Match report

MATCH REPORT

6th December 2009

Ledbury U12s

LEDBURY U12B Battle Strongly and Show Promise Against Not So Formidable Worcester Warriors U12B.

Worcester B   20                       Ledbury B 0

Ledbury Squad:

Toby Cotton, Dan Clark, Henry Thomas, Owen Haymonds, Kieran Smith, Myles Burrett-Newland, Oliver Jones, Tommy Kinsella, Harry Harris, Alex Seager, Josh Bedford, Daniel Lane, Stuart Martin, Noah Jevon.

After witnessing their A team colleagues clock up a worthy win the B team took to the pitch/mire with some confidence, particularly in light of their recent winning form up against the likes of Malvern.

Worcester dropped out long and straight away the pressure was on but luckily the first scrum went Ledbury’s way following a Worcester knock on, shortly followed by a penalty against Worcester for offside. Dan Clark kicked for touch and gave his team the opportunity of making headway. But it was not long before the pressure was back on and Ledbury was scrabbling to defend their line and we saw a succession of scrum 5s going either way for what seemed an eternity as Ledbury repelled the incessant invaders. It seemed inevitable that something would give and ultimately the Worcester pack penetrated and scored but they had to fight every inch to achieve it.

From the drop out Ledbury finally got deep within the Worcester half and won a scrum for a knock on. Worcester won against the head and fed out to their backs but any looming break out was nipped in the bud by a crunching tackle from Henry Thomas. This led to a run of play with Worcester once more probing but always being repelled with Toby Cotton making some clean catches and clearances and try saving tackles from Dan Clark and Kieran Smith. On two occasions Ledbury cleared from behind their try line and looked threatening themselves as Owen Haymonds, Stuart Martin and Dan Clark all had opportunities to make ground and come close to getting clear of the Worcester defence. With greater support at their shoulders they may well have gone all the way and evened the odds but it was no mean feat for Ledbury to go into the break trailing by a mere one score lead to Worcester.

Ledbury dropped out and Worcester immediately came at the opposition, eager for an early try. Stuart Martin stemmed the flow of the Worcester run by coming up quickly in defence. From the ensuing scrum the more dominant Worcester pack was able to drive and eventually score and this became their obvious game plan as the pitch condition was by now totally hopeless for a running game.

So the Worcester pack pressure came again and looked like immediately crashing through once more but for a great tackle from Tommy Kinsella. Myles Burrett-Newland drove from the back of the ruck but could not find a way through; Henry Thomas made a strong challenge from midfield but was likewise repelled. As soon as Worcester regained possession they always looked threatening and Ledbury had Dan Clark and Toby Cotton to thank for some great defensive gathering and kicking. Oliver Jones halted one attacking drive, as did Harry Harris, but whatever they did there always seemed to be another Worcester player waiting in the wings to take up where his colleague left off.

With Myles Burrett-Newland off with an injury, Ben Stevens from the A team came on as replacement prop with Kieran Smith moving to hooker. This addition helped steady the ship but it was not long before a Worcester pack break blindside brought another score.

Ledbury never let their heads go down and fought to the end ultimately conceding the final try following a bold move to run with the ball from a penalty rather than kick safely for touch which rebounded on them with a strong counter by Worcester.

With some relative new comers to the Ledbury squad receiving their baptism of fire playing a full game against as strong an opposition as Worcester (hats off to Alex Seager, Josh Bedford, Noah Jevon, Daniel Lane), the whole squad can stand proud. It was a very respectable result against what should have been formidable odds.

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