Match report

LEDBURY HAND OUT MAULING TO MALVERN

Ledbury under 11s put some of there recent training improvements and lessons learnt from a frustrating Monmouth festival to play there best games of the Season to date and make a big step forward in realising the type of game they need to play to be both competitive and succesful.

GAME 1

LEDBURY 54 - 0 MALVERN

In the first of two games played Ledbury put together some wonderful passages of play to simply prove to smart and out play there vistors in every aspect.

With Hinkley rampaging and offloading , added to this the movement and vision of both Prestwich and Evans Ledbury were a joy to watch and it was from the good work of these three that allowed Bennion to enjoygood field positon and his clever offload to Goodchap was enough to open the scoring in the far corner and with Prestwich adding the extras Ledbury took a deserved lead.

From the restart ledbury forwards turned there opponents over at the breakdown Evans reacticed quickest as the ball became available and his jinking run and presentation of the ball for Hinkley in support to touch down and increase the lead , converted again by Prestwich.

Ledburys front five were totally dominating the loose and although both sides scrummaged well it was the hosts who had the edge and this platform was invaluable as Marriot and Prestwich enjoyed the time and space to play in and moved the ball from side to side really strectching there opponents and when Scott took the ball to ground Hiknley collected at the base and despite desperate attempts to stop him he would not be denied from 7 metres out and this try was

converted by Prestwich.

Ledbury were first to everything despite the visitors best efforts Prosser and Bennion carried ferociuosly ,Hemingway and debutant Bandfield scrapped and worked incredibly hard and when from great build up play and slick passing from Hinkley and Evans , Goodchap out wide collected and had an easy run in for his second which was again converted by the excellent boot of Prestwich.

At the turn there was more of the same , Malvern battled hard but just couldnt cope with the offloading and sheer power of the Ledbury team who continued to improve as the game went on further tries from Bennion and two from the hugely impressive Evans put the game well beyond the visitors .

With the final play of the game Scott carried well and held off tacklers his offload to second row partner Hinkley whos aggresive carry set up Marriot who fed Prestwich he fixed his man and powered around him to touch down and finish off a great team score and with the fly half converting his own try, the final whistle blew on a much improved performance enjoyed by all ( in Black and White anyway ) !.

Team Hemingway , Bennion , Goodchap , Hinkley , Prosser , Scott , Marriott , Prestwich , Bandfield , Evans and Skittery.

Tries Goodchap x 2 , Hinkley x 2 , Evans x 2 Bennion and Prestwich

Conversions : Prestwich 7/8 = 14 points.

 GAME 2

 LEDBURY 26 - 7 MALVERN

Both sides made changes for the second match with some playing out of position and some playing for the first time competitively so this was always going to be a disjointed affair , despite this the lads played really well and although it lacked the cut and thrust of the first game , was still a fully committed affair.

Ledbury took control early on and good pressure nearly rewarded them with a score but for a handling error , the visitors cleared there lines as far as winger Lofthouse , he was assisted by Harris who secured and offloaded to Evans who danced his way through defenders to open the scoring with the extras added by Skittery.

Hemingway and Bonfield carried and scrummaged well and it was from Bonfield that the next score was created his run deep into the vistiors half allowed Hemingway to collect and power his way through to score his try was converted again by Skittery .

After the break Malvern exceted alot of pressure on the hosts who held firm and showed great spirit to prevent the visitors any space to work in. This effort would soon be rewarded when Bennion and Hemingway linked up well to take the hosts down field and when the ball was moved down the line Evans had a simple dot down to increase the leadPrestwich added the extras.

The visitors were to get a well deserved try for there efforts , with Ledbury infringing at the breakdown , Malvern took a quick tap and caught the hosts napping to score in the corner.

This score only focussed the hosts and they showed there determination from the restart , Harris , Marriott and Evans moved the ball side to side looking to find an opening and when the winger finally saw a gap his half break and offload to Prop Bennion he would not be stopped and dived over the whitewash to secure a well fought if at times a scrappy affair the extras were missed but Ledbury took the victory.

Team : Hemingway , Bennion , Bonfield , Scott , Goodchap , Evans , Harris , Whiles , Prosser , Lofthouse , Prestwich

Tries : Evans x 2 , Hemingway , Bennion

Conversion : Skittery 2/2 = 4 points , Prestwich 1/2 = 2 points.