A split morning for the U7 camp as we could only get one team into the Festival. So whilst some of our group enjoyed training as usual at The Bay, we took a squad of 12 boys to Market Harborough:

Seb Adams
Freddie Fuller
Miles Kane
Oliver Trafford
Harry Wheeler
Matthew Davies
Ollie McMahon
Archie Quilter
Onri Sais
George Sutton
Sam Williams
Noah Robertson

Into the action and the matches which were played 5 minutes each way:

GAME 1: Nottm Corsairs v Market Harborough I – RESULT: 5-4 WIN

First half finished at 2-2 with tries from Matthew and Miles.

The second half saw 3 further tries from Freddie x 2 and Seb.

A good start where we lead from the very 1st minute and ran in some good individual and team tries.

GAME 2: Nottm Corsairs v Old Northamptonians 1 – RESULT: 5 – 1 WIN

Again a try in the first minute from Matthew was quickly equalised by ONs. Freddie score again to take us to half time at 2-1.

We then rattled in 3 quick unanswered tries from Archie, Seb and Onri to close out the game 5 – 1.

A strong all round performance and some committed tagging in defence.

GAME 3: Nottm Corsairs v Sutton Coldfield 2 – RESULT: 4 – 6 LOSS

A try from Freddie in the first minute was followed by 2 from Sutton before Matthew levelled the scores to go into half time at 2-2.

However, despite a try straight away from Seb, our opponents took and stretched their lead with 3 tries of their own. Seb pulled another one back to take the score to 4 – 5 before Sutton scored with the last play to win the game.

GAME 4: Nottm Corsairs v Peterborough Lions– RESULT: 3 -3 DRAW

The final pool game saw us needing a win to progress through to the latter stages.

We started badly conceding a try in the first minute and despite spells of pressure were unable to convert these into tries of our own. Indeed it was Peterborough who scored a second to end the half 2-0 ahead.

What was really pleasing though was the way the boys fought back in the second half with a hat trick of tires from Seb on 1, 2 and 5 minutes to see us take a 3-2 lead. That should have been it although the referee from Market Harborough found an extra 2 minutes of play which gallingly led to Peterborough scoring an equalising try in the 7th minute of the half.

The result meant that we were eliminated, Market Harborough going through to the final stages.

Overall Played 4, Won 2, Drawn 1. Tries for: 17 Tries against: 14

It was disappointing to go out in the way we did but overall once again the boys did themselves proud. The experience will stand them in good stead for future tournaments.

Thank you as ever to all of our fantastic supporters on the touchline, for the vocal support and the butties/sweets/refreshments and the rest!

Special thanks once again to Matt Kane for helping keep score.

Bring on the NLD!