We, Oulton Under 8's have had 4 games since the last update - against a very good East Leeds side for the 2nd time in 3 games when we played probably the best half of rugby we have ever played only for the wheels to fall off in the second half and the lads to completely fall apart - strange how it changed so quickly in the space of a game.

Since then we have played a really young Heworth side who were just starting out, and both Hunslet Parkside and Dewsbury Celtic with a couple of decent players in each side but still not enough to really trouble our boys.

Apparently the league split the teams into divisions over Easter so after the break we should be playing more evenly matched sides, although hopefully we will be playing against sides that let us develop more rather than get suckered into trying to compete in games - I know we shouldn't go down that route but we find it very, very hard not to play in a different manner when playing against the better teams in order to try and compete with them, whereas when we play against teams of lesser ability we try and develop things by letting the lads offload and/or pass a little, but as previous posters have said plenty of teams even at this early stage coach their lads simply to do whatever is needed to score tries and/or win a game.

For example, in a recent game we have seen coaches teaching their players to scoot on the last tackle - now our lads are coached properly not to move off their mark in defense until the ball is passed as is the rule, but obviously when the half back scoots the pass never comes so our lads just stood watching the half back - we conceded 6 tries last week and 4 of them from the half back scooting. A side was clearly coached just to score tries in this way, what benefit there is for that side doing this I do not know, maybe we should challenge them to play by the correct rules but it's probably not worth the hassle so we let them do it.

I'm led to believe if the acting half moves of his mark the defence line may proceed

Scooting is not allowed in the Under 9's as far as I am aware so confused as to why it is going done in the 8's.

Some refs allow scoots some dont and it depends where they come frome which is stupid.

from the horses mouth and YJ ref of 5 years now No scooting at that age if they do the play the ball is to be retaken . And its a good idea to educate the player why .

Unfortunately some coaching teams seem to get cross and have a pop with the kid in charge which fuels the parents and the kids look up to them. So they think its the Referee who is wrong.

Not that he or she is in this instance but its good policy to remember the ref is right thats it.

weekend off if I want it seeing as crigg 14s out of cup and due to 3 teams not playing extra time in there last cup game n game for young uns club. ;[
BUT I will be at a match tomorrow I guess and I also think I w go to a 14s any ideas .

Normanton Knights u17s re play the cup game v Upton that got abandoned due to brawling, lets hope they come to play than fight this time

Saw some great rugby yesterday in the 12s and 11s . ( the joys of transporting referees

) .
So much better watching neutral games .

Today its

Shaw Cross Sharks 14s v Dewsbury Celtic .

A derby between 2 teams at the wrong end of table with X needing this one IMO a little more than Celtic.
If Dewsbury win Crigglestone fall deeper into trouble and it puts wind in Celtic sails.

was gonna go to Hawks v Cas but this one has more of a meaning to us. And no doubt Hunslet will be kicking off at 12 ish.

good luck to all regular posters on here still involved in cup.

Panthers 14s scraped home 10-16 in the qf of the challenge cup at hunslet warriors.

Not the prettiest of games by any stretch but two teams that were prepared to slug it out and defend well!!

a very good win for the Normy u17s today beating Upton 22-12.

Normy took a 12-0 lead in to the second half only for Upton to claw them selves back to 12 all.
it was touch and go for a bit in the end we managed to get that cushion we needed.
it still had its heated moments but was controlled far better with this referee

home draw in the next round to Stanley Rangers

What dates are the finals weekend this year mate , always a good weekend but little info on the YJL website

It seems like panthers got another result at the weekend, could be a team to watch this year

They dont pose any threat rugby wise......it's true.....i read it on here...

Stanley Cas should be a cracking semi final and im sure the Rangers will relish the challenge.

Is this the year of Panthers/West Hull ?

Still so hard to tell with East Hull still at 100% in the league. What is staggering is the amount of teams who have only won once . Every win will count for something at the moment in the top 2 divisions in the 14s.

FWIW I personally think technically W Hull have the edge but points on the board count as Crigg found out last year .

Cas v West Hull final but no easy semi for either team. Then its anybodies

And when are finals ?

no idea bud

14's is weekend of 21st/22nd June i believe.

IMHO West Hull are the favourites as they have beat Panthers comfortably on two occasions.

Raiders 8's had our first game after Easter putting in a real good performance against a decent Eastmoor side who had some pretty handy runners and defended well for the most part, but they also had a few smaller kids too. The run of fairly easy games we have had running up to Easter seemed to do us the world of good and confidence levels were high and they put in one of their best performances yet. Was close at the break but Eastmoor seemed to go to sleep a bit in the second half when playing up hill. Good to play 12 a side on a big field so all the kids got a good run out.

We have been told from another coach that the teams have been split by squad size rather than ability since Easter, presumably to give more players the chance to play. I can see the logic in this, but wherether or not this is more important than playing against equally matched opposition would be better I don't know.

Kippax away this week.

good win today for Normy u17s beating Keighley Albion 42 -4, the game was marred due to a head collision in which when one of our lads came off, he then didn't know where he was and had to go to A&E hope he recovers ok

as yet these lads are unbeaten in league and cup

Panthers 14s lost to derby rivals lock lane 34-6 no complaints locklane were superb and dominated from start to finish.

14s Oulton Vikings 62- Milford 4, pleasing given our tendency to turn the ball over cheaply in the first half.

Our lads beat crigg today 64-0..they was very low on numbers..& we have got east Leeds in the national cup final..as they beat wests in the semi today.

It was 13 v 13 at all times , we may of only had 1 sub but I really do think its unjust and a little irritating when people use the weakened team explanation .on here. Crigglestone can take some positives from today and some players stood up and improved. 18 moths ago 90% of the lads where turning over teams like this I just think that either Wakey council have polluted the water system so our lads don't grow anymore or Rhubarb is unhealthy

As for Easts by far the best display I seen this season and I truly will be shouting for you at the Bulldogs in the Cowshed

p.s. is the fire out yet.

Eastmoor u12s bt hemsworth 38-0 the team only got together this season and most of plsyers never played before so there coming on really well thats 3 wins from 5.the u10s lost at hunslet warriors in what can be described ad a dirty game

will say i have son playing for 10s and 12s and find it pants they kick off at same time every sat at different venues so only get to watch one of them

good result today for the Normanton knights u17s beating Stanley Rangers 36 -4 in the cup

Raiders Under 8's continue to show real good improvement, with another couple of non-competitive (or non recorded) wins under the belt. Last week against Kippax was much more satisfying than yesterdays game against a very inexperienced Batley Boys side.

The lads have really come on leaps and bounds since just before the Easter break with the games against Eastmoor and Kippax being their best 2 performances by far and a way. Yesterday I let the lads defend on their own without me on the field with them, a couple of the lads really took charge and organised themselves only conceding 1 try in the whole game. Going forward we weren't our best but it's hard sometimes when there is a big ability difference and everybody wants the ball trying to run round them and score.

Shaw Cross next week, don't think we have beaten them in the 4 or 5 times we have played them so will be interesting to see how we do.