Fixture

This week the U15s were hosting a Berry Hill team that they had played twice already this season. With each side having one victory apiece, today was going to be the decider.

Spirits and expectations were high after last week’s excellent performance, in defeat, against Cinderford. Before the match, we talked about building on that performance level and setting our standard for the game as we knew it would be difficult for our visitors to cope.

Playing conditions were good and Chepstow flew out of the blocks, dominating early possession through Rhys Swain at the line-out and territory through Keegan’s kicking. Playing a tight game, the forwards carried strongly through Will Ruck, Harry Taylor and Angus Davies-King. The support play was excellent with Spencer Hanlon, Jake Summers, Fred Conridge and Dan Williams relentlessly clearing rucks and creating quick ball for Edwin Spencer to release the next phase.

Berry Hill’s tackling, as ever, was strong and committed. However, the pressure of a number of quick phases and some excellent passing out of the tackle was too much to bear. Within 10 minutes Will Ruck had scored twice with Keegan converting both.

Further attacks followed but we had got drawn into playing a little too narrowly, seeking contact rather than space. Some avoidable errors led to a series of penalties being conceded that handed the visitors possession and territory. However, defensively the home team looked strong with a rapid defensive backline of Thomas Franklin, Callum Arnott and Keegan Evered-Hall shutting down attacks before they could add any width to their game. Tom Wacey and Morgan Bedford dealt with a number of kicks over the top and took the game straight back to the visitors.

After 15 minutes Lewis Bedford, Jayden Davies and Jake Allbert entered the game and helped spark the home team into another gear. The forwards turned over a Berry Hill attacked inside the Chepstow half and good interplay across the backline saw Callum put Keegan into a yard of space, he ghosted past his man and somehow weaved his way through the covering defence to score a seemingly effortless 50 metre try! The message of playing with a little more width had got through and we started to offload before contact. This really did open up the visitors defence and Harry Taylor, doing the work of 2 men as usual, capitalised to score 2 tries in quick succession.

The half-time whistle went with 5 tries and 5 conversions on the board, 35-0! There really wasn’t very much to say at half-time other than keep the tempo high and enjoy it as much as possible….

The second half started as the first had finished, more marauding running from the forwards released the backs and some good interplay led to Harry Taylor’s hat trick. The home team were completely dominant but we started looking a little narrow again. This time it worked though as the forwards picked and drove from the base of a series of rucks and Jake Summers got in on the scoring act, he looked very pleased to appear from the pile-up, ball in hand to much applause!

At 47-0, relatively early in the 2nd half we rotated the team, giving Jake Summers, Harry Taylor and Will Ruck a rest that they really didn’t want or need, sorry lads. Berry Hill were being urged on by their coaching staff and, as we know they are a physical side having beaten many good teams this season. They switched tactics to focus on set piece and play a very tight game. They managed to get a good foothold in the Chepstow half for an extended period and made the defence work hard to hold them at bay. The home side had lost a little shape and the game did get a bit scrappy towards the end but the job had been done. Berry Hill got a consolation try from a long kick and chase that bounced very kindly but it was no less than they deserved for sticking at the job despite being out of the game.

Final score Chepstow 47-7 Berry Hill

So, all in all, another very pleasing day at the office. The full squad played their part today. Keegan had his best game of the season yet, Tom Wacey again improved at full back whilst Morgan looked assured out on the wing. The much rejigged front row of Angus, Rhys & Dan really worked and continued to do so when Lewis and Jayden came on. Jake & Fred continue to provide the engine in the middle of the back and overall we look really well balanced.

Things to be pleased about

• Focus and commitment, everyone willing to do the hard work
• Team ethic, they working to get the best out of each other
• Scrum really worked

Things to work on

• We easily get drawn into playing narrowly, almost relishing and seeking contact. We really don’t need to
• Receiving kick-offs didn’t work so well against a very effective opposition tactic today, we can learn from that

Well done everyone, on we go………