Cranleigh U15’s – IOW Tour 2024

What goes on tour…

So it was the big Isle of Wight tour weekend and despite the saying ‘what goes on tour stays on tour’ your intrepid reporter was giving the task of giving a few snippets without Nigel’s interpretation of the saying ‘what goes on a tour goes online’… 

We had a strong squad of 19 players with a number of ‘responsible’ dads and Louisa for the trip that was superbly organised by Tarek. Lads were taken out of school early and raced to ferries and bags checked for anything more than Lucozade. Rabble rouser Matt Matt was heard saying no big parties until Sunday when the games were over…Mmm. 

We had a great venue in Ryde, a lovely estuary called Little Canada and although some of the rooms were a little basic, I managed to get a proper bed – always stay close to the organiser! 

Some very impressive tour tops were handed out by Dougie, and the oldies hit the bar. After a couple of sherbets some of us hit the dancefloor where there were some interesting sights either from the female rugby team or perhaps Mersey Island (which was in Essex not Liverpool). One of the dad’s mentioned ‘I’ve never been so happy to be married!’

Day one. Sun and fun

The set up for the rugby the next day was as impressive as Little Canada. When we arrived with a few thick heads, there was a festival set up with food, a DJ with live music (that M-Dogg was eying up), a bar and a great crowd arriving in glorious sunshine. There were more Cranes parents and dogs arriving for the day. Heidi and Alessio even battled through a puncture just before the ferry but managed to get to kick off. Great effort! The scene was set for the first of two matches before the final on the Sunday.

Our first opponents were ‘Reading Abby’, a tough looking team with an equally strong squad of parents. Tarek and Rob were on lino (line judge) and referee duties sporting very fetching red Isle of Wight official’s kit. However, Rob wasn’t happy that his label had slipped down a bit and being told by Josie that he was a little smaller than Tarek. Please refer to photographic evidence (of the label..)

Game on and perhaps the boys hadn’t just been sipping Lucozade and reading Hi-Fi magazines that Dougie had bought, as we started slowly. There were flashbacks to last year and Josie was beginning to prepare her famous Delia Smith ‘Lets be havin’ ya’ speech’. 

Pressure from a well drilled and rapid opposition a clearance kick only just made out 22 which landed in the arms of Reading Abby who got first blood with their big centre bursting through and scoring. 5-0 to the opposition. There were no posts and quick games so no conversions.

However a quick hairdryer from Russ and the boys woke up. Some nice running by our forwards, and we came back nicely with some big tackling great running and a lovely trip by Will S in the corner 5-5.

What was to become apparent with Abby is they had an amazing centre who was a sprinter and hurdler. He burst through our line with a massive turn of pace and scored 10-5.

The game was super tight and physical with good tackles by Henry, Logan and Dylan. We came back with another great score by Will who was having a great game.10-10.  

Some more good work from the forwards with Loken getting in on the action and Leo making some good runs. This time Rory and Oscar D made good runs and another great score by Will. 15-10. Amusingly one of their fans (who was to do a little bit of sour grapes complaining afterwards) kept commenting on Will ‘he never passes’. Will didn’t pass it, but scored..!  Half time and this was a close one. 

Second half and Abby were back at us and they were excellent at jackelling, it was their speed demon again who put the afterburners on for another score. 15-15. This was a proper game, and after early cobwebs the skill levels and physicality had gone up a notch.  

A great couple of moves our side using Carlo and then Hugo on great crash balls. Ball went wide and it looked like our move was going to be snubbed out by their speed merchant. However, we also have a lad with turbo shoes and his name is Oscar H who stepped around their paceman and scored an absolutely lovely try. 15-20. 

For the last five minutes they were camped out on our line. Rory went off for a what looked like a bad rib injury and a big winding. Looked like his tournament was over but he was to be one of a number of ‘Lazarus’ recoveries. Oscar D did a good job replacing Rory with some great kicks. Abbey were camped out on our 5m line, but an essential turnover by Will and a fantastic run down the wing by Syd kept them out for a famous victory. What a game!

A break for some pizza’s and DJ tunes and we were back on against Dorking who had convincingly beaten Reading Abbey. Gulp…Perhaps as they played two games in a row, they wouldn’t be so fresh? 

The first 10 minutes were tight with big hits by both sides. Lovely run by Hugo making good ground from deep. But from a line out they got around us putting a chip over the top to be gathered and scoring 5-0. 

Zac knew a good few of the local players and was doing some wiggling to music. However, we thought we could run out of our 22 and they intercepted and scored again. 10-0. Double gulp…

Another great move to be fair by the opposition who were a seriously well drilled outfit. Spinning it left and right and scoring in the corner. 15-0.

I decided then to limit my commentary as things went from bad to worse. A fumbled kick and they picked up and scored again 20-0.

Despite some good possession and us coming back in the game they did another great move from a throw in. 25-0 at halftime. The DJ was playing Will Smith and perhaps it was time we went off and ‘Got jiggy with it’ over there.  

Second half started promising but we knocked on in front of their line and as quick as a flash they were back at our end again. 30-0…. Bar time. Blah blah 35-0… Ooohh how about some Candy Floss? 40-0… 

Finally Will, Oscar H and Oscar D got some ball and started running it well – quick Lazza back to the commentary…!  Oscar H skinned a couple of men to score. 40-5.

Then on the last move of the match a lovely driving maul off a line out and a score at the bottom of the ruck – who was it to be (please Henry please Henry!). No, a well-deserved try by Hugo. 

So a fairly convincing loss, but it was to turn out that all the teams they played in the tournament they thrashed, and as Rob summed up brilliantly – ‘It could have been the 50 nilla from Manila but instead it was 40-10 and the boys showed they were men. We know what level we have to get to.

The highlight of another ‘quiet’ night back at the ranch was Rob taking an unscheduled ride in a boat to pick up a rugby ball that ended up in the river, which was ironic as he had given the boys such a stern talking too about not going anywhere near the river. Some high-class coaching and parenting examples set.

Day 2 – sip the glory 

Back to the festival with a bit of a cloudy day and a threat of rain and our big final was against Vectis. Apparently Latin for the Isle of Wight and the local team had plenty of support. Another set of day trippers joined the hoody brigade, including Sam who was spending most of her day off looking after injuries! Hugo had hurt his knee the day before, Logan a dodgy shoulder and Zac’s ankle put him on the sick bench. Dave and I were offering to step into the breach and play (see the scrum cap photos!).

A nice start by Luc, then great jackling from Matt Matt to relieve initial pressure. We were playing up the hill with the wind in our face and the game was a close one with a similar looking team to us. Loken also did some great jackling and we were working well in the loose. Eventually the pressure was relieved by Oscar H who got around the side for a well needed try. 5-0.

My voice had gone from all the shouting (and maybe the odd beer…)  Really intelligent kicking from Rory, Oscar H and Will S to get us back in the right part of the field but they came back with some good attacking. We gave away a few penalties and one of their big lads got over. 5-5. Game on.

For once they had the same size crowed as us being locals and there was a great volume of cheering. Half time and this was a close one, although now we were downhill with the wind behind. 

We started the second half well with lots of pressure. A scrum turnover and Matt Matt standing in as captain picked up from no 8 and scored. 5-10.

We then had some good attacking and a lovely kick over the top from Rory (yes, he was back on!) with Will on the chase, the ball was in the try area only needing to be touched down but Will was pulled back illegally which awarded us a penalty try. 15-05. 

We were really using the slope well with large kicks getting followed by our pace men. The next one and it was Syd there like a bullet and wrapping the man up. Another good clearance kick by Oscar D, but pressure and good running led to a lovely score by Will who cut through a few players and scored. 20-05, and close to glory! 

Straight from the kick off we had a lovely run round the corner by Oscar H tip-toing to the line and scoring. 25-05. 

Vectis finally got themselves a try at the death after lots of generous penalties. 25-10, final score and time to celebrate!

The cup was raised, filled, drunk, filled again at both the rugby club and back at camp where the festivities went long into the night for a mightily well-deserved party for such an amazing season by such a special club. Some paintballing fun the next day and back to the mainland where your reporter is now a broken man on the sofa after such a great weekend. I’ll leave the ‘Kangaroo Court’ names to the next report. 

So much thanks to the coaches, parents, and amazing lads for such a great Tour, and such a great season by a special club. Go the Cranes!!