Aldermaston U15  0 v 85  Newbury u15b

I would like to report a different set of circumstances, but alas I cannot. This was a game that at best would be better off forgot, but that’s not something we can do as lessons need to be learnt. Most importantly the lads minds weren’t even in it before they took to the field, and therefore played as such.

Newbury turned up with a really strong squad, with some players who were more than able to play in a division higher. They outclassed an indifferent Aldermaston side that quite frankly were not playing as we all know they can. The Lads were out scrummed, out rucked, out mauled, they lost line outs, lost open play but more to the point lost their way, they did win something, but it happened to be the amount of missed tackles.

Unfortunately the game also produced a twenty minute break, as a Newbury player was carried of the field on a spine board (we wish him well).

Looking for positives, there were some good pieces of play, and credit must go to the guys that did do their job and made the tackles when needed, you know if it was you or not guys so I will name no names but individual efforts don’t win games, and as they say “there are no I’s in TEAM”. Although I am not naming names, I will give a mention to a player who having signed up just before the match, having only ever played at school, came on as a substitute in the second row, and chasing down and securing the ball while others stood and watched, went on to continue to play as his peers around him should have already been doing so… Well done Tom Vastone-Giles

Enough said !!

john