Sunday 9^th March 08

 Under 9s Loughborough Festival.

Melbourne under 9s equipped themselves well at the Loughborough Festival, the league format involved all teams playing each other. Paviors and Loughborough B proved to be no match for Melbourne, both games being won by six unanswered tries. With a squad of 13 on the day this gave all present a chance to play in festival conditions with all players performing well. Newcomers to the backs Bradley Hunter and Joe Todd performed well, putting in performances when in possession well beyond the coaches’ expectations, aggressive running with the ball in hand and a great eye for a gap or a side step. The “Old Stagers” performed with the usual high intensity and aggressive defence for which they are getting a reputation, the attacking teams losing ground in possession due to high impact strong tackling by all. Melton Mowbray who looked strong throughout the tournament were made to look ordinary going down 3- 1 after scoring almost immediately from the kick off, again powerful resolute tackling proved to be too much for their backs.  The first three games brought 15 tries Josh Batesta (5), Harry Duffy (2), Ewan Ferguson (2), Joe Todd (2), Tom Brown (1), James Davies (1), Charlie Tomlinson  (1).

 With three wins each the last game against Loughborough A was effectively The Final,  the winners taking home the silverware. For many of the parents let alone the children the game could have been billed as “Welcome to Full Contact”, with the Festival Trophy up for grabs both teams played at a tempo and a level of passion far beyond their years, huge tackles and immense forward play from both sides saw the game at nil nil deep into the second half, Loughborough with their home support perhaps had a little more belief in their ability, with Melbourne players trying to do a little too much individually when in possession instead of trusting their team mates Loughborough started to look the better side, the hard hitting tackles, rucks and mauls took their toll three Melbourne players substituted due to injury, with the clock running down Loughborough scored two close range tries to claim victory.

 A squad of thirteen came in handy on the day inevitably some players would be disappointed to not get as much game time as they hoped, however everyone played superbly and the full squad should be justifiably pleased with their days work, all thirteen contributing to another festival runners up spot.