The Pilgrims’ Pitches
Friday 10 February 2017
Saturday 4 February
Foals A VIII v Woodcote House - cancelled
Under 13 XIII v Woodcote House
Drew 20-20 (A Dada 2, B Smailes, J Woolman)
This was a good battle. At half-time the score was
tied at one try a piece, with Pilgrims' scoring through
Ayoife Dada. The second half started in positive
fashion for the visitors, the Pilgrims' boys stealing a
march on the home side, and two quick tries after the
break from James Woolman and Benedict Smailes.
Never lying down, Woodcote bounced back with two
of their own. Ayoife Dada scored what many thought
would be the winning try but Woodcote managed to
convert with their final attack (and what proved to be
the dying play of the match). The time immediately
post-match is very special and during this brief
period, before the rest of the world catches up, the
team was rightfully proud of their performance and
reflected on a job well done. AJS
Under 9 A v Woodcote House
Won 60–20 (J Kennedy 4, R Thomson 2,
C Hope-MacLellan 2, I Corrie 1, B Hardman 1,
O Johnson 1, W Hammerson-Jones 1)
This was a dominating win by the Under 9 team. They
playing the second half with six boys and were
encouraged to pass the ball more frequently than
was necessary. The result was more boys had
touches, almost everyone scored, and we developed
some key skills. Boys evaluated their own
performance following the game and highlighted a
lower body position in tackling and better
organization and communication as areas for
improvement. AC
Under 12 A XIv Woodcote House
Lost 25-5 (B Carriett)
The first twenty minutes of this match were very
competitive and there was some exciting rugby on
show from both teams. Indeed, at half-time, there
was only one score to separate the two sides,
Pilgrims’ having scored a fine try through Captain
Ben Carriett. However, with one or two injuries
weakening the strength and morale of the team,
Woodcote emerged as good and deserving winners
after half-time, especially with their superior work at
the breakdown. AH
Colts A IX v Woodcote House
Draw 15-15 (H Turner, O Withers, J Boissier)
What an enjoyable game to watch. Colts A came
under early pressure (perhaps a little sleepy after the
minibus journey) and Woodcote scored in the corner.
Undeterred, they picked themselves up and stuck to
the game plan – which allowed Ollie Withers to
equalize in the corner too. Strong play at the
breakdown, and fierce tackling, allowed Hugo Turner
to muscle over before half-time. The second half saw
another interception try from Jack Boissier, just
before he left the field injured. The change in set-up,
gave Woodcote the chance to get back into the
game, scoring twice to level the match. An excellent
clash between to determined teams – well done. SL
Wednesday 8 February
Under 13 XIII v Westbourne House
Lost 40-15 (T Tufnell, B Smailes, A Dada)
Junior Paramore of Canford School returned to
referee this encounter. Westbourne’s expansive style
was tough to counter, with a constant need for
defensive width. The boys continued to be up for the
challenge, but in the end Westbourne were too
clinical. Teddy Tufnell set a good example with quick
play and a try through the middle. Benedict Smailes
and Ayoife Dada followed suit with tries of their own.
AJS
Under 12 A XII v Westbourne & Christ's Hospital
(triangular)
Match 1 v Christ's Hospital
Won 30-5 (B Carriett, F Lakin, A Davies,
H Kingsbury 2, O Kennedy)
Match 2 v Westbourne House
Lost 30-0
A good performance here with some lovely rugby
played by the team. Ben Carriett led by example with
a great run on for the first ; Jesse Jabaru covered
more than half the pitch for another. It was a great
example of developing phases of play, practised
recently in training, which resulted in a deserved
victory.
The scoreline was very even for the majority of the
match – strong defensive performances from
Zac Neville, Chubbs Bailey and Orlando Kennedy, to
name but a few, kept a rampant attack at bay.
Towards the end our energy levels were all but
depleted and the defensive line gave in to a
well-organised opponent with a very strong ruck. A
good afternoon of rugby. Well done, boys. DP
Under 12 B XII v Westbourne House
Lost 30-10 (T Harvey 2)
The visitors were too strong for Pilgrims’ but the boys
enjoyed an especially good second half. Theo Harvey
and James Poultney set a good example to their
teammates showing the courage and resilience
needed in a testing game. AH
Colts A IX v Westbourne House
Lost 40-15 (J Boissier, O Withers)
Colts A started, again, a little too slowly and found
themselves two tries down and with a hill to climb.
The now characteristic fight-back ensued, with a
quality try from Jack Boissier to go in at half time 2-1
down. However having spent much of the half in the
opponents 22, there was considerable optimism.
Despite having picked out the oppositions play well,
there was no way to combat the set piece from
Westbourne House. This didn’t stop Jack Boissier
adding another with a great effort from the kick off
and assisting Ollie Withers for his try. Lots to work on,
not least of which is communication. SL
Colts B VIII v Seaford A and Westbourne B
(triangular)
Match 1 v Seaford A
Lost 20-5 (P Burnand)
Match 2 v Westbourne House B
Lost 20-5 (J Phipps)
This triangular tournament was fun, yet very
demanding. Pilgrims’ got the hardest slot, playing
twice in a row with no rest in between. However, for
30 of 40 minutes it was the best rugby they have
played this season. In the first game there was
passing aplenty and many decent, courageous
tackles. Peter Burnand scored after supporting a
fantastic run by Harry Peppiatt. However, Seaford A
team played a better running game and scored some
good tries.
Against Westbourne House the first ten minutes were
highly contested, with both teams very evenly
matched. Westbourne got the first try and then,
when tiredness set in, Pilgrims’ could not keep up.
James Phipps did run in a good try. PB
Colts C IX v Westbourne House
Lost 45-20 (L Jones, A Tolkushkin, I Cooper-Evans 2)
A resilient performance by the Colts C team against
Westbourne House. The first half was well fought by
both sides, giving a half-time score of 20-10 to
Westbourne House. The Pilgrims’ tries were scored
by Jones and Cooper-Evans. Pilgrims’ remained
competitive in the second half, with some great team
play and two further tries from Tolkushkin and
Cooper-Evans, but Westbourne House won out in the
end. JR
Foals A XIII v Westbourne House
Won 25-51 (R Wooster 3, F Jackson, S Carriett)
Another fast paced, end-to-end competitive game for
the boys to get stuck into. Finlay Jackson opened the
scoring in the corner with some good pace to beat his
opposite number. The lead was quickly cancelled out
after Westbourne went over for their first try.
Rory Wooster commanded the play and managed to
pick a gap and go over the line. The first half was
topped off by Sam Carriett coming off the bench and
scoring with his first involvement. Westbourne came
out after the break very strong. Some brilliant
defensive play in rucks and covering tackles from
Sebastian Leeming-Price and Teddy Richardson kept
the opposition at bay. Some quick passing from
Westbourne offered them a way back into the game
as they scored twice but Rory managed to finish off
some lovely phase play to keep a two try cushion.
A well-fought and well-deserved game. MG
Foals B VIII v Westbourne house
Lost 35-20 (H Perks, M Ingram, G Davies, A Cooper)
The Foals A came up against a very good team who
proved just a little too strong in the end. It was much
more determined start to the game, however,
compared to recent weeks, which was pleasing to
see. At half time the score was 3-1 to Westbourne.
The second half was competitive but fair, and both
sides put in big tackles and ran well with the ball.
Good tries from Harry Perks, Max Ingram and
impressive first game in the B's for Alex Cooper made
the score close, but Pilgrims’ came up just short.
An enjoyable game none-the-less. JB
Foals C VIII v Westbourne House
Lost 40-0
In a somewhat uneven contest the Pilgrims’ boys
never gave up, and even though faced with a much
stronger opposition, showed potential for
improvement. William Bourke made several good
runs with the ball in hand, William Cai tackled
bravely, and Tom Allfrey was always a threat.
Retaining possession is an important part of the
game, but dropped passes and missed tackles did not
help the flow. MCB
Under 9 A VII v Seaford
Won 30-5 (B Hardman, W Hammerson-Jones,
O Johnson, J Kennedy, A Goodwin-Hudson, I Corrie)
As part of an unexpected triangular we played
Seaford. They moved the ball well and we defended a
bit soft, playing to the level of our competition. Heads
up play to force the ball carrier out of touch allowed
us to regain possession and stop them from scoring.
The one score came on a good individual run, which
broke our line of defence. Pilgrims’ scored on all but
one of our attacking possessions, so there was little to
fault in this game. AC
Under 9 A VII v Westbourne house
Won 30-25 (B Hardman 2, A Goodwin-Hudson,
O Johnson, I Corrie, J Kennedy)
A much tougher match, having no rest from playing
the first game, Pilgrims’ boys started a little
tentatively, with the exception of Campbell
Hope-MacLellan, who hit the opposition like a sledge
hammer all game long. The ball was well distributed,
and we were able to spread the ball out wide.
James Kennedy set up Olli Johnson on the wing for an
excellent try. The difference between us and
Westbourne House is that we made fewer mistakes
and punished Westbourne for the mistakes that they
made. A gritty, hard-fought win. Well done boys! AC
Under 9 B VII v Westbourne House
Won 40-30 (A Chan 4, T Gordon 3, I Keane)
After a long journey, the boys were keen to get going
and secure a win. As soon as the whistle blew,
Thomas Gordon was fast to score the team a try.
With an early lead under their belts, this motivation
carried on throughout the first half with Aidan Chan,
Ivo Keane and Gordon scoring multiple tries. Into the
second half, the boys seem to lose focus a little and
Westbourne were able to sneak a few tries past us.
However, with some great tackles from Arvin Singh
and a few breakthrough runs from Chan, the score
remained in our favour, allowing us to come home
with a win. Ami
A big thank you to Mr Robertson for the photographs
this week. If you do take any photographs at a match
they would be gratefully received for the newsletter.
Please send them to [email protected] as
a full size attachment if you can.