🏉 Clubhouse Connor’s CornerU14s Match Report – Yate/Whitehall/Quins vs Stroud 🏉

Hello Yate Rugby family,

Clubhouse Connor here, your newest match-day reporter! It’s an absolute privilege to be joining this brilliant club and the already-iconic reporting team. From the moment I stepped onto the touchline, the warmth, passion, and sense of community made it clear: this is a club I’m proud to represent. Now… let’s talk rugby.

A Tough Day at the Office — But What a Shift!

After last week’s electric performance against Midsomer Norton, the U14s came into today’s clash with Stroud full of confidence and ready to go. Warm-ups were sharp, the intensity was high, and the lads were dialled in. Everything pointed toward another big performance.

And a big performance is exactly what they delivered even if the scoreboard didn’t tell the full story.

Stroud came ready to play too, and what followed was a proper, gritty, old-school rugby battle. One try separated the sides, with Stroud edging it 5–0, but make no mistake: this match was competitive from the first whistle to the last.

First Half Fire

Yate/Whitehall/Quins burst out of the blocks, controlling early territory and repeatedly punching into Stroud’s 22. Phase after phase, ruck after ruck, they built momentum and gained metres. The intention was brilliant the only thing missing was the finishing touch.

Despite wave after wave of pressure, the points just didn’t come. Rugby can be cruel like that, but the effort was undeniable.

Second Half Battle

Stroud managed to break through with a single second-half try, but what a response from our lads. They dug deep, tightened up defensive lines, and threw absolutely everything into the tackle contest.

This was a match decided by inches and today, unfortunately, those inches went Stroud’s way.

Standout Performances

⭐ Harry (Scrum Half) – An absolute engine today. Sharp breakdown work, superb delivery, tough tackles, and he bossed the forwards like a seasoned pro. Brilliant shift.

⭐ Renikos (Captain) – A leader through and through. Line breaks, power runs, and relentless effort. Set the tone all game.

⭐ Seb (Fly Half) – Tried everything to unlock the Stroud defence. Kicking, passing, stepping — the creativity was outstanding, but Stroud’s defensive wall held firm.

⭐ Logan – Carried hard, ran brave, and broke tackles for fun. A nightmare to bring down.

⭐ Flankers: Linden & Lucas Iles – These two tackled like their lives depended on it. Endless work rate, huge hits, and constant pressure. Outstanding from both.

And let it be said — the scrum today was a force of nature. Power, technique, and unity. It gave us a platform again and again.

Respect to the Opposition

A huge thank you to Stroud, organised, physical, and full of heart. They pushed us all the way and made this a brilliant contest. Exactly what youth rugby should be about.

We’ll take the learnings, tighten up the details, and look forward to the rematch. Because make no mistake… this team has something special about them.

Final Thoughts

It may not have been our day on the scoreboard, but in terms of effort, passion, and commitment? The lads left absolutely everything out there.

And from this old reporter’s viewpoint… that’s rugby at its finest.

Looking forward to many more games together.

Clubhouse Connor 🧥🎙️🐏

🏉 Rugby Rob’s Match Day Blog Yate U8s vs Thornbury – A Tag Rugby Thriller! 🏉

If you ever needed proof that the future of Yate Rugby is bright, the U8s delivered it in style

this weekend! Under perfect home-game energy and the loud support of our incredible parents, the squad stepped onto the pitch buzzing with excitement—and they absolutely matched it with their performance.

From the first whistle, the U8s showed exactly what they’ve been working on in training. Their teamwork was the true standout today. Phase after phase, they kept their shape, communicated brilliantly, and used the 6-tag rule like seasoned pros—winning multiple turnovers through pure grit and smart rugby. That sort of consistency at this age is something special.

It wasn’t an easy day, with fewer players than usual, but you wouldn’t have known it. Every single child dug deep, backed each other, and pushed forward. By the final whistle, their tired smiles said it all. As a coach, I couldn’t have been prouder of their determination and togetherness.

👏 Player Shoutouts While this was truly a full-team effort, two players deserve an extra nod:

• Jacob H – phenomenal ball-carrying all game. Every run was direct, confident, and full of intent.

• Daniel – work ethic off the charts. He never stopped, never slowed, and lifted everyone around him.

  
  

💡 What We Learned

Today proved the power of short passes, moving forward as a unit, and trusting teammates. These fundamentals will be huge for the team's development as the season unfolds.

🙌 The Supporters

A huge thank you to all the parents—your encouragement, cheers, and positivity make a massive difference. The kids feed off that energy, and today it really showed.

🟡 Three Words to Sum Up the Day:

Progressive. Collaborative. Energetic.

This was more than just a match it was the first real opportunity to see where this growing squad is, how much they’ve already developed, and the exciting potential they have for the season ahead.

And a quick word on Thornbury: what a brilliant, organised, high-energy side. They pushed us, matched our effort, and helped create a fantastic showcase of local U8 rugby talent. Today’s winner? Rugby itself.

Roll on the next one, U8s, you’re going places!

Rugby Rob 🏉🔥

🏉 Rugby Rob’s Match Day Report – Yate U11s vs Thornbury 🏉

Hello everyone, Rugby Rob here, and before we get into the action, I want to give a massive warm welcome to our newest matchday reporter, Rugby Riley! After hearing Rose and I moan about how busy Yate Rugby has become (in the best possible way!), Riley has jumped in to help cover our incredible Academy teams. And not a moment too soon, these kids are flying!

Now onto our brilliant Under 11s, who were back in action this weekend in another big test against a strong Thornbury side. And let me tell you… these players did not disappoint.

🔥 All Heart, All Effort, All Game

The Under 11s gave absolutely everything today. From the first whistle to the last, their intensity, determination, and passion were on full display. Despite being a little short on numbers, every single player stepped up and played with real heart.

One of the standout improvements this week was how confidently the team set up their rucks, clean, protected, and organised. That’s the sort of progress you love to see at this age. The work they’ve been putting in at training is clearly paying off.

Our captain Martha deserves a special mention for leading from the front. Whether we were in attack or defence, she was constantly organising, setting lines, and keeping the team focused. Fantastic leadership.

💥 Scrums, Confidence & Learning

With this only being their second game of the season, and with players still getting used to the introduction of scrums, the group adapted brilliantly. A special shout to Caitlin, who did an excellent job stepping into the scrum-half role, quick decisions, good hands, and improving every minute.

Thornbury were a seriously strong opposition, well drilled, physical, and clever with their ripping technique. They knew how to steal possession and turn it into momentum, and that made our players think fast and respond. And respond they did, with bravery in the tackle, commitment at the breakdown, and great defensive pressure.

🤝 Teamwork, Support & Spirit

What really stood out today was the team’s support play. Whenever someone made a break — boom — there was a teammate on their shoulder. When someone carried into contact, bang, someone else was there to clear out. THAT is what makes a team.

High intensity. High work rate. High smiles.

Exactly what Under 11s rugby should look like.

🌟 Midweek Training – A Big Step Forward!

Momentum is building in this age group, and I’m buzzing to say that thanks to incredible work from our Chairman and Club Development Officers, this team, along with the Under 10s, now has midweek training secured!

This means even more development, more teamwork, and more FUN.

📅 Wednesdays 18:30–19:30

📍 Yate Outdoor Sports Complex

💷 Completely FREE for all Under 10s, 11s and 12s (School years 5, 6 & 7)

This group is full of potential — future Colts, future South Glos Falcons, future leaders of our club. And extra training means even more growth for everyone.

⚡ Three Words That Sum Up Today

Effort. Progress. Pride.

Another huge step forward for this brilliant squad. Keep training hard, keep supporting each other, and keep enjoying every minute of your rugby journey. Big future ahead for this team, and I’m excited to be along for the ride.

See you all next week,

Rugby Rob 🏉