"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Matt Holt, our head coach at Caldy, has often said how much potential he has seen in the squad, but has insisted that we have not performed yet this season. A view shared by many of the players. Saturday afternoon showed the players respond to criticism from a broad range of sources, including themselves. Game plans were executed near perfectly by our half backs in the first half of the game and the physicality brought by all players shut all doors for the opposition. The 2nd half brought the wind to our faces and changed the way we had to play, some points were scored against us, but again our defence held out and with the addition of a well constructed running try there were a lot of smiles at full time!

The team of coaches at Caldy have been drilling moves, patterns of play and techniques into our heads, week in week out, and we have only been implementing them half-heartedly and individually. Glimpses of our potential were let loose on Saturday by a well-motivated team using these tools in the correct circumstances and as one unit.

Motivation has always been a sticking point in the world of sport. Surely a semi-professional/professional should always be motivated, but then why do performances have their peaks and troughs? I am sure sport psychologists have spent many hours working on this dilemma. In a game where the dog work is as, if not more important, than being on the receiving end of a scoring pass, a whole range of factors can affect the team. Each player could be playing with all the effort they can muster, but should they not be doing the right things at the right time then their individual effort can go wanting. The big man himself once said, "It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what is required." Sir Winston Churchill.