Limassol Crusaders Rugby Football Academy

Well done to the Minicru for their performances in both the u9s and the u11s categories, reaching the finals in both age groups but losing to strong Akrotiri teams.

Final scores: u9s 5-1, u11s 4-3. Watch the highlights of the u11s final here.

Next tournament: Paphos Funday on 12 September 2010.

 

Cruisers
Catrin Snaith
Charlie Beveridge
Chris Demetriou
Jack Cooper
Katy Christou
Kieran McLellan
Nick Levy
Nuri Campbell

Mini Marvels
Alexandr Pavelko
Anthony Popov
Charley Coulson
Louise Pfister
Man An
Thomas Pfister
Vicky Christou

The Limassol Vikingettes are starting this Tuesday! As many of the ladies are new to rugby, they will be training with and playing against the Minicru, in their final preparations before the Akrotiri tournament on Friday!

Come down and cheer on both teams and enjoy the hospitality of the Captain’s Cabin! Costs €2 per player. Discount on food and drinks for all players and supporters.

Tag rugby on the beach starts Tuesday 1 June from 6 pm to 7.30 pm, (cost €2.00) at Captain’s Cabin, Ladies Mile beach. Discounts apply for food and drink to all LRFA members.

All children welcome (up to age 12) plus any Ladies (all ages) wishing to start a Limassol Rugby Football Academy Ladies Team. Any children over age 12, please contact Limassol Crusaders.

If interested in the tag rugby, call Milton on 96475984 or simply turn up! But be warned though, these kids are faster than you think…

Heads have been scratched, thinking caps have been put on (and taken off again), grey matter has been employed, decisions have been approached (had a look inside of, uhmm-ed and ahh-ed over for a while, then wandered away from with a view to maybe coming back when they’ll be a bit less busy), but finally, THE VOTES ARE IN for the Player of the Year Awards in the following categories (for both u9s and u12s):

• Most training attendances for the season
• Clubperson of the Year
• Most Improved Player of the Year
• Best Player of the Year

Results will be announced at the End of Season Party!

But, who’s won what?

If YOUR guess of who has won in the above 8 categories is the same (or nearest to) the views of our panel of experts (Mssrs Milton, John, Giggsy, Chris and Robin), you will win our final Question of the Week special prize at the party.

Please reply below or send answers by e-mail to Mr Milton.

Best of luck!

 

Fun on the beach and great food at the Captain’s Cabin followed by our Playing Awards presentations for the season!

All are invited, (even if you’ve never been to training!)

Apparently, we’ve even got a special guest coming (and no, it’s NOT Santa Clause – he was fully booked…)

See you there!

Last Sunday 16 May the Minis took on their big brothers, the Crusaders Colts in the tense rematch of the game earlier in the season, which the Minis narrowly lost 10 – 8. Would vengeance be theirs this time round…..?

The starting line up for the Minis was: Aaron, Anthony, Arthur, Catrin, George, Jane and Captain Max Stephens, with Chris, Katy, Max An, Thomas, Vicky, Nuri , Ama, Surgey and Alex on the bench. The Colts consisted of Goga, Aris, Captain Adrian, Vassili and Jamie.

The game started off at a frantic pace, with the Minis in possession, shifting the ball wide to try to take on their larger opponents on the outside. Unfortunately, a knock-on led to turnover ball, which was quickly exploited by the Colts to lead to a first try. Minis’ heads went down, fearing a rout, but a rallying call from their Captain Max boosted them. The initial exchanges had given Max an idea: we are not as fast as them, but if, when tagged, we go beyond the tagger by taking the allowed 3 steps, fast, close wingman support should breach enemy lines. Well thought out, but would this tactic work in practice though?

From the restart Max rushed straight into the heart of the Colts’ defence.

Upon being tagged, he went the further three steps, turned and popped the ball to the oncoming George on his shoulder. George did the same and soon a stream of Minis were pouring through the centre of the Colts defensive line, leading to the equalising try: 1 -1!

A couple of handling errors from the restart by the Colts gifted ball to the Minicru who again, employing the same tactic, were able to keep the ball alive, passing from hand to hand in a way hardly ever seen in normal training! Particularly strong runs were achieved by principally Aaron, George, Anthony, Jane and Max and the over-stretched and under-manned Colts defence was breached twice more. The half ended 3 – 1 to the Minicru – an upset was on the cards….
 

At the start of the second half, the Minis’ Coach Giggsy introduced several changes, so all players could have a game. The Colts were now becoming more familiar with the play, being more used to full contact rugby and Goga especially began pinging long spin passes to the devastatingly quick Aris and Jamie who had no trouble running round the forlorn lunges of the Minis. The organised defensive lines of the Colts often forced the Minis into running backwards when they did have the ball, thus when the tag came, the tagged player had no-one to pass to and often gave up possession. By the time most of the starting line-up for the Minis came back on, deep into the second half, the score stood at 7 – 3 to the Colts.

There was a final flourish though by the indefatigable youngsters. Great keeping the ball alive and strong runs from Jane and Katy allowed the Minis one more try, slicing clean through the centre of the tiring Colts’ lines. This seemed a fitting end to a hard-fought contest. Final score: Crusaders Colts 7, Minicru 4. Well played everyone and special thanks to the Colts for coming down!

In the last few weeks of the season, there are still one or two old scores to settle…

 The Minis are to take on the Colts one last time after the narrow defeat earlier in the year.

We were looking really sharp against the Parents (boo, hiss) last week and if we continue this on Sunday, Colts beware!

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We are going to be playing the flyboys of Akrotiri, on their own patch!
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