Great results for the Rams and Titans at the Reading Minis festival

After our second place at the Windsor Festival our expectations of success were quite high, not necessarily that we would win, but that our players would put their hearts into every game, try their hardest and give any team a run for their money.

This was certainly the case on Sunday.

With two changes to the Rams team, we started against Wallingford with a really good win. Victories against Reading, Farnborough and Slough-Pheonix Barbarians were to follow, culminating in a competition decider against our strong local rivals of Bracknell.

Both teams went into the final having won every game. Their coach and I had discovered that there was no competition rule to decide the winner if we tied, so we agreed before the game that if Reading couldn't decide, we would go on points difference, then tries scored.

The inevitable outcome of the "final" was a draw. A well played game in both skill and spirit. We had to wait to see what Reading would do to decide the Under 7s victors.

Wouldn't you just know it - both teams had scored the same points and conceded the same points. So ultimately we shared the spoils of victory, with Reading locating an extra trophy at the last minute.

The Titans also fared well. The team was made up of one seasoned veteran and one player who has been to some of our previous tournaments, but was mostly made up of our new players in their first tournament.

It is hard to know what to expect with new opposition and a new team. The first tournament is really about learning the competitive side of rugby.

The first few games were narrow losses against Bracknell and Slough-Pheonix, - one point for the first and second matches which was certainly more than we had hoped for in a first matches and at their first festival. The third match was another narrow loss to the pool winners Maidenhead (who interestingly hadn't entered an 'a' team).

But once more we were to be delighted, The Titans continued to improve, drawing their fourth match against Wallingford. Excellent progress.

But it doesn't end there. Our final game was to be against Swindon. Not a team we had played before. Unfortunately, it was scheduled at the same time as our final Rams game, so I kept moving between matches form the middle of the two pitches. I don't really remember much about either match except the cheering from the sides, a couple of great Titans tries and lots of beaming smiles, and a victory. A comfortable victory. Well done.

So another great day for 'Ensians Under 7s, both our seasoned and newer players, which meant the coaches all left happy, as did the kids.

Unfortunately, Reading only gave prizes to the victors in each tournament, but please try your hardest to get the Titans to training on Sunday as we'll be making a presentation of our own at the end.

Thanks to Matt and Al for doing such a fine job with the Rams and Emma and Mark for such a fine job with the Titans. Thanks also to Luke for helping out with whatever was asked of him. Thank you also to everyone else who helped and supported.

Melissa took so many photos that she filled the rather large memory card up on my camera, so once we've got those uploaded, we'll let you know.

See you Sunday.

Paul