Minis Tour to West Coast

 
The tour was a resounding success – despite all of the weather forecasts indicating a weekend of heavy rain, we had 2 fantastically sunny days and many of the tourists went home with sunburnt faces…
 
Many of us arrived at the caravan park with a little trepidation – but the accommodation was fantastic, spacious & clean and all of the children loved the freedom & space. We arrived and were all kitted out in our Tour fleeces – a welcome additional layer as the temperatures dipped in the evenings. 
 
The U7s were a little disappointed as they were expecting to play against 3 other teams. However, 2 teams pulled out at the last minute & they were left to play against just one other team - the home team of Weston Super Mare. We had 2 Ealing teams, which were magnificently selected and mixed so that all players were given as much play time as possible. The coaches did an admirable job getting the boys to play with such enthusiasm and energy. The referees obviously enjoyed some of the games as much as the parents on the sidelines as some halves extended well beyond the usual 6 minutes.  One of the most exciting games was Ealing v Ealing – which went to 9-9. Both Ealing teams played exceptionally well with every players managing to score at least one try or getting a load of tags. The benefit of only 3 teams in their age group meant that both Ealing teams were awarded a trophy.
 
The u8s Lions won the Challenge cup after some tough competition. The Tigers came honourable runners up to the 2nd place side having made immense strides in the quality of their rugby.  They had one sub for 2 teams and lost one player to illness on the second day.
 
The U9s managed to field 2 teams as with more than enough A team players on tour, they decided to really mix it up and spread the talent! So they had 2 teams with a shared sub – the teams were imaginatively named “West” & “Country”. The opposition was varied and both teams played extremely well, even though this was the first time some of them had played together. Both teams progressed through their qualifying games unbeaten to then face each other in the final. It was a win for Ealing, and even though “West” was the eventual winner, both teams enjoyed the awards & trophy.
 
The U10s were a mixed group with just nine U10 players from As, Bs, and Cs kindly supported by some U11s who enabled them to just about keep nine on the field for the weekend... Despite the unfamiliar line-up the overwhelming take-away from this tour is just how well the children 'bonded' and seemed to enjoy each other's company... no cliques here, just Ealing members playing hard both on and off the field...
 
They progressed through the qualifying games with good wins on Saturday.  As the coaches & parents retired they remarked and dwelt on the fact that not only had the rugby been truly top-drawer but that EVERY player had had a good day and played a significant part in their success.
 
They returned on Sunday to face tougher opposition but still continued with a further 2 wins.
 
So to the final and possibly a 'bridge too far'... at one time they had just seven players on the field, two being tended to in different corners of the pitch and one at the local A&E (no lasting damage I'm pleased to say). Ealing scored one try and the opposition scored more... but the team had reached the final with a mixed team and had played some scintillating 'grown up' rugby.
 
The U11s coaching team operated an intricate spreadsheet to ensure equal and varied positional play for a large squad of 21 players fielding a 12-man side.  Such inclusive rugby delivered the finest of results.  After exemplary displays of rugby, the u11s went into the final on Day 2 undefeated.  After a tough final of the highest quality, they drew 1-1 with Hove RFC.  A debate about the rules ensued, resolved when the Hove & Ealing coaches agreed to share the title of West Country Champions - a sporting outcome.
 
All tourists were delighted with the improved accommodation.  New tourists were struck by the collective warmth of the experience & old hands were adept at sourcing & supporting local industry in 'strength & depth' - West country Scrumpy specifically.
 
All in all, a fabulous weekend. Upon return, many have developed 'tour throat', an infamous condition amongst Senior Tourists but not generally known to the wider community, comprising a loss/lowering of voice normally caused by excessive alcohol, shouting and singing in smoke-filled rooms and an absence of sleep and sunlight... Great to see such long-standing tour traditions moving to the next generation...