🏉 Match Day Report — By Rugby Riley U14s: Yate / Whitehall / Quins vs Midsomer Norton

Hello Yate Rugby family! I’m Rugby Riley, the newest match day reporter joining the legendary duo, Rugby Rob and Rugby Rose. With so much incredible Rugby happening across the club, especially within our thriving Academy it was time to bring in a third voice to help capture all the action, passion, and magic happening every weekend. I’m buzzing to be part of this team, and what a game I chose for my debut!

This weekend I covered the Under 14s vs Midsomer Norton, and let me tell you… WOW. Rob and Rose had told me plenty about this combined team—Yate, Whitehall, and the Quins coming together as one—but seeing them in action for the first time absolutely blew me away. The reputation is real. The teamwork is real. The effort is real. And the rugby? Outstanding.

From the first whistle to the last gasp, this match had everything:Pride. Passion. Skill. Determination. Desire.A true classic of youth rugby.

Both sides worked tirelessly—every single player put in a shift. The work rate was immense. The physicality was fierce. The heart on display was admirable. And the respect between both teams at the end? That’s what rugby is all about.

Now, onto some standout performances from this brilliant squad:

🔥 Jacob — Absolutely everywhere. Dominating breakdowns, putting in tackles, supporting carries… he grafted all match long. A phenomenal shift.

💥 Cyrus — His ball carries were something else. Powerful, direct, full of attitude. Every run gained metres. A real tone-setter.

🛡️ Lucas Iles — This lad LOVES contact. A defensive machine, chopping down runners across the pitch and making things happen.

⚡ Renkio (Captain) — Led from the front with a captain’s performance. Deep running lines, huge line breaks, and a presence every time he touched the ball.

🏃 Tait — The perfect shadow to the skipper. Incredible support lines, big defensive moments, and constant energy. These two together? A future unstoppable duo.

🏉 The Wingers — Jack O, Jack Whitehall, Nick, and Gene All four wingers impressed me massively today. They got stuck into everything—defence, attack, pressure, counters—you name it. A proper team effort out wide.

There’s plenty to work on (as always in rugby), but what a performance from this combined team. They showed what hard work, good coaching, and strong team spirit can look like on the field.

And massive credit to Midsomer Norton, an excellent side who pushed right to the last second. This was a close, hard-fought match that genuinely could have gone either way.

A quick shoutout too to the referee, who was outstanding—keeping the game flowing and letting the boys play proper rugby.

The support from parents and families on the side line was electric. You could feel that energy lifting the lads in the big moments.

And in the dying seconds…A match-winning try sealed it: 15–10 to Yate / Whitehall / Quins.

What. A. Game.

If the return fixture is anything like this one, we’re in for an absolute treat. I’m already counting down the days!

I also want to give a massive shoutout to the coaching team, because what they are doing with this group is nothing short of remarkable. Bringing together players from three different clubs is no easy task, different systems, different styles, different personalities, but the way these coaches mould them into one cohesive, committed, hard-working unit is incredible to see. They don’t get everything right 100% of the time (no coach ever does!), but after speaking to a few of them, the sheer amount of planning, prep, analysis, organisation and behind-the-scenes work they put in is unbelievable. From midweek training design to match-day strategy, to managing players, parents, and logistics… these guys give everything. And I can guarantee you they’re already thinking about Wednesday night’s session and how to get even more out of the boys for the next game.

Props to the coaches… they’re building something special here.

More match day magic to come—Rugby Riley signing off! 🟦🟨🏉