🏉 Match Day Report – Yate 1st XV v Old Bristolians 2s

By Rugby Riley

Away days can be tricky in rugby. New surroundings, a loud home crowd, and an opposition determined to defend their turf. But this weekend Yate’s 1st XV travelled to face Old Bristolians 2s and came away with a big 30–12 victory and the full five points — and it started in the best possible way.

Blink and you might have missed it… because Yate came flying out of the blocks.

Within the first five minutes, Yate had crossed the line twice, setting the tone for the afternoon and putting Old Bristolians immediately on the back foot. It was exactly the kind of start every travelling side dreams of — fast, clinical, and full of intent.

The scoreboard might show a strong team performance, but there was one player who kept finding the whitewash. Ricky had an outstanding afternoon, bagging himself a well-deserved hat-trick, finishing off attacking phases and making sure Yate turned pressure into points.

Up front, the scrum was dominant all afternoon. The forwards laid a solid platform, controlling the set piece and giving the backs plenty of quality ball to work with. Combined with a determined defensive effort, it meant Yate were able to manage the game well and keep Old Bristolians chasing.

It wasn’t all comfortable though. As the game moved into the closing stages, Old Bristolians threw everything they had at the Yate try line. What followed was ten minutes of relentless defence, with Yate camped on their own line. Tackle after tackle went in, players scrambling, communicating, and refusing to let the opposition through. It was a brilliant show of pride and resilience that summed up the team’s attitude.

There were also encouraging performances from players still finding their feet in the side. Danny Goverd and Matt Gibbs, both in only their second league games for the club, carried hard and tackled with real determination — the kind of performances that show exciting progress and depth building in the squad.

Credit must also go to Old Bristolians, who were organised, structured and resilient throughout the match. They made Yate work for every point and never stopped competing.

And of course, the travelling support deserves a mention. Seeing so many familiar faces on the sidelines always gives the players that extra lift, and it certainly helped Yate close the game out in those tense final minutes.

At the final whistle there was a clear sense of relief and satisfaction. Five points on the road against a well-drilled side is never easy, and it’s exactly the kind of result that keeps momentum building.

There’s still work to do — particularly around phase play and lineout execution — but if the effort, defence and finishing shown this weekend continue, Yate will be in a strong place heading into next week.

Three words to sum it up?

Tense. Physical. Rewarding. 💙💛🏉

🏉 Festival Weekend Review – U7s & U8s

Match report from Rugby Rob & Rugby Rose

Rugby Rob: Rose… I’m still catching my breath after Saturday’s T1 match, and then straight into the junior festival today. Rugby never stops at Yate!

Rugby Rose:Tell me about it! But what a brilliant weekend of rugby. You were watching the Under 7s, right?

Rugby Rob: I was, and honestly… what a great day for it. The U7s turned up excited, maybe a few nerves in the air because they haven’t quite finished a full tournament yet, but those nerves didn’t last long.

Rugby Rose: That’s always the way once the first whistle goes.

Rugby Rob: Exactly. The team settled quickly and started playing some really nice rugby. What impressed me most was how well they worked together. Whenever they spotted a gap, they attacked it with confidence.

Rugby Rose: Love that. Spotting space is half the battle.

Rugby Rob: And here’s the bit that really blew me away — they were calling and managing their defensive line. At Under 7 level! Players talking to each other, organising where they should be. That’s well beyond what you expect at that age.

Rugby Rose: Future captains everywhere!

Rugby Rob: Honestly though, the best thing? Every single player had a huge smile on their face. Running, tagging, cheering each other on… it was a perfect example of what Yate rugby is all about.

Rugby Rose: That’s brilliant. Meanwhile, over on the Under 8 pitch, things were just as exciting.

Rugby Rob: Go on then, what did you see?

Rugby Rose: Energy. Loads of it. The U8s started the tournament absolutely flying — great teamwork straight away, organised defensive lines, and they were winning tag turnovers again and again.

Rugby Rob: Nice! Nothing coaches love more than a good turnover.

Rugby Rose: Exactly. And the thing I really liked was how they were thinking for themselves. After each phase they were quickly getting back onside and ready for the next play without being told.

Rugby Rob: That’s real game awareness.

Rugby Rose: It was needed too, because the schedule was tough — four games back to back. No time to relax. But this group didn’t slow down at all.

Rugby Rob: Let me guess… they just kept going?

Rugby Rose: Absolutely. They treated every game like it was the first one of the day. Same energy, same enthusiasm, same teamwork.

Rugby Rob: That’s the kind of attitude that builds great teams.

Rugby Rose: It really is. And just like the U7s, they played with smiles, supported each other, and showed exactly why this group is so exciting to watch.

Rugby Rob: So… two age groups, a full day of rugby, and a lot of proud coaches and parents on the sidelines.

Rugby Rose: And all for a great cause too. You can’t ask for much more than that.

Rugby Rob: Another brilliant day for the Yate family.

Rugby Rose: And plenty more to come.

Both: Up The Yate! 💙💛🏉

🏉 Match Day Blog – Yate U9s at the Frampton Tournament

By Try-Line Tilly

Oh wow… what a morning of rugby this was! The Frampton Tournament had everything — sunshine, smiles, loads of rugby, and six matches for our brilliant Yate Under 9s. Yes, six! Safe to say it was a busy one… but this team absolutely loved every minute of it.

Right from the start the players arrived buzzing with excitement, ready to get stuck in. And after six action-packed games, the mood at full-time was even better — tired legs for sure, but huge smiles and a real sense of pride in what they had achieved together.

There were so many brilliant moments across the festival it was hard to pick just one. The team really started to string together phases of play, turning strong running and great teamwork into some fantastic tries.

Charlie showed electric pace throughout the morning, racing away to score some brilliant tries, while Mylo powered through defenders time and time again with some seriously strong running. But the moment that really got the crowd going came from Harvey — spotting a gap, running a perfectly straight line through the defence and then switching on the afterburners to finish the try himself. The applause from the sidelines said it all!

Across the team there were standout performances everywhere. Henry made some superb cover tackles to stop opposition breaks, while Arne was relentless in defence, constantly putting pressure on the opposition and refusing to give them an easy run.

And then there was Harry, who simply seemed to be everywhere. Attack, defence, support play — he kept popping up again and again, showing what a fantastic athlete he is and just how sharp his rugby brain can be.

What really impressed me though was the team spirit. Every player supported each other, worked hard in defence, and attacked with confidence. With five subs rotating through the games, the encouragement from the players on the touchline was just as strong as the effort from those on the pitch. It really felt like the most complete performance we’ve seen from this exciting young team.

There’s always more to learn of course. As the players keep developing, the focus will be on positioning, passing and supporting each other even more in attack — but with the effort shown today, those improvements will come quickly.

It was also brilliant to see players continuing to grow in confidence. Quentin, Elijah, Noah and Evie all showed great development throughout the matches, while Franklin and Jake proved that in rugby determination beats size every time, taking on bigger opponents with real grit and effort.

A big mention too for the opposition teams. Every side played with great enthusiasm and sportsmanship, making the games competitive, fun and full of energy.

And finally, the sidelines. The parents and supporters were fantastic all morning, cheering every run, tackle and try. That kind of encouragement really helps keep the players going — especially across six games!

So how do we sum up the day?

Best. Performance. Ever.

What a morning for the Yate Under 9s — exciting rugby, brilliant teamwork, and a team that just keeps getting better every week. 💙💛🏉