Sorry forgot , well done Seth good to see another YJL team progress. I hope you can pull off a shock . I know you will do Oulton proud.

Cheers muttley appreciate that. With the team east Leeds have built and recruited they may well be a step too far for us. Couldn't be more proud though reaching the last 8 of the Yorkshire cup and now national cup, we've a great squad though we're probably a couple of players short at the moment to kick on even further.

We (Oulton Under 8's) started the season well against a very young Swillington side - many of them playing a year up, it was a bit of a mis-match really although they didn't give up. Much better playing under this season rules when errors result in a turnover - will be interesting how some of the teams who threw the ball absolutely anywhere cope with these, although we do have a couple of boys who run straight into touch - and as a team we have a tendency to try and run round the defense rather than through it.

Our timing was still well off, we tried and put a couple of dummy runners in towards the end of last year but the lads lines' and timing were wrong - but improved at training last night so fingers crossed they keep improving.

Does anybody else have any suggestions for teaching them to keep them away from the edges? Had a game in training last night, taking off players who ran straight for touch and this seemed to work but come Sunday I think we could have the same problem again.

This week we have East Leeds away, so no idea what to expect as we didn't play them last season.

I wouldn't even entertain working on dummy runners in training or in matches as it confuses the hell out of them and takes their concentration away from what mini/mod rugby should be about which is doing the basics well. Through games I teach play the ball, start points at first receiver, dummy half pass, moving on to the ball and later introduce a simple plus 1 (short pass). That combined with speed, agility, balance along with catch, grip, carry and tackling is as far as it should go.

As for going into touch all you can do is reinforce that its ok to get tackled and not to score on every play as its a learning process that they will eventually get. You could also use a conditioned game where by the attacking team have unlimited tackles until they make an error/go in to touch, which is more of a positive message about what youre looking for than taking the players off the pitch. Failing that its an electric fence around the pitch!

Do what I do with my 9's and put barbed wire down either side of the field!!

I am introducing dummy running and miss balls in training some of the kids are really taking to it, some struggle.

I am also bringing in first man plays as they all now have the basic ability to catch, pass, drop off etc although we do not use them in a match until I say, usually 3 or 4 minutes before full time when it is not going to have too detrimental an effect on the result should it all go wrong.

Thanks, to be fair the majority of the lads have taken really well to the dummy runners in training, and in the Rhino's indoor league - we stick to a dummy runner from the half back, simple calls nothing flash - taking the pressure off the runner and giving him more time to pick his gap. I don't think they are confused with it, just making them realise as you say that there is more to the game than scoring. They just seemed to have their timing off on Sunday, but on Saturday (and also last night) it was bang on! Clearly not all the boys can do it, and some of them we stick to the basics of running off the half back.

You're not the team who keep trying to encroach on our session by pinching land on a Monday night are you?

should results really matter at that age?

Imho results dont really matter that much in the 9s indeed you should tread carefully with score lines and naming especially large scores . This is ehy there is no real record kept.

However enthusiasm is something that you will never take away from dads etc and without trying to be condescending to my Wigan supporting ex forum sparing partner he eill realise the error of his ways when they are playing real rugby aged 12

I understand East Hull beat West Hull in their own backyard 8-12.
Well done to both sets and all the boys playing to such high standard.

Correct easts won 12-8 in a very good game, which could have even been more but bombed 4 good chances.

Panthers 14s had a comfortable 6-32 win at shaw cross. Still plenty to improve on and bigger tests will come in the coming weeks.

Great win for east hull over wests I can really see it been nip and tuck all year.

Same its better to have close games then runaway scores? we have Shaw Cross at home next week, then Siddal in the quarters week after so some good games coming up, good luck for the season buddy.

Crigg 14s lost 44 0 at home to Hunslet.

Whats left to say

Not sure what to make of that scoreline.it appears from the outside looking in that confidence must be at rock bottom.