Youngsters show rugby’s future is in good hands at Bognor

Because of a lack of game time over the past few months, both sets of coaches agreed to play lots of six-minute games to make sure every player got plenty of action.

Both teams played with passion and pride and gave the large crowd plenty of entertainment.

The first game was a close encounter with strong performances in defence from Noah Flinn, Henry Page and Tommy Aldridge.

The second was also very even with great performances from Bradley Caparo, Jack Jones and Ben Simmonds.

After the opening two games both sides started to produce some good attacking rugby. Rory Mitchell, Lulu Millen, Cameron Kearns and Jackson Voigt made several good runs putting the visitors on the back foot resulting in tries for Jack Jones and Henry Page.

Bognor were starting to play with more aggression in defence especially Teddy Wood, Charlie Bylett and Reece Shepard, with the latter producing a great try-saving tackle.

Bognor’s hard work in defence was starting to force Worthing errors which resulted in more possession for Bognor, allowing South Coast Skips MoM Oliver Mitchell to make some super runs.

Bognor’s newest players Joe Occleshaw, Aston Paul and Josh Tanswell showed lots of improvements considering they’ve been playing rugby only for the past few months.

Worthing’s experience at the breakdown was probably the only difference between the two sides.

Bognor under-tens also welcomed a very strong Chichester team to Hampshire Avenue for a morning of competitive rugby in fantastic conditions. Both teams played with plenty of passion and pride – just what you would expect from local rivals.

Although the day belonged to Chichester with most tries scored, it was Bognor’s vast improvement that most people were talking about. All games played were close encounters with tremendous skills in defence and offence for such young people, which both sets of coaches should be proud of.

Henry Page scored a fantastic Bognor try following a barnstorming run from Noah Flinn. Chichester were very strong with ball in hand but Bognor defended with real aggression especially Tommy Aldridge, Teddy Woods, Ben Simmonds and Ollie Mitchell.

The impressive Jack Jones taught both set of players the art of rucking at the breakdown with turnover after turnover.

The South Coast Skips MoM was shared between Jones and Flinn.

Head coach Seb Halligan said it was the best performance from Bognor against Chichester he’d ever seen and the players should be proud of their efforts– though more hard work was needed at training.

Bognor would like to say a big thank-you to new sponsor South Coast Skips and all parents for their continued support.

Training takes place every Wednesday at 6.30pm and Sunday at 10am – see the club website for contact details.

Bognor: Henry Page, Bradley Caparo, Charlie Bylett, Noah Flinn, Jack Jones, Cameron Kearns, Ben Simmonds, Teddy Wood, Billy Sparrow, Joe Occleshaw, Reece Sheppard, Jackson Voigt, Josh Tanswell, Ollie Mitchell, Lulu Millen, Rory Mitchell.