Match report

MATCH REPORT

6th December 2009

Ledbury U12s

LEDBURY U12A In Close But Convincing Win Over Worcester Warriors U12A On Their Home Turf.

Worcester A   7                         Ledbury A 12

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.

As usual when Ledbury journey to Sixways, the conditions left something to be desired. Although the rain held off the wind was strong and the sodden pitch soon resembled something more akin to a Cadbury’s chocolate mixing vat. Suffice to say that midway through the second half it was hard to distinguish the difference in respective team strips.

From the outset Ledbury seemed a little cagey as a well disciplined Worcester

Team set up an early attacking position following their initial long drop out. The Ledbury pack was not firing on all cylinders and Worcester won clean ball from the first scrum which was swiftly fed down the line for a text book score on the far wing. With the following wind an almost impossible conversion kick was made a reality and Worcester seemed ready to control the game from an initial head start.

Worcester did not however reckon with the grit and determination of a Ledbury team that seems to thrive on bucking the trend once they get themselves into gear.  Will Butler’s drop out bounced obligingly into touch well inside the Worcester half and Benedict Shimwell managed to steal the ball at the ensuing line out. Worcester were quick to rally and through their more disciplined rucking caught Ledbury on the hop with a number of the pack being penalised for coming in from the side. So Worcester returned to the Ledbury 22 but George Hemingway managed to steal line out ball and link with Sam Seaborn who emerged but spilled the slippery ball. Worcester started to probe behind the Ledbury backs with long kicks but Marcus Ballinger at full back was able to deftly gather on a number of occasions and return with accuracy and interest. From one resulting Worcester line out George Hemingway once more broke through, drew three defenders and offloaded to Sam Seaborn at exactly the right moment to allow him to crash through and score. With his best conversion of the season Will Butler evened the scores.

This proved the turning point as the Ledbury pack began to dominate in the Somme like conditions. The powerhouse pack of George Hemingway, Sam Seaborn and Ben Stevens bolstered with the support of Benedict Shimwell, Ben Savidge and Cameron Hunter, managed to thwart any looming Worcester attack. The second score came from just such a forward move, in which George Hemingway uncharacteristically linked with Hugh Smith at pace out on the wing and he was through to score a marvellous try. Unfortunately Marcus Ballinger’s conversion attempt fell just agonisingly short.

The rest of the half became increasingly scrappy with Ledbury nervously conceding possession in the loose and, but for some crunching tackles from Toby Hiram, Sam Prestwich and Rory Bateson, Worcester may well have levelled. But they did not and Ledbury went into the break in the lead.

The short Ledbury drop out at the restart gave Worcester the opportunity to come at Ledbury and so began a battle of attrition as Worcester sought to regain the upper hand. Ledbury were not going to relinquish their slender lead easily and we witnessed some fine defensive play particularly from Will Butler, whose immaculate kicking got Ledbury out of jail on more than one occasion.

Toby Hiram made two try saving tackles and Charlie Samwells managed to spoil a number of Worcester attempts to gain clean ball at the set pieces. The pressure began to tell as Ledbury were hauled up on a number of occasions but they always did enough to survive against whatever odds they faced. In fact Ledbury were unlucky not to increase their lead when, against the run of play, Will Butler broke through, only to have his score disallowed for an earlier infringement on the other side of the pitch. It was ultimately up to the Ledbury pack to incessantly drive out of defence and this they ably did.

And so a valiant Ledbury triumph against an arguably technically superior side. But what Ledbury perhaps lacked at times in finesse they more than amply compensated in spirit and desire. Ultimately it was a well deserved win against the odds.

Try Scorers: Sam Seaborn

                     Hugh Smith

Conversions: Will Butler