Saxons Step Up a Gear!

Hi Saxons,

Well done! You were brilliant today with your attitude in training alongside Petersfield and then turning it on in the matches. You trained hard and joined their squad seamlessly and I think that you like the handling and passing drills and games they laid on, as it is exactly our preferred style of play and complements the work we have been doing in our touch sessions.

When it came to the matches, Petersfield offered to play a 13 man game so they could field two teams and we could roll subs through our single Saxon team. I know that Petersfield are a quality side with lots of depth and experience and I cannot recall finding much success against them in previous encounters so I knew it would be a tough game.

After 5 minutes it was clear that the Saxons we know and love had turned up to play. You were dynamic, assertive, agressive in a controlled way and believed in yourselves. You played with purpose and direction, you looked like you knew what you were doing. When a player made a break, supporting players were there to clear out at the ruck and the ball was moved away from the contact area. Players in the line took the ball forwards and then passed out to players outside of them who were calling for the ball. You all gave the ball something, a step, a yard or two or more. The ball made its way down the line to areas of weak defence, and then drew the defence in and made its way back across to the other side of the field where the defence was stretched.

The ball had a lovely day out in the hands of the Saxons!

You supported each other well, you kept the ball alive by sensible, controlled off-loading out of the tackle, popping the ball up when going to ground if support was immediately there and the defence was thin and you laid it back and looked after it when the defence was thicker. You mauled well when we had the ball and a player went in to tackle thanks to last sessions mauling practice. Sometimes you needed a coach to encourage you to get involved in the maul - if you see a Saxon with the ball in trouble with more opponents shirts in there, get involved!

And then there was the tackling and defence. 30 minutes of rugby against a quality side and no tries conceded. I say again, no suggestion of a try conceded, you played the game in Petersfields half for 30 minutes and they were never able to threaten our try -line, and only reached our '22' once. That was immense, but was achieved by two things.

Firstly, commitment to proper tackling bringing the player to ground, best example was Connor Lewis felling their biggest and tallest player.

Secondly, forming and then holding a defensive line, best example was Matthew Thomas staying left and then coming up in a line to tackle the Petersfield attacking player, as he went in to the tackle, other Saxons were arriving, Jake and Ollie to close out the remaining attackers - there was no way through for Petersfield.

When we tackled them and they didn't go to ground, we held them up. I dont think we lost a maul, you were immense. If you wrap them up, stop them from driving and hold them from grounding the ball they have five seconds to get the ball away or it is turnover ball. You did time and again. James Taylor is officially a nuisance. He held up players alll over the park, got his hands on the ball and would not let them go to ground and he won us lots of ball.

We had to work for the tries today and you did. It was concerted pressure that allowed Freddie Binnington to use his deft footwork and side step and get over, Connor Lewis put his head down and drive through the middle to score, and I think Alex Evans Scott summed up our day today. He did everything right, he tackled well, he ran and passed, he rucked and cleared players out, and then with a proper glimpse of the line he backed himself and carried two defenders with him as he scored his first competetive try for the Saxons - PLayer of the Week.

There were other great moments, Alfie collecting a difficult kick whilst running back as full back, turning and counter attacking with pace, side-stepping the first few attackers and then off-loading to a supporting player before going into touch. That move set up a try.

It was worth travelling up the A3 just to see Ashleys 30 yard run through the Petersfield defence because he was passed good ball in space that had been won by the Saxons. Matthew Crouthers and Thomas were great in linking the play together, Ollie ran straight and hard, Jamie Stephenson thinking about defence and attack options.

I cannot mention you all Saxons, but you all played your part today. I last saw you play like that at the Vectis Isle of Wight tournament in April and then previously when we played away at Heathens in 2014. When I talk about 'Saxons Rugby', that is what I am talking about.

Before I get carried away we have big areas to work on, the referee mentioned being more clinical at the ruck and coming through the 'Gate'. We need to concentrate on our tackling, running straight and 'giving' the ball after we have made the break, done the hard work and are about to be wrapped up.

Well done Saxons, you can do it, you work best as a big team and that is what we have built together.