Category — rugby

Rory’s rugby team entered the Cheshire Cup today and were runners up in the plate competition.

No rugby today for Calum or Rory as we had temperatures of -7 last night. This has left the pitches frozen and dangerous to play on so it’s training for both.

Who would believe it! After a great day and evening on Saturday with a fabulous coaching session from Leicester Tigers, we awoke on Sunday ready for two matches against local teams - only to open the curtains and see 3″ of snow. Matches cancelled so ten pin bowling hastily arranged…we had taken two coaches and were just getting our bags together when…one coach wouldn’t start, flat battery, then…second coach drove onto a grass area covered with snow thinking it was concrete! Coach sunk 2′ into the mud and couldn’t be moved.

Two hours later and after a visit from a massive tow truck we were on our way…too late for bowling but time enough for hospitality from Leicester Lions.

Boys very disappointed that they didn’t get to play a game but a good, and memorable, time had by all.

Rory and I wearing our tour shirts ready for dinner on Saturday night. After dinner there was a rugby court which was great fun and a first for the boys! Rory was very disappointed not to have been accused of anything…

As part of the Leicester experience the boys paraded around the Leicester pitch at half time. Chris, the coach, posed the boys under the posts.

We spotted Bryan Redpath, ex-Scotland player on the pitch at Leicester and I called him over to us. We had a good chat with him and he kindly posed for this photo with Rory.

Calum on rugby tour this weekend with the crewe and nantwich under 14s. Aftr getting to bath they watch bath v sale -lots of tries but bath won. They then went to their hotel to watch the six nations then out for a quick game of ten pin bowling. After dinner there was a quiz then a rugby court.
The following day they play two matches against strong local teams and won both - Calum playing at Outside Centre & Wing.

Following the maxim ‘What goes on tour, stays on tour’ - there are no photos!

First match of the new year and Rory’s Under 11s team were away to Whitchurch. There was one match of 3 twenty minute periods during which Rory started as blind side winger, moved to Inside Centre and then finished at Full Back. Rory played really well, making masses of strong tackles, some try making breaks and showing total commitment throughout. He was recognised for this by the coaches by being awarded Man of the Match. This hastily taken picture shows him receiving the award.

Rory won player of the match this week for his performance at Fly Half against Sandbach. As you can see, it was quite muddy!

Calum was captain of the school rugby team this afternoon when his school played Malbank, their local rivals. They won 39-7 and Calum scored a try. What made it even better was that they won without their best player who was injured!

Rory was one of the players selected for the squad to play at the Whitchurch Rugby Tournament. (pictures here) The tournament was played as a league, with the under 11’s playing six matches. They made a slow start, losing their first two matches 1-0 and 2-0 (Rory not in the team). Rory played in the following four matches and the team rallied to win three and draw one. They drew 0-0 with the eventual winners Whitchurch 0-0, but beat Shrewsbury B 4-0 (rory scored a try), Shrewsbury A 1-0 and Sandbach B 3-0. They ended fourth in the league table. Rory played in a variety of positions - Inside Centre, Outside Centre and on the wing.

Two tries for Rory as Crewe & Nantwich under 10’s run in 8-0 winners against Helsby. Rory was playing at Inside Centre for a change and had a very good game, making lots of tackles and passing well. What was even better was that Calum and Chris were there to see him as Calum had no football today.

Rory’s rugby team, Crewe & Nantwich Under 10’s took part in the Cheshire Cup yesterday. You can view a slideshow of photos here.It was played at Sandbach RUFC with 32 teams taking part. Rory’s team got as far as the quarter finals before being beaten in a close match by Stockport. Rory played in all the games on the right wing. The weather was beautiful, in sharp contrast to last year when the competition took place in a mud bath. Both he and I came away with a bit of a tan this year!

Rory and I went on tour with his under 10’s rugby team last weekend. We had a great time and more photos and some video of the games can be seen by clicking here

Rory played rugby today against a touring side, St Mary’s from Bristol. Click here for a slideshow. This is the team that Rory played last year on tour. Rory’s team held a very strong St Mary’s team to a 2-2 draw, Rory playing out on the right wing. His team did much better than the other Crewe & Nantwich side who lost 5-0 to St Mary’s.

Rory played rugby for the Crewe & Nantwich Under 9’s today in an away match at Northwich. It was a bitterly cold day with a biting wind blowing across the wide open spaces of the rugby pitches. Rory played at Scrum Half and played a great game, making lots of tackles and getting stuck in to the rucks and mauls. 

He and his team passed the ball more than usual today and this contributed to the victory of 6 tries to 2. It was following one of these tackles that Rory accidentally got kicked in the mouth. He now has a proper rugby player’s fat lip!

The short movie above shows Rory making a great tackle then getting a boot in the lip as a reward!

We all (Peter, Chris, Calum, Rory, Margaret, Neil, Ranald, his girlfriend Lyndsay, and David) went to see Edinburgh play Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield. A very close match ended with Edinburgh winning - just!

Short movie to follow shortly.