Yate / Whitehall / Quins U14s vs Stroud U14s

I was lucky enough to catch up with Sideline Sam after last week’s win, and one thing he said stuck with me: “The heart of these lads is incredible, you’ll be impressed.”

Big words, I thought. My god… he wasn’t wrong.

Let’s put the scoreline to one side. What we witnessed was 60 minutes of Under 14 rugby played by a team with one substitute — and then none at all in the second half. An early injury to a key player meant the lads went into half-time already down to zero subs. Not once did a head drop. Not once did anyone stop. They played, and played, and played — for each other.

Stroud attacked and attacked, asking constant questions. Time and again our boys answered with grit, determination and some outstanding defence. There were several moments when Stroud’s fastest runners broke the line, and in around 80% of those cases, the team chased them all the way and dragged them down. Even more impressive was the ability to turn defence instantly into attack, shifting gears and putting the opposition under pressure despite tired legs and burning lungs. It was breath taking.

Both teams worked incredibly hard for their scores. Yes, it finished five tries to two — but make no mistake, every inch of that pitch was earned.

The mood going into the game was positive. The lads knew they were light on numbers, with injuries and absences across the squad, but they turned up ready focused on themselves as a team and committed to playing for one another. That mindset never wavered.

Building on last week, the forwards were again excellent. Their carries in the first half laid a platform that allowed Harry and Seb to start testing the Stroud defence with smart plays and attacking options. We fought intelligently and played to our strengths. I’m not sure I’d last 60 minutes out there, but those boys did. Tackling across the entire squad was outstanding.

What stood out most, though, was togetherness. Every single player raised their level. After conceding a try, the lads came together, talked, reset, and controlled each other’s emotions. There were tired legs and heavy arms, but they kept each other going right to the final whistle.

Stroud were a strong, respectful side and a pleasure to watch. Physically tough on both sides, the match had everything grassroots rugby should have — played in the right spirit and clearly enjoyed by both teams.

The sidelines were brilliant. Parents and supporters from both clubs applauded every effort, every tackle, every moment of bravery. It created a fantastic atmosphere and reminded everyone why we love this game.

Awards of the Match

• Forward of the Match: Jacob — outstanding carries, relentless tackling, and playing three different positions with real impact.

  

• Back of the Match: Seb Kitson — excellent command in attack, creative thinking, and a huge work rate throughout.

  

• Team Player Award (Captain’s Vote – The “Hype Man”): Charlie — arm around teammates, lifting spirits, front row or backline, always there to drive the team on.

  

A performance full of pride and courage.

Three words to sum it up:

Unity. Hard work. Belief. 💙💛