Match report

MATCH REPORT

14th February 2010

Ledbury U12s

LEDBURY U12s Regain Winning Streak in Entertaining 4 Quarter Contest with Droitwich

Score:             Ledbury 35     Droitwich 12

1st Quarter:       Ledbury 14       Droitwich 7

2nd Quarter:      Ledbury 14       Droitwich 0

3rd Quarter:       Ledbury 7         Droitwich 0

4th Quarter:       Ledbury 0         Droitwich 5

Ledbury Squad:

Ben Stevens, Sam Seaborn. George Hemingway, Ben Savidge, Will Butler, Charlie Samwells, Cameron Hunter, Sam Prestwich, Hugh Smith, Kieran Smith, Josh Bedford, Toby Cotton, Dan Clark, Myles Burrett-Newland, Ed Fryer, Stuart Martin, George Watson, Rhodri Whittaker, Amber Wilkins, Daniel Lane, Daniel Hamblin, Tommy Kinsella.

On a gloriously bright and breezy morning spring seemed to beckon and with it a smarting Ledbury squad regained some of the spring in their step following their first defeat of the season the previous week away to Malvern. The squad was somewhat depleted due to half term holidays and sickness and so the coaches elected to play a mix of experience over 4 quarters rather than an A and B match. This gave all players the opportunity to hone both individual and team skills by mixing up the norm.

1st Quarter  

Droitwich kicked off and, unfortunately for them, George Hemingway caught cleanly and immediately cranked up the gears and ran three quarters of the pitch, evaded at least eight tackle attempts, and scored. The try was reliably converted by Will Butler who once again had a good boot on him as this was to be the first of five to his name.

From the restart Droitwich cleverly avoided Mr Hemingway and it was this time gathered by Tommy Kinsella who passed to Will Butler and he kicked or territory but too deep into the deadball area. From the 22 drop out Sam Seaborn gathered and attempted a forward drive before releasing the backs. Droitwich countered with a stealthy interception and this time they ran through four missed tackles and evened the score, duly converted.

Ledbury looked to regain the lead from the restart. George Hemingway emerged with the ball from a concerted ruck but was driven into touch. Lineout led to scrum and ultimately Droitwich gained turnover, kicking for territory but ably caught by Toby Cotton and linking with Stuart Martin who made ground before spilling the ball. Ben Stevens and Cameron Hunter drove the recycle blindside and linked with Dan Clark on the wing who all but made it but was held up over the line by stalwart Droitwich defence. A messy scrum 5 was reset and Ledbury emerged with the ball almost setting Sam Prestwich free. Droitwich were penalised for coming in from the side of the ruck and so the forwards drove from the penalty, ultimately feeding back to Will Butler, nipping back inside and smuggling to Cameron Hunter who crashed through on the blindside to score. And so Ledbury regained their 7 point lead at the close of the quarter.

2nd Quarter

From a Ledbury drop out leading to a penalty against them Droitwich could not capitalise on the error and soon Ledbury had possession again, quickly moving down the line and Dan Clark was this time able to run clear and score in the corner, just recompense for being held up earlier. The subsequent restart went into the dead ball area and so once again a scrum in the centre. Ledbury won but Droitwich were quick to pounce on Charlie Samwells who did well to thwart their immediate counter attack, forcing them to kick long, this time covered by the reliable Sam Prestwich. The ensuing line out was a further platform for a Ledbury attack with fast clean ball from Cameron Hunter to Will Butler, to Sam Prestwich and once more to Dan Clark who suffered his second holding up, oh so close yet again!

Droitwich then began to exert pressure and may have gained ground but for a quick snaffle from Charlie Samwells stopping clean release at the back of the scrum, allowing the Ledbury forwards to pounce, Ben Stevens driving through to score with close support from Sam Seaborn and Ben Savidge.

With two in the bag it was now a case of defending against incessant pressure from Droitwich, eager to get back in contention and they came close, unluckily held up over the line themselves following a penalty drive against Ledbury for handling on the ground. Ledbury won the scrum 5 and once more it was down the line to Dan Clark who this time fed back into Hugh Smith before running out of space. From the breakdown at the ruck Ledbury won the scrum and this time passed out the other way to Amber Wilkins who was dispossessed just a couple of metres short after evading two tackle attempts.  

3rd Quarter

The third quarter seemed to suffer from a less fluid, scrappy period of play, both sides forced into unnecessary errors, knock-ons and turnovers. Stuart Martin gathered well from the drop out but was herded into touch before being able to regain ground. George Hemingway caught and tried to drive but breakdown soon ensued. Droitwich almost broke out but for a crunching tackle from Sam Prestwich. Ultimately a clear opportunity arose as Ledbury fed fast through Charlie Samwells to Cameron Hunter, to Amber Wilkins, and on to Stuart Martin only to be thwarted by the touch line. George Hemingway caught from the line out and almost crashed through but was held up once more by a valiant Droitwich defence.

It seemed at last that Ledbury might break the deadlock and they did by the clever control of Will Butler who drew his man before feeding Hugh Smith and when the ball went loose Cameron Hunter seized his chance, drove again, lost the ball, recovered through a joint tackle with Ben Stevens until it ultimately went to touch 5 metres out. From the lineout Cameron Hunter, bit between his teeth, had only one thought and managed to rip ball and jiggle through for his second well deserved try of the day.

4th Quarter

With Ledbury now fielding a number of relative match novices Droitwich applied increasing pressure. Will Butler cleared with a long kick from behind the Ledbury goal line straight back into the Droitwich half and they were held there until Ledbury were penalised for coming in from the side of the ruck. Droitwich kicked long and true to gain a throw in a few yards out. Their first attempt to breach the Ledbury defence was stifled by a joint try saving tackle from Toby Cotton and Ben Stevens. At the subsequent scrum 5 the defence was not so tight and Droitwich managed to shimmy through and score a well deserved try but were unfortunately unable to convert.

Droitwich, now in the ascendancy, soon came back into the fray looking for more. Sam Prestwich was once again invincible in the tackle and when Droitwich kicked through for territory Rhodri Whittaker ably gathered and managed to hold on to the ball until reinforcements arrived in the form of Ben Stevens who passed to Will Butler for a much welcome clearance kick.

So Ledbury held firm and ended the day victorious through a sound team effort. Plaudits should go however to Cameron Hunter, who had his best game of the season, scoring two, controlling play, tackling fearlessly and scrapping tirelessly: a well deserved recipient of man of the match who showed more of his Welsh roots than Scots (sorry Iain!!).      

Try Scorers:                             Cameron Hunter (2)

                                                  George Hemingway

                                                    Dan Clark

                                                  Ben Stevens

Conversions:                           Will Butler (5)