Wednesday Training - OFF

With the ground still very hard, and it being so cold after dark, we are calling off this week's training.

With a bit of luck things will warm up and we will all meet on Sunday for a match at Swansea Uplands. Keep an eye on the blog for updates.

If the bad weather continues we will look at booking some time in the gym for indoor training next week.

Clifton - OFF

Sorry everyone. No chance of a game at Bristol tomorrow, so the trip is off. Big shame after lots of organisation. We will definitely organise another trip there after christmas.

No training or anything at Bishopston tomorrow, so see you Wednesday.

Travel Plans for Clifton

First up - we are keeping an eye on the weather. Obviously it will be cold, but we are in touch with the Clifton club to ensure matches are playable. So far all the reports from Clifton are that pitches are fine.

Please wrap up the boys warm. Bring the warm up tops - but boys must play the matches in their jerseys - so plenty of T-shirts / skins underneath are ideal.

Thanks for the teamer replies, they are almost all in. We have a nice mix of players wanting to drive up or take the small bus (driven by Ian). Minibus will be about £7 per seat. Please note that if there are last minute changes of mind there is unlikely to space left on the minibus (we can only book a small one).

So far we have confirmed:
Minibus: Sam (+Ian), Arthur (+Mike+Tom), Ike (+Greg), Dylan (+Helen), Cam (+Mike+Mike), Owen (+Jon).
Car: Luca (spaces available), Ethan (travelling Saturday), Josh R (travelling Saturday), Kieran, Duncan, Tom R

Please ensure you arrive at Clifton RFC by 10:30 at the latest. The minibus will be leaving at 08:45. Please meet the minibus at 8:40 latest at Moorside Road, outside Mike's house!

Directions to the club can be found here. Address: Station Road, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol BS10 7TT

Great training session last night lads - keep up the good work.

Training Wednesday, Bristol Sunday

Training Wednesday, Underhill Park, 4:30-5:30

Aberavon Match Report
14 WildCats made the long trip from Mumbles to Aberavon this morning. We arrived to find quite a narrow pitch, which seemed to stiffle our open fast runners. Aberavon set their stall out, they had some big lads and tactically they enjoyed the "pick and drive" game, with little ball going out wide. This proved to once more test out tackling and defending skills and for long periods of the game, we were magnificent in these areas. When attacking, we created some great tries with some lovely build up play.

Try scores for the WildCats were Josh R (2), Ethan, Tom H and Dylan (2). The Green Stars scored 8, to make the final score 8-6 to the Green Stars.

We look forward to a return fixture later in the season.

CLIFTON
Exciting news for the team. We have an invite to Bristol next Sunday to play Clifton RFC. It's a bit of a trek, but a chance to get out of the usual routine for the Wildcats. A mini tour, against English opposition, and with English rules - which means rucking and mauling for the boys!

Clifton RFC is right on Crib's Causeway. It will take about 90 mins to drive to on a Sunday morning. Obviously there is a chance of shopping at Cribs's Causeway / Bristol centre / Zoo etc if anyone wants to make a full day of it. We will aim to assemble at about 10:30. And to kick off at about 11:30. We'll go back to clubhouse afterwards and be done by about 1:00. We are looking forward to a warm welcome.

Teamer invites have been sent out. Once we know numbers we will plan transport. We can't have a big coach, but we will look into minibus options if possible. We expect some people will prefer to drive, but hope that any cars going up will offer car share if they can. Have a think and if you accept the teamer invite then please e-mail me with preferred transport option:

I would like to drive, and have xxx spaces in the car / I would like to go on mini bus if possible and there will be xxx of us travelling.
(m.b.gravenor@swan.ac.uk).

This Sunday - Aberavon Game On

Tonna have canceled our 9s (and 8s) fixture this weekend, so a trip for all the boys this Sunday to Aberavon Green Stars. Meet at 10:30. The ground is "The Little Warren". And a little difficult to find first time. Take the old bridge and A48 out of Swansea (not M4). Take the right turn at the roundabout into Port Talbot (signposted hospital) then follow the road round towards the Hospital on Afan Way. At the big Hospital roundabout take the right hand exit to Dalton Road. Turn first left into Vivian Park Drive, and follow this straight all the way down (it becomes Heol yr Ysbyty and then Newbridge Road). At the end of Newbridge Road turn right into Darwin Road. At the bottom of Darwin Road you should see playing fields and Sitwel Way at the bottom. Address is: Sitwell Way, Little Warren, Port Talbot, SA12 6BP.

Two matches, so plenty of rugby all round

Morriston Report

Both sides keeping a respectful minutes silence before kick off on Remembrance Sunday

The boys put up a very strong performance this morning. Morriston tried to keep the ball alive with some fine passing, but Mumbles defence was excellent, not allowing the opposition any time or space on the ball. Some strong running led to lots of tries this morning, all our lads proving a handful. A special mention goes to Owen's lovely pass out to Luca on the wing, an unselfish and skillful move when Owen could probably have gone all the way himself. And to Josh B, showing strength to crash over for a lovely solo try from an attacking scrum. Thanks to Chris and his team for visiting and playing the game in such excellent spirit.

Training on Wednesday under the lights at 4:30.

New Coach. Bishopston this Sunday.

We are really pleased to have Mike Peach on board as another coach for the Wildcats. Aside from being Cam's brother, Mike has recently come through the Mumbles junior and youth sides and now plays prop for the 1st XV. Apart from an extra pair of hands, we are especially pleased to have a current young rugby player as part of the team. Mike is a qualified ref, and will be helping out when he can in between studies. He'll be a great source of expertise as the boys go up through the age groups.

• Match vs Morriston at home this Sunday. All players invited. Meet Bishopston at 10:15.
• Early warning for Sunday 21st: split squad and 2 away matches - Tonna and Aberavon - so please try and make that day so we can field two teams.
• Don't forget to sponsor Matt's ridiculous facial hair. Details below.

Please sponsor me?!

Hi All,

This Movember, the month formally known as November I've decided to donate my face to raising awareness about prostate cancer. My donation and commitment is the growth of a moustache for the entire month of Movember, which I know will generate conversation, controversy and laughter.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. One man dies every hour from the disease in the UK. I am asking you to support my efforts by making a donation to the Prostate Cancer Charity.

Click this link SPONSOR ME HERE! and donate online using your credit card or paypal account.

The Prostate Cancer Charity will use money raised by Movember for the development of programs related to awareness, public education, advocacy, support of those affected, and research into the prevention, detection, treatment and cure of prostate cancer.

Thank you.

Matthew

Bont Report

Some lessons from Bont this morning in keeping the ball in attack, and not crowding around the scrum half. Remember that the ball cannot be stolen on the floor, so the team always retains the ball at the tackle. This gives the patient teams the chance to gradually move up the field. Also, if everyone is crowded around the tackle area we have no chance of moving the ball into space where our runners are strongest. Still, another big tackling practice session and the boys cannot be faulted here, committed as always. Without a few uncharacteristic turnovers the match could have gone either way, but Bont deserved the final score of 6-3. Tries coming from Josh, Luca and Owen. Again the reaction of the boys is showing some real maturity. I didn't hear any complaints. The boys took it in their stride and will be hungry for more next week.

The match will be at home at Bishopston next Sunday, with Morriston the visitors, and with their big squad we plan for 2 matches. Training under lights on Wednesday. 4:30 - 5:30.

Sunday at Bont

WEATHER UPDATE: Most of the football was on today, so as long as there is no heavy rain over night, the match should be on tomorrow. Please keep an eye on the blog / teamer texts for any change of plan.

Another away trip for the Wildcats this week, with a tough game against Pontarddulais. Teamer invites will be sent out in the morning, please let us know your availability.

Since we only have one fixture, and because quite a few of the boys have been out of action a couple of weeks, everyone is invited. We'll push for a long game so everyone can get a decent half. The fixture will be played at the playing field of Pontarddulais Comprehensive School. Meet 10:30 Sunday morning. Directions here.

Fundraiser

Great session under the lights at Underhill tonight. Here's a message from the under 7s, who are coached by our very own Owen's Dad. Anyone interested contact Jon, Tracey or me asap.

The Mumbles Predators (U7's) are holding a fundraising "parent's night" on the Friday 12th November. The venue is Charlie's Bar & Dinning (www.charliesdining.co.uk), near Morgans Hotel in Swansea. Charlies has had some close sponsorship links with the minis at the club. Rachel at Charlies has kindly agree to give us the basement restaurant for the night, offering a quality three course hot buffet meal and music for £25 per head. Each £25 ticket sold will generate £5 for the Predators. Please text Tracy on 0777 303 5414 for ticket requests.

Wednesday Training Under The Lights

Training this Wednesday as usual. 4:30 at Underhill. We'll be using the lights so will either train outside the clubhouse or by the swings.