Pinner return to winning ways.

P&G’s resumed their league programme with a visit to near neighbours Watford on Saturday. Playing into a very strong wind in the first half P&G’s signalled their intention to play a running game with several early attacks. Watford, knowing their pitch, took advantage of the wind constantly kicking deep into Pinner territory. On 20 minutes they were awarded a penalty on the Pinner 22 when the visitors were  guilty of not releasing the ball. Flyhalf Tom Keily gave the home side a 3 – 0 lead.  From the kick-off Watford again tried to kick the ball back into the Pinner half but this time it only found flyhalf Lane who set off on a weaving run from his own 10 metre line to the home 22. Here he found Bernie Ritcher in support and the No 8  avoided three  tackles to go over for the first try.  This was converted by full-back Mark Razzell. A few minutes later another Watford kick was fielded by centre Danny Bartram who made good ground before being tackled. From the resulting ruck scrum-half Lane fed fly-half Chris Hall who scored under the posts. Razzell was again successful with his conversion. The remainder of the first half was a struggle against the wind and the Watford kicks but the visitors went into half-time with a 14 -3 lead.

Soon into the second half with Pinner increasing the pressure turned the ball over on the Watford 22. It went quickly through several pairs of hands before Richter got his second try of the afternoon with Razzell adding the extra two points.  The injury to prop Aaron Nicholas and a further substitution seemed to de-stabilise the Pinner play and with the wind dropping the home side came more into the game. Several missed passes and too many penalties did help the visitor’s cause. However their defence withstood a series of strong attacks. With only a few minutes remaining Watford won a line on the P&G’s 5 metre line and although tackle were put in centre James Bettly crashed over for a try, which he converted.  This spurred Watford to a final spurt. Into injury time some sloppy Pinner passing was intercepted by the home scrum-half who ran in a try from 40 metres. This was again convertedas the final whistle was blown.

Pinner had held on to win 21 -17 and maintained their challenge near the top of Herts -Middx Div 3.  With the international programme approaching P&G’s next league  game is against London French on 14^th November.  This coming Saturday will be used as a training session with a friendly against Hayes the following week.

First XV versus Watford RFC in pictures

Mini Section players

Mini Section perform brilliantly at Enfield

With the first team not playing this weekend it was up to the thriving Mini-section of Pinner and Grammarians to represent the club. This week’s fixture saw the teams make the journey down the A10 to Enfield Ignatians RFC. On arrival it was plain to see with the numbers of players there it was going to be a hard fought morning, with Pinner & Grammarian teams having the larger number of players. This fixture always has closely contested matches and friendly rivalry amongst the coaches and as we have regularly worked together in past.

Following the warm up and brief training session focusing on short, quick passing and moving into space, players were ready for the hard games to follow.

U11s & U12s

This was a highly contested match against another strong Enfield team, made up of both under 11 and 12 age groups. The play flowed evenly from end to end with each team tackling hard, with well contested scrums. Enfield scored the first try in the second half with Pinner’s soon after by Sam Fraser, who sprinted free to the touch line from twenty metres. Both teams continued to attach and defend strongly with the score ending on a very fair one all draw.

U10s

Again, with a full squad Pinner faced a very experienced Enfield team, featuring the one and only ‘Tank’. From the start Pinner drove forward with great support and skilful passing, spending the first ten minutes in the Enfield half. Even though Enfield tackled hard, Pinner retained the ball with good rucking and mauling – it must be noted here that despite the strength in the Enfield scrum, Pinner held their own. Towards the latter part of the first half, Enfield made inroads into the Pinner half, but with incredible tackling by Ian Wheeler, Louis Quisbert-Davis and Brendan, to name a few. This prevented Enfield’s newest player, Fraser, from hitting the try line. During the half time break under 10s coach, Paul Talbot, praised every member of the team for the performance and effort they had shown and helped them to see that a victory was more than possible.

The second half saw Enfield, having made a couple of substitutions, regroup and really attack Pinner’s defence, who after some crunching tackles, were unable to stop a magnificent run and try, by Enfield, in the corner. From the restart Pinner were determined to level the score and they set about this task with the whole supporting and working together, moving the ball to one side of the pitch to the other. They slowly edged deep into the Enfield half. Breaking free from a ruck, Kai Gordon, swerving outstretched hands, dived over the line to score a try. Resulting in the U10s maintaining their unbeaten run.

Under 9’s

Another beautiful autumn day saw the U9s travel to Enfield. With another excellent turn out from the team. The session started with an individual team warm up with various stretches. Then we moved onto a joint training session, started with the much enjoyed Tag bulldog followed by the full contact version of the game, players followed this with a sprint session which included some variations to get the players who are all new to contact rugby this season used to getting back up from the ground into a defensive or attacking position.

Finally it was time to face each other in a game, Enfield combined team started with the ball, and quickly found how good Pinner were in the tackle, with the ball being ripped at the mauls by each side it certainly made for a very enjoyable close contact game, the pressure placed on each others side was a joy to watch but one that had to give, and it did twice in the first half and once in the second leaving the score at full time standing at 3-0 in Enfield’s favour. A score that didn’t reassemble the game at all. A short break was taken then we were back for another game, this time Pinner were rejuvenated and again set about the task of forcing themselves forward against a very determined Enfield team. With some excellent running and support play by the Pinner team eventually saw the results of their team effort, when tackle after tackle with the ball being laid back, Maisie Balkin broke for the line with the Enfield players close on her heels, but she managed to cover the 10 meters before them all. The game ended with a score line of 1-0 in Pinner’s favour.

These were the closest contested games that the Pinner team, needed to play in to see at what level they were at after 6 weeks into the season, it looks great keep it up Pinner U9s. If you’re in year 4 and interested in joining us comes down or check out the website

Paul Parker-Brice

Pinner U13’s down to earth with a bump losing 65 – 0 !!

After their stunning victory last week Pinner U13’s were brought back down to earth with a bump this week, losing heavily to a strong Twickenham RFC outfit.  Missing their talisman and top try scorer Bradley Stevenson, the boys never reached the heights of last week and conceded tries regularly throughout each half with only the occasional flash of inspiration. 

Bradley Smith put in his usual share of tackles and Oscar Perillo again showed well at hooker;  without doubt, though, the player of the day was Jonathon Hill who once again defied his size playing with great heart and bravery and but for a desperate, last ditch tackle from Twickenham’s accomplished fullback would have scored the try his performance deserved.  For many of the boys, though, this was a match to forget and they will need to up their game considerably to get back to winning ways.

Currently, the team is operating on a limited squad and would welcome more players in year 8 to boost their number.

Report:Doj

Protected: Pinner Mini Section versus Hackney Bulls & Enfield – action shots

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October Newsletter

The newsletter is now available to download as a pdf file, follow link below

october-newsletter-v3issue6

Halloween Party 31st October

halloween-flyer1

like getting blood from a vampire, more information on its way, you will just have to wait…

Owls were hooting, bats gathering, slow footsteps of the decaying zombie like figures shuffled across the car park in search of human flesh groaning and moaning, it was dark, it was scary, then a scream, gurgling gasps, the crunching of bone, creaking doors, a whisper, then silence…………………….

Saturday 31^st October

This will be the second Pinner & Grammarians mini section Halloween party.

4pm – 5pm.

Following last years success the twist in the now common trick or treat – ‘trick or trunk’ will take place Parents are requested to decorate the boots/hatchback compartments of their cars in a Halloween theme and children will able to go from car to car to collect treats; a much safer and more enjoyable time than pounding through the streets annoying the general public! 

From 5pm in the clubhouse for the party – a mass of food and drink will be laid out on tables to feed hungry mouths and build up their stamina for entering the haunted house.

6pm onwards:

The changing rooms will be transformed into a haunted house. Entry is 50p through the concealed door.

Children are invited to enter each room to basically be scared out of their skins!

What might feature in this year’s haunted house?

 

Smeared blood stains festooning the walls of the blood room?  A lone head dripping with blood lying on the floor?  A smoke filled corridor with more surprises in hand – the dead rising from a coffin? A boney hand pointing the way into the surgeons’ parlour?

Definitely more gruesome, gory, grisly goings on in every room, maybe the mad doctor has been allowed out of his secret hiding place, since operating on what was the past captain of the first team; pulling out his guts, squeezing intestines and letting them drop to the floor has meant he hasn’t been seen in public for over a year.

Any child brave enough to enter might end up the same way.

If last years event is anything to go by a great night is in stall, vampires beware…………..

New U13 Youth video mix

a selection of videos from the U13 youth victory (video tab)

please click below for video link (will require quicktime or media player)

Under 13 youth 11.10.09

Under 13’s youth #2 11.10.09

Under 13’s #3 11.10.09

 

under 13’s in action against Watford RFC #3 from paul talbot on Vimeo.

Under 13’s in action against Watford RFC #2 from paul talbot on Vimeo.

VICTORY: Pinner U13 69 v Watford U13 21.

 A superb all round performance saw Pinner run out handsome victors against a brave Watford team.  From the kick off it was clear Pinner were ready to make amends for the disappointment of the previous match and bounced back in style.  A first half hat-trick of tries by the unstoppable Bradley Stevenson with a further score from the fleet footed Adam Rees put Pinner in a commanding 26 – 7 lead at the interval. 

The second half followed a similar pattern with Pinner playing excellent running rugby at every opportunity.  Forwards and backs, alike, were prepared to take the ball on linked well through assured performances from Callum George and stand-in fly half Piers Marx, who scored seven conversions in total.  Bradley Stevenson ran in an amazing 5 tries in the second half; one each to Tyler Hone and Oscar Perrillo put the gloss on a fine team performance during which every boy contributed fully to a thoroughly enjoyable match.

match report: Doj Davies

Pinner & Grammarians first loss of the season

An injury hit Pinner & Grammarians travelled across the county to ‘Old Tottonians in their third league match of the season. Missing eight of the regular first team players to an assortment of short and long term injuries they battled hard but were overcome by a strong opposition who were out to end the Pinner & Grammarians winning streak.

Pinner attacked from the whistle, spending much of the first ten minutes deep in the opposition half although poor passing and handling allowed Old Tottonians to edge their way back into the game. It was from a knock on that Old Totts were awarded a drop out from the 22, which to much surprise of both Stephen Devine and the rest of the team managed to catch the ball and pass to scrum half Craig Lane who ran in the try in the corner. Full-back Mark Razzell stepped up and converted to give P&G the start they wanted. The game continued in the same manner, errors from both teams for the remaining part of the half until a lack of concentration and again poor handling let in the ‘Old Totts’ number 12 to score a try, the conversion was not made.

The second half saw a revitalised Old Tottonians side take the game to P&G, with long kicks deep into the travelling sides half it was soon clear that another try was imminent. Following a ruck on the half way line Old Totts fly half kicked the ball deep into the corner chasing up and pulling in a high bouncing ball dived over the line to complete the try, again, the conversion was not made, making the score Old Totts 10 -P&G 7

There now followed a period where neither side could put together any coherent play, the forwards hitting stalemate in rucks and mauls keeping the referee busy with an assortment of knock-ons and minor infringements, one of which, for holding the ball whilst on the ground gave P&G a life-line, again fullback Mark Razzell put the ball between the posts to bring the score to 10 all.

Pinner now down to 14 players (injury) did not build upon this and after hitting the post with another awarded penalty, appeared to switch off and give Old Tottonians the opportunity to yet again take full advantage, their strength in the scrums were now taking effect and their passing was quick and decisive allowing full back Gareth Bennett to both score and convert a try. Lack of organisation from Pinner once again let Old Totts gain more points when they conceded a penalty which was converted by the player causing P&G a lot of problems. With ten minutes remaining the unbeaten record of P&G was under threat. A late inclusion of a former first team player brought the team back up to full strength; the Pinner team rallied once more and when the ball emerged and kicked along the touch line Nick Freeman caught the bouncing ball, ran the twenty metres shaking off several tackles, to score under the posts. Mark Razzell redeemed himself by converting the try. Final score a victory to the home side Old Tottonians 20 -17

This was Pinner & Grammarians first defeat of the season and a deflated team walked off the pitch determined to use the next training session (Thursdays 7pm) to review the match and get back into their winning stride. The next match 17^th October Chess Valley at home (friendly), next league match 24th October; Watford RFC away

P&G 1st XV versus ‘Old Totts’ – photos

Protected: P&G mini section versus Ealing RFC

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1st XV September in action – the video!

Presidents Lunch 09

The pre-match lunch was attended by former player’s supporters and parents from the Mini’s section. The guests included Cllr Susan Hall, portfolio holder for Leisure Services and Deputy Leader of the Council, and Dee Heath and her daughter Charlotte of the Vintage Wine Bar in Pinner who are sponsoring the Club this season. 

President David Hiles announced that at a tripartite meeting earlier in the week he and Club Chairman Andrew Wright had reached agreement with Cllr Hall, LB of Harrow officers and Rick Bruin of the RFU for the latter to provide substantial grants for new drainage to be installed on the lower pitch with Harrow contributing matched funding.  In welcoming Cllr Hall the Club President said that we now looked forward to a long period on mutual cooperation and development with the local authority.

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