The Portsmouth RFC Colts in the 2004/05 Season are the first Colts Team in Hampshire who, have been able to achieve the double of both retaining for a second consecutive year the Hampshire RFU "Seventeens" Cup and winning the Hampshire RFU Colts League Championship.

 The 2004/05 Colts Squad for Portsmouth RFC is predominately made up of Players from the "U17's and U18's" Age Groups with a "top up" of few long standing Players from the U19's. The strength of the Squad has been the rich mix of characters and leaders on the field from a broad cross-section of backgrounds and experiences. Many of the Players having played for the Club since their U7's Mini Rugby Days. We have been able to maintain this good mix of personalities even after the Players have finished School to move on into Full-Time Employment, Full-Time Higher Education and University.

  Across the Squad a significant number of the Players have played representative Rugby at County level. With a some of the Players being invited to Play up a year for the 2005 Hampshire U20's Team, who meet Cheshire in the Semi-Final of the Cou> nty U20's competition. Several Players from the Squad have also gone on to establish themselves as first choice Players for the London and SE District Divisional Sides.

  This very talented group of young men first came together as a Squad for pre-season Training in the Summer of 2004. With very few U19 Players available for the opening Game of the Hampshire RFU Colts League campaign. The Squad travelled away, where they opened their account in the League by losing 19-7 to Basingstoke, after making two minor errors in an otherwise very competitive Game. From this setback the character of the Squad delivered performances where the same Squad of Players remained undefeated in the Hampshire RFU Colts League and "Seventeens" Cup Competition until mid-January, 2005. 

  The demands of League and Cup Fixtures put significant pressure on the Squad, resulting in the need to give up "home advantage" in the Semi-Final of the Hampshire RFU "Seventeens" Cup in order to fulfil an already demanding League and Cup Programme. 

  A flight on a sunny Sunday morning to take on a Jersey Side who themselves, were on a winning run following a convincing 38-13 win at home over Basingstoke, was a real challenge for this Team of young Players. Stepping up to the plate in this "must win game" showed the true strength of character of this Squad. In front of a passionate, vocal and partisan Jersey crowd of over 300 spectators. This group of young men came of age. For many in the Squad of 22 Players who played on the day, this would be the largest crowd they would ever perform in front of. For a number of the Players who were still only 16 years of age, this was a "Big Ask". True to the spirit and character of the Squad, all Players stepped up and delivered.

  In a tight and very competitive Game, Portsmouth Colts came away winners 15-16. Having scored the winning points from a drop-goal in the last few minutes of the Game. There was a certain familiar ring about the character of the win and it did bring in aerie silence over the Jersey crowd when the final whistle blew.

 For these young men, this was the point in the season where they visibly grew and came together as one. With the Squad hitting a winning run for the remainder of the 2004/05 Season.

 The Squad as a whole pitched up to support those Players representing the Portsmouth RFC Colts in the Final of the Hampshire RFU "Seventeens" Cup. Where Portsmouth RFC Colts came away 10-19 winners. Retaining the Hampshire RFU "Seventeens" Cup for a second consecutive season.

Then having secured home advantage in the Semi-Final Play-Offs of the Hampshire RFU Colts League Championship and won. The Team went on to meet a much changed Gosport side in the Grand Final and deciding game of the Hampshire RFU Colts League Championship for the 2004/05 Season.

 Due to a mix of injuries, illness and non-availability the strength and character of the Squad was really put to it's biggest test to date. With the addition of just three U19 Players to the winning Cup Final side. The Squad took on in the Final of the Hampshire RFU Colts League Championship a side, substantially strengthen with the appearance of more than a few U19 Players, who were not eligible to play in the Hampshire RFU "Seventeens" Cup Final side fielded against Portsmouth RFC Colts just three weeks earlier.

 Many of the Players in the opposing side, were able to draw on their season of experience in playing 1st XV Rugby in London & SE Division 2, Pilkington and Hampshire Senior Cup Games.

 Still in a very tight and competitive Game the Portsmouth Colts Team  walked off the paddock with an 8-7 win to become the first Colts side  in Hampshire to achieve the "Double" by winning the Hampshire RFU > "Seventeens" Cup and winning the Hampshire RFU Colts League   Championship in the same season. 

 We hope the efforts and commitment of this very talented group of young men will remain an achievement many will aspire to, over the coming seasons. However, this Squad can always remind their peers and successors, they were the first Squad of Players in Hampshire to achieve this goal.

 Many of these Players have been appearing on the paddock as part of a Portsmouth Team since they were U7's. There are even a few who played together in U7's/U8's Teams, who have not been able to play in the same Team again until this season. The 2005 Final of the Hampshire RFU Colts League Championship is the last Game this Squad of very talented Players will play together.

Next season, the U19 Players shall we hope be making regular appearances in the 1st XV of Portsmouth RFC. Whilst, other Players shall be travelling or, leaving the area to take-up places at University which, will not make it easy for them to be available to play in the Portsmouth RFC Colts Squad next season.

 Trust the above has been of interest and you will be able to award these young men the recognition of being The News Sports Awards for 2005 - Team of the Year Competition winners. To our mind, this would be a fitting reward in recognition of what for many will remain for a very long time a very special season. AS