As a coaching team, we went into the derby knowing it would be a difficult match. Huntingdon are a strong side.

We were encouraged by the first half. We asked the lads for commitment, and they delivered, holding their own in a very tight and physical contest. It was evenly balanced for the most part, and at half-time we were right in the game.

The match was paused at the interval, and it was important to see both teams and all supporters join together for the two-minute silence for Remembrance Day.

The second half was a different story. Credit to Stags, they came out and found another gear that we struggled to match. They applied consistent pressure, and the game got away from us. They were clinical and deserved their tries, especially their final one from a well-executed kick-pass.

The 6-1 scoreline is a tough one to take, but it reflects how dominant Stags were in that second period.Despite the difficult situation, we were glad to see the team didn't give up. Our captain, Attlee, kept working to keep his teammates going, even as the score mounted. Kian got our only try. He’d been forced off earlier from an illegal tackle on him, so to show the determination to come back on and get on the scoresheet showed real character. We also noted a thunderous defensive hit from Rhys, which earned him the top tackler of the week award.

We were pleased to give a debut to Thom; it was a challenging game to come into, and we welcome him to the team.
Ultimately, this was a disappointing morning for us. We will have to take the lessons from this defeat and prepare for the trip to Rushden.

We must, as always, thank our parent volunteers. Their work on the pitch, with injuries, and especially with the food, preparing over 100 hotdogs for the minis as well as feeding our own age-group, is hugely appreciated.

The U13 coaches.