U11s at Milton Keynes - match report 7 Oct 07

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One of those strange triangulars, when each team comprehensively won one and then lost one. On the back of some really well built team matchplay - rucking, mauling, driving through the phases, passing - basically, the whole team thing, the first Hitchin U11 win of the season came giving us the upper hand for the day.

By playing second we were able to weigh up both opposing teams and target the match that would give us the greater challenge and then ensure that all the squad had game time in our second match. As convincing victors against Milton Keynes, Kettering provided a worthy and capable team to face up to and this we certainly did.

There is an unglamorous side to playing and, each week we hope, winning matches. This is the work done by those who secure the ball for us repeatedly, which allows the scoring attacks, as well as defending with real commitment, giving us the chance to have nil points scored against us. This is most frequently the forward pack but certainly not exclusively: the Kettering match in particular was a testament to a true team effort where everyone at some stage put in that vital tackle or even a small pass out in order to keep the ball live.

By the very nature of this hard graft, it is not possible to record and credit those in the way we do for the tries scored (and we don't lose sight of celebrating those, as you'll see below) and it may be invidious to single out individuals for praise. Nonetheless, Ellis deserves a special mention for his outstanding commitment and contribution throughout the day: the hard work done was visible to all by the end. Others including Calum and Lewis were also noteworthy for getting low at the rucks and emptying out and help securing the ball and Jamie in his first outing at lock can hold his head high.

For the record here are the scores and teams.

Match 5 v. Kettering Won 19-0 (HT 7-0)

Ellis, Calum, Peter, Lewis, Jamie, Tim, Dom, James W, Ruiri, Ross, Harry, Simon

The first try was scored by Dom, with the ball coming from a ruck close to the line, fed by Tim at scrum half, he had to sidestep and then roll out of the tackle before diving over the line, but leading up to this there was crucial movement of the ball from all of Ross, Ruiri and Simon. Up then stepped Peter to demonstrate his skill as a place kicker to convert and secure the extra two points.

The second try came out of space created by moving the ball out to Ruiri for some impact running, spinning off Kettering defenders, back out to Simon who made 10 valuable yards before going to Harry to finish with a flourish, diving into the corner. This time Dom successfully converted - so we could have two place kickers.

The final try was literally a long haul with the ball was taken out of our 22 by Calum, with an impressively strong run through the centre holding off up to 3 Kettering defenders. This took us up to around their 22 and gave us a penalty. Just when we thought that was that, out of nowhere Ruiri saw a corridor and went straight through and over.

There was almost a fourth try in the final play of the game again started well into our own half, with a nice little interchange from Simon to Ruiri (one of several during the game) cutting back inside. More strong running by Ellis took us to within 5 metres but the ball spilled forward, ending the game with a well earned 19 – nil victory.

In summary we undid a strong side that had just comprehensively beaten the hosts. Suffice to say that the Kettering coach was not smiling when it came to shaking hands at the end.

Match 6 v. Milton Keynes Lost 0-21 (HT 0-7)

Will, Jacob, Brandon, Joe (sub Ellis), Kate (sub Calum), Chas (sub Dom), Harry, Lewis, Peter (sub Rui), Beth, James W, Jamie (sub Simon)

It's probably true that Milton Keynes were fired up after losing to Kettering, but it's also fair to say that for much of this match we weren't all there. Some lessons were learnt about the need to get stuck in - don't allow the opposition to run at us by standing back - as well as needing to concentrate. There was no better example of this than the first try which was given away from a scrum, with the MK scrum-half going inside ours and running the full 50yds unimpaired. The other tries were similarly rather soft ones that we gave away. But again, there was evidence of working as a team to secure and move the ball that will allow us to move forward and ensure that we have a squad of players available to take us towards the full 15 a side game rapidly approaching us.

There was much to be rightly proud of especially in the first match and that can be built on through the rest of the season*. If the team carries on like this there are going to be a lot of tries scored built upon hard work up front. There were one or two who by the end looked like the victim of a mugging with stud marks down thighs and bruising on knees as well as the start of one black eye (though the fact that the victim of the last was disappointed it might heal quickly says it all).