🏉 T1 Match Day Blog – Yate RFC v Changing Social

Rugby Rose: Rob… I’m still smiling. That might have been the most Yate game of T1 we’ve ever played.

Rob: I knew it was going to be special the moment we decided to play one of our Academy sponsors. Honestly, what better way to say thank you to Changing Social than throwing them straight into a game of T1?

Rugby Rose: Exactly! They believe in what we’re doing at Yate Rugby, so naturally we thought: let’s make them run for 40 minutes. Community engagement at its finest.

Rob: And to be fair, they came prepared… well, sort of. We gave them a bit of help with Zak, Nevin, Sam, Riley, form the U16'2 and young Seb from the U14's, although let’s be honest, Seb was only there because Matt wanted to go head-to-head with his own son.

Rugby Rose: Youth v experience. Father v son. T1 drama already written. And then Changing Social quietly slipped in their “ringer” — Sam Cooper.

Rob: Ah yes… Mr “I haven’t played in years” Sam Cooper. Turns out he’s got a step, a pass, pace, and can call moves like he’s never left the game.

Rugby Rose: Classic. The plan from Changing Social was obvious speed everywhere. Youth on their side, plus Jade, Kelvin (Mr Goose Step himself), and Matt "The winger "Waller. It was set up perfectly.

Rob: And it delivered. The rugby was outstanding fast, flowing, and exactly what T1 should be. Fun first, fitness second, and laughing at each other a close third.

Rugby Rose: Speaking of laughs… Char being tackled by her own feet in a non-contact game might be my highlight.

Rob: Elite skill. Closely followed by Jade breaking out yoga poses every five minutes.

Rugby Rose: “Injury prevention,” she said.

Rob: “Showing off,” we replied.

Rugby Rose: And Nat… I’ve never known someone so obsessed with the clock. The constant “how long left?” followed by questioning the ref’s timekeeping was… something.

Rob: In fairness, the ref couldn’t tell the time.

Rugby Rose: Probably because Matt was the ref.

Rob: That explains a lot.

Rugby Rose: On the pitch though some proper rugby moments. Seb slicing through the line, setting up Nevin and the two Sam's. Riley drawing defenders in with power. Jade absolutely bossing the midfield… although Seb was maybe asking, no lets say it how it was demanding the ball a bit - wonder if he gets that competitiveness from his dad...

Rob: we will go with demanding call it how it is. For Yate, the pace was unreal — Callum and Danni flying, LV throwing in some steps, Char and Simon linking up nicely (when Char stayed upright), and Matt clearly enjoying putting his son under pressure.

Rugby Rose: Nathaniel and Scarlet were electric down the right, and we must mention Russ — the wily old fox — another outstanding game.

Rob: And then… the moment everyone was waiting for.

Rugby Rose: Last try wins.

Rob: And Matt finally wins a T1 game.

Rugby Rose: I’ve never seen a man so happy.

Rob: Not sure if it was the win… or the fact he could take the mickey out of Seb.

Rugby Rose: Which he did. A lot. Honestly amazed the ref didn’t overturn the result for excessive dad banter, but then Matt was the ref.

Rob: But what a game. Fun, competitive, full of laughs, and exactly why T1 is such a brilliant way to bring people into rugby.

Rugby Rose: Huge thank you to Changing Social — an amazing partner of the club and now officially part of the Yate rugby family.

Rob: Same time in the summer?

Rugby Rose: Absolutely. But maybe someone else refs next time… 😉