26th Jan 2019 Mens 7th v Huddersfield Dragons 5(Away) 1 - 2 loss
The Development M7s played exceptionally well against a similar in standard Huddersfield side. The line up was totally different to the norm and once again skipper David Abbott brought into the side two exceptional girls - Maggie and Penny Oates - and both fitted in really well.
Rhydding led 1-0 at half time and it was Tom Oates who put us ahead when sister Maggie provided the lay off for Tom to convert, the lead was no fluke and truly well deserved. The team tried very hard to let the ball flow and that was the difference overall in the first half, whilst for Huddersfield several players were over-confident, kept going for glory, and so they were wasting their time against the likes of Johnnie Roughton, Penny Oates and Fiona Dix who defended really well throughout.
In fairness to Huddersfield they changed their tactics in the second half and played more like a team. It became obvious that Rhydding, being the younger in age, would come up against some slightly more experienced play, yet right until the end they gave everything and despite conceding two goals, Rhydding equalled their opponents in possession and had more shots on target by far.
Caleb Dix had a very good game. Dan playing outfield rather than in goal and his successor in goal Sol made very good contributions. A Draw would have been a fair result. Player of the match goes to Maggie Oates, well done Development M7s.