As we say good bye to 2017, I take a look back on the journey so far from a 1st XV perspective. My first 6 months as Head Coach, the ups and downs (for which there have been many) and what to expect in the second half of the season.

For many, the season started back in July. A positive pre-season, high in player participation, explaining new systems, getting good feedback and the feeling was good amongst the group of players who would wear both the 1st XV and Crusaders shirts throughout the season to follow.

2 games against higher opposition (my decision) followed where we did well, again had good player participation and came close to taking the spoils on both occasions. Things were looking bright for Aireborough although it must be said that we were still on a learning curve in terms of systems of play and structure.

2nd September saw our first league game of the season against a Northallerton side, highly respected and tipped to do well if they could address their issues with travel which has blighted them in previous seasons. Well the travel issues looked to be sorted as they were 24-5 up at half time. Trusting that if we played our systems well then the game was far from over; structure and spirit meant that we were made a comeback, nilling North in the 2nd half however coming up just short at the final whistle. Again, positive things came from that game and with new players bedding in, the future looked bright.

The following week took us away to Sheffield Medicals. Turning up late due to heavy Leeds traffic, a very slow warm up and heads not really in the game showed that if we didn’t turn up focused then we would get punished. That happened with us coming away with no points to show for our travels. Things were made worse when at that early stage of the season, injuries were already starting to play a part. Following this, a visit of Harrogate Pythons who had impressed at the Roundhesians 10s would provide us with another stern test. We came through that with a bonus point win with and many positives to build on.

Then came the next 3: Otliensians away, Castleford at home and Leeds Mods away. From my point of view, we were outplayed by the better side on the day at Otliensians, again suffering injuries in the game. We were sloppy against Castleford and should have put the game to rest at Leeds Mods. However, 3 games on the trot, 3 defeats, 0 points. It was difficult to take positives from these games but within the group we knew that we weren’t playing to our potential and had come close in 2 of the 3 games.

We were experiencing more and more injuries with long term injuries suffered by key players. Also we were starting to experience a dwindling in numbers attending training on both a Monday and (to a lesser extent) Wednesdays. I held a meeting with the players, asked them questions they probably haven’t been asked before and sought a reaction from them in the coming games, starting with a cup game against a struggling Knottingley, followed by league games against Leeds Medics and Dentists (home), Skipton (away) and Stocksbridge (home).

We put our poor start to the season behind us and fought hard to beat Knottingley (18 – 15), we taught LMD a lesson in rugby at Nunroyd (39 – 15), defended like heroes to beat Skipton (3 – 7) and then really opened the floodgates against Stocksbridge with a display of brutal efficiency from the forwards (56 – 12). Aireborough were back on track and things didn’t look so bad after all.

Again, even though winning 4 on the bounce, we lost a number of players through injury and unavailability (I think the count was around 19 players who would be contenders for 1st XV rugby). This would play a key factor in the next 2 games (Knottingley away and Wensleydale at home), suffering back to back defeats. However In the latter, we had a case of when ‘The boy becomes a man’ as from our colts set up, Jamie Sykes (at 17 years and 72 days) made his Aireborough 1st XV debut, putting some of the senior players to shame, punching above his weight and often coming out on top in collisions. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come from the colts, seeing them slot into training on a Wednesday night with the seniors always fills me with optimism as to what they will be able to give us as we move on as a club.

One way you should get yourself back on track is against your most local rivals. We had the opportunity to put our sketchy form behind us as we hosted Baildon what for Aireborough is ‘The Derby’. The 1 game of the season where form goes out of the window in what is usually a close affair between the 2 sides. This had all the hallmarks that it would be a similar situation with Baildon struggling at the foot of the table and Aireborough coming into the game on the back of 3 straight defeats (if you count Northallerton away in the cup). No real team talk was needed in this one however I demanded focus. The collision area was something I wanted us to focus on and win and we did that. The game, as predicted was a scrappy game however we never let Baildon into it until it was too late and ran out comfortable winners (36 – 12).

So with Sheffield Medicals return trip to Nunroyd on Saturday, we find ourselves in a comfortable position in the league. As a coach, I want more and I am hoping that in the 2nd half of the season, we can have that. I want winning to become a habit, players to excel and for us all to really enjoy our rugby. To achieve that, training numbers have to increase again, I don’t count on the rub of the green, we should be creating our own luck. Train hard, play hard and enjoy that winning feeling on a Saturday, the beers always taste better with a win under your belts.

As always, I would like to thank all our supporters who help to give us that edge and spur us on. Please keep turning out in numbers, although things haven’t always gone our way, I am hopeful for a successful 2nd half to the season and your support really does count.

Last of all, I wish all connected to Aireborough a Very Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Yours in Rugby,