What a weekend for our team...after the joy and elation of the presentation night on the Saturday. Despite parents and kids partying the night away until past midnight. The team turned up 8.15 am Sunday morning to get on the team bus to take on the teams of Cumbria in the first annual Carlisle Mini Festival. As most competitions for this age group, no scores are recorded. Instead there is one award for the team that shows the best "Spirit of Rugby", living and breathing the core values of rugby: Teamwork, Enjoyment, Discipline and Respect.

I am so proud to say that despite the sleep deprivation our young heroes, came to Cumbria and they played the game in the spirit it was intended. They did their home town of Blyth proud by not only competing hard in every single game. But more importantly than the winning they did, it was the way they behaved and entered the spirit of this festival. Our kids stood out for their Teamwork, Enjoyment, Discipline and Respect. As a coach and a parent, I could not be more proud of this team, this group of lads and friends.

I would also give a huge thank you to Carlisle RFC for the fantastic organisation and the atmosphere of the festival. The staggered approach to games was really refreshing and ensured that both our teams could be supported by the full squad to cheer eachother and the other teams on.

All of our kids just played their hearts and with full of energy, joy and skills. There was so many moments that stick out;
1. Owen Hardwick's "sunbathing" routine at every half time.
2. "Double trouble", "Grease, Grease, Lightening" ...."The Speed merchants"....Ethan Irving and "Sheppy" just cutting opposing teams to shredds with their incredible pace and eye for the gap...what a season these lads will have next year!
3. Niall Rumney's leadership as a captain. I asked Niall to ensure that everyone got more equal time on the ball and the way Niall stepped up and organised his attacking lines to ensure that happen was just great to see.
4. How much Owen Sawyer has come on this year, really fantastic to see Owen now always putting himself in the right areas to be able to get a pass so the team can benefit from his pace.
5. Kieran how his confidence is growing day by day. Especially the Try saving tackle he put in to stop the other team scoring and his confidence with the first pass in the attacking line.
6. Kyle Dixon and how he supported Niall with distributing the ball more evenly within the team to ensure everyone gets time with the ball. #teamplayer

So after an exhausting but so rewarding weekend of rugby we grabbed the coach back to Blyth with the Silverware we had conquered in Cumbria...the first of many for this team.