🏉 Match Day Report – Yate/Whitehall/Quins v Bath (7–7)

Right… where do I start with this one? A draw on paper… but trust me, there was nothing average about this game. This was one of those proper grassroots battles — physical, tense, and full of moments that had everyone on the sideline leaning in.

Let’s talk about the moment… because wow.

With the game hanging in the balance, Cyrus dots down the levelling try — huge. But the real story? The conversion. Out wide. Pressure on. And Seb, after earlier throwing an intercept that led to a Bath score, steps up… and absolutely nails it. That takes some serious character. To shake that off, reset, and deliver when it matters most — that’s growth, that’s resilience, that’s rugby.

Coming into the game, the boys looked sharp. Confident. There was a bit of edge too — wanting to right the wrongs from that narrow loss earlier in the season. And while the final whistle brought a sense of pride, there was definitely a bit of frustration mixed in. This was a game where we had opportunities — plenty of ball, plenty of pressure — and just couldn’t quite turn all of it into points.

The back row really caught my eye today — Linden, Lucas and Sonnie worked brilliantly as a unit. Linden tackling anything that moved (and probably a few things that didn’t), Sonnie carrying hard and doing the unseen work, and Lucas linking everything together. That balance? Spot on.

Across the pitch, the foundations were strong. The pod play looked sharp, ball retention was excellent, and the ruck speed kept us on the front foot. Bath threw everything at us defensively — and fair play to them, they were solid — but we kept knocking on the door, phase after phase.

If there’s one area to tweak, it’s what we do after all that hard work. We created space… but didn’t always use it. A bit of drifting in open play meant we closed down our own opportunities. Straighten those lines, trust the hands, and suddenly those wide channels open right up.

One thing I loved — and this says everything about this group — was the reaction to that intercept try. Heads could have dropped. They didn’t. The boys came together, reset, and went straight back to work. No panic. No blame. Just effort and belief. That’s a team.

Big shoutout as well to Logan Skinner, putting in one of his best performances at hooker — especially impressive in his first season. And debuts for Rowan and Kacper — no easing them in either, straight into the action and both did exactly what was needed. That’s how you step up.

Bath deserve a lot of credit — their defence was relentless all game. They made us earn every inch, and that’s what made this contest what it was.

And as for the sidelines… well… I’ll leave that one there 😅

So, how do we sum this one up?

Expansive. Attritional. Even.

A draw on the scoreboard… but a big step forward in how this team is growing.

Awards of the Match

Forward of the Match: Lucas Iles— outstanding carries, relentless tackling, and really positive play - he was everywhere today.

Back of the Match: Seb Kitson — Commanding the game pulling the team forward...and a conversation might have helped

Team Player Award (Captain’s Vote – The “Hype Man”): Sonnie — Vocal led by example, and lifted his team mates when needed.

🏉 Match Day Report – Yate v Weston (U7's and U8'sTag)

Oh I love a muddy morning of rugby… and this one had it all — rain, smiles, and a whole lot of young Yate spirit on show!

Despite the conditions (and yes… it was properly wet and muddy), our Under 7s and Under 8s turned up in fantastic numbers to take on Weston. There’s something special about seeing that many young players buzzing to get stuck in — and from the first whistle, you could tell they were ready.

The big focus this week? Teamwork. In defence, in attack, everywhere. And honestly… they absolutely delivered.

The U7s in particular seemed to thrive in the mud — sliding, laughing, and playing some brilliant rugby along the way. What really stood out was how they worked together. These weren’t just individual runs — these were team tries, built through passing, support, and awareness.

A few standout moments that had me smiling on the sidelines:

• Julius putting in a defensive masterclass with back-to-back tags to stop what looked like a certain Weston try — that’s determination right there.

• Rory, stepping up as captain and really taking charge — organising the defensive line and helping shape the attack. A proper leader in the making.

• Elyza and Eloide combining beautifully, running in channels and finishing off a really well-worked try — textbook teamwork!

• And Jacob… a moment of pure class. A solo break, drawing in the final defender, and then calmly offloading at just the right time for a teammate to score. Unselfish and composed — you love to see it.

  
  

What impressed me most wasn’t just the skill — it was the understanding. Players supporting each other, communicating, and really trying to play as a unit. That’s what this stage is all about.

Of course, there are always things to keep working on — a few offside moments in both attack and defence crept in (easy to do when the excitement kicks in!), but that’s all part of the learning journey. And if this is where they are now… the future is looking very bright.

Massive credit to Weston as well — great opponents who helped make it such an enjoyable and competitive morning.

And to the parents and supporters… wow. Standing out there in the cold and rain, still cheering every tag, every run, every try — that energy really does lift the players.

So, muddy kit? ✔️Big smiles? ✔️Brilliant rugby? ✔️

All in all, a fantastic day and another big step forward for this brilliant group of young players. 💙💛

🏉 Match Day Report – Yate U10s v Weston U10s

There’s something about junior rugby that just hits differently… and this one had a bit of everything — heart, hustle, and a few hard lessons along the way.

Yate Under 10s went into the game full of energy and excitement, despite a disrupted few weeks with limited game time thanks to the weather. There was also a real show of character before a ball was even kicked, with Dennis turning up to support his teammates despite picking up an arm injury the day before — that’s what being part of a team is all about. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Dennis!

From the first whistle, Weston showed exactly what they were about — physical, organised, and more than happy to use the full width of the pitch. They asked plenty of questions of Yate early on, and at times it was a real test. But this Yate side doesn’t shy away from a challenge.

Now, two standout moments really stuck with me.

First, Niamh — wow. Growing in confidence week by week, she was vocal in the defensive line and then produced a barnstorming run into contact where three players still couldn’t bring her down. That’s not just strength — that’s belief.

And then Harry… take a bow. A full-length run that had everyone on the sidelines on their feet, only to then spot Joey in support and unselfishly hand over the try. That right there is rugby — team first, always.

There were big performances across the pitch too. Ollie once again brought that consistency you can rely on week in, week out. Oscar and Hudson threw themselves into tackles and carried hard against a strong Weston side, showing real bravery. And Charlie — stepping up again from the U9s — overcame those pre-match nerves and put in a fearless performance, tackling players twice his size and getting stuck into the rucks. Proof, if ever you needed it, that technique beats power every day of the week.

One of the most impressive things about this group was their awareness. The players were talking, spotting problems, and feeding back to each other in huddles before the coaches even had a chance — that’s a real sign of a team growing together and understanding the game.

It wasn’t perfect — and that’s okay. The lack of recent game time showed at points, particularly around the breakdown. There were a few messy rucks, some side entries, and moments of panic passing instead of going forward. Tackling occasionally turned into “hug rugby” rather than getting low and driving through. But these are all things that come with more minutes on the pitch — and this group will learn fast.

There was also a moment that summed up the spirit of the day. After picking up a knock, Harry came off to reset, and every single player and supporter showed their appreciation with a round of applause. A small moment, but one that says everything about this team and this club.

Weston deserve huge credit — a strong, well-drilled side who made Yate work for every inch. But Yate matched them with effort, attitude, and togetherness.

And as always, the touchline was buzzing — full of encouragement, pride, and support for a group of players giving it everything.

It was about growth, resilience, and learning.

Three words to sum it up?

Bravery. Perseverance. Reflection.