U14A Match Report: Sunday 1st April 2012
HML League: Hitchin A (15) vs Twickenham (12)
Tries (3): Benji (1), Dan H (1), Freddie (1)
Cons (0):
Squad: Ashley, Benji, Ben F, Bradley, Dan B, Dan C, Dan H, Frazer, Freddie, Harry E, Jack F, Jack W, Jamie, Jordan, Max, Ollie M, Ollie P, Saiful, Sam J, Tom B, Will B
A beautifully sunny and crisp morning at George V field today as we host our final league game of the season against Twickenham. We’re on the second team pitch and both teams need to win this crucial last game.
We kick-off the first half, playing into the early morning sun, with a deep kick into Twickenham territory. A fumbled catch gives us a knock-on scrum but Twickenham spin the scrum and clear the ball into our half. Dan C kicks it back into Twickenham’s half and another fumbled catch gives us a scrum on the 10m line. Twickenham win the scrum and attempt to clear, but Benji’s ready for them and intercepts with a charge down. A swift fly-kick towards the posts completes this move and Benji throws himself on the ball over the try-line to open our scoring. Max (14 yrs today) narrowly misses the conversion . Twickenham restart and are soon pressurising with a maul on our 5m line. Great driving from Twickenham forces the ball over our try line but it’s held up. A fortunate penalty gives Jack the chance to clear – but Twickenham are soon back in our half. A breakthrough gives their fast No. 8 a chance to plant their first try in the corner. The conversion missed leaving both teams neck and neck with a 5-5 score at half time.
Twickenham start the second half with a deep kick into our territory and a rapid advance. A turnover ball gives them momentary advantage but Freddie recovers the ball and passes to Tom B to clear. We bring on the subs to refresh the team and advance into Twickenham’s half. Dan C gets a break and kicks the ball forward but Twickenham clear into our half. We catch the ball and boot it straight back. A penalty gives Saiful a chance to carry the ball to within 5m of the try line. A second penalty allows us to complete with a powerful try from birthday boy, Dan H. Max narrowly misses the conversion leaving the score at 10-5 to Hitchin. Twickenham restart and this time Freddie makes good ground running down the wing before he’s tackled just 5m short of the try line. A fortunate knock-on gives us a scrum at 5m and Freddie completes with a powerful drive over the line to give us our third try of the day. Max has a difficult conversion that fall’s just short leaving the score at 15 – 5 to Hitchin. Twickenham restart and we’re soon passing down the line to Jordan who runs down the centre straight into a hard tackle. A knock-on scrum at 10m gives us another chance at a try but the ball is intercepted by Twickenham’s fast No. 8 who runs the entire length of the pitch to score Twickenham’s second try in the centre of our posts. A successful conversion brings the score to 15-12 with barely 3 mins of play left. We restart and Twickenham advance rapidly into our half with considerable resolve to secure a further try. A knock-on scrum on our 10m line gives them a potential opportunity but it’s Benji who saves the day by stealing the ball and kicking it into touch to finish the game!
An exhilarating game which could have gone either way! Both teams were equally matched and Twickenham played the entire game without a single substitution. Great sportsmanship on both sides – good, solid, enjoyable rugby! Man-of-the-Match awarded to Benji for his quick thinking both at the start and end of the game! He even won a lineout!
No rugby next week. Happy Easter.
Team Sam Jenkins, Oliver Pomfret, Harry Elleston, Daniel Holland, Ben Firth, Daniel Barnes, Frazer McGown, Freddy Maxwell, Benji Cowell, Daniel Cowell, Saiful Alom, Jordan Mensah, Max Smith, Ashley White, Thomas Bourne
Subs Will Biggs, Jack Wuidart, Jamie Hamilton, Bradley Harper, Jack Ferguson
Scores T: Benji Cowell (1), Freddy Maxwell (1), Daniel Holland (1)
The league: Herts / Middlesex U14 Div.3