Under 17 Flag 2024 Season Review
Read what Under 17 Flag Head Coach Dan Dart had to say about the 2024 season…
2024 was a somewhat limited season for the U17s in terms of actual matches with a low number of clubs actually fielding U17 squads. Similarly, less home tournament organisers had U17 matches scheduled that we and other teams could then participate in.
For our own team, we had a number of U14 Flag team graduates move up and join the team. Our starting QB, Jake Dart, moved on to Adult Flag due to age, and also the experienced Lucy Sharp joined the Women’s Contact team, so we had a gap at a key position with no immediate and obvious candidate. Fin Pester admirably stepped up and filled that hole, despite this not being his chosen position. His overall football knowledge and ability to quickly learn the U17 playbook stood him in good stead and he did a truly impressive job in executing the plays and leading the offense.
An early season trip in March to a chilly Brighton saw our young team lined up to take on three tough opponents, but they were unphased and played with great intensity.
First up, we had an outstanding performance against a South Coast Spitfire team loaded with ex-British Championship-winning and GB Squad players, running them extremely close by putting 2 TDs past them and losing eventually by a single score. A second game against London Blitz made up of U16 & U19 contact players had Exiles go 12-0 up, only to lose that lead in heartbreaking fashion to two late breakaway scores and therefore tie a game that seemed to be there for thetaking. So still we were unable to win out against the Blitz in this age group. The final game against an athletic Brighton Scorpion team saw them take the win as we failed to maintain their scoring rate. Disappointed at not having come away with a win despite playing so well throughout, the Exiles players and coaches took heart that we had provided such stiff opposition to 3 talented teams, were third overall on points difference on the day, and were actually the sole team there playing with a mixed squad.
Six weeks on and we were hosting our own X Bowl at Westcombe Park. We only had two opponents, rematches against the Spitfires and the Blitz, with the two teams having the best record then facing off in the final for the tournament trophy. It was fantastic to see the U17s Exiles kick on from the last tournament and produce even better individual and team performances. The first game against the Spitfires was an incredibly tense affair as both teams traded drives and possessions but neither managing to break into one another’s respective end zone. The Spitfires’ mood and frustration was clearly obvious in the final few plays and as the teams exchanged high fives at the conclusion of the game which ended on the hooter as a 0-0 tie, and a great result on paper for a less experienced and skilled Exiles team.
Hugely encouraged by this resilient showing and what we’d seen of the Blitz team against the Spitfires in their respective game, we then faced the Blitz, a team against whom we had never come out victorious against at U17 level. We dominated that game on both sides of the ball, comfortably finishing 18-0 winners and ensuring a place in the final with a rematch vs. the Spitfires. Knowing their GB Coach would have made various adjustments from the first game and their players would also be set on making amends, the Exiles had to be at their very best, and came out strong, taking an early surprise lead with a long scoring play, then matching the Spitfires’ subsequent two scores (as they dug deep into their playbook) with another to tie things up at 12-12. A further Spitfires score on a trick play fairly late into the game meant we needed to score yet again against a very good defense to stay in the game. With their best and most experienced players being substituted back on to the field to protect their slender lead, frustratingly, our final drive stalled on 4th down in their red zone as we couldn’t quite connect on a pass as time expired. It had been a brilliant final game, and whilst we couldn’t quite win our own tournament trophy this time, we had proved to be one of the most difficult teams that the Spitfires (who later, in September went on to make GB Finals yet again) had played this year.
The U17s continued to train for the remainder of the season, a handful of players also joining practice sessions with the new Adult Flag team, which was fantastic to see and highlight that pathway through the club. It’s been great to work on and witness the player development and team cohesiveness this last year.
Thanks to the assistant coaches, Colin Hubbuck, Hamish Cameron and Jake Dart, and to the parents for continuing to provide their time, travel and ongoing support to their kids to enable them to continue to play with this Exiles team.
