demonstrating improved control, and they tried to pass the ball. A standout performance came from Tiegan who made numerous runs up the field, scoring several excellent goals. On the defensive side, Hibah and Maren put in some impressive tackles, keeping the opposition at bay. 

Overall, it was a fantastic team effort, and the girls were rewarded with a gem for their class jar. 

 

U8 Rugby Festival at RGS The Grange 

In challenging conditions at RGS The Grange, the U8 boys demonstrated fantastic character and resilience. The weather was far from ideal, with relentless rain and cold winds, but the boys refused to be discouraged. Instead, they embraced the conditions, showing impressive determination to keep playing and giving their best throughout the day. 

The standard of rugby on display was excellent, with the boys starting to grasp key concepts such as supporting the ball carrier and playing with speed before the defence could set up. Their teamwork and awareness are improving rapidly, and it was clear to see how much they are beginning to understand the game. One memorable moment came when Hugo F made a brilliant run, and Archie M was right there in support, timing his run perfectly to score a well-earned try. It was a great example of the kind of team play we have been working on. 

Overall, the festival was a wonderful opportunity for the boys to showcase the progress they’ve made this term. Despite the difficult conditions, their commitment, enthusiasm, and growing rugby skills were on full display. It has been a fantastic start to their rugby journeys at King’s St Alban’s, and the progress they’ve made in just half a term is truly exceptional. The future looks bright for this group! 

POTM – Charlie W 

 

U10A Rugby v Monmouth and Bromsgrove 

The King’s St Alban’s U10A team faced tough opposition in a triangular fixture against Monmouth and Bromsgrove, but the boys rose to the challenge and displayed many of the skills they have been working hard to develop both in games and at club sessions. 

Defensively, the team tackled well, showing real grit and determination, while in attack they ran with purpose. Ben D and Max were standout performers, expertly finding gaps in the opposition’s defence and scoring some brilliant tries. Their awareness and ability to read the game were key to the team’s success. Zack L continued his outstanding form from last week, running hard with the ball and adding several tries across the two games. His consistency and power on the ball have been a driving force for the team. Joshua also impressed, showing fantastic week-to-week progress in his skills, which is a testament to his hard work and dedication. Pip T displayed great bravery, running confidently into contact and doing an excellent job of offloading the ball to his teammates at crucial moments. Meanwhile, Henry I put in a remarkable all-round performance, not only excelling in carrying the ball and gaining ground but also showcasing superb tackling and rucking technique. 

At the end of the fixture, last week’s player of the match, Zack L, had the honour of choosing this week’s standout player. Deservedly, he awarded it to Henry I, who was everywhere on the pitch and played outstanding in both games. 

This group of boys continue to impress with their enthusiasm, teamwork, and skill development. They are a pleasure to coach and take to any fixture, and their hard work is clearly paying off as they grow stronger with each match. 

POTM – Henry I 

 

U11 A Rugby vs. Monmouth & Bromsgrove School – Mr. Jenkinson 

The Under 11 A team made the short walk across the river bridge on Wednesday (9th) afternoon to play in the school’s annual home rugby fixture against Monmouth and Bromsgrove School. 

History has shown that matches against these two schools are always tough affairs, so the boys were prepared for this and up for the challenge! 

First up was Bromsgrove School. After a team warm up, the boys were raring to go, and after a tight opening few minutes, Bromsgrove were first to break the deadlock with a well worked team try. The boys all worked hard in defence and were rewarded for their efforts when captain Ben managed to break away down the right wing, showing great strength and power to score in the corner.  

With only eight in the team, due to a freak injury to Uriah earlier in the week ruling him out of the match, and without any fresh-legged substitutes to call on, the boys knew they would have to be at their best in order to prevent Bromsgrove scoring further tries. However, despite being outmuscled at the ruck by some of Bromsgrove’s bigger players, the boys demonstrated great teamwork and resilience to finish the match with a respectable score against a very strong Bromsgrove team.

The match against Monmouth followed a similar vein, with the difference being that the Monmouth boys were slightly quicker getting to the ruck and securing the ball and/or turning the ball over immediately at the ruck. This showed that the boys would benefit from some further opportunities to practice rucking and retaining the ball, as well as running onto the ball at pace, which we will therefore look to develop in Games lessons and rugby club over the next few weeks. 

Charles showed great passion and commitment to the team and seemed to be everywhere on the pitch making vital tackles. Will also made some fantastic, and essential, cover tackles, whilst Archie, Arlo, Harry, Jake and Leo all showed great teamwork and determination throughout the afternoon, whilst being led by Ben. 

Although it was a tough afternoon of rugby, the boys all gained valuable experience from playing in both of these matches, so well done to all of the boys who represented St Alban’s so well! Thank you, as always, to all of the supporters who came along to cheer the boys on too. 

 

U11B’s Rugby vs Bromsgrove and Monmouth – Mr Rowley 

On Wednesday, the U11B team faced strong competition from Bromsgrove and Monmouth. Despite challenging weather conditions, the boys enjoyed a productive afternoon of rugby, focusing on developing their skills. They adopted an exciting, fast-paced style of play, with an emphasis on passing the ball wide to create space. This approach allowed players, especially Henry S., to make great runs. 

Defensively, a few missed tackles led to more tries from Bromsgrove than hoped, but the boys quickly adjusted. Through teamwork and communication, their tackling improved significantly against Monmouth, holding the opposition to just two tries. Overall, it was a positive day of rugby development. 

POTM: Ben F