Match report

MATCH REPORT

9 January 2011

Ledbury U13s Away

Ledbury Brush Aside the Christmas Cobwebs With Two Convincing Wins Against Strong Luctonian Opposition.

Match 1 (RB)             

Luctonians     5            Ledbury          19

After missing the fixture in December because of the snow there was no better way to banish the festive excesses than to launch the New Year with a hastily rearranged fixture. Both Ledbury sides were eager to pick up where they left off so many weeks ago against Malvern and once more showed the strength in depth of the complete squad.

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, Hugh Smith, Marcus Ballinger.

Substitute: Jonathan Evans

Try Scorers: George Hemingway, Benedict Shimwell, Steve Howie.

Conversions: Marcus Ballinger (2).

Ledbury kicked off confidently having watched their development side colleagues win a hard fought victory and immediately caused themselves bother by giving away the first of many penalty infringements in the loose, thankfully inside the relative safety of the Lucs 22 line. Ledbury regained possession and attacked once more provoking a high tackle rewarding Ledbury with a penalty their way.

Having kicked for the touch advantage Ledbury continued to knock at the door with Sam Seaborn crashing along the wing before being bundled unceremoniously into touch but tantalisingly close to the Lucs try line. Ledbury stole the Lucs throw and Cameron Hunter dashed for the try line but spilled forward just short. Scrum 5 led to another as Lucs carried over but this placed Ledbury again in prime striking position, centre of posts and with, a solid platform, George Hemingway at No 8 exercised a copy book pick and drive to put Ledbury on the score sheet. Marcus Ballinger had no problem in adding the extra two conversion points.

Lucs were keen to redress the balance but the drop out fell straight into the hands of Benedict Shimwell who managed to make the half way line before losing the ball and a scrappy run of play developed culminating in Marcus Ballinger going for a defensive clearance into touch but it unfortunately went straight out leading to a Lucs throw deep in Ledbury territory in dangerous striking position. Ledbury foolishly missed the count in the lineout and gave away another penalty which Lucs opted to drive, arriving at the brick wall of Ben Stevens. Ledbury regained possession and Cameron Hunter kicked for territory.  Ledbury once more contrived to thwart their own chances by being penalised for not releasing in the ruck closely followed by a further penalty for a high tackle, this time with Ledbury the culprits (perhaps too many mince pies and not enough “bending ze knees”, as the ski instructor would have it!).

Ledbury’s defence was strong as Lucs came at them, with Steve Howie immediately showing how to put in a proper tackle. Marcus Ballinger cleaned up but was in turn halted in his stride and Sam Prestwich in turn mopping up and Lucs penalised for coming in from the side. Ledbury galvanised their efforts in a counter attack as Charlie Samwells fed clean ball for Ledbury to go through the gears down the back line.  Lucs were penalised again for going over in the loose giving Ledbury a throw in on their 22. Ledbury knocked on and Lucs won the ensuing scrum and kicked for territory. Ledbury won the throw and pressure came again from Sam Seaborn driving, feeding Rory Bateson who linked with the marauding Cameron Hunter who ended up in touch just a few yards out. Benedict Shimwell stole the ball mid air and juggled precariously close to what, from some angles, could have been construed as a knock on before crashing through to score but unfortunately no conversion from this far out wide.

At the restart Ben Savidge caught a high ball magnificently and set Sam Seaborn off on another gallop but the Lucs defence was firm. George Hemingway exerted his lofty influence in a throw in and with a quick feed the ball went down the Ledbury line and could have led to a further score in the far corner but for a forward pass. The ball eventually came back the other way with Will Butler offloading at exactly the right moment to Cameron Hunter who unfortunately opted to cut back in and was stifled by the Lucs defence with two exasperated colleagues outside crying for the ball. So came the half time whistle.

Lucs restarted but kicked too long so it was a scrum Ledbury back in the centre. Will Butler saw the opening on the blindside and with James Newey and Sam Prestwich in close support the ball came to Steve Howie on the wing but there was no way through as Lucs put in some great defensive tackles. The Lucs forwards then contrived to keep the ball in the forwards and roll forward but Toby Hiram nipped that one in the bud with a crunching tackle.  Ledbury then made life difficult for themselves once more being penalised for the line being too far up but Cameron Hunter ripped the ball from the opposition drive and clung on in his terrier way.  Possession then went either way until, against the run of play, Steve Howie broke the deadlock with a searing interception on a loose Lucs pass in the middle of the field and there was no matching his pace as he ran half a pitch to score conveniently under the posts. Marcus Ballinger obligingly took the two extra points again.

Jonathan Evans came on as sub for Hugh Smith on the wing as Charlie Samwells caught the drop out and managed to clear before being engulfed by the Lucs forwards. Following a stolen Lucs throw by George Hemingway Ledbury pressed again but the Lucs defence was impressive as they also sought to counter. Ultimately Charlie Samwells charged down a Lucs clearance attempt which rebounded beyond the deadball line. From the drop out Lucs had the chance to get into Ledbury territory and used their forwards to conjure up an attacking opportunity. It finally came through concerted pressure with a scrum won against the head. Ledbury were caught on the back foot and conceded two penalties in quick succession allowing Lucs to ultimately win their reward with a well earned rolling maul forward try in the far corner. With a difficult conversion going begging the final whistle came.

Ledbury edged a closely fought contest by managing to take their opportunities more quickly and effectively but with a stalwart Lucs pack to contend with this was perhaps the closest test to date this season.

A fine display of rugby from all the players on a crisp and bright, albeit nippy, January morning!

Match 2   (DW)   

 Luctonians Development v LRFC Development – 09.01.11 (Away)

Result: Luctonians: 5. Ledbury Development: 17.  

Scorers for Ledbury:

Tries: Jonathan Evans (2), Dan Smith.

Con: Stuart Martin.

Team Sheet:

Ben Savidge, Henry Thomas (C), Owen Haymonds, Dan Hamblin, Tommy Kinsella, Dan Maisy, Tommy Mapp (PL), Kieran Smith,  Jonathan Evans, Toby Cotton, Harry Harris, Felix Rusby, Alex Seager, Rhodri Whittaker, Stuart Martin.

Replacements:

Dan Smith, Oliver Jones, Andrew Evans.

Luctonians welcomed Ledbury on a bright but bitterly cold January morning for this rearranged fixture, however their hospitality didn’t extend to giving the visitors an easy ride. Toby Cotton started the match dropping the ball expertly just beyond the oppositions 10m line allowing his pack to reach the ball before the defence could gather their thoughts.

Ledbury pressure forced a succession of errors from the hosts resulting in a series of scrums in the Luctonians half. Ledbury demonstrated control and power in the set pieces and were able to maintain the pressure even on the defending teams’ put in. Temporary respite was achieved through a long clearance kick out of the 22 which was gathered neatly by Rhodri Whittaker to put Ledbury back on the offensive with a move which culminated in the hard working Henry Thomas receiving a bloody nose after a barnstorming run which very nearly carried him to the try line.

With Henry off the pitch Kieran Smith moved to hooker and Dan Smith came on as blood replacement to fill in at flanker just in time for a 5m scrum. Ledbury duly won the ball for Dan to pick up and sprint for the line before the defence could react to touch down for Ledbury’s first try. A great way to celebrate your birthday for a newly minted teenager.

Stuart Martin duly converted to give Ledbury a deserved 7 point lead.

Luctonians restarted and immediately found themselves on the back foot as they struggled to wrest possession of the ball from the impressive Ledbury pack, led by Tommy Mapp, putting in another fine display at no 8, which was now beginning to dominate in all facets of the game ably supported by the backs who carried the ball relentlessly at the opposition.

Ledbury set up and won three rucks in a row providing quick ball for Jonathan Evans, who was running the show at scrum half, to sprint in from fully 30 metres out and touch down under the posts. The conversion was missed and Luctonians were left to restart once again.

Ledbury were allowed to receive the kick off with no real pressure and secured possession allowing Tommy Mapp to set up yet another attack with his back row partners, the two Dans – Maisy and Smith, giving support before releasing the new boy, Felix Rusby, on a mesmerising run culminating in a ruck just inside the home sides 10m line. Luctonians erred once again and conceded yet another scrum. Inevitably Ledbury regained possession allowing Jonathan Evans to pick up and feint right before rounding the scrum and running in down the left flank to score his second and Ledbury’s third try.

The first half ended not a moment too soon for the hosts with Ledbury in total command and leading by 17 points to nil.

Luctonians regrouped during the break and brought in some fresh legs to shore up their ailing pack. Initially this policy appeared to have been in vain as the visitors came very close to scoring a fourth try directly from the hosts kick off only to be denied by some untypical sloppy handling with the try line in sight.

However, Ledbury were now facing a more determined and stronger opposition who were proving more adept at winning and retaining the ball and soon found themselves pinned in their own half and having to defend for the first time. Proving themselves up to the task, Ledbury successfully repelled wave after wave of attacks before finally succumbing and conceding the hosts only score of the match.

The match became a tussle between two strong packs supported by their backs with neither side able to regain ascendancy and the match ended without further addition to the score.

After the lengthy enforced winter break this was an exciting and impressive first match of 2011 from which both sides can take many positives but Ledbury can be justifiably proud of a fine display with standout performances from Henry Thomas, Kieran Smith and Tommy Mapp in the pack and Jonathan Evans, Felix Rusby and Stuart Martin in the backs.