The Japanese have a word for it: Kaizen. It is a philosophy of continuous, incremental improvement in all things. It seems to have worked in Japan, especially in the Japanese rugby side. Who would have bet on them being in the quarter finals of the rugby world cup in 2019 and a famous victory over South Africa? One step at a time; analyse; practice; review; deliver…..one per cent better at a hundred things brings 100 per cent improvement. It works! They also say, in Japan and other places, that you learn more from defeat than from victory.

This week’s achingly close game against Billingham did two things: it showed the fruit of coaching and its application on the pitch and revealed some areas for improvement. Apart from the excitement of a close finish, that’s what makes a good game: the application of brain as well as brawn.

Billingham started strongly with dangerous forays deep into Wallsend territory right from the kick off. Stalwart defence kept them out, but the Billingham lads were big and strong in the forwards at the set piece. Wallsend were better drilled and communicated better in the loose scrums to whip the ball away and create attacking runs of their own. Quick hands from a ruck opened up a gap on Billingham’s left flank and a try for Wallsend was denied only by a penalty for holding on to the ball too long after a tackle. Close. It was the 13th Minute when Billingham fly hacked forward a loose ball and scored a breakaway try. Billingham ahead 7 nil. The midfield battle continued until well into the half so that in the 24th Minute, Wallsend played an excellent set piece move from a penalty outside Billingham’s 25 to take a try which was just outside our kicker’s range. 5-7. What a game! Half time: time for review.

The thinking caps were obviously on. Wallsend had communicated well throughout the half, guiding the ball out of the ruck and making themselves available for the pass when the three quarters were at full pelt. However, Billingham had some big, good runners who needed to be dealt with and their pack dominated in the set scrum. Analysis made. Now to deliver.

Second half and the strategy worked: a fiery reaction from a Billingham centre was evidence of his frustration at being contained by the Wallsend half backs. Their big lads still had the edge at times, though, and Billingham kept Wallsend locked in their own half for the early minutes until in minute 35 they bundled over for a try under the posts. 5-14. Clearly Billingham had put on the thinking caps as well, because they matched Wallsend’s strength in the maul and ruck. Indeed, after a 12-phase period of play (12 phases!! Men’s teams would struggle to match that!), they were able to outnumber Wallsend across the field and take another try towards the corner in the 35th minute. Their excellent kicker converted:5-21. In times past, there might have been a few drooping heads at this point, but no longer. Having begun to dominate the open field, Wallsend burst through on uncommitted tackling and retaliated with a try in the 40th minute, well converted: 12-21. The gap was narrowed. Both teams hunkered down in midfield, seemingly unable to penetrate the other’s defence, but it was Billingham who broke the stalemate, capitalising on a loose ball to take an easy try in the 57th Minute. 12-26. It was to our lads’ resilience and credit, though, that this was not the final word. They played like tigers in the dying phases of the game and deserved their converted try in the 59th Minute. 19-26. Could they do it? A draw would have been a fair result for these well-matched teams! Unfortunately, not. Despite some committed running and vigorous rucks, time overtook Wallsend just as they were on the up.

Final score: Wallsend 19 Billingham 26. Well played, boys!

Rugby is a complicated game. You need strategy learned on the training ground and adaptability in the game. Our lads showed both in this match. Remember, one percent better at 100 things, patiently building, reviewing, analysing and the prize is yours in due course. This match was a step along the way to greatness. Champions often compare becoming top of their game to riding a motorbike: you keep one eye on what’s right in front of you, but you keep the other on the horizon well ahead. This is a team of huge potential!

(More of the philosophy next time!!)
Examinatio; Usu; Recensio; Libera Vix!
(Analyse; practice; review; deliver victory!)