Trip to France with U14, U16 and U18

Cisneros trip to France

Day 1

On Thursday 16th March, after school, we drove to the Colegio Mayor Ximénez Cisneros to get on time to the bus that would take us, the U14 team to a trip to southern France until Monday 20th, 21:00. To waste time, I tried looking out the window, but it was too boring, so I had to leave it. I, for my part. was very nervous that I'd get put in a room with U16s and/or U18s and wake up in the morning full of toothpaste, or without an eyebrow... Anyway, we were stuffed in that bus until 21:30, when we stopped to have dinner at a restaurant. We were given pasta with tomato sauce, meatballs and pudding which I found a little rancid. From there to 1:45am, there was even more bus. When we arrived, I discovered with relief that there were different blocks for each category. Some went to sleep in their normal clothes, so tired we were.

Day 2

In the morning, after causing a racket, as always, we changed into our rugby kit and headed for breakfast. We had all we wanted some pain au chocolat, cereal, nutella. We didn't need anything else. For breakfast.
We got in the bus and drove to the pitch where we would train that morning. But, unfortunately, I got tackled and, when I landed, my back gave a sickening crack and ached for two days. I got treated with reflex and continued training. After training and a hot shower, we all piled into the bus yet again. We got taken to a restaurant for lunch, where we ate paella, steak with fries and ice-cream. After that, we were given 90 minutes to do whatever we wanted. We saw this as a great opportunity to waste some money. Some of us even bought butterfly knives for 4€! The rest bought supplies for this night. In the evening, we went to St Jean de Luz, where we explored the beach, the shops, the food and the church.  We had dinner at the hostel. 

Day 3

This mmorning, we played a touch rugby game in the green. I scored some tries. Today, we also had our match in France against the... GETXO?! But those are spanish! It turns out that Getxo had joined the French league. We lost. But U16 won against La Única. In the evening, we were taken to the Toulouse-Bayonne rugby match of the Top 14 rugby League. I bought a Toulouse flag. Although Bayonne won, it was pretty awesome. We bought our dinner at the shops around the stadium.

Day 4

Today, we had another match against the St Jean de Luz Olympique. But we got some help from our sub 16 buddies. We won. Such a victory, I had never seen! Even I got close to the try. However, the U16s who playedd with the U18s had it more difficult. After the victory, we went to Biarritz, where we wasted the remains of our money in pringles, chocolates and sweets (I also bought a couple of postcards for my parents). After that, we had dinner at a Pizzeria nearby. It was great! Finally, we were driven back to the hostel. There, we all went into one room and turned on the TV. We watched and ate. Until 1:00am, when our coach Koi, a strapping, young english rugby player, burst into the room and demanded what was the racket about. We didn't want to mess with our coaches, especially with people like Koi. But we slept OK.

Day 5

Today was our last day in France. In the morning, we visited the Train de la Rhune, an incredible train that goes up a mountain using a complicated system of zips that lets the train advance when the wheels turn. After riding to the top of the mountain and back down after a short stop, we boarded the bus and gossiped until we arrived back to Madrid. There, my dad was waiting with the car. We drove home, where I showered and went to sleep.

This was an awesome trip. I loved it. We played two challenging games. One, we lost. The other, we crushed. But we had a great time at the match and had many great experiences. I hope we manage to go on more trips like this.

Match won against Alcalá RC

Match against Alcalá RC 

On saturday 11th March, we were to play against Alcalá RC. We played as visitors, so we started up early to get to Alcalá de Henares on time. We took our half-scrum there too. Well, when we got there, we saw (rather to my disappointment) that it was a turf pitch. We started practising our kicks until our coaches got there. Then, we started training. We were not that confident. Alcalá was sixth, but they were pretty big. The tension was growing as both teams sized each other up. The referee suddenly stood in the centre of the pitch looking at the audience with all of the Alcalá team in a line on his left, just like a national football team listening to its anthem. We did the same on the ref's right. Then it got clear: we were having 1 minute of silence for the anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Atocha train station on the 11th March 2003. There we were, feeling like professionals. But we only felt that one minute. The referee blew his whistle and both teams formed. Their team kicked off. Our team tried to pass to the right flank. I got the ball and passed it fast, only to find myself tackled after I had passed. But the referee hadn't seen it, so I remained silent. But the turf had torn my scar on my right knee, peeling off my scar tissue and left it hanging. I have never known how I got to that next ruck that fast. Perhaps it was anger, or pain. But it helped! So I focused only on the game and on the pain. So the game went on. But this ref really took his position seriously. He was constantly stopping the game. He was very equal, but I think he shouldn't have stopped the game so much! Anyway, he took every question of the captain as a protest and the game got a bit hard. But we still continued and scored many tries. At the end of the day, the game ended 5-35, for the Complutense Cisneros! After celebrating, we went into the changing rooms, which were more like trailers with park benches and showers. We really felt like film stars. After the shower, I got my knee bandaged up and sat down to the 3rd time with my team.

Team family meal

Team family meal

BTW, after the two matches, the win against Majadahonda and the tie against Alcorcón, there was a meal in a restaurant two ex-players of the Cisneros had. There, we would be watching the Spain vs Georgia match live at a really good meal. There we all had some nachos meal, some spanish tortilla and some meatballs and fries. We enjoyed the first half, but then we went home because everyone ewent to a chinese shop to buy candy.

B team tie against Alcorcón RC

B team tie against Alcorcón RC

Half an hour after the A team's match, it was our turn. We, the B team were playing a match against Alcorcón rugby club. I have rarely played in the B team this season, but when I do play there, I get motivated as hell. That was the case on that day, when we tied against Alcorcón RC. It was a normal spring day, and it was very chilly, as it was 10 in the morning. But after the A team's win, we were keen to follow their lead. So we all stood there, in the centre of the pitch, with our adrenaline surging, ready to start. We kicked off, but our attack that followed made up for anything wrong we did during our training and more, much much more. In a few phases, we gained the ball and our new recruit Victor (who had played as flanker in England. I'm not using his real name) signed his first try in Madrid's league. 

Victor running

But this match, something incredible happened. I scored a try! Right through the defence! I was really happy. But further on, when we would have a depression in our defence and were losing 47-42, we scored that try. It was up to me, for the second time in my career to put that ball in between those three poles. But I failed. How come? It was a really easy shot: straight forward. Some more practise, then?

A team win against Majadahonda

A team win against Majadahonda

On Saturday 4th March 2017, the A team had a match against Majadahonda. I didn't play in the A team because of an accident with my egg treatment involving me and my father. But that didn't stop me from playing in the B team and from watching the A team play against Majadahonda. While I was sitting in the stands, I saw every detail in the field. I didn't miss anything. These were the best of the best, all except M.C, who was selected for the Madrid team and was currently at a match againct Valencia's team. I want to wish him luck right now. But the game started. My thoughts were drawn to the game. We started to come in with the tries. We were doing good and the first time finished.

ATTACK!

But in the 2nd half, we had a depression. We scored less tries (but we scored!) and we were constantly defending: the players were tired. The game finished 31-0. We had won.