Match Day Blog – Yate Men vs Chipping Sodbury (Cup Match)

Cup rugby has a habit of writing its own script, and this one felt like it was always going to go right to the wire. Yate Men edged it in the end, coming out on top 11–7 against a familiar and fiercely competitive Chipping Sodbury side — a result that owed far more to grit and resilience than flowing rugby.

This was the third meeting of the season between the two sides, with one win apiece already in the bank. Add in noticeable absentees on both teams and a neutral 4G surface, and you had all the ingredients for an unpredictable and edgy contest. From the first whistle, it was clear this would be a battle rather than a showcase.

The Moment That Shifted It

The standout moment came late in the first half, deep in Yate territory. Under intense pressure on their own try line, Yate’s defence dug in. Strong, committed tackles forced a loose ball, which Rhys Summerville was quick to pounce on. He broke clear before feeding Evan Demonick, and within seconds Yate had flipped from desperate defence to attacking deep in the Sodbury half. It was a huge momentum swing in a game where territory and belief were hard-won.

Defence Wins Cups

If this match is remembered for anything, it will be the defence. The game itself was scrappy — both sides struggled for rhythm — but Yate’s ability to scramble under pressure proved decisive. Even when defensive shape looked disorganised, the effort and determination to recover and shut down attacks was outstanding, snuffing out several promising Sodbury opportunities.

That said, it wasn’t without its nervy moments. Breakdown discipline will be an area Yate will want to tighten up moving forward. Sodbury were excellent over the ball, forcing turnovers and earning penalties that repeatedly gifted them field position and slowed Yate’s momentum.

A Familiar Foe

Chipping Sodbury brought exactly what Yate expected — and then some. Ferocity, physicality, and total commitment at the breakdown made life uncomfortable for the full 80 minutes. Knowing each other as well as they do, neither side gave an inch, and the game remained in the balance right up to the final whistle.

A Welcome Return

While there were no new faces in the Yate lineup this week, one return stood out. Adam Bishop’s comeback from a nasty knee injury was a real positive. The conditions didn’t allow for his trademark long runs from deep, but his powerful, direct carries through the heart of the Sodbury defence showed just how valuable he remains to this side.

Cup Atmosphere

Despite the neutral venue and a gloomy weather forecast, both teams were backed by strong support. The crowd added to the occasion, creating a proper cup-tie feel and pushing both sides through a bruising contest.

Final Word

This wasn’t a classic — but it was a win. Hard fought, tense, and earned the tough way.

Three words to sum it up: Ground out victory.

Sometimes, that’s exactly what cup rugby is all about. 🏉💙

Yate vs Frampton U10s – Match Day Blog

Try-Line Tilly: Sam… 45 minutes. No subs. And somehow the kids just kept going. I’m still buzzing.

Sideline Sam: Honestly, Tilly — that was one of those games that reminds you why grassroots rugby is unbeatable. Before we even get into the match, though, we’ve got to start with a huge welcome to our new players.

Try-Line Tilly: Absolutely. Joey first — only been with us a couple of weeks and straight into his first contact game. The skill, the commitment, the bravery… unreal. And then mid-game he turns to me and says, “What an adrenaline rush!” — I mean, welcome to rugby, mate 😄

Sideline Sam: Loved that. And then there’s Hudson — came along just to watch… and ended up playing the entire match. Slotted straight into the team, made some cracking tackles and supported brilliantly — even bagged himself a few tries with those supporting runs. That’s what this group is all about.

Try-Line Tilly: Which brings us nicely to the team intensity. Same as always. New players welcomed, encouraged, trusted — this is a tightly knit group and you can feel it the second they step on the pitch.

Sideline Sam: For me, one of the standout moments had to be young Charlie. Early nerves, a bit of fear at the start — and then boom. He faces it head-on and becomes a real asset to the side. That kind of bravery at this age? Massive.

Try-Line Tilly: And not just bravery — grit and determination too. Especially impressive knowing it was his debut. You could see him grow with every carry and tackle.

Sideline Sam: Now let’s talk rugby skills — because wow. The ruck speed and pace of play from Oscar, Logan, Ollie and Harry was outstanding. Constant go-forward, pulling defenders into the middle and creating those clear runs out wide.

Try-Line Tilly: That’s what made the tries so special — team tries. No selfishness, heads up rugby, players making sure new teammates were involved and sharing the moments. That’s proper rugby culture being built.

Sideline Sam: And one moment sums it all up perfectly…

Try-Line Tilly:Oh yes — that try.

Sideline Sam: Ollie wins the ball at a ruck in our own half. We gain ground with strong carries, secure the breakdown, go through the phases. Then Charlie Dury spots the gap, snipes, gains five metres, gets caught — but somehow manages an offload mid-tackle. The defence breaks, the support is there, and Yate finish a magnificent team try.

Try-Line Tilly: That’s coaching sessions coming to life right there.

Sideline Sam: Credit to Frampton too — a very drilled side. Used the width brilliantly and punished us any time concentration dipped. There were moments where Yate had to adjust quickly, remember their training, and deal with some big Frampton runs.

Try-Line Tilly: And they did. That ability to adapt mid-game at Under 10s level? That’s impressive. One thing we can still work on though — being a bit more vocal with each other. But honestly, that’s a great place to be development-wise.

Sideline Sam: Special shout-out as well to the support on the sidelines — passion, praise, encouragement from start to finish. The Yate family was loud and proud again.

Try-Line Tilly: So Sam, if you had to sum it up?

Sideline Sam: Three words says it all:Teamwork. Bravery. Pace.

Try-Line Tilly: Couldn’t agree more. What a performance. What a group. And what a future.

Yate Under 11s vs Nailsea & Backwell

What a brilliant showing from the Yate Under 11s this weekend as they took on a strong Nailsea & Backwell side. From the first whistle it was clear there was a noticeable size difference across the teams, but if this match proved anything, it’s that heart, skill and trust in your training count for far more.

Yate started brightly and the first quarter was evenly matched, with both teams testing each other. Yate showed real confidence in their rucking and support play, working hard at the breakdown and moving the ball with purpose. That effort paid off with a couple of well-earned tries, finished smartly by Jayden and Humphrey great rewards for their hard work and awareness.

As the match went on, Nailsea & Backwell used their size and skills well and came on strong through the final three quarters, but Yate never backed down. Instead, they stuck to their principles, trusted their skills and continued to take the game to the opposition. The resilience, work rate and teamwork on show were hugely impressive.

A massive congratulations to Charlie Tibbetts, who made his very first appearance for the team and walked away with Player of the Match. An outstanding debut involved throughout, brave in contact and a fantastic example of how quickly players can settle into this group. It was also Parker’s first game, and it was great to see him throwing himself into the action and enjoying the experience.

Special mention has to go to Phoeb, who put in an outstanding performance. Her perfectly timed tackles and intelligent ball play were a joy to watch — honestly, that girl is something else. South Glos Falcons will be watching closely, and you’d be brave to bet against her future heading towards the Bears Ladies setup.

This season has seen the introduction of Wednesday night training, and you can really see the impact it’s having. The team’s confidence, skill level and understanding of the game are growing week by week, and the progress of the players is there for all to see.

If you’re in Year 6 and fancy giving rugby a go, this is an exciting, welcoming and up-and-coming team to be part of. Training takes place Wednesdays 6:30–7:30pm, with matches on Sundays — and after watching this group today, the future couldn’t look brighter.

Well done, Yate U11s — keep trusting the process 🌹🏉

Rugby Rose