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Match report
MATCH REPORT
31 October 2010
Ledbury U13s
LEDBURY U13s Resounding Triumph At Home Against Bredon Further Extends Winning Form.
Match 1 Ledbury A 52 Bredon 0
An extra hour in bed counted for nought as the first game of the morning kicked off an hour earlier than the norm but Ledbury set off vigorously from the outset and put in a strong team performance while notching up another emphatic score line with no points conceded.
Ledbury Team: Ben Stevens, Sam Seaborn, Ben Savidge, Benedict Shimwell, Rory Bateson, George Hemingway, Toby Hiram, Cameron Hunter, Charlie Samwells, Will Butler, James Newey, Sam Prestwich, Steve Howie, Dan Clark, Stuart Martin. Substitutes: Tommy Kinsella, Owen Haymonds, Oliver Jones.
Try Scorers: George Hemingway (3), James Newey (2), Cameron Hunter (2), Sam Prestwich, Sam Seaborn, Benedict Shimwell. Conversion: James Newey
From a Bredon start Benedict Shimwell caught the drop out and linked with his backs who made good ground before James Newey cleaned up the turnover in the loose and freed George Hemingway to power down the far side to open the scoring within minutes. A difficult conversion attempt from Will Butler only just went begging.
A virtual carbon copy restart again saw Benedict Shimwell catch and run but the pass slithered into touch. Rory Bateson stole the Bredon throw in but Bredon rewon the ball in the loose and countered soon to be dispossessed in the tackle by Steve Howie. The marauding Sam Seaborn rallied the pack and from a firm platform Sam Prestwich linked with James Newey who ran true for the second score in the far corner. Again the conversion attempt fell just short.
This time Ben Savidge caught the drop out and set up a Ledbury pack drive with Ben Stevens making most ground. Bredon regained ball but Toby Hiram immediately wrestled it back. Ledbury went deep into the Bredon half but had a scrum against for a knock on. The ball came straight out and was reset but Ledbury turned over and the packs swiftly passed out the line to Steve Howie on the wing. Bredon’s defence shook but held firm and ultimately led to a scrum 5 for taking over their own line. Prime position for a crash ball from number 8 George Hemingway and sure enough he stuck to the script and scored his second. The conversion attempt was scuffed low.
The drop out was caught by Rory Bateson who ran at the pack setting up a driving ruck well over the half way line. Ledbury recycled and Charlie Samwells quickly fed down the line and it looked as though Steve Howie could be through but it took three of the opposition to stop him in his tracks resulting in a Bredon throw in. Ben Stevens stole and drove before himself being bundled into touch. Ledbury once more stole the throw and Will Butler saw a slim opening to dart behind the Bredon backs and weave through for another score. Again the conversion proved elusive.
Benedict Shimwell caught the drop once more and passed to Will Butler who broke in the opposite direction passing to Dan Clark on the wing who found support in George Hemingway. Again a strong attacking position was presented from a line out won by Benedict Shimwell who allowed George Hemingway to crash through for his third try of the day. This time James Newey was successful in the conversion.
Ledbury seemed lured into period of complacency, conceding a penalty deep in their half where Bredon saw their chance to at last probe the Ledbury defence and but for a couple of good defensive kicks from Will Butler and clearing up by Charlie Samwells on his line, as well as the stalwart Ledbury pack managing to hold the ball up for a scrum 5, they might have been through. The half time whistle was a welcome respite from the pressure.
Ledbury took the opportunity of resting some players who might be need for the next game and so Owen Haymonds and Tommy Kinsella came on in the pack. The Ledbury restart provided a scrum deep in Bredon territory which they won cleanly and made a good long clearance out of trouble. Or so it should have been but Cameron Hunter did what he does so well, covering and countering, linking with Dan Clark on the wing who ran out of space and was bundled into touch. George Hemingway stole the throw and Sam Prestwich down the line was tantalisingly robbed by a knock on from a difficult pass. Ledbury won the scrum and Charlie Samwells released Sam Prestwich to achieve what he had missed moments earlier. A great solo driving run through four missed tackles to score. Again no conversion.
Benedict Shimwell set up a forward attack from the drop out, leading to collateral damage as he collided with team mate Sam Seaborn. From the ensuing scrum George Hemingway set up a further pack drive, like rolling thunder, involving Toby Hiram, Cameron Hunter, Tommy Kinsella and the recovered Sam Seaborn who was through for a score out wide and once more no conversion. Olly Jones came on to rest George Hemingway.
The forwards proceeded to dominate for a spell, stifling any open play and it took a set piece scrum to bring the backs into it again. Will Butler fed Sam Prestwich who brought in Stuart Martin from full back, again back to Will Butler who linked with Cameron Hunter who was through to score, again the conversion proved elusive.
The drop out was recycled by Cameron Hunter to Tommy Kinsella, leading to a scrum to Bredon for a knock on. Owen Haymonds spoiled Bredon’s winning the ball and he fed Toby Hiram in support. James Newey kicked for territory and the return kick was duly caught by Will Butler who returned with interest for a touch in the far corner. Bredon’s defence was sound and they held up for a scrum 5. Unfortunately for them Cameron Hunter now had a taste for it and he sniped in off the back line for a second try but no conversion.
Following the restart Steve Howie made a stupendous run down the wing and although Ledbury contrived to concede a penalty they manoeuvred a counter drive leading to a scrum yards from the line. This time it was Benedict Shimwell’s opportunity at number 8 to “do a Hemingway” as he broke and drove for a final unconverted score.
The final whistle came and Ledbury emerged very convincing winners while maintaining a clean sheet. Having mixed the squad somewhat the coaches also had the opportunity to try out some different formations and give match practice to more. Well done all!
Match 2 Ledbury Dev 15 Old Patesians 31
Following on from the resounding success against Old Patesians the previous week, Ledbury extended a hasty invitation of a return match this week to take on the Ledbury Development side, equally keen to gain match practice. While conceding the game, Ledbury benefitted from seeing good individual advancement from some of the newcomers to the club, bolstered by some A team support, and enhanced prospects for those knocking on the door of the A team.
Ledbury Team: George Watson, Henry Thomas, Myles Burrett-Newland, Dan Maisey, Tommy Kinsella, Tommy Mapp, Harry Harris, Kieran Smith, Dan Smith, Marcus Ballinger, Hugh Smith, Alex Seager, Tristan Jones, Andrew Evans, Toby Cotton. Substitutes: George Hemingway, Cameron Hunter, Rory Bateson, Ben Stevens.
Try Scorers: George Hemingway (2), Cameron Hunter
Old Pats came out guns blazing, eager to redress their previous week’s shortcomings, and a first score immediately came their way from the scrum following the knock on of the drop out, but no conversion.
Ledbury dropped out high and long and Tommy Mapp chased up hard. From the first line out he rewon but there followed a second throw in to Old Pats further along the line. This time they won and kicked for territory, gathered by Toby Cotton at full back linking with Marcus Ballinger who fed Andrew Evans on the wing but his way was barred as he tried to cut back inside. From the resulting scrum Marcus Ballinger attempted to kick for territory himself but the Old Pats set up a counter only to be thwarted by an exocet tackle from Kieran Smith running in at an angle on the wing. Old Pats won their throw but the ball went loose and was cleaned up by Henry Thomas who released Myles Burrett-Newland for a driving run. The ball came back and again Marcus Ballinger put in a good kick for territorial advantage. Unfortunately Old Pats had plenty of space to straighten their line and get up a head of steam, ultimately charging through five missed tackles to score and convert.
Ledbury were increasingly under pressure and it remained the task of Henry Thomas, George Watson, the two Tommy’s and newcomer Dan Maisey to try and gain some momentum from which Ledbury could set up a counter. Unfortunately a third Old Pats try came all too soon though from a defensive fumble, thankfully without the conversion.
Ledbury then had a good run of play, set up by Marcus Ballinger kicking long and forcing a knock on. Hugh Smith tackled well after Old Pats regained the ball but Ledbury conceded a penalty on the Old Pats line, letting them off the hook. Myles Burrett-Newland came off injured, making way for Ben Stevens.
Old Pats used their get out of jail card and managed a run from deep in their own half to score under the posts and duly had the conversion.
With four scores against them half time was a welcome relief allowing Ledbury to rejig before the second half with reinforcements coming on in the form of George Hemingway and Rory Bateson in the pack.
Ledbury dropped out long and a scrum yards from the Old Pats line showed Ledbury exerting pressure. Old Pats won the ball and kicked but it was gathered by George Hemingway who countered and also freed Henry Thomas to drive in the loose. The momentum was with Ledbury and George Hemingway eventually crashed through for his first score, but no conversion.
Cameron Hunter was added to further bolster the Ledbury pack and Myles Burrett-Newland gamely agreed to prop for Old Pats following an injury. A regalvanised Ledbury pack saw Tommy Mapp initiate a rolling drive but Old Pats defended well and set themselves up once more for a score through a run down the centre with an easy conversion as a result.
Ledbury kicked long once more and, once more, Old Pats girded their loins for a long run from deep. And once more a touch of déjà vu as Kieran Smith bolted out of the blue to put in another try saving tackle on the wing. This enabled Ledbury to regain the ball and it fell to George Hemingway to rampage through for another try. A great conversion attempt was just missed as the ball hit the upright.
It now seemed as though Ledbury could pull the iron out of the fire and actually win the game as Tommy Mapp picked a loose ball and drove, resulting in a scrum won by Ledbury. Hugh Smith passed to Henry Thomas and on to George Hemingway who finally unleashed Cameron Hunter to score, sadly the two extra points going adrift again. Ben Stevens broke from the restart and immediately put pressure on with Cameron Hunter almost sneaking a quick second. But the clock ran down as the scrum 5 took place with Old Pats winning the ball and clearing their lines as the final whistle went.
Overall a fair result with Ledbury’s development side gaining some useful match experience, while Old Pats regained face after their defeat the previous week. Well played all!
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