Norfolk a tour de force

On Friday afternoon the U9 coaches set off with 12 of the boys for Overstrand in Norfolk. A clear run got us there for 8.30. We went all that way to stay at a Kingswood Camp and be with teams from all over the country, only to find the rest of the camp was taken over exclusively by 192 players from West Bridgford!!!

Saturday was spent on all kinds of team building activities........the emphasis on the all important rugby skills of communication and organisation. Highlights include Shane's single-handed assault on the summit of Jacob's Ladder, Matt B and Warren's extremely successful audition for a job at Morrisons on the Crate Stack, the gathering of towels for the previously unannounced swimming session first thing on Saturday morning (most are still confused as to the concept of April Fool) and one lad deciding that running forward bolt upright with your arms straight up in the air was suddenly a good idea halfway round the nightline (blindfolded you follow team mates and a low rope) only to be halted when he ran head first into a tyre obstacle. No injuries to hold us up for the next day.

Sunday was spent at Holt RFC for a festival. Here, the first game was against (of course) a very good West Bridgford and from then on the boys got better and better versus Westcliff, Crusaders, Holt and finally Maldon. All this belied the increasing paleness developing in faces and eyes sinking ever deeper into eye sockets as the incredible previous two days (and nights) took their toll. Just goes to show what a great bunch they are. What a fabulous weekend.

On a personal note, I knew we would meet some sides from our area but I also managed to bump into the Deputy Head of the school right opposite our house who we know very well, my wife's physio and three lads I have taught and who wanted to say hello.........