We play our best rugby in the wettest weather: Youth rugby players shrug off the rain and produce their best games

Rugby

THE Langholm Youth Rugby teams – and their supporters – withstood some very wet weather at the Annan tournament last Sunday.
The P6/7 squad played some of the best rugby their coaches had seen them play.
The most pleasing attribute that the lads have is their passing game which means the whole squad are involved, which can only bode well for the future.
Some of the tries were first class and, considering the wet conditions, it didn’t hinder the team’s desire to ship the ball from side to side.
Well played to all the boys. It was a very worthwhile morning.
Thanks to Annan for their hospitality afterwards and all the parents who took their kids and stood in the rain.
Squad: Glen Jamieson, Mark Goodfellow, Jack Hotson, Charlie Cuthbertson, Aaron Wood, Ross Hislop, Jayden McVittie, Layton Foster.
Langholm 1 Moffat 1: Glen; Langholm 6 Annan 0: Layton, Aaron, Mark, Glen, Charlie x 2; Langholm 3 Annan 3: Jack, Mark x 2; Langholm 0 Penrith 4.
Langholm P4/5 Lions: If the weather wasn’t enough to make you question your love for rugby, nothing else will.
Thanks to the kids and parents. It was all worth it after seeing those happy faces.
Twelve Lions travelled to Annan so they were able to enter two teams which gave everyone good game time and, thankfully, with the conditions, they did not spend long periods spectating.
The teams were formed as P4s Langholm White and older P4/5s as Langholm Red.
The Reds played three games and won three fairly convincingly. Defensively, they have massively improved this season and that forces the other teams to make mistakes and gives Langholm the ball to run in some impressive tries.
Langholm White all benefited greatly as the festival progressed, earning some valuable game time, with some experiencing contact rugby for the first time.
They all got stuck in and showed some great rugby skills, especially when ball in hand and showed no fear of taking contact.
Commitment
Thanks again to all the parents who made the trip on such a soaking day. If it wasn’t for everyone’s commitment, these days wouldn’t be possible.
P2/3 travelled with a healthy squad of 13 players which was testament to them and their parents in such miserable conditions.
First up were the hosts. Langholm played well with some good running rugby and nice interplay in difficult conditions.
Games were never going to be high scoring and this proved to be the case with Langholm winning 1-0.
Second up was Moffat. Again, both teams played really well in the conditions and it was an evenly contested game.
2 – 2
Langholm had to defend against some strong runners and when they had a chance, they attacked well to score a couple of good team tries. As the whistle sounded for full time, the score was 2-2.
The third and final game was against the “auld enemy” from across the border in Penrith.
Against a big side with some nice silky players, Langholm gave it everything in attack and defence and, although they were now feeling the effects of the weather, they stuck to the task.
With the heavy legs (and shirts) now telling, the team from Cumbria scored on the final whistle to take a share of the spoils. Game ended 1-1.
The team now look forward to their own tournament in October and the performances over the last three weekends have given the coaches and supporters great optimism.
Squad: Erin Grant, Bonnie Rose, Emily Rome, Lucy Smith, Ava Cubbon, David Goodfellow, Darragh Williams, Charlie Kingstree, Euan Hogg, Josh Ritchie, Blake Divers, Harry Thompson, Roan Jamieson.