Alton Rugby Football Club

Alton Under 14's - The First (and wettest of all time!) Tour

Sat 28 Apr 2012, 10:30

Frome

7 - 31

Alton

ARFC U14 Tour 2012

At 5pm on Friday 27th April 39 players and tourists climbed aboard the waiting coach at the Rugby Club and set off for Wiltshire.

With strict instructions handed out by Steve Jenkins on the coach that all boys and tourists had to produce the playing card they had been handed within 5 seconds of the roll-call, an entertainments officer nominated, general rules and forfeits on singing and general participation sorted out - Steve  had us all in position...
The group, consisting of 15 adults and 24 of the boys  arrived at PGL Liddington - making dinner by 10 minutes - a close shave!


PGL Liddington is a purpose built  residential centre for schools and groups, and as such offers a range of activities. It also provides a host / entertainments officer for each group. Our boys were promptly taken after dinner by Brad our host for a game of 'Capture the flag' - leaving the adults for some recreation time in the bar.


Saturday morning saw an early and wet start at 7.30am to leave the centre for Frome RFC. At 10.30am the boys started playing, and played one of their best games - winning by 31 - 7, ably assisted by the addition of a furry rabbit and Steve Jenkins joining in for the last conversion, Frome RFC were great hosts and joined in the sing-along after the game in the bar.


Saturday afternoon back at the centre saw the boys split up into different groups, taking part in fencing, archery and aeroball... note the adults also formed a group and managed all of the activities without coming to any harm. The boys were entertained in the evening with a 'Build a robot and then blindfold him' game - which ended with the boys just attacking each other's robots with flour and water. The adults stayed back from this event, but enjoyed watching....


Sunday saw another early start to set off for Avonmouth RFC - which can surely boast the wettest pitch in England. With atrocious weather conditions and playing in six inches of water, the boys played very well and fought bravely but lost 10-5. After  drying out and reviving in the clubhouse, we set off for home.


Steve, Richard (sporting a red wig all weekend) and Chris ably managed the boys on the field - and the boys behaved and played to their credit.


For any other teams or groups wanting to arrange a weekend tour, then we used Sky High Sports as the organiser, and we would use them again for another event. See www.skyhighsports.biz

 

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