Match report

MATCH REPORT

29th November 2009

Ledbury U12s

Cheltenham Tournament

LEDBURY U12s Worthy Winners with Triumphant Team Display in Fiercely Contested 16 Club Tournament.

Game 1 Pool 1           Ledbury 15     Bredon 0

Game 2 Pool 1           Ledbury 10     Old Silhillians 0

Game 3 Pool 1           Ledbury 10     Painswick 0

Semi Final                    Ledbury 10     Cheltenham 10 [Ledbury through on tries]

Final                                 Ledbury 10     Rhiwbina 0

Ledbury Squad:

Ben Stevens, Sam Seaborn. George Hemingway, Ben Savidge, Benedict Shimwell, Will Butler (Captain), Charlie Samwells, Toby Hiram, Cameron Hunter, Sam Prestwich, Marcus Ballinger, Rory Bateson, Hugh Smith, Henry Thomas, Dan Clark, Tommy Kinsella.

With gusting wind and, at times, driving rain to contend with, this was never going to be less than a rough ride and a fitting test of the true mettle of all contestants in a gripping well organised tournament of rugby between 16 well respected clubs from near and far.

Ledbury came in with strong belief in their individual and team abilities, having a 100% win record in their previous matches this season, but showed a wiseness beyond their years not to underestimate the task in hand and that any unfamiliar opponent be treated with the greatest respect.

So it was that the first two games in the group stage stood nil/nil at half time. It took the grit and determination of the Ledbury pack in the first against Bredon to free George Hemingway for two of his trade mark storming scores and Benedict Shimwell to deftly seize his opportunity from scrappy open play to roll through the tackle and score.

In the second game against Old Silhillians it was the backs turn to prove the turning point with Will Butler so cleverly selling a dummy and switching direction to be through for a searing run and score. It was also down to Will Butler to set up the second scoring opportunity for Rory Bateson, running in at pace off the wing to take a perfectly timed pass and be through in the corner. Unfortunately Ledbury suffered two injuries in this game; firstly Toby Hiram going off but later returning to the fray, and shortly before the half time whistle Dan Clark was stopped short after a strong run and landed badly. Just to be safe he was stretchered off with a possible neck injury but post match news is he will thankfully make a full recovery.

The third encounter saw Ledbury settled into their stride and soon applying the pressure. The drop out was knocked on giving Ledbury an early scrum in an attacking position and Will Butler almost released Benedict Shimwell when he slipped back inside. With a scrum 5 Charlie Samwells saw the danger of the Painswick defensive line on the open and read the situation well with a sniping run blindside and he scored before the opponents could react. Painswick soon countered but some accurate defensive kicking by will Butler enabled both Cameron Hunter and Ben Stevens to bounce back and almost extend the lead but Painswick held firm. The second half was finely balanced with a slender lead always under threat but following a scrappy run of play Benedict Shimwell was tackled on the line, spilling the ball, luckily not forward, and Rory Bateson, in close support, dived and touched the ball down for his second.

So it was through to the semis with a clean sheet (now 6 matches on the trot with no scores against them) and the opponents were the hosts of the day, Cheltenham. This turned out to be a game of two halves with Cheltenham dominating in the first and scoring two impressive tries from open play and managing to thwart all that Ledbury could muster in spite of probing runs from Toby Hiram and Hugh Smith. In the second half Ledbury to a man played as though they refused to accept that this could be their cue to exit the tournament and Will Butler scored a perfect captain’s try which galvanised the forwards to dig deep. Ben Stevens, Ben Savidge and newcomer Tommy Kinsella fought hard in the loose and eventually the ball came back to the lurking George Hemingway who crashed through to clinch the levelling try with moments to go.

With a short break to gather their senses and absorb the fact that they were in the final Ledbury took up their positions to face an intimidating Rhiwbina side. The drop out was cleanly caught by Sam Seaborn who saw a gaping hole open in front of him and, as he gathered steam, time seemed to stand still as he made his relentless way towards the opposition goal line to score within moments of the kick off. No one seemed more astonished than himself!

This was just the fillip Ledbury needed as they realised that they could in fact go all the way. Rhiwbina retaliated by throwing all they could muster to level the score but fortress Ledbury held firm with some try saving tackles from Sam Prestwich, Cameron Hunter and Will Butler in particular. The half time whistle came just in time to relieve the pressure.

Will Butler’s long drop out bounced neatly into touch and put Ledbury deep inside the Rhiwbina half. The ensuing line out was turnover to Ledbury and George Hemingway knew exactly what he had to do and did it, doubling the score early in the half. The subsequent Rhiwbina drop out went far too long and ended up in the dead ball area so it was a Ledbury scrum back in the centre. Rhiwbina eventually managed a turnover and looked threatening but Toby Hiram made a try saving tackle. Defensively Ledbury then had to contend with both fair and foul as the opposition threw literally everything at them, resulting in a sending off for one player. The referee did well to maintain control but was hard pressed at times and the final whistle could not come too soon. Fittingly when it did come Ledbury were once more deep in the Rhiwbina half and came very close to scoring a third through George Hemingway who had by now become very much the opposition’s primary target. A well deserved moral win as much as a physical win.

So it was that Ledbury Under 12s came to win their first major tournament. A testament to the team spirit that has blossomed and the fine coaching that has honed the individual talents and instilled the group determination throughout the squad. It was a pleasure to witness!

Try Scorers:

George Hemingway (4)

Will Butler (2)

Rory Bateson (2)

Benedict Shimwell

Charlie Samwells

Sam Seaborn