First scores count

RFUW have just asked me to send all our scores in for the season (and - incidentally - are going to ask for official score and teamsheets to be completed for all games - at both age groups - next season).

While doing this I spotted an interesting pattern amongst the U17 scores. Including festivals...

• In one game there were no scores at all
• In 16 games where we have conceeded a try first we have won 6, and lost 10
• In 15 games where we have scored a try first we have won 14, and lost 1

(What is more, in the "exceptional" game - against Hertford - we changed the entire team at half-time when we were well ahead, so arguably its not an exception at all but was in effect two games, one won after going ahead, one lost after going behind).

What is more, in most of the games where we have conceeded a try it has been very early on - in the first five minutes.

The moral of this seems to be that the opening exchanges in a game - most of time the response to the kick-off - decides the game. If we are awake at the start we win, if we are asleep we lose.

Its a lesson East learnt yesterday - and with the festivals coming up its something we need to remember as well. Winning from behind is all well and good if we have an hour or so to do it, its asking a lot if we only have about 15 minutes.