Yes it's the return of the silly socks!
U8s and U7s have an away fixture against Mansfield RC
Mansfield Rugby Union Football Club
Eakring Road
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
NG18 3EW

Can everyone please aim to get there for 10am, so that we can organise everyone and warm everyone before we start playing at 10.30am. I believe they have quite a lot of kids at U7s and U8s so I would imagine that again we will get to play several games.

Weather looks foggy and cold, but may stay dry, so make sure they all wrap up warm, they can always take a layer off.

With so many players in the U7s we have decided to introduce (as long as the trophies are ready!) 2 new weekly awards on top of Player of the Week. These will be Performance of the Week which will be to reward the most outstanding rugby moment and Most Improved Player of the Week (otherwise known as the By Jove, I think he's got it! award), to celebrate players that have shown a marked improvement or demonstrated a new or improved skill that week.

Match Report vs Derby
Under 7s
U7s were again on top form at Derby with many excellent individual displays, showcasing what a good crop of six and seven year olds we have this year.
Paticular mentions to Joe "Goal Hanger" Finnemore and Cameron Buckley for their noteworthy tries and Henry Barker-Pine for his outstanding tagging. Man of the Week went to Seb Hibbs who played out of his skin and showed us all what a great turn of speed he has.

Under 8s
The U8s, depleted by Kyla's appearance as England Mascot at Twickenham, took six players to Haslam's Lane for three games against a well organised Derby U8 squad. The first match was a tight affair, and saw tries from Alex, Thomas, Stan, Josh (again stepping up from the U7s) and Joseph.

With little time for a rest, the second game followed in quick succession, with Ilkeston under pressure from the off. The highlights of the game included a great straight run and try by Rory despite three Derby players hanging off him (surely a forward in the making), a wonderful catch and run down the wing to the try line by Stan, and some much needed injection of pace and intensity from Joe Finnemore who came in from the U7s.

The third game was a ragged affair, with both sets of players tiring. Ilkeston showed great stamina and just held on. Our tagging has improved massively since the start of the season, with all players making try saving tags throughout the three games. The support play, and Alex and Josh's twisty runs were a delight to see, but some work needs to be done on passing accurately after being tagged, and more organisation and thought needs to go into the restarts when we have possession.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their morning in Derby, and the Player of the week award was presented to Joseph for his all round game.

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