Rugby Returns to KSA

The first rugby fixtures of the term got underway this week, giving our U10 and U11 boys a fantastic opportunity to get back on the pitch, put their skills into practice and experience the excitement of competitive rugby. For some pupils, it was also their very first school fixture, making it an especially memorable occasion. The boys showed wonderful enthusiasm, determination and teamwork throughout the afternoon, with plenty of promising performances and lots to build on as the season progresses.

Match Reports 

Wednesday 9th November 

U11 v The Elms, Winterfold and King’s Hawford 

The first rugby fixture of the term took place on Wednesday afternoon. With the decision to play ‘Touch rugby’ instead of contact rugby for this fixture having been made before the ground had softened and turned green, the Under 11 boys from King’s St. Alban’s played three touch rugby matches against The Elms, King’s Hawford and Winterfold School. 

Because the boys haven’t had a chance to practise their tackling yet, this touch rugby festival was an opportunity for the boys to focus on their passing, attacking and defensive skills, without having to worry about taking and receiving contact in their first week back at school, which proved to be really useful. 

First up was The Elms. This was a close match, with both teams scoring several tries from quick offloads. Matthew and Dylan looked sharp in attack, whilst Bertie and Monty worked hard in defence. 

Next up was King’s Hawford and, after conceding a couple of tries early on, the boys rallied and proceeded to score a couple of their own to get back in the match. Harvey and Max made some good passes, whilst Monty and Haadi were solid in defence. 

The boys’ last match was against Winterfold. The team took an early lead before Winterfold pulled a try back. Jack C started St. Alban’s best team try of the day, which started just in front of the boys’ try-line and saw the ball passed all the way down the line to Eli on the far wing, who showed great pace to run the length of the pitch to seal the victory for the team! 

Whilst the main focus for this festival was putting their passing and evasion skills into practice, the games also highlighted a few areas that the boys would benefit from some more work on, which include staying in their defensive channels and supporting each other in a positive way if someone makes a mistake on the pitch. Therefore, the P.E. team will be supporting the boys with these skills in Games lessons and rugby club after school over the next few weeks. 

Well done to Bertie, Dylan, Eli, Haadi, Harvey, Jack C, Matthew, Max C and Monty, who all tried their best. Thank you very much to the parents who came along to support the boys, who seem very excited to start playing contact rugby next week! 

 

U11 v Winterfold 

It was fantastic to get our first fixture of the term underway on Wednesday, with this also being the first ever fixture for some of the children. It was a great opportunity to get back into competitive sport and see the children putting their skills into practice. 

Theo B D, George, Oscar E and Daniel R showed fantastic speed and agility with the ball, making some excellent runs and creating opportunities for the team. Jack J and Max M worked really hard in defence and did a great job of putting pressure on Winterfold, helping the team to make six tackles and win the turnover on a number of occasions. 

Rudy W started the play off well at times and showed good awareness with some excellent passes to get the team moving forward. Henry W played in the final third and really impressed, passing the ball well, running confidently with it and also contributing strongly in defence. 

Overall, it was a really positive first fixture and a great way to start the term. There is plenty for us to build on, but the effort, teamwork and enthusiasm shown by everyone was fantastic to see. We are looking forward to seeing the group continue to develop over the coming weeks. 

 

U10 v The Elms and King’s Hawford 

 The U10 boys enjoyed a positive start to their touch rugby season with fixtures against The Elms and King’s Hawford. Across both matches, the team demonstrated excellent enthusiasm, teamwork and determination, with some experiencing their first competitive game of rugby. Hugo F was particularly impressive, making a series of powerful driving runs, while Dylan J showed outstanding positional awareness and defensive tackling throughout.  

Strong all-round performances also came from Gabe E, James G, George R, Joe U, Magson C and Ben W, all of whom contributed significantly with their effort, teamwork and growing understanding of the game.  

Most pleasing of all was the boys’ willingness to learn, support one another and play with great spirit, providing a strong foundation for the season ahead. 

 

U10 v The Elms and King’s Hawford 

It was an amazing performance from the U10 boys on Wednesday. Facing tough opposition, they pushed through and secured two hard-fought draws against The Elms and King’s Hawford and a well-deserved victory in the final game. 

Throughout all three games, the players showed grit and determination until the final whistle. Phoenix B and Charlie W showed great speed and awareness on the attack, while Milan C, Akshay V, and Reuben R steadied the team in defence. Finley M and Archie M also demonstrated fantastic vision and sharp passing skills, directing the flow of play from the middle of the pitch. 

Overall, it was a great opportunity for the boys to get back into the mindset for competitive fixtures. There were plenty of really positive signs suggesting we’re shaping up for a fantastic season.