Juniors Trip to Saracens

On Sunday 9th December the junior section of the club travelled to Allianz Park, the home of Saracens, to take part in a skills session, and to watch them play Cardiff Blues in and group game from the Heineken Champions Cup. The day started with an early pick up in the village at 6.30am. I don't think some of the kids realised there was a 6.30 in the morning!!!!!

We arrived just in time for the heavens to open and give us all a wake up shower, but nothing that a warm cup of coffee wouldn't fix and it certainly didn't dampen the excitement and anticipation of all the players. We had 27 players across different age groups from Under 11s to Under 15s. The skills session consisted of 6 different stations allowing the players to hone their skills with the assistance of Saracens coaches and academy players. There was areas concentrating on attack, defence, passing, tackle technique, support play and improving at the breakdown.

Everyone enjoyed the morning and the experience to play on the hallowed turf or should that be plastic of Allianz Park Stadium pitch. They all took something away with them to work on in areas to improve. The players also had the chance to speak to the academy players on their journey from minis to where they are now and gain advise on how to attain the same for themselves.

We then had the opportunity to see the game and how the game should be played which turned out to be a try fest with the score of 51 -25 to Saracens.

We arrived back in ash at 6.30 with some sleepy faces after an excellent day.

The junior section would like to thank the committee for supporting the trip by providing some funding for the coach, which allowed some of the children to watch their first live game and have an experience that they will remember for a long time. Hopefully it will inspire them to continue their rugby path with us at Ash and you never know one day we may have an England captain come from our ranks! 

We would all like to thank Dave Stephens for his hard work in organising the whole trip. Thanks Dave !!!!!