The first team played at home against struggling Earlsdon on Saturday and a try from Ed Gray after five minutes set us on our way and the visitors couldn’t cope with the speed and interplay of our backs and forwards. We ran in 11 tries overall, with Louis Harvey getting a hat-trick and Iain Cameron a brace and another from Ed Gray. [see John Warner’s report on the website for the full story]

The Extras returned to the scene of their success the week before when they travelled to Harbury to take on the villagers in a rearranged fixture on Saturday. In a crazy game in which the lead changed hands several times, we eventually came out on top by 26-23 with big John Brear celebrating his birthday with two tries from No.8, and Anthony Batchelor and Jim Robertson also touching down and Alex Johnson adding 3 conversions.

This week the first team have a rest and the Extras are playing their game against Stratford on Friday night – KO 7.30. This clears Saturday for viewing the Six Nations finale (games will be shown in the lounge) and the players will be having an all-day late season “social “ which I won't say anything about other than there might be some games and drinking - refer to the players page on facebook and WhatsApp

Another reminder - Club Dinner and VP Lunch - the Annual Club Dinner will be held at the club on Friday 29 April. The guest speaker is Phil Davies, former Welsh international and now Director of Rugby for World Rugby. Get in touch with Phil McGaffin if you want to go. Also, we have the final VP lunch of the season coming up on Saturday 2 April prior to the Kidderminster game at 12.30 (for 1.00). Please let Jim Mills know asap whether you want to come along. His email is jim.mills@leaas.co.uk

Junior Report. It was a big day for the juniors on Sunday and a report of events from Dave Johnson is given below

johnlizlyons@btopenworld.com

What a fantastic Sunday had by all in the Minis and Juniors. Minis were training at home whilst U13's played away to Broadstreet (Match report below). U15's were away for their tour. (Report below). Finally U16's won their semi-final and are through to the final in the cup. (Match report below) Well done all!!

This Sunday 20th March 2022 everyone is at home training.

Match report from U13's - Bill Unsworth On Sunday Leamington U13s travelled to play against Broadstreet U13s who are unbeaten this season. In a great game of rugby both sides played their part with a high standard of passing, running rugby where the score in the first half switched alternatively between the two sides. Broadstreet scored first after sending the ball from side to side across the pitch and eventually out flanking the Leamington defence. Leamington struck back after a show and go from Harry Unsworth led to a 40m footrace to score under the posts. Broadstreet came back again scoring from short range before good Leamington handling put Theo Simon through the middle of the pitch and he accelerated away from the defence on another long range try. Theo Simon repeated the feat 5 minutes later after some good work by the Leamington pack led to him breaking the Broadstreet defence and sprinting clear once more. A few Leamington injuries led to a lot of change to the team and as players settled Broadstreet scored a couple of well worked tries to go into half time just in front. The second half saw a fast start by Broadstreet who scored a couple of tries as Leamington got caught up in their own half for a 10-minute period but great defence, strong running and some great kicking brought Leamington back into the game. A couple of decisions went against Leamington which allowed Broadstreet to build pressure once again and as they pressured the line a try looked inevitable until a Leamington interception led to Harry Unsworth running the length of the pitch to score. Broadstreet did score shortly after when their electric winger stepped past a number of defenders and then accelerated away to cover the majority of the pitch and score before a final powerful drive by Leamington’s Sam Evans led to him going over the line to close out a great game between the teams.
Although Broadstreet took the honours, Leamington can be really proud of their performance in which they matched them in most facets of the game only a few defensive mistakes being the difference between the teams. Special mentions for Conner Davies, Tom Field, Louis Proctor, Eden Buswell and Sam Merritt with the Man of the Match award for his hard running, defensive workrate and captain of the day going to Sam Evans.

Tour report for U15's Fantastic fun had all players/coaches and parents that attended. Itinerary was packed over the two days with the first day attending 2-hour wakeboarding at the Liquid Leisure waterpark followed by watching England U20's play against Ireland U20's at the StoneX stadium. Then followed watching England on the big screens at the stadium. On Sunday played against Aylesbury where we lost.Overall it was a great tour.

Match report for U16's – Coaches
The U16s welcomed Old Laurentians to Moorefields on Sunday in the semi-final of the Warwickshire Cup.
Leamington started extremely strongly and dominated the early exchanges. With a great balance of strong forward play and clinical handling in the wider channels, we found ourselves 19-0 up midway through the first half. Whilst the boys were encouraged by the lead, they knew that the tie was far from over. OLs imposed themselves and really tested the resolve of the Moorefields boys in the latter stages of the first half, with the teams trading a brace of tries each, leading to the half time score of 31-12. The game was finely poised, with the traveling fans in fine voice……OLs started the second half more assertively and scored the first try of the half but Leamington bounced back, with a turning point of the game being a full bloodied chase by Leamington’s lock, Henry Fifield, securing a turnover in the OLs 22. With 10 minutes remaining the score was 36-22 and OLs threw everything at Leamington but our resolute defence, coupled with masterly fly half play from Harry Stanton, allowed the game to be closed out. This was one of the most complete team performances the boys have ever delivered and there’s a real buzz around the group ahead of the final vs Old Silhillians at Barkers Butts on 1 May (2pm KO).

Well done all

Dave