Manor's U14 tour to deepest and sunniest Suffolk

Imagine the scene; 8am at Manor’s car park, 23 very excited U14 players accompanied by some rather bleary eyed, sleepy, parents who looked like they needed another couple of hours in bed or were heavily suffering from the previous night’s revelries. In answer to the question on all of your minds, no, the boys weren’t so keen to start training early it was their first ever rugby tour (mini tour, day trip). The U14’s were off on a new adventure to deepest, sunniest Suffolk for matches against our hosts Southwold and their local rivals Lowestoft and the icing on the cake was that we were all being driven to the matches in a big shiny red coach.

The boys piled onto the bus and immediately took the back seats leaving the front seats for the sleepy parents. After the mandatory safety speech by the driver we were off. DJ ‘Ginger’ Regan wasted no time by getting the entertainment started with a superb collection of 70’s and 80’s music (it was a little insight into what you can imagine being the average evening at the Regan household). Our big shiny red coach was now rocking up the A12 to ‘It must be love’, ‘I would walk 500 miles’, ‘Maggie May’ and the boys favourite ‘ Is this the way to Amarillo’ which was sung in great gusto from the back of the coach and a lot of smiles from the front of the coach.

Finally after two and a half hours of U14’s serenading the parents, and what a delight it was, we arrived at a very sunny Southwold RFC. For those of you who haven’t been to Southwold it is a lovely Suffolk town right on the coast, it even has a lighthouse. From the club house you look out over the rugby pitches to a view of the sea beyond, oh and Sizewell B. The only thought going through everyone’s minds was what a lovely location for a rugby club, but I bet its damn cold here in December and January.

Southwold and Lowestoft were already warming up and they had some big boys. The two teams were going to play a barbarian team for both matches. With only a short time for our warm up and practice we were told they were ready for the first match, perhaps a cunning plan from their coaches?

Match One - Suffolk Barbarians v Manor

Straight from the Southwold/Lowestoft kick off Ant caught and immediately broke their line, swift ball through the centres and a final pass out to Jermaine who lit the after burners and sprinted away straight to the try line, a difficult conversion kick from the touch line for Jack that didn’t make it. Manor 5 – Southwold/Lowestoft 0.

If anyone was wondering whether the pre-season training was going to pay off they didn’t wonder any more as Manor showed such power and strength in their tackles, scrums and counter rucks. Daniel picked up one of their biggest players and drove him back a good 6 meters to the roar of the Manor parents. From a Manor scrum Jermaine once again had the ball and a repeat of the first try he was away and over the try line, again Jack missed a difficult conversion. Manor 10– Southwold/Lowestoft 0.

From the kick off pressure was straight back on Southwold as Ant chipped the ball over their heads, chased the kick and tackled their fullback and winning a Manor line out. Adam joined the attack making a great break but was tackled into touch 5m away from their try line. Southwold seemed to panic as Manor pressured their defence and suddenly Ant over the try line. Jack duly made the conversion. Manor 17 – Southwold/Lowestoft 0.

Manor knocked on from the restart, Southwold big forwards mounted an attack from the scrum running down the blind side, but the Manor tackles were flying in. Southwold’s heads were up and Manor now found themselves defending their line for the first time. Jack somehow got hold of the ball and made a really strong run away from Manor’s try line; passes to Ant and then Adam saw the pressure relieved. A Manor knock on saw the referee blow for half time.

Ant kicked off the second half which saw a superb catch from a Southwold player, right off his boot laces. Soutwold were awarded a penalty for Manor coming in from the side. Southwold duly kicked for touch. Manor pressured the line out and won the ball, from deep in their half the ball found it way to Adam who weaved his way through the Southwold players and over the try line putting the ball down under the posts. An easy conversion for Jack now saw the score Manor 21 – Southwold/Lowestoft 0.

Southwold’s kick off was picked up by Jack and run straight back at them. Southwold were awarded a scrum for a Manor knock on. Again from the base of the scrum their Number 8 made a strong run down the touch line; slowed by Adam’s tackle which was joined by Jack saw him tackled into touch.

From the line out the ball was run through the backs, Ant, Ben and finally to Adam who cheekily crossed the line in the corner and then decided to run past a few more players to put it under the posts. Jack’s conversion now made it Manor 28 – Southwold/Lowestoft 0.

The final play of the match saw Manor win a scrum against the head, strong run by George and then Ant who once again crossed the try line. Jack once again converted Manor 35 – Southwold/Lowestoft 0.

Special mention should be made to all the boys who played; to a boy they showed total commitment to the game with immense tackles, great scrummaging and rucking, and pace to die for.

Match two and the post match report will be posted when this writer has had a rest.........to be continued.........