Fixture

St Julians HSOB RFC | Under 14s 14 - 26 Chepstow RFC | Under 14s

Match Report
12 December 2016 / Team News

Match Report U14s vs St Julians HSOB

The 1st round of the Dragons Cup was always going to bring some tension. With the match dates moving around a little it took herculean efforts from a number of people to make themselves available for the game. Notably Morgan & Lloyd Voaden fresh off a plane from Turkey in the early hours, Ben Hope-Bell cutting short a holiday and Sam Alway-Dean missing a family gathering that was originally rearranged from the 23rd based on this game being played a week earlier! I can only imagine the spadework going in at home now to make amends!

With a strong team ready from the off there was plenty of anticipation, however it was St Julians that took the initiative. They took a clean kick-off and made good yards with each carry as we seemed reticent to meet them on the gain line. A soft penalty gave them field position and they eventually worked a try that was well deserved and converted. 7-0 down, away from home and with an opposition that now had their tails up was not part of the plan. Their back row tackled well from the set piece and shut down early Nathan forays around the base of the scrum. Our usual big runners found themselves cut down earlier than usual and there was an element of panic as we looked to force the pass which led to turnovers or knock-ons. But bit by bit everyone settled down, the scrum functioned well with Briden taking at least 8 strikes against the head to nullify any impetus the home side were getting from our knock-ons. Morgan Voaden also did well as a first time front jumper in the lineout and between both set pieces we had a steady stream of good ball.

Roman got the backline working well, with Ben Hope-Bell showing good hands and consistently on the front foot feeding Will Morgan on an inside line to take the St Julians defence head on. Josh Morgan was very safe at full back and made a number of impressive runs from deep. One run took him from his own 22 to the try line only to knock it on and there was a similar fate for Will from one of his own bursts. A good move inside our own half set Kieran free as he outpaced the covering defence, only a last gasp dive from their outside centre saw him just tap Kieran’s heel enough to make him stumble to prevent another sure try! The message from the try line was to stay calm, go through the phases and not expect to make yards with every run. To his credit Will Supple adapted his game today and did a lot of the hidden ‘dirty work’, sealing rucks and ensuring consistent presentation of the ball. Lloyd and Morgan Voaden were also working very hard in the tight areas.

Both Nathan and Jayden carried a number of times in the 1st half but got frustrated by good tackling. Eventually though their hard work paid off and they scored a try each with one being converted by Josh. Reece came on for Kieran due to a reoccurrence of his back injury and Travis came on for Roman with both continuing the good work in their positions.

Lloyd got yellow carded for getting a bit too up close and personal with the opposition and so a re-jig of the front row saw Luke come on to replace the industrious Joe Clough and continue the really good work in the loose areas.

At half-time we were 12-7 up, knowing we could have scored 2 or 3 more tries and still very much in a battle.

The 2nd half started well and the more physical, fitter Chepstow team were more and more on the front foot. Possession and territory were heavily in our favour but St Julians were very organised and physical in defence and looked to Jackal the ball wherever they could. Our boys kept their structure and kept plugging away, bit by bit Nathan and Jayden were making more yards with each carry and Will turned from crash ball carrier to distributor to let Steven Volau off the leash at outside centre. The threat was constant but either good defence or the odd error kept the score tight – not good for the supporters’ stress levels! Some great approach play from Ieuan, who had a very good game on the wing, set up a ruck near the St Julians tryline. Good defence from the home team disrupted the breakdown but Luke responded quickly to pick the ball up and make a good decision to move the ball away from the contact area. This set Jayden up at full pace to barrel his way over the line and to stretch the lead beyond one try. More good work led to Nathan’s 2nd try as the home team started to struggle under the constant physical barrage.

Macsyn came on to replace Reece and proceeded to make a number of turnovers and Bobby came on to the other wing to replace Ieuan who moved to full back to replace an injured Josh.

The momentum continued with Chepstow and Will Morgan finished a good backline move to take the score beyond doubt.

St Julians battled until the end and scored a consolation charge down try at the last play of the game to close out 14-24 to Chepstow.

Points to be pleased about:

  1. Fitness and physicality

  2. 1st Phase Ball

  3. Commitment

Points to work on:

  1. Don’t panic if you can’t make early yards

  2. Backline a little deep at times

Well done everyone, on we go………………

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