The Baby Bulls Travel Well.....

With the previous week’s training session firmly in the mind of the coaches, it was with great anticipation that the P1-3 team travelled to Cumnock to try our recently honed tactical masterplan – running forward! A tough fixture against East Kilbride the preceding week called the coaches into action with the need for a game-plan which would complement the individual personal skills which the young bulls are developing every week.
The theme for last week’s training was carrying the ball forward and reaching the promised land – the try-line! The numbers attending training and matches so far this season has been great and today was no different with the numbers in the high 20’s.
The day got off to a flyer and it was evident that something special was happening when Thomas declared himself wide awake! Setting our sights high and aiming to take on the Cumnock P4’s, we were kindly directed to the correct pitch. Cumnock recently had a recruitment drive due to their dwindling numbers and a fantastic turnout of 50 P1-3’s at their open-day had bolstered their squad. Due to the inexperience of a number of the new players to rugby, it was agreed that the older kids of both squads would go straight into a match with the younger ones having a joint training session before their game.
The younger of the players reacted positively to the Cumnock coach’s warmup, with Blair declaring it to be ‘too easy’. Try as he might, the coach could just not tire out the 30 odd youngers with his warmup and rugby tig – so he turned his sights on his fellow coaches, making them ‘het’ in the following rounds and succeeding in getting some red faces! The games got under way with some good old fashioned bibs v strips and some excellent try’s started flowing. Gone was the ‘worm-watching’, fear of dirty knees and also the usual zig-zag backward running which had been common practise a fortnight ago – the young bulls were getting to the try-line and weren’t holding back.
In the other match, Martin assured me that the older kids were also in fine form and exercising the previous weeks training to their credit. With a tough trip to Stirling next week, the feedback received sets us up nicely for another away trip.
As ‘3 cheers for Cumnock’ rang out, the downpour began. A rapid descent to the clubhouse ensued and the kids recharged their batteries thanks to the catering provided by Cumnock.
A special and well deserved mention to the Cumnock coaches and helpers who provided an excellent morning of rugby – their approach to the kids created a friendly atmosphere which was a credit to their club. Also a massive thanks to the parents of our P1-3 kids, your commitment to turning out every week is greatly appreciated and it is great to see so many at the side of the pitch not only at the games but when training is on. If anyone is interested in helping out, whether it be coaching, writing a short match report, providing photographs or any other tasks which you think will benefit the team, please let us know. The more people that help, the easier it is for everyone and also the greater we can grow the team.