Well Done to all the Warriors teams who participated in the HSBC Rugby Festival Dubai 2014. We had a really good showing with a number of teams progressing to the final stages of the competition.
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to our U7 and U8 squads who amalgamated and won the U8 Development Trophy Final. This is a great achievement for the growing squad, and will be great for them to build on. The squad were dancing on the podium long before the trophy arrived, and it’s great to see the smiling faces of a young team enjoying the game, and enjoying the win. Our U9s had a magnificent day on Friday, winning three pool games and only losing to Knights 1 in their final match – we even had a player score 6 tries in a match – which must be a record of some description – well done Thomas Evans, and the rest of the U9s squad for superb day out.
The Warriors U10 squad and the U11 Development players also joined forces, and they made their mark in the U11 Development competition, narrowly losing to Knights in the final. For players new to the game, there was a some magificent defence from this team, and the players put on a fine tackling display, which any first team coach would be proud of!
The Warriors U11Bs also had a good tournament, making the Bowl final and narrowly losing to Quins 1. The second round pool matches against the Warriors U11As, and against AD French were fine displays of rugby from this team, which regularly puts on a brave front to test any of the region’s A squads.
A heartbroken U11A side finished as runners up in the Trophy final, forfeiting a 2 try lead at half time to succomb 3 tries to 2 to the Hurricanes. Like the game of 7s, these short tournament games depend on retaining possession, whilst putting pressure on the defence. The team got pinned back in the second half, and ran out time to launch an offensive when, on the scoring of the winning try, the final whistle blew.
The U13s had a tough start to their tournament with big matches early on against Exiles and ‘Canes going against them. Being a Warrior is all about courage, and this team showed it with big hits put in by the defensive line in their first encounter. The season’s ding dong battle with the Knights saw the scoreline in the red, but the squad recorded a win against the Barbarians team to finish the day in 5th position. Keep up the Spirit young Warriors!