Rodney Marsh & Shane Warne: Australian cricket legends
We were shocked and saddened to learn of the news of the passing of two iconic cricketers last week.
Rodney Marsh (74) played for Australia 96 times between 1970 and 1984. He was the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a century – against England in 1977 – and the first to claim 100 dismissals in Ashes Tests in 1981. He later became a commentator, selector, and coach both in his homeland and with England.
Shane Warne (52) was a larger-than-life character on and off the field. He was most famous for his leg-spin bowling, variations of which were the torment of many a batsman with a tally of 708 Test wickets, including the ‘Ball of the Century’ claiming Mike Gatting’s wicket in the 1993 Ashes. During the 2005 Ashes, he was also captain of Hampshire. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/22709385
Rodney Marsh and Shane Warne
And in their playing days...
IAPS Swimming
It was an early departure from Pilgrims’ to make the 9am start at Bryanston for the IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) regional round. To put this event in context, regional rounds have been taking place in schools across the country this term. By the end of term, all the rounds will have been completed and next term we will know if we have had any relay teams or swimmers join the top swimmers for the IAPS finals at the Olympic Park in London. The relays are 4 x 25m, U11 and up, swim 50 metre individual events with U10s swimming 25 metres for theirs.
At U13, Captain of Swimming Henry S, Rufus B, Nikheel D and Jinmo K won both their relays the freestyle and medley. Jinmo cam third in the freestyle, Henry was second in the butterfly. Rufus was third in the backstroke and Nikheel won his heat in the breaststroke.
The U12 team of Patrick C, Daniel D, Seb N, Kunfayo O and Toby L placed second in the medley relay. Patrick placed third in the backstroke and Sebastian won his breaststroke heat.
The U11 team of Ben A, Edward B, Athur H and Olly P placed third in the freestyle relay. Arthur H grabbed second in the backstroke.
At U10, the team of Bertie B, Harry D-M, Rupert D-M and David L took first in the freestyle relay, with Bertie taking first in the breaststroke, David was second in the backstroke and Harry was second in the freestyle.
We wait for all the results to be collated for news of the finalists.
Water polo
It was the turn of the U12s to have a taster of some water polo at Twyford. We had a joint training session to begin with and then played some matches. Everyone got to grips with constant swimming and handling the ball with one hand at a time. The next session of this type is Monday 21 March for U10 (Year 5), with U13s (Year 8) in the summer term on Monday 13 June.
This week...
Tomorrow, we play Cheam, from Under 9 and up. On Friday, Under 9 (Year 4 - home) and Under 8 (Year 3 - away) play Elstree. On Saturday, we play Papplewick from Under 9 and up.
Match Reports v Farleigh – Wednesday 2 March 2022
U13A XIII v Farleigh
Lost 40-20 (Gabriel O, Rory D, Hugo S, Ray C)
I was very proud of this performance from the team who played with great gumption and determination. We set out not to give away any soft tries and ensure resolve was there to have a good first five minutes. The team did this and more, taking the game to Farleigh and making committed tackles in defence. The rucking, too, was efficient, and we were winning our own ball. Momentum swung Farleigh’s way, and they converted some chances after periods of pressure on the Pilgrims’ defence.
The second half started very brightly, with four unanswered tries. Gabriel’s evasive running had Farleigh tied up in knots, Rory found a gap which just opened up in front of him, and he sliced through to score. Both Hugo and Ray broke through Farleigh challenges to dot down and Nikheel D led the way in terms of tackling, even when Farleigh thought they were in behind us. Despite the loss, this was a very satisfying, muddy, home performance. AJS
U13 XIII A in front of Wolvesey Castle
U12 A XII v Farleigh
Lost 40 –10 (Toby L, Dominic K-S)
A slow start and poor fortune in the scrum lead to an early lead for Farleigh with Pilgrims’ not able to get the ball in our hands. Farleigh scored five unanswered tries before Osamede A provided an offensive spark running with power to make a significant positive gain. This seemed to ignite some belief in our boys, and they played a more direct game with real commitment. We moved the ball well and spread it wide with Toby L making a nifty 15m run fixing his defender in place to score in the corner. The second half started with Pilgrims’ playing more aggressively, tighter and better organised in the defensive line. The large number of subs meant a rhythm couldn’t be achieved and Farleigh hit their stride scoring two more tries. A great break away run on the wing by Dominic K-S scored our second try before Farleigh came on strongly at the end of the game to score once more. Two areas of improvement would be to be more assertive taking the ball into contact and to show greater organisation and urgency on the defensive side. AC
Colts A IX v Farleigh
Drew 15-15 (Barnaby D 2, Michael F)
Unforgettable would best describe the colt's A game against Farleigh. If we had cheerleaders, they would have been singing ‘mud, mud glorious mud’. After weeks of rain, the pitch was almost a swamp. Boys being boys, they thought this was all great fun and began throwing themselves into tackles with joyful abandon. The rugby was limited in its sophistication and creativity. There were only two small patches on the field where running normally was almost possible. Apart from there, the tactic was simple - run straight and do your best not to fall over! Both teams did this with admirable courage, managing on occasions to pass the ball down the line and squeeze in for a try. The game was played in the true spirit of the game. Both sides gave their best until the whistle blew and played like English gentlemen in the making. PB
Colts A - ‘mudmen’
Colts B IX v Farleigh
Lost
The pitch resembled something out of a World War I film set in Flanders. Muddy, undulating, tortured... This should have served as a sign of things to come. Our boys were blitzed from the word go in a contest that was very one-sided. The opposition were big, fast (rather than lumbering) behemoths, who made light work of our lads as they flailed about in the mud, attempting to tackle these single-minded marauders on their way to the try-line, again and again. A few lessons were learnt: 1) Tackle low; 2) When you do gain possession, run straight and hard; 3) Keep your eyes up! Back to the drawing board! CXC
Colts C IX v Farleigh
Lost 10 – 30 (Fraser N 2)
What a pulsating game! This fixture had everything, dynamic running, 8 tries, titanic collisions in mid-field, intelligent and innovative play and more mud than it would seem feasible to have on such a small pitch. The match started well as the two teams trading tries, Fraser N scoring for Pilgrims'. However, after the initial salvos the tries only came from Farleigh. There were some very close calls, both Lucas B and Bertie C came very close to scoring, too. Bravery was to the fore during the match as Pilgrims' had to defend well and dig deep to keep Farleigh honest. SL
Colts D IX v Farleigh
Won 40-15 (Harry K, William I 2, Felix F 2, George S 2, Henry B)
The mighty Colts D secured a comfortable victory. Despite difficult conditions, excellent handling and running skills were on display, and we were quickly up 3 tries to one, through Harry K, William I and Felix F. Farleigh hit back to make more of a game of it, and we were certainly competing well in the tight phases of the game (especially the ruck); however our prowess with the ball in hand and in open space led to regular tries throughout the second half, leading us to run out comfortable 40-15 winners. Well done, boys. ASD
Foals A VIII v Farleigh
Lost 10-5 (Teddy E) and Lost 20-0
The Foals A put in a mighty shift against two strong Farleigh teams. From our last run out against them, we were aware of their running capabilities, this time, we proved to be a much harder team to break down. All credit to the boys who engaged themselves well from the first whistle, closing down the space and putting pressure on the opposition. The breakdowns were well contested, both teams working hard to secure possession. Teddy E carried the ball well, evading tackles and showing a good change of pace. His efforts were rewarded with a try just before half-time. Only an interception try could split the teams in the first game, our boys were gutted, knowing that they could have got something more from the game; but should take confidence in their efforts on the pitch! The second game was harder and was a tale of missed tackles. Despite this, Pilgrims’ showed grit and strung together some great phases, setting up camp on the opposition try line. Unfortunately, we could not capitalise and score a try of our own on this occasion. Well done for giving it your all! MTG
Foals B VIII v Farleigh
Lost 0-30 and 0-40
This was a tough day at the office, but one that still showed improvements in many areas. The boys offloaded and tackled much better in the first ten minutes, but the difficulty of playing stronger teams did wear them down over the remaining time. So, I am pleased with the improvement in skills and application, but also understand that we find it difficult to maintain this in tough games.
Bertie B and Harry D-M were the players of the day with their outstanding commitment to tackling. Also, hats off to the boys for keeping going all the way to the end which kept up their spirits. MDS
U9A VII v Farleigh
Won 40-30
Today was a real test for Pilgrims’ who battled to get another win and continue their unbeaten season. Farleigh were much improved and caused Pilgrims' problems all match. Archie W scored 4 tries in an impressive performance and Edward W continued his impressive season with some big hits to keep Farleigh at bay. Into the final few minutes with the game delicately balanced, Pilgrims’ made a try saving tackle deep into their own territory, managed to surge forwards with impressive running and ball handling and Patrick B got the ball over the line with some neat footwork - the best Try of the Season! A wonderful afternoon in the mud! JB
U9B VII v Farleigh
Lost 25-50 (Eddie Q 2, Seb W 2, Austin S)
A good lesson to be learnt today by Pilgrims' who had so far, had the upper hand against Farleigh, on two separate occasions. Perhaps previous performances had allowed complacency to drift in slightly, although the team did an excellent job stepping up once they realised they were on the back foot. Strong counters by Eddie, who became heavily marked by the opposition, and some excellent footwork from Seb kept the scoreboard ticking along, and some fantastic hits in the tackling by James and Boris set a good example of how to put the pressure on defensively. Just before the final blow of the whistle, a good dummy run from Austin, who had shown real leadership as first receiver, was a great way to end the day. Well played all, onwards! CAL
U9C VII v Farleigh
Lost 50-75
It was with excitement and determination that we headed off to Farleigh for the third time this season with honours being equal so far with a win and a loss. Despite some drizzle, it was a perfect day for rugby and there has been a marked improvement from both sides during the term. The game started brightly with Pilgrims’ pushing for a try only to lose the ball and Farleigh got their noses ahead, a lead they were not to relinquish for the rest of the game. Some superb running especially from Harry, Edward and Alfie meant we were very much in it for most of the game. The difference game down to tackling and keeping hold of the ball. Our tackling is improving though a point to work on for the remainder of the term as this was the main difference between the two teams. As ever, both sides were well-supported by parents and a terrific afternoon of sport ended with some excellent hospitality. The score would suggest a one-sided contest, however both teams came away with a lot of positives, and we look forward to the rest of the season. TWR
U9D VII v Farleigh
This was a great game with lots of dodging and passing on display. This was a good team effort and, in particular, Sasha G put in a determined performance - well done. JR
U13 Touch Group round robin v Farleigh
Lost 20-0, Lost 20-5
The U13 touch group, mostly composed of Year 7 and a couple of Year 6 boys, played at home against two very strong Farleigh teams (with a lot of Year 8s). Despite the losses the boys looked very strong as a side. William G. captained the team and showed excellent leadership, sportsmanship, positivity and determination, culminating with our only try of the day. Gabriel made some amazing kicks from deep within our territory and then was able to successfully chase down the ball and make the touch tackle on the receiving player. It was a great day to see so many of our boys involved on the pitch, and they all represented Pilgrims’ with pride. DBO
Match Reports v Twyford – Saturday 5 March 2022
U13 A XIII v Twyford
Lost 10-45 (Hugo S 2)
The game was closer than the score suggested and provided an entertaining physical battle. There were many pleasing aspects including the scrum, powerful running, rucking work and tackling. Every player made an effective contribution. The downside was our continuity in possession. We were too loose in our attacking play to sustain pressure, build territory and deny Twyford the ball. In so doing, we were forced to make many more tackles in defending – a tiring and demanding process. Nevertheless, as ever, the team spirit throughout was of determination and grit. They fought all the way through the game. AJS
U12A XII v Twyford
Lost 10 - 5 (Osamede A)
In a really tight game the boys were unlucky to lose by only one try. They defended with determination, attacked with verve, and pace, but were undone by two interception tries. With a little more composure in attack the result may have been in our favour. AW
U12B XII v Twyford
Lost 25-20 (Thomas R, William G 2, Michael K)
This was a competitive, fast-paced TAG rugby encounter. The boys coped well with the adaptation in format, and it was an even encounter. Everyone got stuck in, and it was played in fantastic spirit. AC
Colts A v Twyford
Lost 5 – 45 (Barnaby D)
Although the score line was bleak, the game was, in fact, exciting. Twyford have an exceptionally good squad at Colts A. They have size, skill, aggression, and plenty of cunning. However, the Colts A held them to account. They tackled better than I have seen them do all season. Likewise, their rucking was competitive and determined. They won plenty of ball, saw space and ran into it, but their downfall was in the basics, passing and catching. Ball was lost just when we had the chance to press for a try. We will be working on handling skills in training. PB
Colts B v Twyford
Lost 5-35 (Nathaniel B)
The Colts Bs played their return fixture against Twyford in chilly conditions on Saturday. Having played them recently, the Pilgrims’ lads were still smarting a little from their previous encounter. Our boys ran onto field with a lot of enthusiasm and worked very hard to provide stern resistance against a team who were a lot stronger physically. Our tackling let us down at times, and there were some tries that were perhaps a little soft to start with. As the game wore on, the Cs began to find a little rhythm, which resulted in a lovely backline try by Nathaniel B. Our boys thrive in conditions where there is a bit of open play, and when the ball is spread out wide, they certainly do look quite dangerous. I am very pleased with the improved result against Twyford the second time round, and this augurs well for the last few fixtures. CXC
Foals A VIII v Twyford
Lost 5 - 45
There was some excellent rugby played during this match by both teams. Our boys defensive play was much improved and the hard work that has been put in during games lessons is starting to show. Whilst at times our tackles need to be lower in order to bring opposition to ground, we showed an increase strength in the maul often holding up the opposition. With the ball, we looked to move the ball forward, but often played into the crowd rather than into space. The boys have improved dramatically since our first fixture against Twyford, as commented on by their coach. Well done boys. TMH
Foals B VIII v Twyford
Lost 5-50 (Harry D-M)
This was a good match to watch, with some pleasing aspects to our play. Although we were out-gunned in the tackling department, we rucked well and are starting to maul too. An example was defending our line we held the maul up and managed to turn possession over. Great stuff. We are also learning to rip the ball at times too and starting to understand we need to protect the ball more too. Great to see our game evolving and becoming more mature. Well done. MDS
Foals Wallabies, All Blacks and Barbarians VIII v Twyford
Four Team Tournament
The tournament at the weekend involved all of our Year 5 boys, split into three parallel teams and a single Twyford team. The afternoon was full of good attacking rugby, evasive running and plenty of tries. Our boys should be proud of their efforts, scoring at least once in every fixture. I could see the teams’ confidence and involvement grow as the afternoon went on. Although a couple of miss tackles helped Twyford to victory in the tournament, our boys showed determination and character to perceiver and find scoring outlets of their own. Playing classmates in an official fixture is never easy. I was pleased with how the boys approached the fixtures and gave their all! Well done. MTG
U9A VII v Twyford
Won 40-35
Pilgrims’ marched on in their unbeaten season and faced tough opponents who pushed them all the way. Twyford flew out of the blocks and scored two tries in quick succession, however Pilgrims’ responded with some excellent stuff. The game ebbed and flowed with Pilgrims’ creeping ahead for most of the match. Lucas J showed great tackling technique once again and tries from Archie W kept Pilgrims’ edging in front. The game was finely balanced at 35-35 when a superb final phase resulted in the winning try for Pilgrims’. This group is improving all the time and is enjoying its rugby! Big congratulations on a fantastic afternoon. JB
Under 9 A at Twyford
U9B VII v Twyford
Lost 50-75
A much-improved performance against Twyford saw some great tackling, footwork and passing down the line. An excellent performance from Boris who led from the front defensively and managed to get over the line on four separate occasions as well. Again, Austin performed well in command of the line and showed great skill and coordination when running with the ball. Still much to learn from, as well, and Pilgrims must not be afraid to run with the ball and take into contact. If a tackle is made it is still guaranteed to be our possession (until the fifth tackle), so gaining ground in this way is still a good approach to take. Well played all. CAL.
U9C VII v Twyford
Lost 30-20
If ever there as a match where the performance and occasion was more important than the result, this was it. The corresponding fixture at Pilgrims’ prior to half-term was a one-sided affair with Twyford running out deserved winners 75-50. So, it was with anticipation and determination that Pilgrims' set off to put that result right.
Twyford had certainly improved since out last meeting. So had we! Twyford got ahead 20-5 and Pilgrim’s were determined to put this right and so began a quite magnificent contest. The boys ran and ran and tackled like demons putting attacker after attacker down time and time again. Sasha putting in three consecutive tackles to turn the boy over much to delight of a large and vociferous crowd. The support could be heard around Twyford site, and the match was on. Pilgrims' came back to 25-20, with Wilfred scoring a wonderful try. Niran had a terrific run from inside his own half and was held up just before the line for what would have been a tying score with only a couple of minutes to go. However, Twyford ran out deserved winners 30-20.
The afternoon was not done. As Pilgrims' had rotated the 13 that had travelled and Twyford only had 7 we mixed up teams. 3 volunteered to play for Twyford, and we played on for another 10 minutes with Pilgrims' running out 30-20 winners.
Congratulations to Twyford for hosting a wonderful afternoon, thanks to their referees and coaches for enabling a splendid afternoon of rugby and a huge thank you to our parents for their super support. If Wales v France on Friday is half as good as this, Mr Rainer will be extremely excited! Well done all. TWR
Andrew Short
Director of Sport
