U8 players for Finchley RFC U8’s Alex, Dominic, Gareth, Fintan, Raul, Tom, William, Idrees, Louie, Max, Sam, Irah, Tyler, Fletcher and Toby

When we arrived the mist was hanging on the ground and the sun trying to burn though the cloud cover it felt slightly ominous like an great battle was about to be fought on the lowlands of Finchley. However, what I beheld before me were twenty or so 8 year old boys in their battle colours ready to pit themselves against one another in the fight for supremacy. Our lustrous opponents were from the tribe of London Scottish and those who faced them were the tribe of Finchley and so then the order of battle was drawn up and play was declared.

Unfortunately London Scottish had only come with eight players enough for one team and so the Finchley boys were split into two teams the Bibs and the Stripes. The coaches then organised a fast and furious game of bulldog to warm everyone up and then we went straight into the games.

Match 1 Finchley Bibs vs London Scottish
U8 players Finchley Bibs: Fletcher, Alex, Toby, Raul, Sam, Louie and Idrees

Finchley lost the arm wrestle but were given first play by London Scottish and play was started with the Bibs pushing forward and London Scottish tagging very well until Finchley made a mistake and lost the ball. This tactic was to be repeated through the whole game by London Scottish. Finchley also lost the ball to the many dropped balls that then went forward and these silly mistakes littered the game giving London Scottish the advantage again and again. When London Scottish had the ball they would throw it up in the air as if in panic only for it to be caught by a player on the wing who then had space to run and score. However, Finchley’s passing is now much improved and we saw some great passes between players and one of these allowed Idrees to score his first try for Finchley. Then after London Scottish lost the ball to a knock on Raul steamed through to score the second in the game. For all Finchley’s hard work they could not pull ahead and as they were playing a game of two passes before they could score it was hard for them to stop passing and just run for the line. Quite a few scoring chances were lost as the boys passed the ball when they did not need too and had a long but clear way across the pitch to the try line. This problem was sorted out at half time with some words of encouragement from coaches and parents alike, but alas the damage had been done and Finchley were now chasing the game. Finchley put up a spirited fight in the second half with all the players giving 100%. But, London Scottish where still managing to gain possession and catch those long passes allowing them to run in space and score. After some fierce tagging Sam scored a third for Finchley and then two great passes to Alex allowed him space to run and when Alex runs there is no stopping him the last two tries gave Finchley five tries to London Scottish’s six.
Try scored by Idrees, Raul, Sam and 2 for Alex
Game 6-5 to London Scottish

Match 2 Finchley Stripes vs London Scottish
U8 players Finchley Stripes: Gareth, Irah, Dominic, Tyler, Tom, Fintan, Max and William

As with all great battles just when the generals think they are doing well someone throws a rugby ball in the works. London Scottish, having won the arm wrestle again, chose to start this time and ran straight through our defensive line towards the try line. They then remember the two passes rule and throw the ball up high into the air flying across the pitch and into someone’s out stretched hands who then throws it high into the air flying across the pitch again into someone else’s out stretched hands who then scores. This is becoming too much to be a coincidence or they are just fantastic ball receivers. In the first half Finchley seemed asleep and they lost the ball again and again to silly mistakes mainly dropping the ball when passing. This is a surprise to me because on paper they seemed to be the more experienced side. London Scottish were getting through the Finchley line, passing the ball with great dexterity and then scoring. Finchley finished the first half on a duck this did manage to wake them up from their slumbers and they went into the second half fighting. A good run by Max and a great pass to Gareth was let down by a dropped ball. Then a good run and pass to Dominic ended with the ball finally turned over to London Scottish and another try to them. Then a solid run by Fintan gave Finchley hope and then he did it again giving Finchley a second. But, no matter how they tried they could not score again during the game. The game looked messy and there were too many Finchley mistakes and too many lost chances for Finchley to recover and get anywhere near to London Scottish’s final score.
2 tries scored by Fintan
Game 7-2 to London Scottish

Match 3 Finchley Stripes vs Finchley Bibs
U8 players Finchley Stripes: Gareth, Irah, Dominic, Tyler, Tom, Fintan, Max and William
U8 players Finchley Bibs: Fletcher, Alex, Toby, Raul, Sam, Louie and Idrees

The final game of the morning gave Finchley a chance to battle each other and regain some sense of glory and honour. The Bibs started the game and the Stripes had some good defensive tagging and turned over the ball only to lose it again allowing Toby to get through the line and score. The Stripes had the free ball allowing Irah a chance to finish the play with a run on the line and the Stripes were in the game. After a long run of tagging Stripes lose concentration giving the Bibs and Fletcher a way through and another try. Bibs then start and after a dropped ball they lose it allowing William to overrun the Bibs line and place the ball over the touch line and a second try for the Stripes. Bibs have the start and after a good run Toby scores again. The second half starts well and after some fine passing Fintan storms through to score for the Stripes. This is followed by another fast run from Alex and another try for the Bibs. As if history is repeating itself Fintan scores again followed by a well caught pass and a try for Alex. If only Finchley had played like this earlier in the morning the above results may have been very different. Stripes start allowing William to crash through and score the fifth for the Stripes. The game was now evenly placed each Finchley team playing well tagging well and passing then running into space to score. A final knock on gave the Bibs the ball and after some speedy passing Sam punished the Stripes with the final try of the game. Fantastic rugby all round from Finchley.
Tries for Bibs scored by Fletcher, Sam, 2 for Toby and 2 for Alex
Tries for Stripes scored by Irah, 2 for Fintan and 2 for William
Game 6-5 to Finchley Bibs

Some really great Rugby was played during the morning, not always by Finchley, but they had their moments and some truly fantastic passes. However, at times Finchley were let down by a lack of concentration and not keeping their eyes on the ball. London Scottish where a good team, not a great team, but they won both games and this was as much to do with Finchley making mistakes than as a result of the skills of the London Scottish’s team. As we end this season and move into contact rugby we must all keep our eye firmly on the ball otherwise the team is going to be stamped on and stamped on but good. Hopefully when the tags come off and the boys do not have to worry about tagging their passing skills will improve. Anyway don’t lets worry too much there is a long summer coming to tune up and train on these issues.