Match report

LEDBURY DEFEATED IN CONTROVERSIAL CIRCUMSTANCES - THATS OFFICIAL !!!

Ledbury under 12s travelled to Gloucester to face Hucclecote in a re-arranged match following the opening day clash at Ross road where the Gloucester side came out on top in an enthralling encounter . Since this defeat Ledbury have worked hard to improve and have notched up some convincing wins of late so were in good form and spirits going into the match.

This game was eagerly anticipated by both sides and like the opening days matches it wasn't likely to disappoint or be one for the faint hearted.

It was agreed that 3 short games would be played 10 minutes each way with the strongest sides starting and both squads rotating players in the remaining two matches to give everyone some game time.

Game 1

Hucclecote 5 - 0 Ledbury

In the opening game it was fairly clear that with a narrow pitch , that both sides would find it hard to locate any space and so it was left for the forwards to slog it out and try and fashion an advantage.

Ledburys pack started brightly and set about the hosts with Bennion and Hinkley leading the charge , but neither side were able to unlock the defenses as a series of bone crushing tackles went in across the park .

Ledburys Backs were busier today than in the previous fixture and Evans and Prosser enjoyed some success early on as Ledbury tried to establish a tempo but both sides just cancelled each other out and the half ended level.

At the turn there was more of the same Ledbury rucked well but Hucclecote to there credit were very quick in numbers to the breakdown and were able to prevent Ledburys bigger forwards to use the ball quickly.

Both sets of backs saw plenty of ball , such was the commitment in the contact area neither were able to break through.

However Hucclecote began to exert some pressure and had Ledbury pinned deep in there own half for a minute or two and Ledbury were penalized for a number of infringements by the referee handing the penalties to the hosts.

Best , Scott , Hebron and Hemingway tackled hard and kept Cote out until ( and here comes the controversy ) the Cote forward got to within a metre of the try line was tackled by Hinkley and Goodchap and dropped the ball !! , despite this error he was then able to re gather the ball and touch down and the try was awarded much to the amazement of the spectators and Ledbury players alike.

With the conversion missed , ledbury mounted a reaction with the pack involved in rumbling up field , Prestwich tried his best to unlock the defence but stout defence from the hosts ensured they took a controversial victory, when on the balance of play a draw would have been a fairer result .

Game 2

Hucclecote 0 - 7 Ledbury

Both sides made a number of changes for this game which began shortly after a minutes silence was observed respectfully in memory for all those that have served and continue serve for us and it was great to see both sides circled together paying there respects.

Despite the changes both sides showed great passion and commitment as they went in search of a victory.

Although more individual mistakes were made in this game both sides rucked well and carried well,for Ledbury Simcock continued to impress as did Shucker Lofthouse and Eales who all got stuck in and worked hard in the loose. 

The backs tried to run some ball and Whiles , Harris and Goodchap carried well but with both squads so well matched they continued to cancel each other out and at halftime it was all square.

Cullen on his debut deserves a mention he tackled well out wide and hadn't even trained before today !! let alone play a match.

At the turn Ledburys superior rucking began to give them a slight upper hand  Bennion was held up short following some desperate tackling from the hosts and as the visitors turned up the pressure Hucclecote continued to give away penalties in an attempt to repel Ledbury as the game swung back in Ledburys favor.

From a penalty 10 yards out Harris took a quick tap and took the contact close to the hosts line good rucking from Simcock , Eales and Goodchap allowed Hinkley to collect at the base and crash over and give Ledbury a deserved lead, the extras were added by Prestwich.

Ledbury buoyed by this score were quickly into there hosts and Skittery and Harris both looked to create openings but resolute and well drilled Hucclecote defense continued to close the door , however Ledbury had successfully got a win under there belts and saw the clock out controlling possession.

Game 3

Hucclecote 21 - 14 Ledbury

In the final game both these sides rotated there squads again but as in every previous games it made little or impact on the game with both teams so well matched.

It must be said that both squads showed great spirit and determination and kept playing throughout all the games and even though the game was very physical and nearly boiled over both sqauds kept there discipline in the main and should be applauded for that.

Ledburys forwards carried on where they left off from game 2 and rucked really well and put the hosts on the back foot , this allowed the backs to see some ball and try to work some space and they were happy to oblige when Harris fed Prestwich who's clever off load out of contact freed Prosser who carried hard and offloaded to Goodchap who ran from the half way line out pacing the covering defenders to score a fine team try Prestwich added the extras.

Hucclecote then showed that they were not about to lie down and responded with a score of there just minutes later following good work from there pack and with this try converted we were all square again.

In the final period Hucclecote found themselves under pressure from Hinkley , Bennion , Scott  and Rayner up front and with the backs testing there opposite numbers Ledbury looked to be in control until from a Hucclecote clearing Kick Led bury failed to deal with it and returned the kick straight into the arms of Hucclecotes scrum half who ran into the corner unopposed to put Cote back in front and when Cote converted and scored again following some tired defending from Ledbury the hosts looked to have done enough.

But Ledbury also showed plenty of spirit and came back again and this time from a clearing kick from cote there was to be no mistake Prestwich caught the high ball well just inside his own half and went on a mesmerizing run beating defenders with ease and twisting out of contact to score a superb individual score and when Skittery added the extras it was game back on .

Both sides unsurprisingly tired as the pace and ferociousness of the contest started to take its toll on all the boys and despite both sets of lads still trading blows Ledbury were unable to find another way through Hucclecotes defense as the clock ran down.

Ledbury can be hugely proud of there efforts today we should glimpses of the individual talent within the squad but more importantly the togetherness of the squad who never gave up and held there heads high .

We are becoming a better side week by week and can only benefit for being involved in these types of games in the long term.

Well done boys and thank you to our  new friends at Hucclecote for there hospitality off the pitch and we look forward to playing them again soon .