Match report

15th November 2009

Moseley U14s 40 - Ledbury U14s 14

LEDBURY STRUGGLE IN CUP AT MOSELEY.

An early start is never popular with this age group, and the parents did well to deliver 19 of the 22 players selected at 9am ready to travel.

On paper this was a strong Ledbury team, and having looked at Moseley results it appeared that we should have been in for a good close game. Preparations were shorter than we would have liked, due to the long journey, and the added hike to the pitch once we had arrived.

Preparations were going well. ........  Then the referee turned up.

It took 15 minutes for the formalities to be completed.  Boots were checked and a timetable issued for the days lectures.

10.40 -  For coaches from both sides - information on how the referee was going to talk to the players, what he was going to say, how he wanted the coaches to behave, what he wanted the linesmen to do and where he wanted the spectators to stand.

10.46  - For players (with coach present). "The riot act". A list of "don'ts". There was no powerpoint presentation due to the lack of electric, but the finger did wag.

10.52 - A repeat of the 10.46 lecture for the opposition. This gave us time to regather our composure.

11.00  - The toss - in the presence of both captains and both coaches. Using a regulation 50 pence piece the referee through it the regulation height of 132 cms, and it landed firmly in the mud as tails. Unfortunately Ledbury had called Heads.

11.01 - Final lecture for coaches. Procedures for dealing with injuries, and a reminder of how all powerful the official really was.

Unfortunately there was not time for us to sit an exam, or for the referee to attend a lecture on the finer parts of the laws of Rugby, which, as it turns out, might have been of benefit, especially to Ledbury.

Kick off.  The Ledbury boys were still stunned from the vast amount of information they had been asked to absorb on a Sunday morning, and several had watched the wagging finger far too intently and had become hypnotised and left in a daze.

Moseley were good. They worked as a team and although there were no obvious stars they worked hard or each other. The referee was quick to penalise the tackler if the ball was not released, and Ledbury conceded regularly. The referee was struggling for breath due to excessive use of the whistle.

Ledbury tackling was poor, and Moseley continually broke the tackle line, and before Ledbury had secured any ball they had conceded 3 tries.

Scrums were not kept steady, and Moseley spoilt everything that Ledbury tried to do. Eventually Alistair Martin made a good tackle in the Moseley half, got to his feet and grabbed the ball. To his amazement, and most of the crowd on both sides, he was penalised for not getting to his feet. We are still wondering how he was moving forwards so fast if his feet weren't involved.

It was then Tom Poyner's turn to receive the finger.The tactic of pulling a large opponent over your shoulder is apparently not allowed in Birmingham, and whilst no penalty was given, the threat of a red card was shock news to the Ledbury team.

Ledbury behaved well in the face of adversity, and half time was a good time to gather our thoughts and realise that we had to work as a team if we were going to get anything out of this game.

To their credit, Ledbury performed far better. Good ball was delivered to the backs and Ali was released on the halfway line. His pace left the opposition well behind, and Tom Poyner added the 2 points.

Moseley scored two more tries during the half, but the best was left till last. The ball was delivered to the back of the ruck, picked up by Joe Fowke, who made good ground, drew his man and offloaded to Tom Poyner who in turn released Ali for his second run in.

The referee had threatened more cards for late tackles and high tackles, but at the end of the day, a bemused Ledbury side can come away with alot of credit for how they conducted themselves , and can also celebrate the strength in character that they showed to win the second half.

Well done as well to all of the supporters for their control in difficult circumstances.

Ledbury were good in patches but did not play well enough as a team.

Inconsistency was an accurate analysis for the performance of the team, as well as.......!!!!