Tagged: Joshua

Josh as you’ve likely seen has had a pretty good rugby season since last year. Despite not being able to start playing until the end of September because of his knee injury he got straight back into his usual great tagging and occasional try scoring. Come the turn of the year he’d scored 5 tries, not bad seeing as he only plays once a fortnight and the aforementioned delayed start.

However, something strange happened once the year turned and a newer, faster, more skillful Joshua emerged almost out of nowhere and amazed everyone including his coaches at the transformation from a good player into a brilliant player. The remaining half of the season, well half of the half as he doesn’t play every week as he’s at his mum’s, he notched up a stonking 18 tries, half of them coming in a mini tournament where he played three 10 minute games and scored 9 tries in just one morning!

So this clearly didn’t go unnoticed by his coaches and in the more recent tournaments he’s played nearly every minute of every game, making some brilliant last ditch tackles, reading the game well and obviously scoring one or two tries along the way.

His performance in the second half of the season meant the coaches had almost no choice but to award him the Most Improved Player trophy due to his huge leap forward. That left a very proud Dad happy because he’s put a lot of effort into his rugby this year and its great to see it recognised and most importantly for Josh he’s got more hunger now to wrestle the Player Of The Season trophy off of his team mate Christian; who I might add has had a lot of assists from Josh this season.

Those two will be battling out, in the nicest possible way next season which brings a new dimension too; no more tag rugby. Full contact from September, Josh can’t wait to start flattening people!!!

One person that deserves recognition too is Josh’s older brother Dan who I believe has helped bring Josh’s game on immensely with all the practice tackling that seems to going on constantly in the garden. He’s imparting what knowledge and skill he’s already learnt on to Josh which is helping bring Josh along at a rate of knots and whilst he’s struggled a bit this season he should feel proud of his part in Josh’s progress and needs to keep his chin up and keep positive about next season.

Daniel if you actually read this, I’m proud of your performances and determination this season and for what you are doing for Josh.

Well done Josh, I’m very proud of you; brilliant effort :-)

At 8am we all arrived at Edgeley Park for what was to be an action packed day.

Josh & his U8s squad were playing in a tournament ahead of Sale Sharks last match at Edgeley Park against Harlequins.

The U8s played brilliantly in their pool matches; drawing 1 & winning 3! Josh scored 2 brilliant tries as well.

Warrington met Bowdon in the final who were a force to be reckoned with & unfortunately due to the speed & discipline of Bowdon our boys couldn’t win.

When the tournament was over we paid a trip to the Sale Sharks shop before finding our seats for the match. Only Mum & Dan have watched Sale Sharks play live before, so it was a first for the other 4.

Sadly it wasn’t to be Sale Sharks day either as they suffered defeat.

Josh received his runners up medal on the pitch at half time & we saw Uncle Simon as he was on Paramedic duty.

We had a brilliant but exhausting day & an early night is on the cards for all of us!!