Romford U8's turn it up to Boss level at the Thurrock festival

Romford

Max Salmon, Rocky Slade, Jimmy Doman, George Hiller, Strake Brannon, Freddy Clark, Sam Playle, Riley Claxton-Smith, William Oliver

This Sunday we were away at the Thurrock Festival. Being drawn in Pool B, with what seemed to be the A strings of Old Brentwood, Woodford, Thurrock and a very strong Upminster side. It was a tough draw for the boys, but as they have done all season the lads came up with the goods. The first game was a close encounter against Old B's.
Romford were a bit slow out of the blocks, giving an easy try away, not concentrating at the whistle and loosing their defensive shape. Conceding an early score jolted them into gear and they hit back with an outstanding try, some direct running by Salmon broke the gain line, he offloaded to Oliver who showed great foot work sending the old B's defence the wrong way, he then threw a lofted miss pass to put Hiller in clear for the corner to a massive roar from all watching.
The next defensive play by Romford set the tone for the day, the lads showed real commitment and grit in closing down the opposition, who at every turn had a defender on them forcing them back and into errors. Old B's were just as committed and this made for an exciting game that Romford just edged. Romford 7-6 Old B's.
The second game was also a close affair against Woodford finishing 6-5 with Brannon starting the scoring and Doman getting over the line for the winner. Again great defence was the difference between the teams. Romford were first to react to everything, scoring freely but really making the opposition work hard for their tries. Playle, Salmon and Clark showed some excellent team work in midfield holding good lines forcing the opposition out wide and into touch winning Romford the ball.
Game three was an easier match, Romford winning 7-4 against Thurrock, Claxton-Smith and Oliver were bossing the midfield, putting in some solid defensive sets getting turnovers, forcing knock on's with Doman picking up the pieces and going over for 5 tries.
The last game saw Romford comfortably beating Upminster 10-7 Clark was dynamic scoring 2 tries, Hiller was guarding the wide spaces shepherding the opposition into touch and again Romfords defence was immense, Slade a pillar in midfield. Pool B finished with Romford sitting unbeaten top of the table waiting for the winners of Group A

The final ended up being a one sided affair against Woodford's team from Pool A.
The boys started at a furious pace driving Woodford back forcing turn over after turn over. Oliver, Doman and Claxton-Smith were everywhere on loose balls making tag after tag and scoring freely. Hiller, Playle and Slade made up the other part of the Great Wall of Romford, gaurding the wide areas not letting the opposition get any sort of foot hold in the match, Romford are 4-0 up at haltime.
Salmon, Clark and Brannon come on second half to bolster a tiring Romford, immediately pushing Woodford back and getting over for a score. Then Woodford rally and hit back for their first try of the match, as the two teams go try for try in the closing minutes Romford are home and hosed winning 7-3 and the silverware goes back to Crow lane.