Exeter Saracens U15 – Sunday 7th April

Saracens travelled up to North Dorset for a first meeting with Dorchester u15s. As no club had full numbers North Dorset split their resources between Sarries and Dorchester and a full 13 a side game was played. Dorchester’s inexperience showed and they couldn’t contain Kelsea who scored four tries so to redress the balance stand in coaches Jeff and Damian switched her on to the Dorchester team and Kelsea went on to score three more! As always there was lots of determined tackling and competition for the ball but the girls must look to pass and support more and get the ball into space as in the coming weeks we will come against teams that we won’t be able to just run through. The biggest cheer of the afternoon came as Nikkita scored her first try of the season and spent the rest of the day with a huge smile on
her face. Unfortunately dad Gary the u15s official photographer missed it! As always a big team effort with bags of enthusiasm from everyone.

Lots of pictures on Facebook

Exeter Saracens U18′s

On Easter saturday the u18s played two very tough, competitve games against touring sides Reading and Esher in a bumper afternoon of rugby. Sarries lost four tries to two against Esher and two tries to one against Reading. Reading won the game against Esher two tries to nil. Sarries did well in both games and learned some valuable lessons and gave their confidence a huge boost.
They took this confidence up to North Dorset on Sunday 7th April and along with the hosts and Chipping Sodbury pooled resources to play a 10 a side game. Sarries were very competitive at the breakdown and turned over a lot of ball. They also looked to move the ball around to exploit space and score plenty of tries. They could have scored a few more if some of the passes had not been so wayward however there always seemed to be a player on hand to to recover the loose ball. Tallulah played a blinder, making some good breaks which kept the opposition on their toes and resulted in her scoring four tries. She also was a bit of a revelation with the boot as she drop kicked 6 conversions after the team kicking tee vanished. The tackling was ferocious at times which resulted in a very attritional game with numbers on the pitch
varying from 10 a side to 6 a side during the course of the game. All in all a very good run out and some very sporting play and a game that was very enjoyable.

Lots of pictures on Facebook

Saracens u13 girls had a great trip to Minehead Barbarians on Sunday 24th March. Continue Reading →

Dorset Festival Sunday 3rd March

Sarries U18s entered into this 10 side 10 minute each way festival with just the 10 players. This meant that they were up against it from the start with no subs and no chance to introduce fresh legs at any stage in proceedings. The very cold conditions and a few delays for injuries meant that stiff muscles and niggly injuries to the players took their toll on Sarries contingent as the festival progressed.

Saracens 28 v 7 Newquay/Leopards 
Sarries fared well against familiar opposition from Cornwall with Chelsea getting 2 tries and Beth and Abbie 1 each. Corinne was on form with her kicking and slotted all 4 conversions.

Saracens 7 v 15 Ellingham & Ringwood
Corinne got all the points in this narrow defeat when she converted her own try.

Saracens 0 v 30 Old Northamptonians 
As injuries bit into Sarries numbers so the ref took time off the game, one minute for each player less than the full 10 the midlanders got their bonus point and Sarries were on their way home.

Pictures can be found on facebook.

Saracens U15 were in the 7 a side festival and were lucky enough to be able to enter two sides, Saracens and Crusaders. This meant that no one had to be left behind and so miss out though given the cold I’m sure that one or two wouldn’t have minded staying at home in the warm. The Crusaders were up first but didnt make the greatest of starts but as the afternoon wore on they did improve greatly and scored a few tries for their efforts Captain Nikkita put in a good shift and Brianna Miller did well and got stuck in on her debut for the club.

Crusdaers 0 v 45 Ellingham & Ringwood 
Crusaders 15 v 20 North Dorset 
The home team just had the edge in this match but tries from Courtney, Charlotte M and Ailise kept Saries in the game.

Crusaders 10 v 25 Old Northamptonians 
For a moment it looked like the team were in for another hammering but they dug deep and saved the best til last with some good tackling and passing and finished strongly with another try from Charlotte and one from Izzy. Things could have been different if the team had played like they did from the outset but it was a good experience for them.

The Saracens team did well and made it through to the semi finals of the festival which was a good effort given the quality of some of the opposition.

Saracens 45 v 0 Wellington 
Sarries just overpowered the Wellington side in the tackle and contact areas and ran in 9 tries. Kelsea 4, Ellie 2, Amanda and Mollie scoring one each.

Saracens 10 v 25 Worcester 
A couple of turnovers at vital times and a fortuitous bounce of the ball took the game away from Saracens against a very good Worcester side. Kelsea got both tries.

Saracens 30 v 0 Basingstoke
Once again it was Sarries power game that saw them home as they outmuscled the Hampshire side. Amanda and Kelsea both scored two and Jennifer and Ellie the other two.

Saracens 10 v 20 Ellingham & Ringwood 
The cold was beginning to take hold of Sarries by now and cold hands saw several crucial knock ons which saw promising moves falter. When Sarries realised they could have beaten the Dorset side they kept taking the wrong option and playing the narrow side up the hill instead of using the big open side that was running down the slope which would have almost guaranteed tries on more than on occasion. However thats what these events are for, to learn from and tries from Kelsea and Mollie made Ellingham sweat right up to the final whistle.
Hopefully our next festival will be in warmer, sunnier weather and everyone will be able to relax and enjoy themselves a bit more.

Lots of pictures on Facebook

Saracens u15 girls had enjoyable afternoon at Devonport Services where they played two games and won two games. There was some good passing and team work with everyone working hard to support each other.
Devonport Services 12 v 22 Exeter Saracens 
Kelsea Purchall scored 2 tries,  Amanda Herring and Tess Brock scored 1 each and Nikkita Endacott kicked a conversion.

Exeter Saracens 29 v 5 Tavistock 
Kelsea scored 2 more tries, Ellie Price got 2 with Tess also scoring again. Nikkita and Amanda both kicked a conversion.

Lots of pictures of the afternoon’s action have been posted on facebook

Sunday 24th February 2013

After several disappointments over the last few months Sarries u13s were able to get together and play some rugby on a sunday afternoon. Continue Reading →

24th February 2013

Devonport Services 20 v 52 Exeter Saracens

Sarries made a bright and confident start at the Rectory in this 10 a side game. Chelsea Chamberlain crossed for 2 early tries to give Sarries a good cushion which was needed as after a slow start the home side woke up and started to give them a run for their money with some hard running and tackling. Continue Reading →

Sunday 17th February 2013

Four clubs mustered in a sunny but cold Exmouth and combined to provide a good entertaining afternoon of rugby.Saracens and Exmouth joined forces to play the combined North Dorset and Chipping Sodbury u18s. There were enough players for a full 15 a side game plus replacements. There was an element of rustiness but that was to be expected given how little rugby has been played recently due to all the bad weather. Both teams tried to move the ball around but with both teams tackling equally well it had the makings of a very tight game. The breakthrough came for the “Exe” side when the visitors tried to play out of their own 22 only for winger Jordan Smith to intercept with one hand and gather the ball to race in under the posts. Shortly afterwards Chelsea Chamberlain crossed for a try which she also converted. The game continued to be nip and tuck. The next period saw the visitors put some real pressure on as they started with a real flourish and only determined defence prevented a try. Some good runs from Megan Coombes took the Exes into the opponents half and when an offload out wide went to India Chambers she made no mistake and stormed in for a try. Tallulah Bodenham had come close to scoring on a couple of occasions and finally got
her reward with a well taken try. Scrum half Cleo Dimoline scored a great try from close range after a period of sustained pressure. Just to make sure that Exmouth got on the score sheet Kayley Armstrong drove over for a good try. Final score 32 – 0 to the Exmouth/Exeter combination but the game was far closer than the scoreline suggested. From a purely Saracens point of view it was good to see so many players turning up for a match and then executing some of the things that have been worked on in training in the game which resulted in scores. All the coaches were very pleased with what they saw out on the pitch and hope that the team can now make up for lost time and really start to progress.

U15′s
Due to injury, illness and divisional rugby the u15s could only muster 5 players for their trip to North Dorset RFC. The host club and fellow visitors Basingstoke were also low on numbers so the players were all mixed up and an 8 a side game between the reds and the yellows was played. Nikkita and Natasha played for the yellows while Jennifer, Charlotte and Molly played for the reds. Considering that it was very cold, wet and muddy the players all did very well and produced some good handling and tackling in very difficult conditions. The reds had a very narrow lead at half time but the yellows used the slope very well and came back to win 8 tries to 3. It was a long way to go but the girls did get a game and showed good sportsmanship by mixing in with the girls from the other teams who were also very sporting.

U18′s
The under 18s had better numbers with 9 players and were able to stick together to form the core of a team for a 13 a side game. On a very sticky pitch and with a cold wind blowing, both sides tried to play rugby rather than just have the forwards slug it out while the backs got cold. The team with the majority of Sarries in it ran out winners in a very competitive game. Cleo Dimoline had a storming game in the first half at scrum half and number 8 Abbie Fleming had a strong second half and was voted player of the game by the opposition. Lia Smith and Emma Wakeley did the sporting thing as they both had a half at hooker for the  opposition. Megan Coombes scored a try in her first game back since getting injured at last years National 7′s. Beth Griffiths scored 2, Emma Wakeley, Chelsea Chamberlain, Zoe Harrison, Abbie Fleming and Cleo Dimoline all scored tries. A borrowed winger also scored twice and Corinne Walsh and Chelsea Chamberlain both kicked one conversion.

Sunday 3rd February 2013

With Sarries more experienced players away at the divisional trials this game was a chance for some of the newer players to step into the spotlight and show what they could do. The side started a little hesitantly but soon got going especially after the hosts ran in a couple of early tries. As the game progressed the tackling and rucking and mauling got better and better. The combined Newquay and Tavistock side were very strong opposition and moved the ball around well and took full advantage of the slope to turn around four tries to the good at half time. Sarries confidence was high though and a good kick chase down the hill from the kick off saw Sarries win a scrum from which fly half Annalise Cocking sliced through to score. The home side came right back but some determined tackling in defence on more than one occasion by Sarries prevented more than one try being scored. They did score a try but after that the tenacious Sarries girls kept them out and played some great rugby but couldnt get down into the opposition half. The spirit shown by the whole team was fantastic as they played for each other
making tackle after tackle but the home side had the final word as they scored right on full time to seal their win. There was some great tackling from Annalise along with Jennifer Herring, Mollie Stokes, Ailise Stack and Natasha Davey. Charlotte Meaden and Molly Dowrick made some strong runs and were well supported by the rest of the team. The coaches are really proud of the way everybody stepped up and played a full and active part in what was a tough but enjoyable game in difficult conditions and played in great spirit by both teams.

Saracens U18s visited Tavistock for their first game together since November 4th and despite the long rain enforced lay off produced some good rugby on a
sticky pitch. With no club having a full 15 games were 10 a side 15 minutes each way. Sarries had enough to play as a complete squad while Tavistock,
Newquay, Liskeard Leopards, Taunton and Wellington mixed and matched to form two teams. Sarries won their first game 43 – 5 with tries from Lucy Nye(3), Chelsea Chamberlain(2), Tallulah Bodenham(2) and Abbie Brown who also kicked a conversion. They went on to win their second game 38 – 0 with Tallulah, Abbie and Lucy all scoring again along with Cleo Dimoline and Corinne Walsh. Abbie Brown aded four conversions.

The prospect of some rugby saw a good turn out from the Saracens U15s with a squad of 18 travelling to Tavistock. Numbers were better for all the clubs in this
age group with Sarries staying as one squad with the other clubs combining for 13 a side games. Scrums were uncontested as the nature of the pitch saw the first scrum of the day collapse into the mud. Sarries won their first game against a combined Tavistock and Newquay side 20 – 5 with tries from Tess Brock, Ailise Stack and Kelsea Purchall(2). They then played a Leopards, Taunton and Wellington combination and won 15 – 5 with tries from Annalise Cocking and Kelsea again getting a brace. It was good to see some of the newer players getting involved including a brilliant try saving tackle from Natasha Davey on her debut. Hopefully the team have learned that when they stick to a plan they score tries.

A good return to playing for both age groups and  everyone hopes that it stops raining long enough to play a bit more and also to help our home pitches recover enough to actually play a home game. The only downside of the afternoon was the fact that we had managed to get 11 Saracens U13s together for the trip but Tavistock could only muster 3 girls so there was more of a training session than a competitive game which was what the youngsters need after training so hard recently.

There are lots of great pictures of U13 and U15s in action on facebook.