The U12s bring Silverware back from Crowborough Festival 4 November 2013

The day started well with all players arriving in very good time and prepared for a warm up and preparation for a morning's hard rugby.

The festival was huge with over 16 clubs represented at U12 level which the organisers split into three parallel festivals. We found ourselves up against East Grinstead, Uckfield, Worthing and Lewes.

As our squad was selected to give players festival experience we had several positions which needed to be filled by players who normally would not play there and without exception the changes were dramatic. So in every game we had players in some positions for the very first time, including Scrum Half, Fly Half , Prop and Hooker. Not what you would say was the best tactic to start off a festival, but without exception these positions were filled with skill, commitment and energy and is was a great success.

The pitch had been hit by the rain overnight and was going to be a sticky, energy sapping experience for the players, not a day for pretty rugby!

First game up was against a Worthing side with some excellent players who we knew would give us a stern test.

But the players knew what they had to do and did it all day by playing controlled, physical, committed rugby. We spent virtually all the time in Worthing's half, we crossed the line 3 times, but great defence restricted us to just one try, but it was enough to gain the win. So a great start.

Second up was a game against Lewes who had played really well in their fist game, they were going to be a big test. It was as if the players just carried on from the last game with huge physical rugby, both in attack and defence and with virtually no time spent in our half at all. Again we won out with a 1-0 win in what was a big test for the players and they came off the pitch really tired from their exploits.

Third up was Uckfield who were doing really well and were a test for us, but again we just played the rugby that the conditions demanded with big ball carrying runners. The rucking was so strong we again spent all game in the opponents' half and ran out 1-0 winners.

Last pool game was up against a really big East Grinstead side and this was a great game with huge effort from both sides. East Grinstead scored in the first half (the first and only try against us all day) and we just spent the rest of the game on their 5 yard line just smashing away at their defence. We crossed the line a couple of times but didn't manage to ground the ball.

So, we found ourselves winners of the group and in a final against Uckfield who had won all their other games.

The final was excellent and there was no way we were going to give Uckfield a sniff of a chance. We just pressured the life out of them and scored two tries leaving us as U12 winners.

Congratulations U12s.