Mackie were off to a sharp start as soon as the hooter hooted the opening game started with plenty of tackles, support play, passing and tries to be scored against Gammar Blue.

With the 1st win under their belts it was time for ball down, suncream on and drink so that you could think. The coaches provided some activities for the players to get stay RAMPed up.

Mackie then encountered the Pelicans who provided the squad with their first taste of physical opposition and perhaps caught the squad off guard. However they did show some agility before contact (ABC), balance and co-ordination to gain 1 point for being the losing team.

Not so much of a gap between this and the next game and again the coaches provided some activities to promote the principles of play (PoP)
for support and continuity.

The last game was against our Nemesis team, Deeside, and with the loss of the last game and the previous activities the team went about their business and scored 4 well worked tries against Deeside, something they have been unable to successfully complete prior encounters with Deeside. The squad gained 1 point for being the losing team.

This placed the squad 3rd in their pool and were to play the 3rd placed team, Aberdeen Wanderers, from the other pool. This match was a close one and at full time it was a 4 : 4 draw. It was agreed to decide the winner to be the team who scored the golden try. Mackie Reds were pumped up for this and although they did not initially get the restart some awesome tackling, going to ground, holding the ball, waiting to hear the pop, pop, pop from supporting players and then the pass, it was our own "Road Runner" took a great line, used some top class side steps, broke the defence line at speed and completed the golden try with a trade mark fist pump. The whole team shared the celebration.

After each game all squad members formed a line and shook hands with the opposition and some of the game coaches. Great to see them showing rugby's core values.

As always ask your rugby brain what is the 1 thing I need to stop doing to improve my rugby skills and what is the 1 thing I need to start doing to improve my rugby skills?

Big thanks to all parents for getting the players there on time, being pitch side supporters in the glorious sunshine.

Also thanks to our own "professional photographer" for all the action shots of the day.

Lastly big thanks to our hosts, Aberdeen Grammar, for inviting us to participate in the tournament and providing a massive learning opportunity to improve our rugby skills as individual players and as a squad.

TournamantTASTIC peeps!

Andywackysocks2