Juniors
Under 17s Easter Tour to Holland
CROYDON TEENAGE PIRATES INVADE HOLLAND
In October 2007 we decided on an ambitious plan to take our under 17’s on an overseas tour. The last few years we have taken them away in the UK but took the plunge this year to venture overseas, encouraged by the prospect that The Jack Petchey Foundation are firm believers in youngsters travelling abroad to broaden their experience of the world.
Andrew Salvidge did some research and it was decided we should apply to compete in the Westlands Festival at the Hague in Holland which took place over Easter Saturday and Sunday. We decided to book the tour through a reputable tour operator. We had hoped to get a party of 25 to 30 boys and adults. We ended up with 32 tourists, 25 boys and 7 adults.
We met at the club at 6am on Friday 21st March, decked out in our tour gear as pirates. We boarded the Dover to Calais ferry at 0920 then had a 5 hour coach journey to our hotel in central Rotterdam. All went smoothly on arrival and we changed, unpacked and had our 1st tour meeting before separating to ‘explore’ Rotterdam. We had an early breakfast next day and left the hotel at 0930 for the festival.
Our first game was the second game of the day against a local Kent club Westcombe Park. The games were 15 a side, 10 minutes each way. Croydon made their usual slow start, rarely threatened in the first half and conceded an unconverted try. The half-time roasting woke them up and the team played some of the best rugby seen at the tournament, lovely handling moves from backs and forwards working the park from side to side, on two occasions just being tackled short. They finally got their just desserts when number 8 Salvidge made a telling burst through the middle only to be tackled yards short. Flanker Lyell was on his shoulder to take the pop and touch down under the posts. Woodhams made the conversion. Croydon continued to attack and narrowly failed to score again, comfortably holding on for 7-5 victory.
Next up was a serious looking Amersham and Chiltern side. Several changes were make to give the whole squad a game. The weather was closing in and it was likely to be the last game of the day. Croydon manfully defended wave after wave of attack from a very slick A&C side, the pressure finally told when their speedy winger went over for a converted try, final score 0-7.
Next day, after waiting for a few late arrivals, we arrived at the ground for day 2 proudly showing off our new pink tour kit. First up was Old Luctodians, a very tidy side, but some spirited defence and determined tackling kept OL at bay. Whilst rarely threatening in attack we comfortably held out for a deserved 0-0 draw.
Next up came the home side, an enormous side, almost certainly not under 17’s! Their power was difficult to handle but luckily their skill was not up to much. Despite this, Croydon were struggling to contain the ‘Giants’ and were having to resort to the darker arts of forward play which resulted in a heavy adverse penalty count, one of which was converted to give the Dutch a 3-0 half-time lead. Another half time roasting resulted in Croydon bucking up their ideas in the second period and they moved the ball around the pitch, finally reaping a deserved reward when, from a quick ruck ball, flanker Divilly was able to burst over from yards, Woodhams made the conversion which was enough for a 7-3 victory.
Next up we had the misfortune of having to play Amersham again, as Westcombe Park failed to turn up for day 2. 2 early tries gave A&C a commanding 10-0 lead. Croydon did get back into it in the second half, threatened a couple of times but, had to give 2nd best to the best team in the tournament losing 10-0.
There followed the third place play off against Sleaford. The 2 sides were evenly matched during the early exchanges. Croydon had a penalty 30 metres out, captain Wilds asked Woodhams to go for goal and he duly obliged with 3 points. Sleaford replied immediately having identified a weakness on Croydon’s left flank dealing with the kick over the top. Another punt was not dealt with by the winger allowing Sleaford to win the ruck and their flanker dived over for an unconverted try. Despite repeated attacks and possession Croydon could not get the crucial score going down 3-5 to finish 4th out of 7, Needless to say the boys were very tired and cold by this time.
A very successful, enjoyable tour thus came to an end. The boys were a credit to the Club; they toured with the ‘right sprit’ and were undoubtedly the most entertaining team there.
A special thanks to the Jack Petchey Foundation whose generous donation made the tour possible and affordable to all. And well done to the boys for raising enough money for their tour kit, and a little left over for the kitty. And finally thanks to our sponsor Peter Clark whose generosity to the kitty made the tour even more enjoyable.
Ian Golding
Head Junior coach.
