APS News 19

abingdon.org.uk/prep 15 Abingdon Prep Sport and News Y5 https://photos.smugmug.com/Prep-School-2018-19/Sport/Rugby/U9-vs-CCCS-Oct18/i-sHBq89S/0/a101109e/XL/024-XL.jpg It is great to see that all the boys are embracing the new coaching development style with boys rotating positions to develop and challenge their skill-set. The style of the rugby played within the senior section has been particularly impressive. The U13A team’s first fixture of the season was at the Dragon School Rugby Festival . The aim of the day was for the boys (and coaches) to gain as much match-experience as possible. They showed some exciting play and forceful running in possession. Later that month, the squad showed an improvement in their unbeaten performance at the annual St Hugh’s U13A Super 12 Rugby Festival held at Cheltenham College. In late November, we hosted our 8th U13 Rugby Sevens Festival, with eight teams in two groups. The U13As were runners-up, but A and B teams both gained from the experience, and were a credit to the School. Our U12A team, coached by Russell, had an excellent season, winning eight out of ten fixtures. They put up a brave and determined front and dug deep for energy at the impressive St Edward’s Festival, in which over 30 prep schools took part. The U11A team, coached by Steve, won two thirds of their fixtures and acquitted themselves well in festivals with three wins Rugby Highlights U10s vs Cothill U10 team talk v Chandlings U9 squad at CCCS Casting a vote in the School Council elections School Council Election in the Cokethorpe Festival in November. In a block fixture played away at MCS , the U11 teams won three and had one narrow defeat. The U10A team , coached by Roger, had a good season, winning half of their eight fixtures and performing well in the two tournaments they participated in, coming 5th at the MCS U10 Tournament and enjoying the 3G pitch at Tilsley Park for the Abingdon School Festival . The U10 C and D teams also won half or more of their matches. Our U9 teams enjoyed their first competitive ‘transitional contact’ matches, with the U9A team only losing one fixture, and convincingly winning all their games in our APS Tag Rugby Festival, which meant that Ashley won the ‘Coach of the Season’. Achieving a clean sweep against Chandlings, the U9 teams are an exciting year, showing a great desire and passion for the game. The U8 A-C teams, who play tag rugby, thoroughly enjoyed their first experience of competitive rugby, even if their results didn’t quite reflect their enthusiasm. These are just some of the highlights from a busy term of rugby. Full results and reports can always be found on the School website. Meanwhile, we’d like to give special thanks to all the parents who support our boys from the sidelines, whatever the weather. U13A team U11s vs Oratory Prep U10 vs MCS Class Pairings