Match report

LEDBURY TAME THE TIGERS AT NEWLANDS

After their last two fixtures were cancelled, Ledbury U11’s were really looking forward to getting back to competitive action against Cheltenham Tigers and Longlevens at the home of the Tigers.  Thankfully the weather was better than forecast and the games went ahead as scheduled, with Ledbury turning in three excellent performances. 

Game 1: Cheltenham Tigers ‘A’ 0 - 25 Ledbury

Ledbury played superbly from the kick-off in this game against the Tigers ‘A’ team and never allowed the hosts time to settle. The front five of Bennion, Raynor, Hemingway, Hinkley and Scott were in dominating form. Scrum-half Marriot provided quick ball all game whilst Prestwich marshalled the backs and linked play effectively, allowing Skittery, Best, Evans, Bandfield and Prosser to repeatedly make gains.

The game started with a series of rucks and mauls in Tigers territory, ending with a defensive scrum following a Ledbury knock-on. Marriot pressured the Tigers scrum-half, forcing an error. Evans collected the loose ball and charged forward.  Close support ensured the ball was secured in the maul, allowing Hemingway to crash over for the first try.

After the restart, Skittery made good ground for Ledbury but the ball was knocked on in the tackle.  Ledbury’s pack took the scrum against the head and the attack resumed with quick hands from Prosser and Best but good defence from the Tigers stopped Ledbury short of the line.  Ledbury recycled the ball and passed through the backs until the darting Evans dived across the line for the second Ledbury try.

Ledbury collected the restart and with good mauling and strong rucking made headway down field despite desperate defensive work from the Tigers.  When the ball was moved wide, Hemingway was able to collect and cross for his second score of the game.

Cheltenham exerted some pressure of their own in the final minutes of the half but Ledbury’s pack won another scrum against the head near their line and Skittery cleared to touch to bring the half to a close.

Both teams competed well in the opening minutes of the second half, each winning turn-over ball at scrums.  After a series of mauls, good passing fed the irrepressible Hinkley who dived over the line to score his first try of the game

Another turn over at a scrum led to Bennion driving over to score the final try of the game, despite the attempts of two Tigers players to tackle him.

This was a comprehensive team display and well deserved victory for Ledbury who were able to deny a good Tigers team any platform in the game.  This was possibly Ledbury’s most impressive display of the season to date. Well done all concerned.

Ledbury: Bennion, Raynor, Hemingway, Hinkley, Scott, Marriott, Prestwich, Skittery, Evans, Best, Bandfield, Prosser.

Tries: Hemingway x2, Evans, Hinkley, Bennion

Game 2: Longlevens 7 - 19 Ledbury

The second game saw Ledbury face a large, physical-looking Longlevens team.  The coaches made just one change to the team at the start, with Goodchap replacing Scott in the second row.

Ledbury started explosively whilst Longlevens were caught napping when Bennion caught the starting kick and charged the length of the field to score.  Skittery narrowly missed the conversion

Longlevens competed well from the restart with their scrum in particular looking very strong.  Ledbury were having to work hard to win and retain ball, with Hinkley putting in one huge tackle to win turn over ball but Ledbury then knocked on.  With a good scrum Longlevens were able to clear their lines with a kick to touch.  Ledbury won the lineout and drove for the try line but were penalised for hands in the ruck following strong defence by Longlevens.  However, Longlevens missed touch with their penalty and it was run back at them by Ledbury. Strong rucking from the forwards recycled the ball which was passed out to Best to score in the corner.  Prestwich converted.

Ledbury’s third try was very similar to the first, with Hinkley running back the restart the length of the pitch to score.  Evans converted.

Ledbury made changes to the team at half time but Longlevens started the second half very strongly and exerted ever increasing pressure on the Ledbury try line.  Their forwards in particular dominated the second half and asked big questions of Ledbury defensively.  Ledbury responded well with one fantastic text-book tackle from Prosser in particular standing out.

However the pressure eventually told when, following a Ledbury infringement at a ruck, excellent quick thinking from Longlevens saw them take a quick tap penalty and run through unopposed to score before Ledbury realised what had happened.

Longlevens were clearly lifted by their try, which was converted, and continued to press the Ledbury defence who had to work extremely hard to keep Longlevens at bay.  A series of fiercely contested rucks and mauls brought Longlevens to within inches of the Ledbury try line but magnificent defensive work from all the Ledbury players kept them out and eventually forced an error, at which point the referee blew for full time.

This was a hugely competitive and enjoyable game and both sets of players deserve great credit for the effort, courage and determination they showed throughout.

Ledbury: Bennion, Raynor, Hemingway, Hinkley (Lofthouse @ HT), Goodchap, Marriott, Prestwich, Skittery, Evans, Best (Harris @ HT), Bandfield (Bonfield @ HT), Prosser.

Tries: Bennion, Best, Hinkley

Conversions: Prestwich, Evans

Game 3: Cheltenham ‘B’ 0 - 35 Ledbury

The Ledbury coaches again rotated the squad for the final game against Cheltenham Tigers ‘B’.  However, Ledbury once again put in a fine performance, with some wonderful passing and running from the backs supported by good scrummaging and rucking from the forwards.

The game started with penetrating running from Goodchap and Bandfield putting the Tigers under early pressure which was relieved with a defensive kick to touch.  Ledbury gathered the lineout and fed Bandfield who set off on a superb run down the touchline.  A last ditch tackle from the Tigers, just as Bandfield was diving over the line, forced a knock on.

Ledbury put the resulting Tigers scrum under pressure but the Tigers kicked clear only for the ball to be run back at them and Hinkley scored the first try of the game which was converted by Harris.

Following the restart Scott made a run deep into the Tigers half and passed outside to the supporting Bandfield who was tackled into touch by the hard working Tigers defence.  Ledbury won line out ball and Hinkley broke through the defence but over-ran and touched down beyond the dead ball line.  Ledbury drove the drop out back at the Tigers and when they were awarded a scrum near the Tigers line, Harris, showing good awareness, nipped down the blind side to score.  Marriott converted.

The second half saw a repeat of some of the action from the previous game, with Bennion running back at the Tigers straight from the kick off and scoring a try.  Skittery converted.

Good passing by Ledbury from the restart put pressure straight back on the Tigers defence and Hinkley charged through to score his second try which was converted by Harris.

More good passing and strong running from Bonfield and Skittery down the right wing took play deep into Tigers territory.  Ledbury switched play across to the left wing and Goodchap crossed the line but was held up by fierce Tigers defence.  The Tigers forced play back down field until Scott ripped the ball from a maul and fed Skittery down the right wing.  The ball was passed through hands to the left wing where Goodchap made sure he fell over the line to score.  Skittery converted.

Another fine performance by this Ledbury squad who moved the ball really well with some great running and support play.-

Ledbury: Hinkley, Raynor (Bennion @ HT), Hemingway, Scott, Lofthouse, Harris, Evans, Best, Peters, Marriott (Skittery @ HT), Bandfield (Bonfield) @ HT), Goodchap.

Tries: Hinkley, Harris, Bennion, Hinkley, Goodchap

Conversions: Harris x2, Marriott, Skittery x2