Team Reports - Under 18's

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August 28, 2010 - Lindsay Gryphons 14 - Mississauga Blues 22

A loss on August 28th meant the end of the U18 season for this year, however, it was an excellent game and very well played. The U18s were able to travel down to Mississauga because the group of men that were at Tim Hortons, did not want it any other way. They would have gone down with 13 players, but those that were there phoned and talked themselves into a team of 16 players from 10. That is enough to make you proud right there. The team played to win put in a very good game, but it is an almost impossible task to win with a small squad against 25 and a rotating sub policy. Lindsay did not go down easy, scored the first try, and put a scare into the Blues. Man of the match was Luc Pearson, who gave an exhibition in drive and tenacity. It was truly an awesome performance, which had 14 other players in full support, We all wish it could have been a different result.

Thank you, for all the people who helped with the team this year. Rob Brouwer and Doug Wooldrige, who took on the coaching duties, also helped out at times by Sebastian Pearson, early in the season. Carwyn Richards and Rhydian Morris also stepped in to help with the backs and made a big difference to their game. Stacey Oberg who showed up to watch and support and has now agreed to help manage this team next year. Most of all, to the players. Thanks, as well, to the U16s, including Bobby, Tyler, Matt, Jeremy who all played up and did well, we look forward to them joining the U18s next season.

For next season, the U18's will be encouraged to take on the U18 Wednesday schedule and also the Mens 2. It has been a boon to many of our players this year, they have developed by getting in the extra games and playing men. Dymond Charles has come a long way during this season, as a result of playing up. Devin and Darrian Reid have been committed to every team they have played, and again have improved as a result of the additional match play. This season was well played and we look forward to next season.

August 4, 2010 - Lindsay Gryphons 41 -Cobourg Saxons 20

In front of the best crowd of the season. Lindsay waited for more Cobourg players to show and by just after 7 there were 12 at the pitch and 3 more in Omemee. The delay in starting was not good for the energy level, and the starting 15 went to sleep. Nothing like the alarm call of a try being scored against us to start the wake up plan.

Even with that bit of a shock, it was clear that Cobourg would not be an unstoppable force. Lindsay starting moving the ball faster and being better in the ruck and counter ruck. Some strong individual efforts from Luc Pearson, Josh Fee, James "one run" Tully motivated the rest of the team, all backed up with massive encouragement from the hydration unit and the bench. Many players had a chance to score; Ashkan went in from the wing, Josh put down a couple, Luc a set. The ref had 7 tries listed, but it felt like there were more. Even after so many Lindsay tries, Cobourg were still game and even when reduced to14 due to a very nasty ankle injury, battled on to the last whistle. They did not give up and the result was a good win for Lindsay and an excellent game to watch.

Final score Lindsay 41 Cobourg 20.

Man of the Match: Luc Pearson.

A huge thank-you to Rob Brouwer, who has continued to commit time and effort to every practice and every game. His guidance has benefited everyone on the team.

Also, special thanks to Doug Wooldridge. We all hope to see Doug in New Zealand at the World Cup next September, playing at the highest levels of the game. More importantly, he has come back to the Lindsay club, participated, coached, played and backed Lindsay, especially the U18 boys. We all wish him the very best in his coming season with Canada.

July 28, 2010 - Lindsay Gryphons 33 -Belleville Bulldogs 10

What a difference, that was far and away the best game of the season. Everyone played with intensity (maybe a bit too much at times!) and focus. Lindsay showed major improvement in the speed of play, the support at the breakdown and lots of excellent plays from the backs with strong bold running lines. It was a good night to be on the wing. Practice pays off.

Thanks to Rob, Doug, Carwyn and Rhydian. Brodie Bowins was “Man of the Match”; the best game we have watched him play, hard running, commitment; excellent. Andrew Rafton has found his niche in the flanks, he is a forward asset. Zach Dudman has taken on the role of fly-half and is like a duck to water. It has been a sharp learning curve and he is mastering the position well. Mack came out even though he is somewhat messed up. So good to have him back, sorry that he was hurt in the process. Luc Pearson had one of his better games, solid running and defence, good passing out to the backs. Jake Webster was slotting in well from scrum to wing. Josh Fee and Matt Adams are making fullback a very reliable spot.

All the forwards demonstrated the work done at practice. Great runs James Tully. Great support James Elmy, with Hayden, Josh, Jordan and Dymond all working hard all around the park. There were lots of tries, with Devin Sawyer starting the evening off. Who knows who scored the rest, as most of the 30 on the pitch were too busy fighting to know who scored!! Great kicking from Glen tonight with 4 conversions for the 5 tries.

Final score Lindsay 33 Belleville 10.

July 21, 2010 - Lindsay Gryphons 26- Peterborough Pagans 7

Congratulations on the first leg of our " Tour de France". We needed a win and we needed the bonus point without them getting one, so mission accomplished.

Congratulations to Dymond on his second score in a week, very excellent, showing huge match play improvement, his game is showing great improvement every game. Lucas Hoppe had some accurate under the post kicks to help the score move on and he balanced that with a game that was committed at every phase, he had an excellent game at 8.

Peterborough played with commitment as well and were making the task of the bonus point very difficult. We were put under pressure in the scrums. The Pagans played well, with coordination and effort, that made this the best Peterborough side we have faced.

Individual tries; some came out of nowhere! James Elmy; brilliant effort. Also, a massive individual effort from Tyler Grieve, his second try at U18; we are looking forward to many more. Tyler is one of a trio of U16 players who came out to play. Shout outs to Jeremy and Bobby. When this team is on song, and using the width of the pitch to run down opposition, it is a pleasure to watch, this was a good game, a vast improvement on the Cobourg game.

Final score Lindsay 26 Peterborough 7.

July 14, 2010 - Lindsay Gryphons 5 - Cobourg Saxons 20

We welcomed Bobby and Tyler from the U16 last night and a few other debuts by relatively new players, so they got a keen game from Cobourg.

The Saxons started with a strong game plan, putting lots of pressure on at the breakdown, contesting all rucks and shutting down quick ball. They then took advantage of every opening they could and put in two tries in the first half. A very neat drop goal continued Cobourgs efforts and then Lindsay pushed back to score a try, by Tyler Grieve, in reply.

Lindsay played a much stronger second half, all players beginning to get a better read on their opponents, a forward pass deprived them of one try and a fumble at the try line in the last two minutes resulted in a loss.

Final score Cobourg 20 Lindsay 5.

 

 

July 5, 2010 - Lindsay Gryphons 31 - Peterborough Pagans 5

Our first game of the season, it feels like it is a long time coming, but having rearranged, it worked out fine, and we trotted off to Peterborough for 7:00 . I apologize as the manager and the coach were the last to arrive.

The game was really all about the ref getting the scrum to function to his liking, with about an average of 3 resets per scrum, and there were a lot of those. There was a slow start to the game as each side felt each other out a bit and settled into the refs cadence, however when the game did start to go it was a pot boiler, or was that the ambient temperature, either way, it felt hot.

Lots of breakaway, running, lots of stop and go, but some scything runs from several backs. Matt Adams , making his debut for Lindsay also picked up a Man of the Match with one run after another. There were quite a few speed demons and some very hardy work by the forwards to stay upright waiting for support. The ref did make is a little difficult to produce multi phase play, as every time the gain was over 5 meters, it was stopped for some infringement or another , we would then go back to scrum practice.

The result of all of this was 5 tries 3 conversions for Lindsay, Lucas Hoppe performing well on both fronts, nice to see that he is back on the pitch after a hand injury - most blood spilled goes to Luc Pearson, who has bled on every pitch he has played on so far this season,

Brodie, put in his fasted sprint of the night in defence of Mackenzie, a fact that we all appreciated, however, it garnered the wrath of the ref and led to Lndsay finishing the match with 14 men.In the end this did not stop the bonus point and some very well established trys going down on the score sheet even some that had to be scored twice.

Final score 31 Gryphons and Peterborough Pagans 5.