It's a little like wrestling a gorilla....

Believe it or not, despite the scoreline, last Sunday's performance at Woodbridge (following a really tight game against them in the Cup) was not that bad. Of course, there is no such thing as a bad Woodbridge side, so this was always going to be a test. It was just one of those days when, no matter how well they played or how hard they tried, it just was not going to be the Sharks day.

These U15 Sharks are beginning to learn the lesson of a fast start and for the first fifteen minutes, there was only one team in it - the U15 Sharks. Connor Jones scored a great try in fine and classic No 10 style within five minutes. There were perhaps another four opportunities for the Sharks in that first quarter of an hour to put more points on the board but, somehow, Woodbridge kept them out and gradually crept back into the match with a breakaway first half try of their own.

Soon after this, the Woodbridge captain managed to get himself sin binned and for some strange reason that seemed to lead to a lack of confidence in the Sharks. Suddenly a few (not many) tackles were missed in just the wrong place or passes were dropped (not many) but at just the wrong moment. For Woodbridge, it was suddenly turning into a day when, to their credit, they fought back hard and everything started to go right and then everything did go right. Half time score Woodbridge 12 v U15 Sharks 5.

Obviously there were some problems like lineouts but this is not to say that the U15 Sharks weren't playing well, they were. Despite that, it was Woodbridge who pulled away in the second half. Might be wrong, but in some part this seemed to be partly down to a lack of self belief or confidence by the Sharks despite that amazing early display.

Michael Jordan said "you have to expect things of yourself before you can do them" and all of you certainly did that! Starting at the back, Bobby Wickham had a simply great game. He caught everything Woodbridge repeatedly kicked at him and returned it at pace and with interest. Fraser Warburton proved his worth (in any position) yet again by putting his body on the line repeatedly and in great positions. Sam Button and Jack Strachan just never stopped - be it in defense or carrying the ball through contact. Felix Trash's tackle count was amazing and the way he stripped the ball off a group of Woodbridge players to turn frantic defense into attack is a great memory.

Luke Hazzard once again proved his value all over the pitch and the way he simply got on with a seamless shift from centre to flanker (to cover injury) was hugely admirable. The half backs Connor and Angus Kinsella took on huge defensive responsibility and flew into tackle after tackle and forced Woodbridge to concede a number of penalties. But what really impressed was the way they started to get those lethal three quarters and powerful pack going. Whilst mistakes were made and it might not have been the result you wanted, that is the way to go and you need to keep developing that attack.

Nobody puts in quite as hard a tackle as Rory Lacey whose tireless efforts deserved greater rewards than just the satisfaction of knocking the whole Woodbridge pack back on his own. Similarly, Sam Taylor and Daniel Hamilton-McGinty once again showed everybody just how to accelerate into contact with good body position. The fact that they did not get the reward their efforts deserved either was down only to some great, last minute Woodbridge defense.

Joe Connor showed the sort of aggression needed to haul back a rolling maul and Ollie Hills did a similarly immense shift of work - his great attitude of simply getting up and quickly getting on with it every time he got knocked down or back is great to see. Sadly, the big man. the luckless Dieter Horth, was having one of his best games and making a big impact before injury curtailed it all.

Think that leaves three but what a three! Will Robinson carried the ball tirelessly into contact time and time again and had a truly great game, knocking Woodbridge back yards at a time. With every match that has gone by, Will has somehow managed to improve his performance. Alex Hood lived up to that 'Beast' nickname by covering every blade of grass and tackling every Woodbridge player at one stage or time or another. A really great attitude and his head never dropped. Finally, there was Captain Courageous, Taz Smith who despite being the victim of an early spear tackle, just kept coming forward leading his team by example.

The important thing is that there were plenty of signs of you gelling again as a team, enjoying your rugby and getting back to that great attitude. This though was a day when you came up against a very good team indeed and things, unfortunately, just did not go right. Again, rugby is a simple game and the best teams are the best teams because they do the simple things well.

Besides that pride, loyalty, discipline, heart and mind that you all displayed Sunday though, CONFIDENCE is the key to all the remaining locks! Believe in yourselves for the full game! In that first fifteen minutes you were amazing! No one apart from you doubts that you can and will do it - so believe, have confidence, try things this Sunday and enjoy the game.

Last word is a word of thanks to Tom for standing in so ably. Very, very much appreciated.