U11s at Stockwood Park - match report 9 Dec 07

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Another week, another truly dreadful storm but just like the weather our first team carried on from the previous week with some enterprising play against our hosts. But after another long cold, wet morning, and despite a brief rally against Bedford, the fire was doused and so we disappointingly lost the second match.

With the confusion of having to switch location for these matches at what was very short notice* it was probably not too surprising that our attendance was down a little compared with usual (or perhaps the saner ones had learnt about the weather forecast). The day started in good spirits with the usual pre-match warm-up. Until, that is, Lewis drove Andy and dumped him on his back. So despite some truly awful weather – and it was arguable if this was worse than the previous week’s – the rest of the parents had something to cheer before we’d even begun.

One or two parents had evidently learned from the previous week’s experience and had come better prepared – or so they thought. Despite the assistance of a series of helping hands to hold up the umbrella, Stato was having another bad, soggy page and smudged writing day. To lighten matters however Farmer Alan had turned up in his wellies for a sartorial first though had failed to fit wipers to his glasses so probably would have been able to see the game only intermittently between lense cleans.

The first match against Stockwood Park was played in a similar vein as the previous week’s against Hemel with us moving the ball confidently on the back of some determined tackling by the whole team. The play alternated practically from end to end although with Hitchin having the better of it. It was almost disconcerting therefore that there was still no score at half-time if not too surprising considering the difficulty of the conditions. But the tide turned in the second half and the battering that Stockwood Park had received in the first half began to show as the gaps opened up and the tackling became looser and so there was almost an inevitably about the tries that followed. But still they were well worked and well taken by the backs, invariably building on the pressure created by the forwards.

The second match brought differing fortunes. The phrase “No match is worth winning that much” resonated afterwards. Despite the fact that the slashing rain had stopped, the weather continued to have a big influence. Notably at this stage Stockwood Park had decided they’d had enough and declined to play the Bedford match leaving us to get on with it. The problem was now that our team was cold and wet – if anything more so those who had not been playing even after some valiant attempts to shelter which were in vain. The Bedford team on the other hand had the benefit of their smart all in one romper suits, as well as the lack of rain to contend with.

At the turnaround we were down by only one try – which was pretty commendable for what was largely a developmental team – but this was a match that the coaching team thought they could and ought to win, and so the first team was brought back on save for a couple of notable exceptions. Both Harry and Simon had given everything in the first game and finished it too sick to come back on. The problem was now appeared to be that those who did come back on were now extremely cold having been stood in wet shirts in the cold: the aggression had gone from our play.

The second half was characterised by a succession of us making our way up the Bedford half – generally making the initial inroads from a series of good penalty kicks to touch from Dominic, usually after going offside though Bedford were also warned for hand-offs and scragging. Bedford would then manage to steal the ball and run or kick it back down before being tackled and so it would begin again. This was rough stuff and carried on for much of the half until one got through at last.

On a more positive note, it’s been a long time since we played Stockwood Park, just over two years ago when we won by a similar margin, and longer still since we visited there (under 7s!) but we made some good friends there at least on the day with our positive approach on what was another miserable day. In particular the referee congratulated our team for the way they had played and conducted themselves.

Match 16 v. Stockwood Park Won 21-0 (HT 0-0)
Team: Peter, Calum, Ellis, Jamie, Lewis, Harry, Dominic, James D, Ruiri, James W, Simon, Ross
Tries
Harry – scramble into the corner, spinning in and around the defence. A hustling little scrum-half try made out of almost nothing.
Ruiri – really well moved by the backs from one side of the pitch to the other and taken neatly into the corner
Lewis – this comprised several pieces of smart play, firstly by Simon who made big yardage gain initially and almost made it touch only to be held up in the try area. We won the resulting scrum, however, and moved it across to Ruiri who spun around and tussled it down to be only a few inches short. Whilst could have made the second movement, and on many occasions would have got away with it, on the verge of doing so he heard Lewis calling so Ru instinctively let the ball go to let Lewis incontrovertibly touch down the ball. Quick thinking under pressure and another example of what’s becoming characteristic all-for-one-and-one-for-all spirit in this team.
Lewis was unlucky also not be given another try when, after the ball was fky-hacked by Stoockwood and came off one of our forwards, Lewis picked up to touch down, only to be bought back for the original scrum. Safe to safe the general reaction was that we’d all have preferred to have played the advantage.
Conversions: Peter (3)

Match 17 v. Bedford B Lost 0-14 (HT 0-7)
Team: Ellis, Will (sub Calum), Brandon (sub Peter), Guy, Jamie, Dom, Lewis, Beth (Brandon), Ruiri, Kate (sub James W), Ross, James D

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