Match report

UNDER 9s Tour WESTON SUPER MARE April 26th/27th 2008    

The Ledbury under 9 squad travelled to Weston for there first ever tour with the under 10s , accompanied by parents and family for what was to be a fantastic end to a very succesful season .   The weekend was all about fun and a chance for everyone to let there hair down after a long and competitve first season in contact rugby.   And i think i can speak for all the Under 9s Mums and Dads who were there that a great time was had by all !!.  

With Saturday full of activities like Rugby on the beach in the Sunshine !!!!! ( Which took one or two of us by surprise, as we had all left the factor 50 at home and got a little pink ) , Ten pin Bowling , lots of fun and games fish and chips and the odd beverage ( Adults only of Course ) , It really was a very special day , which couldnt have gone any better , and for the little kids and big kids alike it was a shame the day had to end .   Sunday and with most of the Big Kids feeling slightly jaded , it was just as well that the only ones playing rugby today were the Children .   We departed the hotel and arrived at Weston RFC for the last games of our Season ,  Knowing that the result was not important ( Although you try telling this squad that ) , it was a final opportunity for the squad to all get some game time for the last time as Under 9s and finish the season on a positive note.  

Game 1   Weston Super Mare 15 - 25 Ledbury  

The first of the two games played was a very physical encounter and Westons use of there big runners and there directness caused Ledbury a few problems as with a smaller set of forwards we were forced to defend and put extra bodies into the rucks and mauls to compete for the ball and it took a while for Ledbury to get into there stride , good agressive running from Hinkley and Banfield created space , but often the pass was delivered a fraction late , which unabled Ledbury to turn this effort in to more points , although they did hold the lead at half time 15 -10 thanks to tries from Banfield , Evans and Best.   At the turn around Weston scored straight from the kick off and level the game , this seemed to finally wake the team , and they tried hard to move the ball and create space , whilst competing against a much larger forward pack . Good runs from Evans , Harris and Banfield continued to keep Weston on the back foot, as Ledbury turned up the pace and started to get a grip on the game . Two further tries from Archie Bandfield giving him his hat-trick wrapped up the game to give Ledbury a deserved victory.  

Game 2   Weston Super Mare 0 - 45 Ledbury  

This game was a superb end to the season , with Westons smaller squad forced to all play again and with fatigue setting in , they were put to the sword by Ledburys movement and passing . Like the first game Westons forwards really took it to Ledbury , But with some huge hits by Hemingway, Goodchap and Prosser , the confidence of the hosts was starting to wain. Superb solo tries from first Hemingway and Prestwich gave Ledbury a good footing at 10 - 0 , and with Ledbury growing in confidence and using the ball and there pace to play some super rugby , were now scoring with every attack. Further tries from Hemingway and Prestwich and one from winger Ben Allard saw Ledbury storm to 25 - 0 at the break.   At the turn the second half for Ledbury was more of the same , capitalising on the hosts tiring , they played some of there best rugby of the Season moving the ball all over the park , popping passes , supporting and off loading beautifully , this was demonstrated perfectly when following a great break from Goodchap , Kyle Prosser sprinted 30 metres , and his delayed pass to the always on hand Prestwich to touch down in the corner was a coaches dream , to do the basics so well and execute the finish so clinically was at this stage of the Squads development , quite breathtaking. Further tries for Will Marriott , and a second for the impressive Ben Allard made the score 35 - 0 .   But it was only fitting that both Prestwich and Hemingway should both score again and record a hat-trick each with some fine running and individual Skill and to bring the curtain down on a fantastic Week end .     This squad continue to do themselves proud and represent Ledbury Rugby Club impecibly , they are a small squad in number but huge in heart , there results this season for there first contact season have been remarkable and under the guidance and tuition of Nigel , Mike and Aide have shown this season glimpses of of just how good this group could be over the next few years .   So Congratulations to all the squad and Coaches for a super weekend and another memorable season , looking forward to next year already .