Colwyn Bay

Rugby Club

8th November '09

Llandudno U16 - 40     Colwyn Bay U16 - 12

Having again decamped to St Davids , a venue overshadowed with the negative memories of our last encounter, we set to the contest  with an in-form Llandudno , somehow lacking in the required enthusiasm .

‘Bay played a good first quarter and were well in the game but after  Llandudno’s first couple of tries , the will to win seemed to  slowly seep away and we lost our  shape and energy.

As is often the case , we picked ourselves up in the second half and strengthened our resolve. On a couple of occasions where Arthur was able to get quick ball from a set piece , we were able to take advantage of Llandudno complacency and  find the gaps to put over  two close range tries but it was too little , too late .

Lacking the heart shown in France last May we were beaten by the more confident team on the day. We know we can do better than this and our job now is to get our heads clear and rekindle the fire .

“I don't measure a man's success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom “  General  George S Patton

Many thanks  to Callum , Keiron , Patrick and Jack from the U15s for bolstering our side

1st November '09

Colwyn Bay U16s   34   -   South Woodham Ferrers U16s  20

After a night of rain a full 15 man Bay side gathered early to take on the Essex tourists, an unknown quantity. With the wind and rain behind them, SWF switched on quickly and had very soon put a try in each corner through thin defence and 10 points on the board. The ‘Bay lads realised they would have to do something about this and somewhere in the collective psyche, the rugby switch went to ‘on’  and for most of the rest of the first half, they kept the game inside the visitor’s 22.

Despite massive efforts and having carried the ball over the line at least four times in 20 minutes determined SWF defence stopped our lads from touching the ball down; we were unlucky not to have scored.  After a breakaway sprint from the Essex winger, we found ourselves 15 – 0 down at half time.

With good half time advice from Bryan to relax and play our usual open , fun game and strong belief in themselves, Colwyn Bay started the second half fully engaged and soon had their first points from a well worked series of passes allowing Jordan to find a gap under the posts. Then Sean powered over from a 5 m penalty, but with the wind gusting, Ethan’s conversion bounced off the post.

Undaunted, SWF brought it straight back, with their first attempt held up, they played 3 more well executed phases to eventually score in the corner. So Sean and Jordan replied by doing the same.. and we converted it for good measure.

With SWF reduced to 14 men through ill discipline , Sean charged over again from the resulting 5m penalty. With Essex heads down and ‘Bay spirits high we were rocking and before long Ethan had scythed his way through many tired Essex defenders in his usual fashion. It wasn’t long before the forwards were having some more fun on SWF’s doorstep which concluded with a spectacular pick and dive try from Geraint which allowed Ethan the chance to bounce another kick off the post.

So, a game of two very different halves which leaves us to ponder the question: How do we get to play second-half rugby in the first half ?

Well done lads, more good spirited rugby with great teamwork and sportsmanship; be proud of the way you pulled it back.

Thought for the day: “Without attitude , you are just bait”……..Llandudno next week

4th October '09

Colwyn Bay U16s 56  Bro Ffestiniog U16s 0

Over confident from our recent string of wins and still nursing some illnesses, the ‘Bay trotted out half asleep . Having borrowed Keiron , Ieuan , Jack and Patrick from the U15s and loaned Ash Jones , Alex Trowman and Jordan Wilson to Bro, we set to without much purpose.

Bro came out  determined , skilled and confident ,  the result of which was play quickly moved to all parts of the field as we struggled to get our rugby heads on and realised we had a battle on our hands. Play was haphazard and the ‘Bay were often on the back foot .We were lucky during this phase , not to have conceded any points. Keiron landed badly on his elbow in a tackle and was taken off ( he’s fine now).

This was the shock we needed to wake us up , the lights flickered on in ‘Bay heads and we started playing. Cap’n Harry lead the way and finished a fine set of moves with a try by the corner flag.

Good work out wide from Jordan and Dan Lowndes ( once they had finished trying to play soccer) put Dan over and allowed Pat to impress us with his conversion. Lloyd then carried over an ‘earner ‘ in the corner with the help of ‘Rambo’ Donegan (head taped together after a stud in the ear).

Bro were strong in the scrum and well drilled in the lineout's but effective ‘Bay defence in the line stopped them doing anything useful with the ball.

The second half was a whole different game. Now warmed up , switched on and realising  they were lucky to be 20 points up , Colwyn Bay started a campaign of  try scoring ; Dubi plucked a neat chip-through out of the air and scored under the posts , Pat added his 2 points. Pat followed with his own try but was disappointed when his conversion bounced back off the posts. By this time , Bro heads were down , their discipline and fitness slipping…….and we were just getting started. There followed a steady stream of points with tries from Pat ,Sean , Rambo , Jack , and Jordan , finishing with a try started by a stunning mid air catch by Paulo to put us over the 50 points difference just on full time.

Much credit must go to our U15 volunteers , on both teams for their contribution and to the grafters in the pack who didn’t get to score today , Dom , Tomos , Gez and Denzel  without who’s relentless work , there would be nothing for the backs to do .

This was a good looking score line but not our best performance. Take this warning , we have an English touring side ( Remember Arras ?) and Llandudno and Pwllheli on the horizon. We need to raise our game. We can play much better than we did today… and we need to ……Bring it on!!

4th October '09

Colwyn Bay U16 24   Flint U16 7

Up against what promised to be the strongest opposition yet and short handed due to weddings and injuries we ran out, quiet and confident and with a plan to keep the ball away from contact as much as possible.

Flint came out fighting and started putting in some big hits , Matt Lowndes took a heavy hit on each of his first couple of forays down the wing but kept getting up and running back at them and his resilience and persistence eventually paid off with our first try from him close to the corner flag.

We soon got the measure of Flint's large pack and found , through better technique and strength that their forwards were not as formidable as we thought . With massive effort from all our pack and tremendous teamwork ten minutes of grinding the hard yards saw Dubi carry the ball under their posts which gave Jordan an easy shot for conversion.

Having conceded 2 tries , Flint came back at us repeatedly until ,under pressure on our 10 yard line , Harry put in a clearance that fell short and gave Flint the chance to run the ball back at us which resulted in 5 points for them under our posts which they duly converted.

After half time , with Flint's larger lads slowing a little , our forwards again took the game to them . A couple of players from U15s weighed in after their match and added to our numbers  , Thanks to Ieuan and Jack for their contributions .It wasn't long before we won a scrum on their 10 yard line and put Jordan over for another 5 , converted by Ethan.

20 minutes in to the second half , Flint hooker Billy Forester didn't get up after a collapsed scrum and the paramedics were called. The match continued on  pitch 1 where Ethan's twinkle toes saw him making many yards through Flint defences , on one occasion resulting in another try and on the next , another ambulance for Flint's Arfon Bagshaw , the game was stopped short. We wish Billy and Arfon a full and speedy recovery.

Despite having received several stamping and raking injuries, Colwyn Bay lads kept their cool and let their rugby speak for them.

Another huge WELL DONE lads from Bryan , John and all the 'Bay supporters. This win was a credit to your maturity , skills and sportsmanship, you make us proud.

27th Sept '09

Nant Conwy U16  7    Colwyn Bay U16   57

Up to strength and quietly confident , we set off down the valley to meet old adversaries Nant. Having agreed to loan Nant 2 players (thanks to Mr Lowndes and Denzel for playing well for Nant) and play without flankers, we got off to a slow start . Identifying Nant’s Sam Backshall as a threat , Jordan popped a neat little chip straight to him which resulted in a blistering run from Nant’s 22 only defeated by Sam fumbling the ball under pressure and throwing it into touch!

This was the wake up call we needed and the result that followed was a spectacular show of ‘Bay ball handling skills and faultless support work which stunned Nant repeatedly. Great runs and blinding footwork from everyone with ball in hand ,and excellent forwards ball-winning work lead to tries finished by Swinny (2), Mr Lowndes (2) ,Jordan and Harry with conversions from Jordan (2),Arthur and an excellent 30m shot from Harry out by the 5m line. Nant put up a good defence and kept trying to move the ball and a great interception and sprint by Sam just before half time put the score at 38 – 7.

The second half was another dazzling display of quick hands and great support that made the coaches and supporters smile. Solid play by all the forwards helped Jordan to another, and a great series of interlinking runs of play from Jordan Harry and Gez put Gez between the posts for his first try of the season.

A mistake on Nant’s line lead to Arthur finishing the job for his first of the season and after another Jordan conversion the game was halted on points difference. Coaches were reluctant to award a Man of the Match award but when pressed by the players, decided that Jordan’s phenomenal work rate would win him the title.

WELL DONE Lads , an excellent team effort; more rugby to be proud of.

20th Sept '09

Colwyn Bay U16s 23    Llangefni U16s 0

Short handed once more , we took to the pitch with the support of several U15 players who had agreed to step up and set to the task of taking on the reputation of the big pack of Llangefni. Remembering our last 2 encounters which had both resulted in Drawn score lines , we expected a strong battle , and so it was to be.

It soon proved that the Bay’s forwards, through better body position and technique , were more than a match for the big Llangefni lads and before long they powered over for the first of our 4 tries.

Jordan slotted over an opportune penalty for our next three points then the forwards got back to work . Hard graft by Gez , Paulo , Dom ,Sean and Tom put Callum ‘Rhino’Mitchell  close enough to power over, taking half Llangefni‘s pack with him for his U16s debut try.

There followed a series of strong runs down both wings , stopped by solid Llangefni defence. But persistence paid off and eventually a great series of passes across the pitch and back all the way from our 22 resulted in Dubi, working in the line, touching it down for his first of the season.  Dubi had a superb match and didn’t put a foot or hand wrong all game….GO! Dubi !

We finished with a classic backs turnover , carried forward on Ethan’s brilliant sidestepping that left the Llangefni backs standing with a beautifully timed offload to Mike to finish.

This week’s match was much more of a test than Denbigh , to which the team , particularly the forwards , rose admirably and it was evident that everyone was playing with heart and soul .Rugby that lifts the spirits - that’s the stuff !!

A big Thank You to Callum ,Patrick , Ieuan , Jack and Noodles for their help.

13th Sept '09

Colwyn Bay U16  60  -   Denbigh U16  10

In Bright September sunshine the U16s set off with only 12 players for the sloping fields of Denbigh. Denbigh only managed to put out 14 players so we played uncontested 5 man scrums.

The 5 forwards worked hard and effectively all game long to win and retain  good ball on the ground which gave the backs many chances to demonstrate their excellent , cheeky handling skills with the result that we ran in no less than  10 tries (Mike 4 , Lowndes bros 2 , Ethan 2 ,Lloyd and Jordan )

As dictated by the WRU , the match was called short when the points difference reached 50 .Despite the massive score , the game was by no means a walkover and all the points were hard fought and well  deserved.

Man of the Match was awarded to Dominic for showing great Team Spirit , turning out to play an excellent game even though he was unwell.

Big Mac Munch of the Match was awarded to Ethan for a memorable high speed try-saving tackle which , if played back in slow time would look like military footage of an anti –tank missile doing it’s stuff!

A great team effort to start to the season……