Filed under: News, Tournaments / Matches | Tags: doncaster touch, macclesfield touch, touch competition, wrexham touch
Two dates for the diary; next Sunday the 18th of July and Sat the 31st of July.
On Sunday the 18th we will be taking on the mighty Wrexham Storm and Macclesfield Touch in Wrexham at 12pm. For directions click here. Rumour has it that Wrexham have undertaken some training recently with several international players so we may be able to pick up a thing or two. Remember we are currently loosing the series 2-0! To see what you’re up against check out this clip!
And on the 31st its the National Touch Rugby League Final in Doncaster (same event as last year in Leeds). If its anything like last year it should be a good event. They have restricted the squad size to just 10 this year so we will issue places on a first come first served basis. It’s mixed so we may need to bring in 1 or 2 female ringers…
Please can you let us know your availability below or text Jules.
So bearing in mind the above it would be good to get a strong attendance for the next few weeks.
First of all a HUGE congratulations to Dave who is now the proud father of Rory! Who I’m sure he has already had kicking a ball. We hope all is well and look forward to seeing you back soon.
Right, looks like we now have a full squad for the weekend and we’ve managed to recruit the services of two Wales internationals as player coaches (Hobbs & Gareth). Both are really nice blokes and always happy to help so we should learn a lot from them. Maybe even how to trip the opposition up!! Sorry, couldn’t resist!
Team: Louis, Carl, Patt, Mike, Rob, Gareth, Hobbs, Lowena, KA, Debbs & 2 ringers from Manchester Chargers (thanks Manchester 
)
It should be a great day (directions etc can be found in the post below).
For those who need a lift just put your name below and we can arrange to pick you up / meet at Jnt 16. We need to at the ground for 9.30am so I would suggest leaving at 8.30am. Any questions just let me know!
Really good session today. If this is the starting point we may take some Touch scalps this year!
Manchester Tournament
I know its early but our first tournament is on the 13th of Feb in Manchester. Hosted by the Manchester Chargers, we’ll learn more in one day than a month of my coaching! It’s an 8 team tournament and as I’m aware the standard of the teams is high, however I’m sure that we have a good enough side to compete and it will be a good bench mark for the year. For more info click here: Manchester Chargers Invitational Touch Comp – Invite info.
Judging by the response the following people are available: Helena, Llyn, Debs, KA, Lowenna, Sian, Jules, Louis, Mike, Patt, Carl & ?? (whoever fancies it!)
Touch Training Session – Thursday from 7pm?
Is everyone interested in getting back to two sessions a week? If yes, I propose that we make it for 7pm on Thursdays in Crewe (location TBC) and use this as a skills / fitness session and keep Sundays pretty chilled. What do you think? Let me know and we’ll try and sort something out ASAP.
Filed under: News, Tournaments / Matches, Training | Tags: touch development weekend
The Touch rugby gurus AKA the Welsh Touch Association are kindly coming up on the 17th and 18th of October for a Touch Development Weekend. This will be a really great opportunity to learn more about the game and improve your skills.
Saturday 17th @ Ruskin (times TBC) – Coaching day.
This will focus on individual, sub unit and team skills. The day is completely open to anyone from newbies to regulars. Wrexham and the Manchester Chargers will also be joining us so we could possibly pick one or two tricks up from them as well. The WTA are also keen to run a Ref’s course in the afternoon. It’s not too taxing and I think it would be good if everyone attended.
Sunday 18th @ Wrexham (times TBC) – Match Day.
Our chance to get our own back on Wrexham! The MC’s will also be joining us to make it a 3-way tournament. Be prepared to experience 40 minute games on full size pitches with proper referees! That will be a first!
Attendance:Believe it or not the WTA are putting the weekend for FREE! Please can you register your interest below. The more the merrier! It would be good to get 20+ players along from the Crewesaders.
Filed under: News
We are getting better and better with every competition and as a result of our own success, its time we had a committee! Yep, sounds scary to me to but I’ve been promised by our experienced committee members that it’s no big deal.
So on Wed night we will finish training slightly early and for those that wish to become more involved we will have a quick chat about an AGENDA for the committee meeting.
Filed under: News, Tournaments / Matches | Tags: beach touch rugby, pendine sands
Since Carl is claiming to be busy, I thought I’d write the review…
Well what a weekend…getting there proved the most difficult thing of all! Who would have thought that the Crewesaders would single handily keep the RAC in so much business, perhaps we should ask them for sponsorship? People have circumnavigated the globe quicker then it took our team to get to Pendine!
Our resident Scot showed his allegiance and set up camp in style with a patriotic Tepee. The rest of us followed suit and the final campers arrived as night fell. Fair play to them pitching the mansion in the dark! A good night was had by all, some better then others (Niall!) but we finally hit the sack about 3am to get a good nights sleep.
Mother nature was not on our side and at times we were not sure if the tournament would even take place but after the journey to Pendine we were determined we would play whatever the conditions!
Kicking off about 12.45 our first game against xxx (A team in Red & Black?!) in hindsight it was the most difficult and we held our own until the dying seconds of the game when we conceded a touchdown, disappointing but never the less we picked ourselves up for our next game against Bristol Touch. Again another close fought match where we went down 2-1 and were level through Jule’s spectacular touchdown but once again conceded as the siren sounded.
Game three and we were ready… facing Glyniss Farm, we produced our best touch of the day, with some good diving and excellent handling skills we scored 3 touchdowns, 2 for our star player Carl (ok he paid me to say that!) and one for Jules who made more dives than Tom Daly!!
Our final showdown was against the Raptors, the pre tournament favourites and unfortunately for us we conceded in the first play of the match, but with some great defensive work and a break through we almost levelled. But as was the story of the day we conceded just after the final siren blew.
Given the dreadful weather conditions, we played really well, our defensive line was much improved, our driving gained some good territory and we held our own against some of the best teams, an excellent achievement for our first season. We are definitely improving with every tournament we play and learning so much. Bring on Leigh!
Finally, I ‘d like to say a big thank you to Hobbs and the WTA for putting on the tournament. It was a great weekend and we will be back next year. Better leave now then…….
P.S If anyone has any pictures send them across and I’ll put them on the site.
Believe it or not I’ve actually had some work to do today so I haven’t written our post Pendine report. I’ll do it this evening!
Just wanted to see who was available for the Leigh Tournament on the 5th of Sept. It’s a mixed competition. Games lasting 20 minutes. I recon we should take 12 people max because it’s hard for everyone to get a decent run otherwise or enter two teams if we have enough players.
If you want to guarantee a place please put your name below ASAP. On the basis that we have no life apart from Touch, KA and I will be available! The sooner we know the team the sooner we can start training as one so it would be good if you could get your names down by Wed. Thanks!
One other thing, now the nights are getting darker can we all try and make training (if possible) for a 6.30pm KO?
Filed under: News
Wrexham are down to 7 players for Sat so could really do with some extra bods. Apart from helping out our rivals across the border it would also be a good opportunity to play in a Men’s competition and learn from some more experienced players. I’ve stuck my name down so if you want to join in just give me a call or put a post below. Their first game KO at 11.15am on Sat but the second match isn’t untill 11.55am.
Filed under: News, Tournaments / Matches | Tags: leeds touch rugby tournament
As promised, sorry for the delay:
- Changing facilities will be available at Leeds Academy from 9am
- Teams to register @ 10am, KO at 11am. So if everyone can get there by 10.30am at the latest we can do a warm-up.
- Teams will be in groups of 4 or 5 and will play a total of 60 mins plus additional
- 15 mins for semi and 15 mins for final if you qualify. Looks like we will have a long day then
Directions: Leeds Rugby Academy, Kirkstall
Take M621 – Leave at junction 2, signposted Headingley Stadium. Follow the A643 (A58) Wetherby road – at the next roundabout take the City Centre/Wetherby A58 exit. Almost immediately, bear left to Ilkley (A65) and the airport.
At the lights (TGI Friday is on the left), turn left into Kirkstall Road A65. Go straight on for about .75 mile (Yorkshire Television is on the right).
There is a sign at the traffic lights showing “Headingley 1.5 miles.” Go straight on at these lights under the viaduct. You will pass the Vue Cinema on your left, carry on for 1 mile until you come to a major set of lights for the Kirk stall Shopping Complex. Turn left into the complex and then left at the next set of lights. At the mini roundabout turn right into the Leeds Rugby Academy . The main reception is on the first floor.
The playing fields are situated just has you go over the bridge (pub called the Bridge just before) there is a sharp right turn on to the fields.
Teams should park in Morrison’s car park 200m before turn off for fields
I’m really looking forward to Sat and can’t wait to get stuck in! I’m sure we will learn a lot and have a laugh either way. I’ve made some space on my mantle piece for the trophy!!
Car Sharing
If anyone needs a lift just post a message below. We have space for 2 more people in the bug. We will probably need to leave at 8.30am to register at 10.am.
One final thing, you can’t wear studs in Touch tournaments. Trainers, mouldeds and astros are fine. If its raining I’d suggest getting some mouldeds (if you don’t already have some) from SportsDirect in Crewe. They won’t cost you more than £20 and saves you from wrecking your trainers!
Any other questions just let me know!
Take a quick look at the post Matt has written about their trip to Cardiff. I don’t think they could have played any better sides but it must have been a good learning experience.
Matt said he learnt the following:
- Minimise your downtime – the ball carrier always needs to find a half.
- Minimum Possible touch
- EVERYONE has an important role to play regardless of who has the ball.
- Link is the hardest position to play – when to join the drive, when to stay wide, when to drag your man away from attack, when to get involved in switching the point of attack etc
- Align wide and deep, you should always be able to see your inside players back
- Pass and support, pass and support, pass and support – this can sometimes be as simple as passing then realigning backwards.
- When driving try and engage two defenders – this happened to us all the time and it immediately leads to defensive bother!
All seems to make sense to me. We could definitely do with working on minimizing the downtime and trying to entice two players to make the touch. I have some drills up my sleeve for tonight!
I did suggest a rematch with Wrexham on the 9th of August but that may be a little too much since we have tournaments on the 15th and 22nd. What do you think?
