Development is what we're all about. This year, thanks to the efforts of the school liaison work which is being done at the club we have seen a number of new faces in this age group who have had to make the dramatic step up from school to club rugby. The club game is faster, more physical and more intense and it has understandably taken time for the lads to adapt. The performances in this festival were a perfect illustration of how far we've come. At times the lads played some smashing rugby and in terms of understanding the game and using the ball, looking for space and playing as a team, they are ahead of the field. The overwhelming majority of the tries that were scored throughout the rest of the teams were scored by fast, powerful individuals making solo breaks and running to the line. The overwhelming majority of Stowmarket tries came from phase play with defences sucked in before the ball was moved into space. Ollie and Henry on the wings saw plenty of ball with the forwards at times carrying and rucking superbly to make the space. Jake and Ben at half back think and plot their way through the games superbly and the intelligence that the team brings to the game is extremely encouraging, BUT! There is still a lack of appetite amongst too many of the players for the basic, physical confrontation of the game. We've got some great piano players but not enough piano shifters! Before you can play, you have to win the ball. You have to meet the physical challenge and make the tackles, be first to the loose ball and first and fastest into ALL the rucks. We still have too many players who are waiting for someone else to do those things. It's not all doom and gloom any more, there are some very good things happening and this festival was a real curate's egg, but if the team is going to progress we need all of the players to realise that it's up to each and every one of them to make things happen and shape the game. You can't have most of the team looking for someone else to take the lead. We are definitely moving in the right direction but we need everyone to be a leader for the entire game. Don't wait for someone else to do it, if you're closest it's up to you. Anticipate where the ball is going and get there, don't wait until a team mate is tackled before you run to help him. Come up and make your tackles, don't just hope that your opponent will run into you. Be aggressive, put pressure on, MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Everyone did something good. Everyone can look back proudly at something that they did well which is a definite improvement, but they also know that there were several things which they could have done much better. You can do it, you just have to have the will, the courage and the determination to do it for the whole game.