Saxons Get it Right!

The Saxons played some of the best rugby I have seen them play this season and maintained it throughout both matches. they had aggression, pace and control. They played as a team, with everybody making a contribution.

Portsmouth are still building their team but they had some good fast and strong players. They were making breaks and got round the outside of the Saxons defence twice to score.

The Saxons have been working hard on support play, players supporting the player with the ball and being there to support breaks. This was a key difference in your game, it was your teamwork. There was a relentless stream of new players taking the ball forwards, attacking with the ball and then passing it or offloading it to a new support player. This drew defenders into the contact area and allowed space outside for attacking runs.

The handling and control of the Saxons and Portsmouth was impressive, with few mistakes and you can hear the communication on the field now which is much improved. Saxon scrums were good, with the hookers competing well for the ball. Your rucking was better, although the battle here was closer here and Portsmouth did win a lot of ball.

Portsmouth opened the scoring in the first game, but the Saxins slowly built pressure and worked the ball to Reese who made an excellent break and had the confidence to back himself and keep going; well done Reese. Ollie was charged up as usual and was too hot to handle and he scored three tries through sheer grit and determination. And then there was Jack who scored a blistering try within 10 seconds of his Saxons debut and with his first touch of the ball! This was the first of three Jack tries I believe

I honestly think any team is going to struggle against you if you are able to draw teams into the contact area and move the ball wide into open space, you have got the players with the skills to do that from the ruck and the maul to the winger/centre who is going to finish the move.

It was good to see Freddie performing well against his old team (and he joined them as a super -sub), he worked hard, had some great charging runs and was rewarded with a try in a close goal line battle, using strength and aggression to get over and score, well done Freddie, nice to see. Liam was everywhere again turning the ball over in rucks and mauls and linking well with Jack on the wing and Liam scored as well in the Saxons Warriors v Kings game.

As I said at the beginning, the key difference was your teamwork yesterday. It is all about doing everything right and a team where everyone is doing everything right is very hard to beat. So the Coaches look for players doing everything right. Kien stepped up his game yesterday with some good solid runs, a fend off or two and great support play, he rucked and tackled well, looked after the ball and kept it alive – he was Saxons Player of the Week in a match where we sparkled, so well done Kien.

It was a good morning of Rugby against old friends Portsmouth Junior who we have not seen for sometime and we will see them again next season.