Braintree U8’s Festival Winners 2015

It was a nice sunny morning, it was even better as the parents arrived earlier than the time requested (first for time for everything) the boys were like spring lambs running around with a spring in their step, today was going to be a good day.

It was great for the coaching staff when we received the news that we would be having outside referees for the games, which meant we could enjoy the day, and watch and support the boys in all their games.

The boys were split equally into mixed ability teams Red & Yellow and were warmed up and eager to play, they had played most of the teams on a few occasions and new what they were up against apart from the Old Albanians who we had never faced.

It started well for both Braintree teams, normally the first game is slow until they get into it, but today they knew they had a home crowd who they wanted to please and they wanted to get some silver on their home ground as in the past they have just had it slip through their fingers in the final games of previous festivals only to come second or third.

But today all their hard work was paying off, their defense and attacking was second to none they were always up in defense taking tags and always pushing forward in offense to gain ground and score numerous tries.

Braintree Yellows won their first game with a clear win against Colchester, but the Red team were unlucky they came up against a strong Westcliff side and were piped at the post by 1 try

Braintree Yellow team had great determination and with some of the best defense play and attacking team work on their side in their next games against Woodbridge, Old Albanians & Thurrock they went forward to win all four with good clear wins of their games and come top of pool A.

Braintree Red did not give up they stood their ground and with great team work tagging and attacking in their next two games against Woodbridge & Old Albanians they stormed ahead with two wins, it was all or nothing when they came up against a determined Thurrock team who had also lost a game and wanted to win, the last game went back and fourth with each team scoring 6 tries a piece this did not bide well, Braintree Red team lost out being in the Runner up games of pool B on points.

The A pool final was Braintree A v Thurrock B for the cup and with both the coaches and teams wishing each other luck for the final game before we started. It did not start well for Braintree, Thurrock won the toss and started and even with the good tagging defense skill Thurrock got through and scored. Braintree came back but with a wrong pass the ball was knocked forward only to let Thurrock pick it up and run around the outside of our line and score. With two tries down a minute and a half before half time it did not look promising. But the boys fought back with some good side steps and passing they scored their first try, Thurrock came back and scored another, 3-1 Braintree stepped up and with a whippet on the pitch and with seconds to go to half time the whippet scored another to make it 3-2.

With a quick drink and team talk the whistle was blown for the second half to begin, the boys really had to step up and show their metal, Braintree started and scored their third try, only for the strong Thurrock team to score, Braintree went forwards but with a knock on the ball was turned over to Thurrock who scored, this was not good Braintree needed a miracle 5-3 down, but with luck and great team work the boys clawed back Thurrock had the ball turned over for fending off 5 yards from our try line only for Braintree to steam forward 40 yards and score 5-4 Braintree turned over Thurrock on the 7th tag using their tagging and defense skills and use the given advantage to score 5-5 it was now down to the last play and with a quick hand shake to the Thurrock coach the boys went forward and with some good off loads went and scored the final try of the game to make it a 5-6 win to Braintree.

I have never seen so many happy faces on the final whistle being blown and with the support of the U9 & U12 on the touchlines it was a great ending to the Festival.

The boys of both Braintree teams made the day for both the parents and coaches with their determination and showing of skills on the pitch they were all winners.

I and the other coaching staff would like to say a big thank you to all the parents that gave us assistance with marshaling and scoring duties on the day

We look forward to locking heads with a good Thurrock side at the Essex festival this weekend and who knows what the outcome will be??