Why do teams go on tour? For those people not involved in sport this is a question that is often asked. For anyone wanting an answer to the question, the U12 and U13 rugby tour to Newcastle would have answered the question.
As the two squads assembled on Friday they were obviously familiar to each other, but only as schoolmates and fellow players. By the time they arrived back at school on Sunday, they were a ‘band of brothers' who had experienced all the trials and tribulations that a tour presents.
The first games were against Newcastle RGS on Friday afternoon, and they proved to be interesting encounters. Playing Newcastle B teams both squads performed well. The U13 team began, at last, to show their true potential. Time after time the forwards presented good ball for the back line to work with. And they did, with relish.
It can often take years for a team to develop enough trust in each other's ability to pass the ball along the line at speed. The confidence of this back line was worthy of a far mature team as was shown when under pressure on their own line. Rather than kick away possession they passed the ball along the line behind their own posts before some good interplay between Sam Lavelle and Myles Dunlop resulted in Sam running the length of the field for a well deserved try.
This proved to be the pattern of the game with KEQMS exploiting the spaces with some clever kicking and chasing at speed to regain possession. The final score of 28-7 could have been far greater.
The U12 team, meanwhile, looked to be running away with the game as they dominated the first half. However, the half time team talk by their coach, former KEQMS teacher Mr Andy Watt, obviously had the desired effect as Newcastle began to fight back in earnest. With play going from end to end the scores grew ever closer and with seconds to go KEQMS were in the lead by one point.
It never ceases to amaze how pressure and tension can affect the outcome of sporting fixtures. With the ball in our possession, we only needed to clear to touch, but missed. Newcastle, their tails up, ran the ball back at pace, broke through some weak tackles and scored in the corner for an unexpected win, 23-21. A mistake that the team will probably never make again.
After heavy rain on Friday night the pitches at Kings Tynemouth were softer than of late, and also smaller than both teams were accustomed to.
The U12 team were certainly not going to make the same mistakes of the previous day and the small pitch always meant that this was going to be a game where the forwards would dominate. It was a close game but the greater work rate and determination of KEQMS paid off as they won 12-5.
Full of confidence after their win of the previous day, the U13 side played some of their best rugby of the season. Once again, solid forward play provided a good platform for the backs, who relished in the chance to run at the opposition. With a slight lead at half time, the team had the advantage of the sloping pitch in the second half, and once again, the mix of chip kicks, quick passing and driving forwards had the Kings boys on the back foot for most of the half. The 27-6 win was a good result against a team that was more than capable of causing problems.
Apart from the rugby, the boys enjoyed time bowling, shopping and visiting Wet and Wild. There is no doubt that the boys who had climbed aboard the coach on Friday were different from those who disembarked on Sunday. Friendships had been strengthened, new ones forged and the experience of living and playing together over the duration of the tour will live with them forever. All the action.
