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Juniors
Welcome to Kempston Junior Rugby
Club.
Providing Rugby for 6 -1 3 year olds.
New to the
scene, Kempston Juniors are now in their 2nd
year and already the numbers have grown. The mini
section provides rugby for 6 – 12 years and we have one
Junior side at u13.
All coaches and
other helpers for the mini and junior section are
volunteers. The club operates to the RFU
guidelines. To achieve this, the club has assisted
them with obtaining as a minimum RFU Level 1 coaching
standard. In addition, they have either achieved or are
in the process of being CRB checked, so all players are
in good hands.
Mini and Youth
teams train and play on Sundays from 10am till midday.
The 7th
September marks the start of the season so bring you
child down to register.
Volunteers are
vital in such a small club as ours and we have so many
tasks during a season from simple match day chores to
fundraising and big social events. Don't sit and wait,
come forward and tell us what you can do.
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Kempston Tag Rugby Team Match Reports
Saturday 9th May 2009 saw a visiting Shelton Lower
School Rugby team in action twice against two
experienced and well drilled Kempston sides.
The first game was played between Kempston ‘B’ and
Shelton. Kempston ‘B’ comprising mainly of under sevens
was bolstered by the experience of Lauren Nichols and
Cienan Houghton. Shelton opened up the scoring by
crashing across the line with two quick tries borne from
lack of support and sloppy handling by the Kempston
side.
Kempston came back with two tries of their own the first
from Steven Wheeler and the second from Lauren Nichols
both of whom showed their pace by running the length of
the field. In the dyeing seconds of the first half
however, Shelton ball carrier Ben Wylie put his head
down and went over the line once more.
Some strong but encouraging words followed from Kempston
Coach John Nichols to his dispirited team….
The second half saw a more structured performance from
Kempston who seemed to have now perked up. Confident
that their defence was being lead strongly by Holly
Nichols tries followed two from Captain Jack (‘Sparrow’)
Harding and some excellent support play was rewarded as
Lauren Nichols crashed over the line for her second try
of the match and Kempton's fifth.
However the unstoppable force of Ben Wylie wasn’t
finished with his first half brace as he smashed through
the Kempston defence twice more. Final Score a draw at
5-5.
A short break followed after which Shelton went back
into action against a confident Kempston ‘A’ side a more
even match for them in terms of age and size.
The school side felt the pressure right away as
Kempston's Cienan Houghton scored straight from the kick
off. This was quickly answered however from Shelton in
the form of a run down the touch line and a try from
Megan Kavanagh. Despite some excellent passages of
Shelton support play constant Kempston pressure produced
three more tries from Lauren (Nitro) Nichols, Max (The
Flash) Rowlands and Stevie (Whirlwind) Wheeler. A brave
effort from Shelton produced a try just before half time
narrowing Kempstons lead to 2 points.
The second half produced one of the best exhibitions of
tag rugby ever seen at the Kempston ground. Shelton flew
out of the starting blocks and saw not one, not two, but
a ‘hat rick’ of tries from Jacob Inwood bringing the
score to an exciting 5-4 in the school side’s favour.
Undaunted but this sudden burst from Shelton, Kempston
dug their heels in and ground out two well worked tries
the first from Jack Harding with Lauren Nichols having
the final say with her second and Kempstons seventh try
of the match.
Final Score: Kempston ‘A’ 7 Shelton Lower 5
The final match played was between Kempston ‘A’ and
Kempston ‘B’. This monumental clash of Kempston talent
had been brewing all season as the over confident ‘A’
side took to the field against their younger smaller
rivals.
Kempston ‘A’ failed to support the ball carrier in the
first half relying too heavily on the speed and agility
of Max Rowlands. Kempston ‘B’ however not forgetting the
lessons learned from a hard season worked the ball well,
offloading and supporting each other at all times.
Starved of possession Kempston ‘A’ ground out 3 first
half tries 2 from Max Rowlands and one from Lauren
Nichols, but these were answered with a brace a piece
from Stevie Wheeler and Jack Harding. However the
supporting crowd were on their feet screaming in
excitement as the youngest player on the field Greg (The
Jaguar) Johnson spotted a mid field gap in the defence
and tore through it scoring his debut try.
Kempston ‘B’ lead at half time comfortably, 5 tries to
3.
Kempston ‘A’ regrouped after a stern half time talk with
their coach. Max Rowlands opened up the scoring followed
quickly by the team captain Elliot (The Cannonball)
Stevenson crashing across the line to make the score all
square at 5-5.
Two more tries a piece flowed from both sides, Rowlands
and Callum (Stokesy) Stokes going over for the ‘A’ side
against Wheeler (bringing his total to a ‘hat rick’)
William (Billy) Johnson for the B’s. As the seconds
ticked down to full time it looked like a 7-7 draw was
inevitable then out of nowhere the ‘Jaguar’ Johnson
exploited another gap in the ‘A’ side defence and
streaked the length of the pitch to touch down for his
second and the ‘B’ sides eighth.
Final Score Kempston ‘A’ 7 Kempston ‘B’ 8
Coach John Nichols would like to thank all the parents
that have helped and supported him over the season,
assistant Coach Claire Newman for all her hard work but
of course the players themselves for all their hard work
and effort.
It is my intention to move up with the older members of
the group next year and coach mini rugby (9 a side
contact) this group will be the under 9’s and 10’s. for
those of you who will not be in that group next year I
wish you all the very best for the future and am looking
forward to seeing you all in September.
Those of you that are moving up I will be starting pre
season training on Sunday 16th August 2009 at 10 am.
Could I ask all parents whose children are going to be
involved in the under 9’s and 10’s group to contact Fran
Howe and arrange ordering a team strip for next season
if you do not already have one.
Have a great summer. John
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