U11s at Datchworth - match report 24 Feb 08

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The whole squad should be applauded for two excellent performances with an edge we've not seen for a while. We dominated Welwyn in the first game and Datchworth must have wondered what had happened compared with earlier in the season and why they did not score a hat full of points with the possession they had. We lost by a mere conversion but that didn't matter given how we played.

The Datchworth-Welwyn triangular is a traditional fixture (these are the two teams we have played more than any other in the past four seasons) and in previous years the Datchworth pitch has been reminiscent of the final days of the Somme, but having sensibly this year moved it from the usual December, we found ourselves setting to work on a balmy February morning with no recorded cases of trench foot.

Over the past few matches we have started sluggishly, but this time we not only had an additional half an hours coaching whilst the other teams played but change our warm up to not only to go through set piece plays but also raise the level of intensity before starting. This was carried through immediately we began playing Welywn and it was even more encouraging that we maintained that level throughout the game.

This was a very good display from the whole team and the strength of our tackling meant that Welwyn were unable to get any fluency in their play. Our forwards dominated the breakdown and held their own in the scrum. On the occasions we lost the scrum our backs were quick to pounce and were particularly effective in making a nuisance of themselves, getting in the face of the Welwyn fly half to such an extent that, by the end of the match, he looked distinctly nervous every time he received the ball.

In fairness to Welwyn they never stopped tackling and trying to run the ball but we were too strong. The backs and forwards linked with good distribution from the set pieces and the rucks; wherever possible we tried to avoid mauls to recycle quick ball and this speed and supporting play allowed the backs to keep their shape and do their jobs. It was refreshing to see, or hear, a lot of talking and shouting for the ball.

If the first game was good the second was better despite eventually going down by a conversion. Both teams played hard, fast, aggressive rugby in the right spirit. At the end of game the Datchworth kids celebrated like they had won the county cup which is a clear indication of the pressure they felt under.

The work we had been putting in at the scrum clearly showed: when we met them earlier in the season, the Datchworth pack pushed our scrum all around the park. This didn't happen today and, furthermore, we got more than our fair share of lineout ball. In fact, our first try came from one of the new lineout moves that we've been fine-tuning over the past few weeks. The movement in our line out evidently drove the referee to distraction and he penalised us for it. We will have to check out the rule book but it was no more than we had experienced ourselves at OAs the previous week.

In the first half, we were running uphill (and it was quite a steep hill!), therefore, the fact that we were two tries to one up at half time was a tribute to the team's work rate. We also had a clear try turned down following a push over following some strong forward work. Will landed the ball cleanly but some Datchworth fingers wormed their way underneath it before the ref arrived on the scene to award a five metre scrum for being "held up".

Both teams had opportunities during the second half with the game swinging one way and then the next. Datchworth worked their way up the hill following a series of penalties against us to get a second try and draw level and with the luck of the devil on the conversions they edged ahead. The first Datchworth try had come from a break where two initial missed tackles in the centre of the pitch allowed their runner time and momentum to beat our cover. The second came from their guy spinning inside to go over though there was a question mark over whether the ball wasn't dropped in the course of the covering tackle by Simon.

We had three minutes to get a try back and huge credit should be given to all the players for almost forcing the victory in the dying seconds. In a match that had had more than its fair share of controversial decisions, the ref missed one of the Datchworth players intentionally threw out the ball into touch for what should have been a five metre penalty to us. Apparently, the Datchworth coach (who had as clear a view as the rest of us) informed the ref that his player had tripped over and accidentally spilled the ball. As a result of this, we got a "compromise" scrum, lost the ball and Datchworth disparately kicked it out to close the match.

The coaches of both teams couldn't have asked for more in terms of effort and we were especially pleased to see exercises learnt on the training ground being put into practice on match day. Harry, at scrum half, looked spritely and altogether more determined, digging the ball quickly out of rucks and mauls and also breaking the game line effectively on a couple of occasions. Simon typically weaved his way through the defence from his position on the wing to set up a number of attacks while Ruiri crashed through in his own inimitable style. Tim, at full back, caught everything kicked at him and ran it back safely and with gusto. In the forwards, Ellis, reliably used his power to good effect while Lewis's tackling and speed to the breakdown resulted in more than one turnover.

Match 31: v. Welwyn Won 36-7

Tries:
Simon - the forwards secured the ball on the other side of the field, moved it swiftly across the backs then from Ru to Simon who did his typical side step of four tacklers.
Dominic - constant pressure from the forwards drove the ball to within 10 metres of the line, Harry released Dom who feinted left and cut back to go over despite two tacklers on him.
Harry - another ruck close to the Welwyn line the ball was recycled twice before Harry got in low and drove over from five metres. A proper scrum half try!
Ruiri - excellent work from the backs and recycling from the forwards got us within 10 metres from a starting point near our try line When it looked like it was coming out their side Ru got hold of the ball and scrambled over.
Calum - once again the ball was carried by the backs then driven by the forwards and despite tenacious defence from Welwyn, Calum was too strong for them and forced his way over
Ruiri - less of a team try as Ru took a pass after looping around Simon about 30 yards out and though he was tackled 4 times has wasn’t held before reaching the line at which point the forwards forced him over.

Conversions: all of Guy, Dom and Peter scored one and missed one each

Match 32 v. Datchworth Lost 12-14

Ruiri: Received a flat ball at centre and cut back to make some space and then decided game on and drove for the line from 20 yards, as they did not seem too keen on tackling him.
Simon: the ball went over his head but he was quick and agile enough to spin back catch and spin again to sprint in, beating the cover to the corner.

Conversions: Dom got one but the other bounced off the bar the wrong way; unfortunately when Datch did the same it bounced the right way.

As you can see there are no team lists for the matches above (since no-one is telling me who played in which) but there were plenty of fantastic performances and everyone deserves a credit:
Harry, Dominic, Ellis Joe, Brandon, Calum, Lewis, Will, Guy, Peter, Jamie, Tom, Simon, James W, James D, Tim, Chas, Jacob and Ruiri.

A word from the ghost writer:
You lucky people! This week, as a consequence of my unplanned absence, we had not one but two reporters for the Datchworth matches and so it has been my pleasure to attempt to edit these into one single one for your delight. If you can't see the joins I consider it job done. My thanks go to John and Alan and my apologies also if I have cut out any of their favourite bits - without pruning it would have run to approaching 4 sides of A4 with much repetition - but whoever said this was a democracy?!