Wooden Spoon Marauders stir up a success with Fiji’s Semi Radradra
Wooden Spoon Marauders Super 7s Series at Newbury Saturday 3rd July – match review from Coach, Keith Boatman
The Wooden Spoon Marauders completed a very successful second leg of the Super 7s Series at Newbury RFC on Saturday. The weekend saw the men’s side include possibly the best current player in the world in Semi Radradra, who played for Marauders in preparation for the Olympics before flying out to Fiji the next day.
DoR Keith Boatman was asked how the team managed to field such a world class professional player now plying his trade at the Bristol Bears in the UK. He replied “Semi needed some sevens game time and recognised that the team played for a good cause, trying to build awareness of Wooden Spoon’s support for children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage. It was a win for everyone and he was happy to play!”
The Men’s team started the day slowly against Barracudas loosing but showed promising signs against top ranked Jesters loosing 25-12 in particular with a good defence. The team then fielded their star player of the day against the Lambs but this seemed to serve as a distraction rather than as a performance incentive.
Next up was the plate quarter final against charity rivals Oxfam Crusaders. At last the Marauders team found form and won a close fought encounter 31-26, this meant they played the Royal Navy in the semi-final winning another close match 33-24 after an outstanding individual try by Dan Howells the teams scrum half.
The final was a dramatic event against Ealing Trailfinders Academy with the lead changing sides on a number of occasions. The Marauders started well winning three kick-offs in a row with some outstanding work from Tom Derrick and Kini Bavadra and finished with a wonderful team try created by Semi Radrara and Saisa Caucau for Apolosi Ranawai to finish and win the game and the Plate trophy.
The Wooden Spoon Marauders Women’s team had a good day, but again loosing their first game, this time to Jesters 25-12. However they quickly rallied to beat last weeks winners Samurai 31-12. This was followed by an excellent performance against the British Army winning 36-7 which set up a final against the Jesters which was a ding dong affair with the Marauders taking an early lead but the Jester finishing stronger to win 29-12.
However, this is an exciting women’s side with every opportunity to win the series. The team have been finalists two weeks in a row and are placed within two points of Jesters and Samurai. In two weeks time they have every opportunity to go one step further and win the final.
This weekend was a fantastic weekend seeing both the men and women play in finals and raise awareness of the Wooden Spoon charity well done to everyone involved!
Thank you to Wooden Spoon Marauders’ kit provider O’Neills and kit sponsors Irwin Mitchell.
If you would like to participate in the men’s or women’s 7s rugby squads, please email rugby@woodenspoon.org.uk.
If you would like to see how you can get your rugby club involved with fundraising activities please visit our fundraise for us page.
