Hove U13 Reds Show Heart and Spirit in Tough Crowborough Friendly

On a mild, grey Sunday, the Hove U13s Reds travelled to Crowborough for a friendly fixture that proved to be a fantastic test of their developing skills and resilience. Facing a strong side from the league above, the main goal was to put recent training ground work on forward calls, rucking, and tackling into practice on Crowborough's luscious, soft pitch.

The Reds started the match with incredible intensity.

The work rate across the park in the first half was a significant step up, with forwards clearing out rucks with speed and aggression. This early dominance was rewarded with excellent tries from both Billie and Teddy. The defensive line was just as impressive, with Fergus, Ali, and Ollie leading the charge with powerful and consistent tackling against physically larger opponents.

The second half saw Crowborough rally, and the game became a scrappier, more attritional contest. With some injuries in the forwards challenging our depth, fitness levels were truly tested. However, the team’s discipline and positive attitude never wavered. Led brilliantly by our captain for the day, Billie, the team's spirit shone through. Fresh legs from the bench made a huge impact, with Christopher making crucial try-saving tackles and Felix showing great handling on the wing. Despite the mounting pressure, Hove's determination was rewarded with two more fantastic tries, one for Hugo and a second for Billie, who scored both of his with powerful, confident runs.

While the final score was a 9-4 loss, the performance was full of promise and positives. A special mention goes to Ollie for his outstanding work rate and to Billie, who did a superb job in his first outing as captain.

Unfortunately, Ellis picked up a suspected sprained ankle, and we all wish him a very speedy recovery.

A huge thank you to Crowborough for hosting a competitive and enjoyable match. We now look forward to another friendly away at Westcombe Park next Sunday as we build towards the start of the league in November.