Full of Focus and Belief
vs Shelford Tigers – Lost 0–20
vs Shelford Lions – Drew 5–5
vs Cambridge – Won 10–5
vs Saffron Walden – Won 10–0
The New Tigers arrived at Newmarket with focus and belief and across four competitive festival matches, showed just how far they’ve come since the start of the season.
Thinking back to our first training session, one of our shared goals was to close the gap on Shelford. Last year’s games were one-sided, but this time the Tigers stood tall, met the challenge head-on, and refused to back down. The 0–20 scoreline didn’t reflect the fight, determination, and defensive grit on display — the team took the battle to Shelford, showing a level of intensity that set the tone for the day.
The second match against Shelford Lions saw the Tigers regroup, tighten their structure, and match their opponents stride for stride in a 5–5 draw. The effort from both Doms was immense, relentless tackling, strong carries, and energy across the pitch. Archie led by example in defence, taking responsibility and fronting up against some of the toughest runners of the day.
As the team started to find their rhythm, the third match against Cambridge showed what happens when the Tigers play their own brand of rugby, width, pace, and purpose. Caleb was electric on the wing, unstoppable when given space, finishing brilliantly after the forwards had laid the platform. The final match against Saffron Walden built on that momentum, the whole forwards pack working together to deliver confident phase play, sharper support lines, and disciplined defence earning a deserved 10–0 win to close out the festival.
There’s still work to do, particularly in communication and securing the ball at the breakdown, where the pressure sometimes gave opponents a chance to counter. But overall, this was a day of progress and pride. The boys played for each other, learned from every game, and proved once again that this squad is on the rise.
The New Tigers building week by week. Bring the roar.
