U12 Boys WCup R5 Away v Weybridge Vandals 5-25 WIN
My fellow Chobham friends, parents, coaches, players and supporters alike. Far be it for me to even attempt to scale the “teachers” description of the Chobham victory at E & S, but the wordsmiths description of their gallant victory can only but be echoed by the performance on the Somme like battlefield that was the Vandals pitch on the Thames by our like minded Cobra team. We arrived at battlefields prior to opposition even opening the gates, and commenced our physical and mental warm us some 30 minutes before Vandals even arrived. Game over before they even took to pitch ! ( Andy language here- drop “the”) The boys banished all thoughts of missing players on the day, and Vandals reputation as cannon fodder to the Cobras vermin. Upon team announcement all players embraced each other and pledged their support to the ultimate Chobham cause. “team spirit and team work to the fore”. Our cause I have to say was greatly enhanced upon the presence on the touchline of Hooper Senior and Junior who came along to support the Chobham cause and later partook in the Crusaders Valant victory in Epsom. That folks is the true Chobham U12 team spirit, echoed I might add by Jon and Edward D visiting the Crusaders game. Post the referees inspection of the team and the laying down of the law we did commence battle. It would be unfair of me to call out individual names and personal performances for truly todays performance was a team performance. Players lived and did breath the game plan of “speed, simplicity, attack and tackle”, each young man committing himself to the cause. Vandals had a number of very talented individuals, however Chobham had a “team” and that my friends was the difference on the day. Numerous tackles made that caused parents and coaches alike to cringe, missed final passed that would have made the final score more like 10-1, very difficult ball conditions, a pitch that did at times resemble the Somme, but time after time the Chobham boys stood firm. 1-5 says it all, our defence was resolute, and the only try let in was because of a pause in play and a swan dive worthy of of an Olympic gold. Above all our boys performance was superb. When the referee went to great lengths to say that he had sent a “Reeds coach to the clubhouse the week before”, and then to add that our boys performance was a “credit to rugby” puts everything in perspective, irrespective of the final score. I could call out numerous individual performances, but do you know what, it would be unfair to all and the boys would not appreciate it nor forgive me. To the boys, (young man) they did themselves, their club, their parents and dare I say us silly coaches very proud today. Now, the next challenge is but ahead of us. History is done and dusted. We must now prepare our young charges for the semi and finals ahead of us. Finally, can I just add that when a player comes up to a coach after the game and says “thank you coach” (shows maturity) and extends their hand in gratitude ( shows confidence) at the same time and or a parent simply says “good job coach” it simply re-enforces why it is an immense pleasure and honour to coach, guide and build these young men into fine outstanding citizens of tomorrow. You parents are pretty awesome as well. BTW: If I have not already indicated above, TEAM chobham beat Vandals today. And I still reckon Andy gave a better match description, but I wanted to capture the team spirit, that unless you attended you couldn’t appreciate and I couldn’t articulate. Well done to all.
John Mohan, U12 Coach