Thank you to Frome for making the trip over for an exciting game, Simon, and Naomi for the pictures.

This far into the season all the hard work in training is starting to pay off, as Sundays match was a complete game of tag rugby.  Frome were 2 players short, so we lost volunteers David and Wallis for a short time. 

From the whistle, everyone was eager to be involved, with direct running and tight support, making a game fast paced and flowing game. Ivel’s defensive line was better without grouping up. This allowed more players time to close in on the next carrier, with Oscar, Thomas, Matt, and George grabbing some important tags, stopping fromes flow, driving them deeper back into their own half. When Frome were pushed back and forced into errors, Ivel didn’t push the advantage, as the ball was turned over a few times with mistakes creeping in.

Driving forward with the ball after last week Freddy seemed on course, but was denied twice just yards from the try line, but determination paid off with his first try for Ivel. Also a welcome return from Wallis with tries for both Ivel and Frome and some great tagging. Matt, Thomas, Neo and Alistair all seemed very comfortable taking the ball forward and finding gaps to run for tries. With us this week, new player Charlie showed enthusiasm for the game, with good tagging and a try which was unfortunately disallowed for sliding in. 
Ivel showed that supporting the carrier pays of as Frome defended well and the ball had to be passed all along the try line on three occasions, but there was always a player ready to collect.  The error count for Ivel was low for this game; the main culprit being off side.  

Result:   Ivel  10 – Frome 8     Ivel tries from; Neo 3, Thomas and Matt  2 each, and Alistair, Wallis and Freddy 1 apiece.    Player of the match was Freddy for his determination, running, and his first Ivel try.        Well played all the Ivel team.   

The morning started well with a good strong team. Many thanks to all the parents. Also I would like to thank Charles from Sherborne for taking on being the Referee.

The first match was a very close game with either side scoring tries easily. The defending from both sides was to the highest of standards and the attack could only be achieved with lots of passing amongst nearly all of the team, in fact I counted four attacks and I am sure there was more that went to Tag 6 before the ball was turned over to the other side. The direct approach was definitely our biggest achievement in this particular game, with a tremendous run from Harry that burst straight through all of Sherbornes defence and scored his best try of his life. Again the scores did not reflect the game, and I am sure in my mind that Simon would have been proud as I was to see Ivel at their very best. Well done to all of you. I would also like to know what Dawson had for his breakfast because he was definitely on full steam that morning, will have to find out, well done to you. The man of the Match for me this time has to be Mr Boom Boom shake the room Broom for the ground he covered in the game. As I have said before, ground made is the most important thing in this game, and to not be selfish and pass the ball on when you have made ground, well done to you sir. The score 4-5 Sherborne

The second game was just as exciting, although the team was tired. The first game was so full on that to be honest I was asked by Sherborne if we wanted another game and I posed the question to the team, the answer was yes and we went out there to play. The game got off to a great start with some very good runs from the boys, again lots of very quick passes from both teams and a lot of great running and defending from both sides. The half time scores stood at 3-3 and a quick start from Sherborne gave them the lead. At this point it must have been because Ivel were a tired side that the defence started slipping away. We had lost the sparkle we had at the start and Sherborne found their way through a couple more times, not easily but enough to give them the edge they needed to win the second game, the final score was 3-8 Sherborne.

Summary, What I saw today was a team.  No heroes no individuals and everyone working together as one. Undoubtedly the very best game of the year. I would also like to forward a comment from Charles, the referee from Sherborne and it was “My, Ivels team have been turned around, since the last time we played them” and I replied “they are now one team, not individuals, that’s the only change”. I would like to thank the Ivel team for giving this game 110% and I know in my mind that we really should have got the win that we all wanted but, from what I saw today we are becoming a winning team well done to you all.

Thank you to Sherborne for bringing us the exiting games that we had. Also a big thank you to Charles for refereeing the two games.

First thanks for every one turning up to a glorious sunny Glastonbury for a great game against Tor, and to Tom and Naomi for the pictures.

After a short training session we lined up against Tor with this week’s Captain, Wallis. From the start It was not as easy as some of the Ivel players thought, on a smaller pitch than we are used to, It was surprising how  Ivel had to change tactics and think more about positioning and passing , as Tor opened the scoring almost immediately . With running space very tight and Tor very proficient at tagging, Ivel were slow in gaining ground and had to work the ball up to Tors’ try line, before replying with a try From Freddy. What was good to see in this half was No-one was being pulled up for off side or obstruction, and everyone was following up tight on the ball carrier including George right up with the action this week, with a nice pass to allow Freddy his second try.

With the score at half time 6-7 to Ivel, they had to up their game to stay ahead, With Oscar again this week having a great mid field game but running out of space to complete for a try. Matt and Thomas had a good defending game taking most of Ivel’s tags and a good grinding forward game, forcing their way through for seven tries between them. The smaller pitch was no help for Neo or Wallis with their long sprints as they were soon crowded out and had to make their passes, but still they managed 2 tries apiece. Apart from one run out, Ivel kept a clean sheet this week, but one important thing missing was tags with players running alongside opposition but failing to reach out and take the tag. But with all the new game plans in training everything has now slotted into place, with the team playing as a unit, with players always in keen support, and more players’ names on the score sheet, Ivel are now ready for the two big upcoming tournaments.

Final score  Ivel  13 – Tor 10    Ivel tries from;  Matt 4, Thomas 3, Freddy ,Neo and Wallis 2 apiece. Player of the match was George for keeping up with play and getting involved throughout the game with some great passes this week.                    Well played Ivel a deserved win.

Thank you to all that turned up for the last game of the season against chard. Also for the support and effort at the Bournemouth tournament which made for a tremendous day.

Being one of the smaller squads at Bournemouth we made it through the group games winning 2 and losing two, and making it to the semis to be knocked out by Romsey wasps.  The u7s should feel proud, as it was a fast and furious day and I know that there were plenty of knocks and scrapes, but it did not deter them from facing fresh legs from the larger squads.  Ivel really pushed hard for their tries and at times produced some of the best defending yet, but a few disallowed tries soon un levelled the score sheet. There was some fantastic tag rugby not only from Ivel but from some of the teams from farther afield especially Hemel Hempstead who went on to deservedly win.

Well done ALL the u7s for reaching the semi- finals and an exciting and great fun day.
Away at Chard with Neo as captain, Ivel faced a mixed u7s-u8s Chard team. From the off it seemed as if we would lose heavily to them again as Chard were straight in with a try and again after forcing a run out. With possession, and more direct running straight at the pack, drawing in the Chard defence, Ivel started to push them back. With some great quick passing, the ball was sent up and down Chards  line when twice we were sent back five yards For try line scrambles, then we lost possession  through frustration with a run out, which then saw Chard score there third. After a scrappy few minutes Just before H-T Ivel managed to claw back a try. 3-1

It was a different game the second half with Ivel paying much more attention to defending well, and it becoming a much more physical game as both teams were determined not to lose, with the ball being turned over many times. This was a very evenly matched half with several tries on both sides disallowed and Ivel showed spirit and kept pushing forward, with some wide running but  unfortunately  just out of touch. Even against a half a team of u8s Ivel drew this half, for a respectable Final score Chard 7- Ivel 5

A very tough gritty match Ivel showed their progression from the first meeting against chard which we lost 5-1, to a much more even game.  Ivel tries Thomas 2, Wallis 1, Oscar 1, and Matt 1.                      

Player of the match goes to new lad Charlie, for his general all round game in such a hard match.
Well played   Ivel u7s.