Fixture

To beat the reigning the champions it was going to take an incredible performance…… And the boys delivered it.

We were quick to get the boys fully focussed on the task at hand, and a good warm up and talk before kick-off really set the tone (plus ten quid’s worth of sweets, don’t expect them every week boys!)

From the off the  whole team were hungry for the ball and some very strong running from  Jayden, Will, Lloyd and Sam Jenkins  nearly resulted in some very quick scores. Nathan was getting ball in hand more and more and proceeded to put one of their players off straight away due to very powerful running. Taylor (who had shrugged off the fact he had 2 hrs sleep) and Morgan were linking extremely well with the backs and the centres were making excellent yards. The boys should have been 3 or 4 tries up within 20 mins but a few drop balls and turnovers enabled Caerleon to clear their lines. Chepstow continued to throw everything in attack and finally it resulted in Jayden crashing over for the first score. Ben converted a very tricky shot at goal which actually ended up being extremely important (must have been my boots).

Chepstow continued to attack Caerleon with only some last ditch tackling on Sam preventing further scores. We must have had 80% possession and territory in the first half but only had 7 points on the scoreboard to show for it . Caerleon started to grow into the game and only a last ditch try saving tackle from the man of the match Josh Morgan, prevented their danger man from scoring.

With the lineout functioning incredibly well with Taylor winning all our clean ball and also stealing theirs, Roman was able to get our back lines flowing, ben was pulling the strings at 10 with the big men running off him causing havoc for the Caerleon defence. Unfortunately we just couldn’t execute any more scores before half time, going in 7 – 0 up. What was pleasing about the first half was the teams no fear approach and the way they nullified Caerleon’s attack with some crunching hits from the outstanding Sam Jenkins, and turnover after turnover from Briden (who must have got into double figures).

The second half kicked off with Chepstow having to spend significant time defending, this took its toll on Sam Always-dean and Sam Jenkins who both had to come off with knocks, the latter not being able to return and was noticeably gutted. Steven proved an excellent replacement for Sam though continuing where he left off by levelling his opposite man. The amount of defending started to show, with the boys becoming visibly tired, but they sucked it in to continue to put players down on the floor time and time again. Morgan, Ieuan and Kieran were tackling their hearts, ensuring no one went through, however a couple of lose tackles allowed them to score a converted try to level proceedings.

Joe Clough, Travis and Luke provided some fresh legs, but Caerleon were starting to grow in confidence with only our superb scramble defence holding out with another try saving tackle from Josh Morgan on their danger man. Will Morgan and Ben continued to bring the defence up and shut them down quickly and we managed to turn the ball over and win a penalty in their 22. The team showed great maturity to go for the 3 points but the kick was pushed just wide.

Caerleon broke and nearly scored a length of the field try and the pressure told with our forwards creeping offside near the posts. Fortunately the kick went wide and we managed to hold out with some last ditch defending and another turn over by Briden allowing us to kick the ball dead and end the match, Chepstow going through to the next round as we were the away team, and we deserved it.

The boys just have to believe!!!

I would like to say a huge thanks to the subs who came and I didn’t manage to get on (Lewis, Rhys, Bobby and Macsyn) and those who didn’t get much game time, we are a squad and we have won as a squad, these players will be prioritised for game time next week:

Things that went well:

·       Belief, commitment, desire, concentration and showing them no respect

·       Lineout was exceptional

·       Blitz defence and line speed

·       Scrum for most of the game

·       Passing and taking the ball on the run

Things to work on:

·       Body angles at some of the rucks

·       Exit strategy

·       Turning pressure into points