Lets put it straight, last season was bad. We barely avoided relegation, only winning the play down match against Sopot at the last minute! I did not even take part in that match given the fact I was not part of the coach's as I was struggling to get on the top physically.
It started off very badly for me as I broke my right collarbone during the a pre friendly match again Czestochowa. I missed the whole first part of the season and spent all winter in the gym... I never really got back in a as good shape as last year though. Only when I think I did, I didnt get my chance to play.
The team kept losing match as the gap between us and the other professional team kept growing. We suffered some severe beatings throughout the season. But thanksfully we managed to win the most important match against Sopot.
The team started training again this week. Nothing really changed during the break. Our biggest challenge this year will be to have the spirit and the will to fight to avoid relegation... big challenge!
Juvenia's Crest
mercredi 3 août 2011
jeudi 15 juillet 2010
Back to Training
After a well deserved break from all kinds of rugby related activities, some of us were back to training this week. A decent numbers of players turned up for a game of touch rugby on Tuesday (about 20) in spite of the unbearable heat!! Thermoneter shows more than 30° and its really humid too... Nice! Gyms sessions are back on the agenda as well, with a lot of intense sessions scheduled over the next couple of weeks.
Looking for a sponsor
We still don't have a coach and still looking desperately for a main sponsor... needless to say there are a lot of uncertainty regarding this upcoming season. Running a club in the first division, costs a lot of money, even though no player is being paid. That would be the best news ever if we could find someone brave enough to sponsor us!
B.
Looking for a sponsor
We still don't have a coach and still looking desperately for a main sponsor... needless to say there are a lot of uncertainty regarding this upcoming season. Running a club in the first division, costs a lot of money, even though no player is being paid. That would be the best news ever if we could find someone brave enough to sponsor us!
B.
vendredi 9 juillet 2010
jeudi 8 juillet 2010
Summer 2010, One Year Later.
Woaw, its been over than a year I arrived in Krakow and I still love it. The rugby season ended with a good victory against Sopot in the playdown semi final in front of our fan.
The second part of the season was nothing but easy as our coach left at the end of November and we did not get a new one until March. Our winter preparation was a total disaster and its no surprise than when Bill took over, we were all over the place! We were not playing as a team anymore and the work to do to put us back on track was tremendous! We covered with him all the basics every team needs to start winning ruby games: tackling, defense, and strong forward play.
I enjoyed those time training with him. He thought me so much about so many aspect of the game, especially the scrum the maul and tackling. I worked very hard and off the pitch. I was finally given a chance in a difficult away game against Gdynia. (most of their players are professional). I started the game on the front row, and I did a pretty good job in spite of our team loss pretty badly. We lost our two next games against Lodz and Sopot. We were in a very bad position before our last regular season game against Warsaw: a loss and we would have play our play down semi final away in Sopot (10 hours of train to get there)... Thankfully we nailed it and ended up playing that crucial game at home.
Tanks to a strong scrum and better individual performances, we saved ourselves from a dreadful relegation in second division... Whoohoo!!!
The official season being over I played some more friendlies with the second team... really enjoyed playing those without the pressure of losing. During the last minutes of the game against Czestochowa, I injured my shoulder quite badly after a strong contact with one of their players. (he too fucked his shoulder)! Nothing broken like last year, but a couple of week of intense pain to endure! It feels butter now, almost one month later, so its time to get back to training.
The summer is going to be intense...
B.
The second part of the season was nothing but easy as our coach left at the end of November and we did not get a new one until March. Our winter preparation was a total disaster and its no surprise than when Bill took over, we were all over the place! We were not playing as a team anymore and the work to do to put us back on track was tremendous! We covered with him all the basics every team needs to start winning ruby games: tackling, defense, and strong forward play.
I enjoyed those time training with him. He thought me so much about so many aspect of the game, especially the scrum the maul and tackling. I worked very hard and off the pitch. I was finally given a chance in a difficult away game against Gdynia. (most of their players are professional). I started the game on the front row, and I did a pretty good job in spite of our team loss pretty badly. We lost our two next games against Lodz and Sopot. We were in a very bad position before our last regular season game against Warsaw: a loss and we would have play our play down semi final away in Sopot (10 hours of train to get there)... Thankfully we nailed it and ended up playing that crucial game at home.
Tanks to a strong scrum and better individual performances, we saved ourselves from a dreadful relegation in second division... Whoohoo!!!
The official season being over I played some more friendlies with the second team... really enjoyed playing those without the pressure of losing. During the last minutes of the game against Czestochowa, I injured my shoulder quite badly after a strong contact with one of their players. (he too fucked his shoulder)! Nothing broken like last year, but a couple of week of intense pain to endure! It feels butter now, almost one month later, so its time to get back to training.
The summer is going to be intense...
B.
samedi 24 octobre 2009
Second Leg
I haven't played much rugby since my last and first post. Juvenia has many really good players, including in the front row which is where I prefer to play; same situation with the back row: many good players, meaning that you have to earn your position the hard way.
So yeah, since then, I played a rugby 7 tournament in Krakow, as well as regional league game where I scored my first try in Poland, and twisted my ankle, resulting in a two weeks injury break :/ When I came back to training I was extremely motivated. All the hard work on the pitch and at the gym finally paid off when the coach picked me in the squad for the return cup game against Pruszcz Gdanski. This is the last game I played with the first team, and that we lost 29/6.
As expected, I started on the bench. We had to win that game by more than 24 points to go through the next round. Fortunately, things turned out pretty well for us early in the first half, when a handful tries made the issue of the game look quite certain. However even leading 26/0 at half time did not guarantee us anything. I remembered that for the first leg, we were leading 6-5 after 60 minutes before conceding four tries...
Fortunately, we continued on the second half in the same fashion as in the first: scoring tries. Even if few opportunities were wasted by some avoidable mistakes, we were comfortably leading. With 25 minutes to go, the coach gave me the signal that I was about to come in (as loosehead prop). Big moment for me as it was the first time would play with all the big guns!
As usual, I messed up with my first high ball (really have to work on that), but I think I made up for it. I did my best at rucking, counter rucking (even won us a couple of ball :) and mauling. The scrums were uncontested though because one of their prop got injured. I worked very hard on one maul that ended up with a try. Didn't touchdown myself, but it felt as good as scoring :)
My friend and countryman Baptiste scored a fine try that he can be proud of, as it concluded a great effort, (he scored while a few defender were grabbing his legs for the last five meters), and it was his first try on Polish soil.
We ended up winning 53/0 :D It was really enjoyable; the best part was probably to thanks the very pleased fans (I would say about 100 of them showed up); they were chanting 'Dziękujemy' (we thank you)! Really cool :)
B.
So yeah, since then, I played a rugby 7 tournament in Krakow, as well as regional league game where I scored my first try in Poland, and twisted my ankle, resulting in a two weeks injury break :/ When I came back to training I was extremely motivated. All the hard work on the pitch and at the gym finally paid off when the coach picked me in the squad for the return cup game against Pruszcz Gdanski. This is the last game I played with the first team, and that we lost 29/6.
As expected, I started on the bench. We had to win that game by more than 24 points to go through the next round. Fortunately, things turned out pretty well for us early in the first half, when a handful tries made the issue of the game look quite certain. However even leading 26/0 at half time did not guarantee us anything. I remembered that for the first leg, we were leading 6-5 after 60 minutes before conceding four tries...
Fortunately, we continued on the second half in the same fashion as in the first: scoring tries. Even if few opportunities were wasted by some avoidable mistakes, we were comfortably leading. With 25 minutes to go, the coach gave me the signal that I was about to come in (as loosehead prop). Big moment for me as it was the first time would play with all the big guns!
As usual, I messed up with my first high ball (really have to work on that), but I think I made up for it. I did my best at rucking, counter rucking (even won us a couple of ball :) and mauling. The scrums were uncontested though because one of their prop got injured. I worked very hard on one maul that ended up with a try. Didn't touchdown myself, but it felt as good as scoring :)
My friend and countryman Baptiste scored a fine try that he can be proud of, as it concluded a great effort, (he scored while a few defender were grabbing his legs for the last five meters), and it was his first try on Polish soil.
We ended up winning 53/0 :D It was really enjoyable; the best part was probably to thanks the very pleased fans (I would say about 100 of them showed up); they were chanting 'Dziękujemy' (we thank you)! Really cool :)
In spite of the rain, the usual after match bbq went on in a really joyful atmosphere!
There is only one game to go until the winter break. Really hope I'd be part of it, but I cannot decide on that, just keep working hard!
There is only one game to go until the winter break. Really hope I'd be part of it, but I cannot decide on that, just keep working hard!
B.
dimanche 6 septembre 2009
First Game for Juvenia
That was a long trip! More than 500km across Poland from Krakowto Prucz Gdanski. Never played a further away game before! We left at 5am; I didnt wake up so early for a long time! Travelling by road is not that fun in fairness. Time seems to pass so much slower...
Anyway, we got there around 2pm; that was just enough time to get ready and warmed up for the kick off at 3. I started on the bench as planned.
We started well I thought; guys were dominating upfront. We were making to many mistakes, such as this missed tackle that led to their first try. At half time, we were trailing 5-3.
An early penalty in the second saw us taking the score for the first time of the game. At this stage, everyone thought we could really win that one. I came in soon after this, unexpectedly as openside flanker instead of losehead prop. Whatever, I was really excited about my first appearance with the Juvenia shirt on. Lot of thought came through my mind then. The first one was my last rugby game with UCC back in April, when I broke my hand after a tackle going horribly wrong. Then I thought about the time we got knocked out of the Munster cup, loosing 12-11 at the last minute, after leading 11-0... I dont think those cogitation influenced my game; think I played ok, even if there is lot of room for improvement.
However, we conceded four try during the last 20 min... ouch. Why?? I dont know. They were scoring everytime they went in our 22, using the space outwide... There were using intelligent kicking to gain territorial advantage to stay in our half of the pitch.
That was tough. I thought we were knocked out of the cup, but it turned out that there will be a second leg in Krakow. I dont know if I will be playing that game, but Im really hoping that we will nail that one.
On the way back to Krakow, as if werent tired enough after such an exhausting day, we blew up a tyre in the middle of nowhere around midnight! After all, that was just a minor setback for us after such an eventful day :D
B.
Anyway, we got there around 2pm; that was just enough time to get ready and warmed up for the kick off at 3. I started on the bench as planned.
We started well I thought; guys were dominating upfront. We were making to many mistakes, such as this missed tackle that led to their first try. At half time, we were trailing 5-3.
An early penalty in the second saw us taking the score for the first time of the game. At this stage, everyone thought we could really win that one. I came in soon after this, unexpectedly as openside flanker instead of losehead prop. Whatever, I was really excited about my first appearance with the Juvenia shirt on. Lot of thought came through my mind then. The first one was my last rugby game with UCC back in April, when I broke my hand after a tackle going horribly wrong. Then I thought about the time we got knocked out of the Munster cup, loosing 12-11 at the last minute, after leading 11-0... I dont think those cogitation influenced my game; think I played ok, even if there is lot of room for improvement.
However, we conceded four try during the last 20 min... ouch. Why?? I dont know. They were scoring everytime they went in our 22, using the space outwide... There were using intelligent kicking to gain territorial advantage to stay in our half of the pitch.
That was tough. I thought we were knocked out of the cup, but it turned out that there will be a second leg in Krakow. I dont know if I will be playing that game, but Im really hoping that we will nail that one.
On the way back to Krakow, as if werent tired enough after such an exhausting day, we blew up a tyre in the middle of nowhere around midnight! After all, that was just a minor setback for us after such an eventful day :D
Note: Photos of the game can be viewed here http://www.rugby-pruszcz.pl/foto/09.09.05/index.html
B.
mardi 1 septembre 2009
First One
Ok, this one doesnt really count, this is how to see how that whole blogger thing work. I have been reading tons of blogs myself, but never actually wrote one myself. So here I am! I will be trying to update it frm time to time, maybe more! So, lets see now what happens when I click on 'publish the message' (surprise surprise)!
B.
B.
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