We signed off our festival season in style this weekend at Dorking RFC, with the whole minis section turning out for what felt like a proper end-of-season occasion.

Dorking put on a fantastic event. The setting in the Surrey Hills, combined with blue skies and sunshine, made it one of those mornings you’re glad you didn’t miss. It had a real sense of occasion about it, and the players responded in kind.

We fielded four teams again and came up against strong opposition including Chobham, Farnham, Barnes and Wimbledon. Every game asked questions of the players, and it was great to see how they answered them.

What stood out most was just how far this group has come since September. From that first festival at Camberley to now, the improvement is clear. The basics are there, but more importantly the confidence is growing. We saw some really crisp passing, players willing to throw in dummy passes, and plenty of twisting runs to find space and score tries. Tagging was sharp too, with players working hard for each other and showing a real understanding of the game.

More than anything, they’re starting to play with a bit of freedom and enjoyment, which is exactly what you want at this stage.

After the rugby, it was time for medals once again, followed by the usual rush for ice creams and a chance for everyone to relax after a busy morning.

With three weeks left of the season, we now head back to Camberley for some final sessions focused on fun and games. Our last session will be on 10th May, and if this weekend is anything to go by, we’ll be finishing on a high.