Coach's comment

Refereeing both games meant I didn't get a chance to speak to players as much as possible. However I was very pleased with the following:

1. The excellent and positive support from the parents. This will pay dividends over the season.
2. Help with running the U7s was invaluable allowing the coaches (Lyndon, Adrian and me) to organise and sub more effectively.
3. The good spirit of our players, some of whom had never ventured onto a rugby pitch in anger.

That brings me to our key aims for the season.
1. Play for all.
2. Endeavour over winning.

I am naturally very competitive (just ask my brothers). I enjoy winning and I am always sad when I lose.

However, it is more important that the players play, and not the best 7.

In our planning for the season we aim to cover the three core skills required for TAG: footwork, handling and tag tackling. The progression is now to develop some team skills to complement these areas.

The team skills will build around the core skills. With better team skills comes greater involvement and therefore we move towards "Play for all" and "Endeavour".

Lofty ideals and perhaps seemingly far too advanced for U8s and U7s. I believe that we should create the environment for these ideals now, because the culture of the individual selfish player is hard to break in the future.

Busiest weekend yet

Quite an achievement this morning - training and matches for 27 kids!

Thanks to the Dad's who helped out with Under 7s. Makes a big difference, especially with the variety of playing experiences.

Starting with the Under 7s (and a couple of new U8s):

They played really well for a first outing and were really unlucky to not win (final score was 2-2). They were:Will, Ben, Liam, Megan, Tomasz, James, Ioan, Freddie, Thomas, Iestyn, Cai, Sean, Adam, Matthew and Jake.

All apart from Matthew and Jake making their Mumbles debuts and their first ever games of rugby.

The under 8s were Rhys, Ben, Tom, Aled, Max, Tom, Thomas, Jack, Cameron, Ben, Dominic and Harry. The final score was 1-2. A controversial decision by the TMO cost them a share at the death! Excellent tagging all round, with Bont having a very fast set of players.

Ben, Jack, Harry and Cameron made their Mumbles debuts. Dominic had his first outing of the season. Ben Marsden scored the opening try on debut.

Team versus Bonymaen

Back Row: Dan (coach), Tom, Matthew, Jake, Max, Mike (team manager), Adrian (coach)

Front Row: Tom, Tom, Rhys, Ben , Aled

Team mascot: (half a view of): Nye

Photo: Aled's dad (no fee)

Bonymaen 0 Mumbles 12

Great start to the season with a 12 nil victory against Bonymaen.

The following boys made their Mumbles debuts:
Tom, Tom, Aled, Jake, Max, and Matthew

The players from last year were:
Rhys, Ben, Tom

Key areas:
Passing before contact
Lots of tagging

Areas to work on:
Spreading out in attack from the free pass

Bonymaen had some good players, though not their full side. The referee was excellent. The weather was Bonymaen wind and drizzle. Post match meal was beans and chips.

Hopefully a team picture will be published very soon.

Touch rugby on Wednesday at 5pm at Underhill for any of those interested.

Bonymaen Match Information

Please note that, due to the expected numbers in the Bonymaen team, this fixture is for Year 3 players only. All year 3 players are welcome.

We are expecting more players to be involved with the Pontardulais fixture at home on the 30th. More news of that game will be posted next week.

Bonymaen Kick off 11am

First match at Bonymaen is at 11am.

We aim to get there by 10.15am.

If you have Mumbles socks, please bring them.

Directions to Bonymaen

Directions to Bonymaen RFC

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?near=bonymaen&q=bonymaen+rfc&f=p&btnG=Search+Maps&rl=1


Drive:
7.8 mi – about 21 mins
up to 25 mins in traffic
7.8 mi – about 21 mins, up to 25 mins in traffic
1.
Head east on Overland Rd toward Gloucester Place Mews
161 ft
2.
Turn left at Gloucester Place Mews
0.1 mi
3.
Turn right at Dunns Ln
443 ft
4.
Turn left at B4433/Mumbles Rd
Continue to follow Mumbles Rd
0.9 mi
2 mins
5.
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A4067/Mumbles Rd
Continue to follow A4067
4.0 mi
10 mins
6.
Turn right at A483
0.1 mi
1 min
7.
Turn left at A4217/E Bank Way
Continue to follow A4217
0.9 mi
2 mins
8.
Turn right at B5444/Pentre-chwyth Rd
Continue to follow B5444
0.8 mi
2 mins
9.
Turn right at Bon-y-maen Rd
0.2 mi
1 min
10.
Turn left at Mansel Rd
0.1 mi
11.
Turn right at Cefn Rd
0.4 mi
1 min
12.
Slight left at Cefn Hengoed Rd
0.1 mi

Training on 16th September

Thanks to all those who turned up - we ended up with 28 boys and girls for the games at the end, plus about four who dropped out during the sessions.

The key areas we were concentrating on this week were:
1. Tagging as a line - working as a pair
2. Side stepping
3. Passing before being tagged

In the games, the players were encouraged to take account of the peculiar laws of tag and rugby: offside, staying on your feet and scoring tries.

More on the team and game for Bonymaen soon.

Dan

Friday 21st September RUCK AND ROLL

Don't forget to get your tickets for a fundraiser in the Mumbles Rugby Club.

Only £3 with a band playing and rugby club priced drinks.

We are aiming to raise money for the arrival of the North Dorset touring team who looked after us so well at the end of last season.

Sunday 9th September training

A fantastic response with more than 25 boys and girls turning up for training.

Well done to all involved, I think every player managed to get some action.

The key themes were:
Hands out to catch the ball
Calling the name of the player who you wanted the ball from

In the three groups we concentrated on:
Scoring tries - the method
Simple passing whilst running
Tagging as a team - working in pairs to tag

On Wednesday I will play just a normal game of tag and then for Sunday we shall develop some of the themes in terms of running, passing and tagging skills.

All Blacks Best Rugby Tries Ever

This is NOT how to play Tag Rugby

Learn the basics from Playstation!

gingerbread haka

Training times 9.30 prompt

Just remind everybody that training starts at 9.30am promptly.

Parking can be a problem on busy days, so it is worth being a few minutes early.

Dan

Fixtures til Christmas

23-Sep Bonymaen AWAY
30-Sep Pontardulais
07-Oct North Dorset on tour
14-Oct Penclawdd
21-Oct
28-Oct Waunarlwydd AWAY
04-Nov Swansea Ups AWAY
11-Nov Gowerton AWAY
18-Nov
25-Nov Pontardawe AWAY
02-Dec Tonmawr
09-Dec South Gower AWAY
16-Dec
23-Dec

Welcome to Mumbles Under 8s

Welcome to the Under 8s blog site with all the information you need to know for the coming weeks. You will find a fixture card, timings, contacts and lists.

Enjoy!