Sunderland RFC Minis & Juniors

25/10/2025

02/03/2025

Under 15’s Match Report

SRFC 53 - Rovos 0

Good win this morning against a combined Novos and Whitley Bay Rockliffe and a much better performance than against Houghton.

Well done to some of the players playing in new positions.

Cannot fault the effort and a commitment today from all players.

We are still too raggy/messy at the breakdown which is causing us problems and today we conceded too many penalties. Against a more experienced team it would have caused us problems.

Backs were good today and scored some good team and individual tries. Loved Aaron giving the ball to Jack to score his first try.

Tries

Calvert 3
Mackie 2
Gallon
Finley
Carson
Heron

Conversions
Lewis 4
Trewick 1

MoM Jaxon

16/02/2025

Sunderland U15’s vs Houghton U15’s

SRFC 41 Houghton 22.

Well what looks on the scoresheet is a good win couldn’t be further from the truth.

Worst performance of the season so far. A lot of the team were raggy, lacked desire, didn’t implement anything we do in training or the warm up.
We didnt retain the ball and were very disjointed in attack. That is not everyone but the majority as oppose to the minority.
It is time for senior players to stand up, take control and blast the team if needed not the coaches. It’s all well and good giving it the big un once the coaches have spoke to the team.

There was more desire and commitment from the newer players as oppose to some of the more experienced lads.

On a plus note the players who played for Houghton were excellent for them and us and if it keeps Houghton going and playing to get them to Colts/senior rugby to keep the game going in our area I will give them 10 players if needed. Houghton also played a strong game and if they hadn’t dropped a few balls we could have lost that game. Massive credit to them for coming back and socialising in the club as well. Probably the best team so far to do it. As was noted by Tony the ref who also sits on the rugby committee.

As Andy said at the end we are the best team left in the plate but we won’t get anywhere without the right attitude and we have the ability to be one of the best teams in the county cup if the players switch on and want it. It’s up to them. Westoe who we play in the semi final put 50 points on Houghton.

Massive thanks to the parents who did the food. Class as always and commented upon again by the away team as best food.
Massive thanks as well to the parents who helped set up hillview it makes a massive difference the coaches not having to do either. THANKYOU.

Tries

King x 2
Mackie x 3 (not counting the ones for Houghton).
Gallon x1
Donnigan x1

Conversions
Lewis 4

MoM : Mackie
DoD : Redmond / Turnbull

02/02/2025

Sunderland U15s 47 vs Billingham U15s 5


Welcome back,

Firstly thank you to the parents who helped set up the pitch today.

It was great to see it all set up as players marched up to the top field.

Last game was 16.12. So we expected rustiness. We were slightly concerned about the backs in the warm up as they were clunky and off it. The forwards were on.

We controlled the game which just shows how proud the coaches are of the 26 players. Very few teams in our area could field a squad a big as ours giving equal game time. 11 changes.

Having a chat with the ref after the game he said the standard didn’t drop.

From a coaching perspective Jacob got his try from what we trained, the backs eventually after 2 yrs did we asked and scored a worldy. That was started by Nathan at 9. Realised his 9 was a scragged and took responsibility.

We potentially have the best back line in the county if they do and believe.

The forwards dominated today and grafted but they need to keep going the whole match and let the opposition know what they have been up against ready for the next time.

Tries
Mackie 5
Wilson. 1
Swingler 1

Conversions
Lewis 6

MoM. Mika

DoD Mika

Special mention to Jensen for reaching his 50th start. One of the first names on the team sheet. Top man on and off the field.

15/12/2024

Darlington U15s 15 SRFC U15 15

On a windy afternoon at Darlington Sunderland u15s took on Darlington u15s in a game where their coach wanted to play 4x15 blocks.
I contested this but he was adamant and the ref.
Really feel for Danny today set for his first start but broke his hand in the warm up.
We brought some new stuff into training for forwards and backs and it was great to really start and see it coming through in parts today.
Our tackling in the first 15mins was atrocious, and not around the legs. Not every player but the majority. We have coached and coached this it’s down to the players to sort that out.
They ran side ways across the pitch and we didn’t go forward just handed the man onto the next man instead of going forward owning the space and making the hit. This caused us to lose ground.
Again and again we coach this. It’s down to the players.
They really need to start and use their brains as they have the ability. If they combine them both we would be immense. The coaches will start and challenge players on their decision making.
If the coaches are honest we believe they thought they were going to run over us after our game last year with them.
Their attitude today was not in line with what we coach or in our opinion the ethos of the game but we cannot let ourselves get dragged down to that level.
We must give a little smile and a wink and let our rugby do the talking not our mouths. Likewise from the touchline.
That is what will wind the opposition up more.
I did like their offloads to keep the continuity going. Something we will look at when we have mastered the basics.
We are under no illusions if we had played 35mins/half we would have won that today. Good bounce back after the County Cup. Let’s see if we can do what we did last year after our Cup defeat and go the rest of the season undefeated. Special mention to Jack on making his debut today. Well done we will build your minutes up.

Tries
Aaron hatrick- class today against some of his DPP teammates.

MoM Beau immense today. Tackle machine. Ruck machine. Support player. Ball carrier.

DoD : Mika getting lost in building and being late
Aaron for being late
Jack for accidentally injuring Danny.

Thanks for continued support

STF

17/11/2024

On a chilly trip up the coast to a much improved Westoe and South Shields SRFC u15 won 41-26.

The backs were electric in the warm up and the coaches were itching for them to get the ball in their hands.
Westoe played a physical game going round the corner on every play and they dominated early doors.
We then got a foot hold through the forwards realising they were in a game and getting mucked in.
Well done Ryan on his first start well earned.
Scrum looked rock solid again especially with fresh props Jaxon and Finn.

Coaches decided not to switch everyone at half time but do it either side of the half as they would have the slope second half. (Great shout Andy)

The half time team talk was they will thunder down the hill at you so keep them out for 10 mins. 2 tries conceded almost immediately. We are repeatedly telling the players you have the skills but engage your brain. Only a few are.

The forwards were called out at half time as soon as they realised it’s a backs move the forwards lose interest as they aren’t gettin the ball. Their job is to graft no matter what as they win us the games backs decide by how much.

We conceded 2 unnecessary tries at the end and when you have inside centre and scrum half rucking first as forwards think game is won that ain’t on.

It really showed today the difference between the players who are training and those that are not. Effort/commitment/ability all there. Decision making is the difference and it showed today with those who train.

Great to see all the tries shared out which means the team is working and it isn’t individuals scoring all the time.

A good win but we can produce so much more.

Tries
Oscar
Findley x 2 ( another worldy)
William C
Danny (on debut)
Aaron
Caleb ( best victim of high tackle yet).

Conversions
Tom 2
Dan 1

STF

19/10/2024

U15s Match report

On a gusty chilly night at our good friends from down the A19 SRFC u15 took on Horden RFC u15s.

The match was played in the presence of SRFC royalty.

At 7.15pm SRFC 15s fielded a nigh on scratch team with only 16 players available for the match but what a job those 16 players did.

We don’t want to dwell on last Sunday but what a difference 4 days made & G Dawg makes.

With some honest feedback from the coaches the players tackled, rucked, scrummaged and ran their hearts out. The coaches couldn’t be prouder of what they did last night in a 24-24 draw. Horden had 25+ players.

Tries
Mackie x2
Gallon 1
Raine 1
Conversions Trewick 2

Special shout to Noah for keeping one of the best wingers in the county quiet with some massive tackles and Ryan for getting more minutes under his belt and propping against a strong Horden pack

MoM
Oliver Young & Charlie King

Dick of the Day
Mika and Charlie King for leaving kit

Great night of rugby and social afterwards.

As always thanks for continued support.

STF

13/10/2024

U15 Match report

On a chilly but pleasant morning at the home of rugby in Sunderland SRFC u15 took on DMP u15s and got hammered 0-67.

The difference being DMP played as a team, listened to their coaches instructions, made the right decisions in the right places at the right time and looked after the ball.

We told the players before the game if DMP have secured the ball don’t commit to the rucks and set a defensive line.

After the game the ref said what might have helped was if you didn’t commit all your forwards to the ruck when they had secured ball!!!!!!!!

Our handling today passing and catching was way off especially the passing.

We had to many voices on and off the pitch saying the wrong thing which led to wrong decisions being made.

A lot of the teams heads dropped before half time and that is not acceptable. We spoke at half time about not winning every game and playing till the end for your mates and club. It ain’t the World Cup final so just enjoy it.

Unfortunately some players just threw the towel in. This is in contrast to Morpeth last week who played their hearts till the final whistle as a team.

The above is not directed at all players but some need to have a think about today and be honest with themselves.

On a positive note when we have a result like this we tend to bounce back and grow as a team.

Plenty for the coaches to work on which we will do but training sessions will be open honest and frank moving forward. We also need as many as possible at training.

Congratulations to Mika for MoM. Watty the first team coach watched today and picked him saying he was tremendous going forward and in defence.

Well done to the newer players who went on second half and never gave up and always tried to go forward.

And finally well done Fenton who was Andy and mines MoM for his tackling,effort and commitment with loads of traffic coming down his channel coupled with Aaron who just never stopped tackling running fighting for every inch of ground.

06/10/2024

U15 Match report

On a fair day at 54.8855° N, 1.3837° (Hillview) with limited advection to effect the kicking and unusually at this time of year no Katabatic Winds (get used to the weather updates) ,SRFC u15 s hosted Morpeth u15s in a quickly arranged fixture.

Morpeth have a strong reputation in the Northumberland league so it was good to play a new team.

We spoke in the sheds before the game that the first 10 mins were critical where we had to dominate the contact both in the forwards and backs. And we did.

That set the platform for our 69-19 victory.

For the first time this season we NEARLY played the full hour as a team. Both forwards (who were immense today) and backs doing their own jobs to bring the team together as a whole.

The forwards allowing the backs to play some expansive flowing rugby under the control of the 2 Harry’s at 9 and Daniel at 10. As we have said since last year. Forwards win the game backs by how much.

Great to see Ryan make his debut, Jaxon and Noah continue to develop. Wardy back and in a new position. Also great to see brand new and injured players supporting the team.

Speaking on positions great to see players play in different positions especially Fenton who rotated in 3 positions. Even Antoinne at fullback. This is all about the coaches having trust and belief in the players.

It is also great to have players asking to go back on. What we will say is once a game is won like it was today it’s gives us as coaches a chance to experiment and protect players who play a lot of minutes whilst bringing our impact players on earlier.

Tries
Aaron x4
Wardy x3
Jacob x2
Jenson x1
Finley x1

3 forward tries 8 backs tries. Good spread).

Conversions
Daniel x 7

MoM was always going to be a forward so we chose Jacob 2 tries and grafted non stop.

D**k of the day goes to Kingy for nigh on blinding one of his players in the pre match huddle and then injuring another.

As always thanks for continued support especially the food. Broth and dumplings (no crispy tops on the dumplings though for your food critique Charlie).

Ps try to take photos please. (Morpeth did have drone like Johnathan Swingler).

Cheers

Boulder brothers and G Dawg

STF

29/09/2024

U15s match report

On a balmy late September afternoon we travelled to Whitley Bay hey hey with strong numbers.

We lent WBR 2 players in each half and those 4 players played really well. Including Joseph Gallon giving them a right talking to after conceding a try.

We came away 53-5 winners.

Highly commended within comments from pitch side viewers from WBR “Sunderland forwards dominated the scrum and breakdown after an early even battle when you committed bodies you dominated. The backs also showed good skills and were clinical when the forwards set them a platform. A very good team performance”

Scorers were

Tries
Mika 1
Charlie R 1
Finley 1
Aaron 3
Harry 1
Joseph G 1
Caleb 1

Conversions Daniel 4

MoM
Will Serancke for some crunching tackles and great hands

D**k of the day Jensen for tripping over his own feet at kick off and Joe E for forgetting his tie then trying to deflect it onto Oliver.

Good alround team performance. Well done but don’t get complacent.

Special thanks to Johnathan Swingler for the excellent photos

STF

21/09/2024

Great to have this happening at Sunderland RFC and always a pleasure to be working with Marc and the team at Vigor Rugby

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

We at Vigor.Rugby is proud to announce that coming soon is the first ever All School Games hosted at Sunderland Rugby Club. With the massive and continuing success of our first All School Games at Houghton Rugby Club, it feels the right time to open our second venue.

More information will be coming in the next week .

p.s We aren't stopping there, there will be a third venue announced in the coming months too