Chichester Under 14s win the League without conceding a single point all season - with more than a little help from Rugby Coach Weekly

By Mark Lawford When Chichester were relegated from the top flight in Sussex, coach Dale Hudson looked to Rugby Coach Weekly to revive his side - and they went on to make club history as a result

Hammered in almost every league game, relegated, left without a coach and with player morale virtually non-existent, it had not been the best first season of 15-a-side rugby for Chichester Under-13s to put it mildly.

They only qualified for the Sussex A League on points difference to keep up the club's proud tradition of competing at the top level at just about every age group.

But six subsequent defeats in seven led to the head coach questioning his role while player numbers dwindled to such an extent that it looked as if Chichester might not even be able to field a team at under-14 level.

And for those familiar with Sussex rugby, an age group without a Chichester team in the top division is rare enough let alone no team whatsoever.

Drastic times call for drastic measures and former coach Dale Hudson returned from his sabbatical of "management and helping" to pick up the reins of the battered team.

He had coached the boys for seven years to the end of Under-12s but stood aside to give someone else a chance and offer the boys a different perspective and different coaching.

The move backfired in a very hard division and confidence oozed from the boys in gallons.

On his return, Dale was keen to bring in new faces and ideas.

The new faces were outgoing Under-16s coach Martyn Boxall and long-time friend Mark Bonar who was looking for a different club for his son.

Thus was formed a triumvirate boosted by parent/coaches Ian Sellwood and Duncan Bennett while Dale's son Sam launched a school-based recruitment drive that resulted in 20 players at pre-season training.

However, it was the coaches' willingness to look elsewhere for guidance that provided the real basis for the season they would enjoy at under-14 level.

Dale had access to Rugby Coach Weekly through Mark and this "back to basics" approach - coupled with printouts of the sessions for the players to look at themselves - gave another dimension to what the coaches were trying to do.

Dale said: "We had to start again right down to tackling, defending and running straight.

"Fitness was crucial if we were going to bounce back and win promotion back to the A League - this was our primary concern but so was bringing back the fun element and getting the squad remotivated."

So, armed only with Rugby Coach Weekly and a host of good intentions, Chichester set about the challenge little knowing they were about to create club history.

Easy wins against Haywards Heath B and Bognor (both 40-0) started things off nicely before the bad weather set in and disrupted everyone's plans.

"We kept the players as fit as we could during a virtual two-month break and with no game play we kept the boys alert and stimulated with moves set up from Rugby Coach Weekly," added Dale.

"We found the scrummaging drills very useful and easy to understand. Mark is an ex-forward so he was able to make them even more understandable and get the lads back onside after the previous season.

"It was great for us to show the boys a piece of paper that says 'here's how to do it' without us having to say it them.

"They had just about lost the will to learn and the Rugby Coaching Weekly drills gave that back to them."

As a consequence, once the thaw set in, Hove B (33-0), Crawley, Worthing B and Midhurst (all 40-0) were sent packing.

Six wins from six and not a point conceded along the way - promotion was assured with one match to go.

Then Dale discovered that no other team in the history of the club had gone a whole season winning every game without conceding a point.

Success had bred success and player numbers had swelled by around 30 per cent by the time Pulborough turned up to Oaklands Park for the last League match of the campaign - and with five wins from six themselves, they would be no pushovers.

A huge crowd from every age group made for a great atmosphere and for the first time the Chi boys were keen not only to win but to win to nil.

At 24-0 up with only a few minutes remaining, the home side could have done without a long bout of Pulborough pressure - and a free kick five metres from the line threatened to unravel a season of water-tight defending.

However, the wall held firm, the ball was turned over and launched into touch.

History was made, promotion won and pride restored.

However, it doesn't end there.

Chichester have since played strong sides from Hampshire and shown they CAN concede points and still win - and for good measure, back Rory Sellwood made it to the Sussex A team, a huge achievement for a B League player.

Dale added: "The only problem I might have now is a team that think they are invincible - which they are not.

"And as a coach, one of the good things about mini-rugby is that pre-match training with other clubs is where you pick up moves you've never seen before.

"But now it's a league, you turn up, warm up and play to win. Rugby Coach Weekly will be just as important to us next season even though they are a year older.

"As it is so easy to understand, I will be looking at various things to take us forward but I shall make sure I keep it as simple and clear as possible.

"It's been a massive team effort both on and off the pitch and I shall continue to make sure the boys get the best from all of us coaches."

To mark the great season, Chichester will unveil a plaque at the club to honour a team that, remarkably, did not concede a League point all season.

But the hard work begins for the revitalised squad as they prepare to take on the best players in the county every week.

Click the link to subscribe to Rugby Coach Weekly and have practical, effective rugby coaching exercises delivered direct to your inbox every week.