Pencoed Match Report

The boys really stepped up this morning to play Pencoed, always an outstanding Junior Club side. Led from the front by Captain of the day Cameron, the Wildcats took an early lead but finally went down fighting 7-8. Everyone got involved in the best performance of the season so far. This week we are introducing player of the week awards. This is not just for scoring tries, but for tagging, fair play, enthusiasm, staying in line, positioning and listening to the coaches. The inaugural awards go to Luca for an overall tagging and running performance, and to Dylan for the champagne moment of the match: a diving try saving tag in the corner. Also mentioned in dispatches are Cathy and Jill for organising the hotdogs at the cricket club. Special thanks to Chris from Pencoed for making the journey and instilling an excellent spirit in their team (and the ability to bounce back from a few knocks!) Unfortunately we don't have a return match organised for this season, but it is certainly a fixture we look forward to arranging again in the future.

Dates for the diary:
Wednesday 3rd Dec: Astroturf at Ashleigh Road, 4:30-5:30 (last one of the year).
Friday 5th Dec: Parents party for junior section at Rugby Club, 8-late. £3 tickets available on Wednesday or on the door.
Next Sunday: Change of plan: Morriston have double booked, so the home match is postponed. Fall Bay have kindly stepped in we will play them at their ground in Scurlage. Meet there at 11:00. Details above.

Weekend Details

Match against the mighty Pencoed on Sunday. It's at Bishopston. Meet 9:45 for training before the kick off.

After the match: everyone is invited to the Cricket Club for hotdogs and drinks. Open from 11:30.

Don't forget the Night out for all parents at the Club next Friday £3 each. You can get tickets on Sunday or on the night. Bring some friends. Come along and support the club.

O death where is thy sting?

The Wildcats went down fighting to a strong South Gower side this morning at the windswept Bishopston local derby. Some early tries from Ike, Duncan and Lloyd put Mumbles on even terms at the break, but we were always hanging on and the mazy running of several SG players took them clear in the second half despite several further tries and some fine inter-passing from Tom Charles and Myles. The Wildcats need to work on keeping a defensive line and moving up together to challenge the opposition ball carrier. But we cannot manufacture a Calzaghe-esque unbeaten record for long, and the boys have to learn. The referee turned many a blind eye in an attempt to make the game flow and for both teams to learn. He is most appreciative of Mumbles parents support in face of confusing decisions. At all times decorum was perfectly preserved. Happily, the boys took it all on the chin. The morning is best summed up by one of the players who told me "There was bad news and good news. The bad news is we lost. the good news is it was lots of fun".

No training on Wednesday. See you all at Bishopston next Sunday, 9:45.

Sunday Instructions

Back to our adopted home ground at Bishopston for a match against South Gower. Meet at 9:45 for a 10:30 kick off.

After the game we are all invited back to the CRICKET club, which will be open from 11:30. Hotdogs, tea and coffee and lots of space to run around. It was a great success last week, so come along and help support both the rugby and cricket club.

Lost Boots Message

The odd boots mystery is solved. Ike has one set and Luca the other. If you could both bring them to training tonight we can swap them over. See you all at 4:30 at Ashleigh Road Astroturf.

The survivors of the epic battle with Dunvant. This week the tries were all hard won. Dunvant's tagging skills forced many more passes than usual. This is something we'll have to get used to and the boys have to learn to be there in support of the tagged player. Matz, Cam and Tom R were outstanding in this role. Mumbles edged ahead due to great scavenging. Whenever the ball was dropped a Wildcat was the first there and wouldn't let it go. Myles, Ike and Owen all took key turnovers and this allowed the long legs of Luca and Duncan to add decisive tries. Everyone contributed to the best performance of the year by a long way. A special thanks to the Dunvant coaches and players who brought an outstanding spirit to the game. The return fixture is one we look forward to honouring in the new year.

Coaches tip of the day: No handoffs. Keep up the excellent scavenging of the loose ball.

See you Wednesday, 4:30, at the Astroturf at Ashleigh Road.

Dunvant Match

Sunday 16th November. At our adopted Bishopston School Playing Fields. Meet promptly at 10 for training before the match at 10:30. After the rugby we are invited back to the MUMBLES CRICKET CLUB (on Plunch Lane, Limeslade) for hot dogs. Keep and eye out on the blog for any rain updates.

Astroturf tonight

4:30 - 5:30 at Ashleigh Road. Drive up the lane between the football and rugby pitches and park near the tennis club. Our pitch is the one nearest the buildings. Wrap up, it'll be cold later.

Cowbridge Report

Top marks to all the lads for turning out this morning in some brutal conditions, and especially for showing patience while waiting to play. A great effort too from Cowbridge to come down with an U7s side. When we did get underway Cowbridge made sure the boys had a run around, and after Mumbles surrendered the early advantage to go 2 down, they eventually clawed themselves back for a draw. 9-9 I think. A special mention for Cam who took a nasty knock, but shook it off and came back to claim some, er, enthusiastic tags. At the end most of them looked like they'd played a game of contact rugby rather than tag. Something the mums don't have to worry about for 18 months.

Several announcements this week:

1. The first astroturf session is this Wednesday 12th Nov at Ashleigh Road at 4:30 - 5:30. Drive up the small lane between the main playing fields, and park at the top, right next to the astroturf pitch that is closest to the buildings. We are sharing half a pitch with the 9s. No togs - just trainers, and make sure everyone (parents and players) are wrapped up.

2. Going back to the Club House after a game. It was great to see quite a few of the team make it back to the club for hotdogs, and for lots of the Cowbridge u7s to come as well. Please remember that you all have Family Membership of the club and are welcome at any time, especially after matches. As a team, the under 7s do not go back to the club every week, but we will aim, like today, to target certain home matches when we can arrange some snacks and try and all go back together. We will advertise these in advance so you can make arrangements.

3. Next Sunday - a home match vs Dunvant. The venue is now confirmed for Bishopston, but we are still waiting to see if Dunvant have a 7s. It doesn't make much difference to arrangements though -meet at 10:00 for some training then we will play Dunvant at 10:45 if they have a team.

4. Gloves. Thinking about the cold weather, some players find that rugby mitts help a bit. They are by no means essential, and are quite expensive. If you are thinking about getting some, by far the best value I have seen can be found by clicking here.

Cowbridge Challenge

This Sunday we are back at Bishopston School Playing Fields (hurray!) for a match with Cowbridge, who will have travelled from the darkest depths of the Vale of Glamorgan. We will of course endeavour to make them feel welcome. If the team could meet at Bishopston at 10:00 (so much for the lie in), we can have a short practice and aim for a kick off at about 10:45.

Apres rugby, everyone is invited to venture back across the common to the clubhouse for nutritious hot dogs, where the finer points of the matches will be dissected over several pints of Mumbles' finest.

Rain information: The pitches have been in good condition this week and the match is very unlikely to be called off because of them. So it looks like it will all be on. But we know that thundery showers are forecast so please make sure you have some clothing to keep the boys dry before the match and something dry to change into afterwards. It is also important to change before going into the clubhouse so the boys aren't wearing muddy kit or shoes.

Coming Soon...

Next Sunday: The Cowbridge Challenge. We welcome a touring side of under 7s, 8s and 9s from Cowbridge. Venue and time to be confirmed (hint: you might get a bit of a lie in for a change).

Wednesday 12th Nov (NOT THIS WEEK!) Our first Astroturf session. We don't usually bother with midweek training for the 7s (unlike most clubs) but because the winter is often a wash-out down the park, we have booked 10 sessions at Ashleigh Road, sharing a pitch with the under 9s. They are all on Wednesdays at 4:30-5:30. They are not all on consecutive weeks, so check here for details. Please don't worry at all if you can't make it. They are not compulsory! We know that the time won't suit everyone but it is the only available spot. So come if you want to, there are plenty of lifts on offer if needed, and WRAP UP WARM IT WILL BE COLD.

There was a great turn out again this Sunday at Bishopston. We are hoping that this will become a regular venue as there is alot more space and plenty of parking. Thanks to Matt and Ian for taking on the session. It makes a real difference to be working with small groups.