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Sunday 19 April
Chobham 12 - 45 Dorking
Surrey u21s Tournament, Plate Final
Well first of all a big thank you to all the boys who played u21s rugby this season, from this years u18s and u19s, who I know so well, to the older University boys who answered the call. We had players turn out from the 5th team to the 1st team. We had George H, from the u17s, for the final. He has yet to play senior rugby, but I know he will be a star when he does next season. We also had two guest players, Liam from Godalming College (where many of the u18s are based) in the Old Reigatians Semifinal and Oscar a friend of Harry’s in the Christmas pool games.
What they all had in common was that they gave their all in each and every game including the final. Sadly though the final was a game too far for many of the boys. Whilst we had a very good squad of 17 we could have done with a couple more forwards and a couple more backs. Losing all the eligible 1st team players through injury (against Dorking the day before) or work and losing nearly all the 2nd XV players for the same reasons was always going to make this game a tough. Many of our Uni boys had also returned back to campus or were on rugby tours so we would miss them as well. Also, as you know from previous match reports (you have read them haven't you), James Jelly had hurt himself playing football. A crime I still haven’t quite forgiven him for.
To be fair Dorking had similar problems with availability and had to rely heavily on their u17 squad. If I had known how many players I was going to lose on Sat (six) I would have done the same. We did though at least have a full front row, plus replacement which was more than Dorking had at the start of the game. In theory we could have demanded the cup there and then but such gamesmanship is not our way and we lent them Tom L for the first 15min, whilst their prop made his way from tour to the ground. In the same spirit Dorking offered us the use of any of their subs if we needed them. We didn’t need them but the offer was appreciated.
The game started with both teams looking evenly matched. Tom was doing well against our pack and our backs were holding out theirs. The game was so even that for the first 15 mins the ball pinged between the two 22s but neither try line was threatened. The first try game was from a Dorking attack that finally managed to penetrate to our try line. Dorking managed to engineer a 3 man overlap on our right. As the fly half sent the pass Lee C knew he had to gamble. He went for the ball and managed to pluck it out of their centre's hands. It was then the simple matter of running the length of the field being chased down by the Dorking back three. Lee managed to win the race and touched down under their posts. Harry G made the conversion (7 – 0).
Dorking then seemed to wake up and realise that whilst their forwards were not having any joy their backs were faster and better organised. It took massive tackles from Tommy W and Matt I to stop them scoring but finally they got a scrappy try to level the score. They also made the con and with 20 min gone the game was even (7 – 7).
The next 20 mins though were all Dorking as they scored three unanswered tries and led by 19 points at half time (7 – 26).
We started the second half strongly and won a scrum on the Dorking 5m line. Dom H picked, drove for the line and scored. The tricky con was missed but we were now only two tries down (12 – 26). I honestly thought we could pull this one out of the bag but Dorking quickly rallied, sent on fresh legs and took the game from us.
Whilst we were trying to play catch up rugby and gain territory by kicking, the Dorking back three were very happy to run the ball back. Repeatedly we managed to haul them down with Matt I, George S, Tom H, Bradley P and Callum W making the tackles but they crossed our line three more times to record a 45 – 12 victory.
Dorking were very gracious winners and whilst they were pleased with the win they didn’t over celebrate and congratulated our boys on a game played in a competitive but fair spirit. I think the better team won but I am disappointed that they won by such a big margin but once we started to play catch up rugby we were always vulnerable to the counter attack.
On a personal note I would like to say thank you to Nigel G and Kevin W who kept the boys on the straight and narrow as first class coaches. Also thank you to the first aid team including Hugh S who managed to be in three places at once on Sunday.
Finally this is my last match report. I hope you have enjoyed reading them more than I have writing them!
David
Wednesday 8 April 2009
Chobham 17 - 10 Old Reigatians
Surrey u21s Tournament, Plate Semi Final
Before I get to the match report a big thank you should be sent to all the guys and girls who went out of their way to ensure that this game happened and run smoothly at such short notice. It was not until Sunday night that this game was definitely confirmed (a fault of the terrible weather on New Years eve). If I named all the names I am sure to miss a few out but they know who they are. The club is very lucky to have such a dedicated band.
The thanks should be extended to include the organisers of a meeting, booked months ago, agreeing to share the club house. Especially as they knew they would have to put up with noise and disruption, however quiet 40 plus teenage boys and their supporters tried to be.
After our exploits over Christmas (see report below) the u21s finished third in our league and earned a semi-final against Old Reigatians for a place in the plate final on the 19th April. The opposition waiting today’s winners would be Dorking u21s. As I am sure you all appreciate Dorking and Old Reigatians have a rivalry second to none and this would ensure that this would be no easy tie for us.
Selection was not as straight forward as I had hoped. For various reasons, such as to much course work to do (students aren’t what they used to be), rugby tours, work, injuries and in one case a cut hand obtained mending a garage door, a significant number of boys were unavailable. I got the network into action and with increasingly urgent phone calls / e-mails / texts we got a front row and then a full 15. As the results of the network become clear I realised we may have been a bit too enthusiastic and could end up with 10 subs. As generally happens some who suggested they may turn up didn’t and we ended up with a very manageable 5 subs. A big thank you to the guys for getting your mates out, in particular Harry G and Bradley E, who tried really hard to get more Edwards in a Chobham side than Smiths. For this one it was equal at two each. Let’s see how many of each we have for the final!
The kick off time (the latest we could kick off with our floodlights not suitable for a night game) caused Old Reigatians some travel problems and we delayed for 15 mins while their team arrived and got organised. Once they were ready the ref started the game in front of a large and well-behaved crowd.
If Old Reigatians thought they had travel problems they should have been in Harry G’s shoes. He managed to finish a Uni game in Cardiff at 4pm and still make it to Chobham for the start of the second half. He of course took abuse from his team mates who believed that if he hadn’t stayed for a shower and to do his hair after the Cardiff game he may well have made the start.
Right from the kick off our forwards set about trying to dominating the contact area. Old Reigatians responded and for the first 9 mins I don’t think a single player with 11 or higher on his back touched the ball. I wish this had continued longer as on the 10 min mark the Old Reigatians centre finally got the ball and chipped the on rushing defence. The bounce favoured the attacker who scooped up the ball, broke the desperate cover tackle, and scored in the left hand corner. The only saving grace was the fact that the conversion was missed (0 – 5).
The score seemed to spur Old Reigatians on who quickly won two kickable penalties. If they had a kicker of Alec T qualities we would have been 13 points down with as many minutes gone but fortunately he is in our colours. The other thing that kept us in the game were massive first up tackles, lead by Captain Neil C and ably supported by Tom R, Ollie S and Ben S. Neil C was clearly heard rallying the troops and exhorting them to leave nothing behind.
The talking to worked and the boys started to launch attacks of their own. On the 25 min mark we got our reward. Once again our first up tackles had stopped Old Reigatians dead. Ollie S tried to steal the ball but the Old Reigatians player held on and we got the pen. Alec T sent a massive kick from our 22 to their 5m line for the line out. Liam E won the ball from a pin perfect Tom R throw. The forwards set up the drive and almost got over the line. The ref awarded an attacking scrum. Caleb picked and found Neil C in support. Bradley E sent the ball to the backs where Matt S made the break. As the cover got to him he passed to Sam E who glided over on the left wing. Alec T made the con look easy and we were two points up (7 – 5).
Whilst this could have been the start of us pulling away we just missed out on two scoring moves, one a forwards drive which Tom L almost got on the end of and the other a Bradley P break. On the 35 min mark Old Reigatians managed to score on our right wing, when for the only time in the game we missed a first up tackle in our 22. Once again their try was not converted (7 – 10).
Right from the restart we nearly got a score. Dan A’s high and hanging kick gave Neil C and Ollie S plenty of time to get to the ball and win it from the static Old Reigatians pack. Bradley E quickly moved the ball to Dan A who broke for the line. He was stopped just short but the Old Reigatians had become very disorganised and we had numbers out right. Ben S found Tom R in midfield who got hit hard by a clearly offside player before he could off load the ball. Not only was the move dead but Tom got a yellow card for his trouble. I don’t think anyone except the ref thought he deserved one. The same could also be said of the yellow card the Old Reigatians player got right at the end of the game. His yellow card was even less deserved and I am glad the game ended with the very next kick rather than us exploiting such an unjust decision.
With this passage of play the game petered out into the half-time break. The talk from Nigel G was focused and short. Neil C and Dan A reinforced the message. Keep our heads, keep the ball and we would win.
Right from the restart we scored. Once again Ollie S contested for the ball and turned the catcher to allow us to strip the ball. Ben S received it on the blind side and beat the cover to clearly score in the corner. The ref though was unsighted and instead awarded us a scrum 5. I hoped it wasn’t going to cost us.
Being down to 14 men didn’t dampen our attacking spirit and with our pack beginning to secure more ball our backs were released. Twice Matt S almost made the try line but was stopped just short. Finally the series was ended after Old Reigatians were judged to be not 5m back from a scrum (terrible ELV and this one is staying). Alec stepped up and levelled the scores (10 – 10).
The next 20 min were attack and counter attack. Both sides giving their all to secure the win. Old Reigatians seemed to have the ball in hand more than us but couldn’t penetrate our line. When we did get the ball Ben S, Dan A or Alec T sent it deep into their territory. Then the whole process started again.
With 15min to go the cycle was broken. A long kick had forced Old Reigatians to take a defensive line out on their 22. Tommy W managed to win their ball and Bradley quickly got the ball to Harry G. He launched the backs in what become an extended 5 min of attacking rugby where we didn’t leave the Old Reigatians 22. The ball went right then left and finally right again. Leading the charge were Lee C, Ben S and Caleb Z. On the last break Matt S made his move and once he had handed off the defender he slid under the posts. Alec T made the con and we were once again in the lead (17 – 10).
The last 10 min were very nervous, the boys losing one against the head on our try line not helping, but we managed to hold on. I am not going to criticise though as Caleb Z had stepped up from No 8 to replace Jay PS at tight head. Caleb has never played prop before and to do it now, with so much at stake, speaks volumes for his character and desire not to let his team mates down.
With less than 1 min to go we won a pen on their 10m line. The ref indicated that there was time to take a line out so rather than kick the ball dead and risk Old Reigatians winning the line out Alec T opted to go for goal. The kick was just short and as Old Reigatians launched a counter attack from behind their goal the ref blew for time. Luckily the ref listened to the correct protests from the Old Reigatians players and restarted the game with a scrum to Old Reigatians, on their 5m line. It was going to be a massive ask for them to go the length of the field and get a converted try to equalise but if they did no one would have begrudged them the extra time and chance to win.
From the scrum their No8 went blind but meet Tom H, who put the man down and then tried to steal the ball. The rest of our pack piled in to ensure the ball was never going to come out. The ref penalised the Old Reigatians player for holding on and yellow carded him as well. As I have already said I thought it was a very harsh call. Alec T ended the game by kicking the ball into touch.
Whilst not the most coherent or flowing of wins it was a great effort. All over the field were partnerships that had never been made before. As such it was always going to be a tough challenge.
We now have a Plate final to look forward to. It will be held on Sunday 19th of April at Sutton & Epsom against Dorking u21s. Considering our 1st XV and 2nd XV have Dorking in the league on the 18th and we also have them in semi-final of the main Surrey cup means we will know them quite well by the end of April.
December 2008
Surrey u21s Tournament
Whilst every other team at Chobham took a deserved Christmas break Nigel Guy, Kevin White and I set about organising a Chobham u21s team in a four team mini league featuring London Irish (based around their academy side), KCS (u21s national OB champions) & Cobham (always a challenge). The teams who came first and second would be playing at Easter in the main semi-finals. The third and forth teams would be placed in the plate semi-finals.
It was a daunting task which we made even more difficult for ourselves by deciding that we would try and ensure that every available player got on the field in at least one of the games. The initial notice of intent had received a very positive response and as the news spread we managed to gather a squad of 40 plus players.
We had 31 players available for the London Irish squad (max 22 allowed), only 19 for the KCS game and 21 for the Cobham game. One lesson I would pass onto the next u21s management team would be that you can’t have to many players and ideally need 50+ players available. Hopefully all the boys involved this time coupled with next years Devils (current u17s squad) will easily do this.
24 December
London Irish 22 - 18 Chobham
Due to availabilities this was always going to be our strongest team and we assembled a starting 15 made up of 11 University boys, two second team players and two from the Devils. There were two more Uni boys on the bench. The only selection problems were at hooker and second row, where George Scott and Mike Woods respectively stepped up.
We stated well with a series of very fast attacks that almost paid dividends for Sam Everett but he was just denied a try on the left hand side. After this the game settled into a series of attacks and counter attacks. London Irish were much more organised than us and created a series of overlaps that should have resulted in us being several tries down. As it was the ball carrier decided to go for glory rather than give the pass. This allowed our superb back row, lead by Angus Hamilton, to bring them down and steal the ball. Finally, after 15 mins, London Irish exploited one of the overlaps and scored. The con was made (0 – 7).
The score really hurt the boys who immediately set about getting back on level terms. A good ruck from the forwards won Irish ball and then quick hands from the backs found Sam Everett in space. He swerved round the cover defence and scored in the left hand corner. Harry Guy made the conversion (7 – 7).
The boys went hunting for another score and only dogged Irish defence kept them out. Eventually the ref judged the Irish defence to be a little over enthusiastic and awarded us a penalty. A quick tap and go from Bradley Edwards released Dom Hewitt to crash over and score. The con was missed (12 – 7).
Right from the restart we powered into the Irish 22 and once again they conceded a pen. This time it was under their posts and Harry Guy had no trouble slotting it home (15 – 7).
The first half ended with Irish desperately seeking a way through our defence and our first up tackles ensuring they didn’t get through.
The second half began very much as the first had ended, Irish seeking to breach our line and a massive Chobham team effort keeping them out. The single Chobham attacking highlight was from a Jamie Evans chase from a Lee Cobbett clearance kick. Jamie got his man and forced him to concede the pen rather than the ball. Another tap and go saw Mike Woods just held up. London Irish conceded a pen at the resulting 5m scrum as Chobham got a drive going and Harry Guy slotted another 3 points (18 – 7).
The boys were maybe guilty of taking a breather over the next 20 mins as London Irish raised their game. Whilst our boys were massive in defence they couldn’t win enough ball to stop the Irish attacks and our line was breached out wide twice, neither try was converted (18 – 17).
Our slender 1 point lead was under pressure when, with 10 mins to go, we conceded a pen on our 22. Although the kick was in front of the posts the Irish kicker missed and as Dan Alderton cleared the kick I thought the day was ours. It was not to be as Irish won a scrum 10m out and the no 8 went blind. Whilst the back row and winger held him up he managed to off load to the winger who scored in the corner. With the con missed we found ourselves 4 points down and 3mins to go (18 – 22).
The boys went for it and pinned Irish into their 22 finally winning a scrum in front of the posts 5m out. Caleb Zarth, at no 8, picked and backed himself to score. He burst through the first line of defence and crossed the try line. In the act of putting the ball down an Irish hand managed to dislodge the ball and knocked it from his grasp. Before a supporting Chobham player could pounce on the Irish knock on the ref blew to end the game.
27 December
Chobham 22 - 27 KCS
Our second game was against KCS. They had just beaten Cobham 55 – 0 and looked like a formidable side, big and strong. We had a team that featured mainly u18 and u19 players. To be honest Kevin and I were fearful that this could be a big defeat. Luckily the boys had other ideas and were determined to give a good account of themselves against a bigger opposition.
With Nigel Guy away a big thank you to JJ and Robbie K who took the boys on the pre-match warm up and supported them throughout the match.
The warm up must have worked as we started very well and within 5 mins we had got the first score which Alec Thomson, playing at 10 rather than his normal 15, converted (7 – 0). I am sorry that in all the excitement I neglected to write down who the try scorer was.
KCS quickly came back to get a converted try and then a pen to lead 10 – 7 with 25 mins gone. Chobham though were having a good half and KCS started to fall foul of the ref. This resulted in Chobham winning a series of pens on the KCS try line. From each we opted for the scrummage and in each case KCS were forced to concede a pen rather than the push over try. Finally the ref’s patience went. He yellow carded a KCS player and awarded us a pen try. Alec Thomson made the con and once again we were in the lead (14 – 10).
KCS came right back and scored a converted try (14 – 17). From the restart KCS fumbled the ball and our forwards won it. Bradley Edwards found Dan Alderton in space. Dan made the break and fixed the fullback before off loading to a supporting Lee Cobbett to make the score. The con was missed (19 – 17).
The final act of the half came when Chobham won a pen on the half way line. The ref advised us that there wasn’t time for a line out so Alec Thomson elected to kick for goal. He had the power and accuracy to slot it over and we ended the half with a 5 point lead (22 – 17).
As we feared the 5 point lead was not enough and within 5 mins of the restart KCS had levelled the scores (22 – 22). 10 mins later Oscar Alsop was yellow carded and KCS used the 10 mins to score two more tries and a pen (22 – 37).
From here whilst Chobham were able to keep KCS out they were not able to break their stranglehold on the game. The only bright spot was how effectively we broke up their scrums.
The nearest we got to scoring was late in the half when Matt Hine, playing at centre for the first time since he was 13, made a strong break but was caught before he could find support.
Kevin and I were both very happy with our performance if not the result. The boys worked really hard and the result could have been significantly worse than the 15 point margin if even one of them hadn’t given his all.
31 December
Cobham vs Chobham
Our last game should have been against Cobham who had experienced heavy defeats against both KCS and London Irish. Talking to their manager it was evident that they would struggle to raise a 15. In the spirit of the competition we offered to lend them players. My Tom and Tommy White would have been happy to give their pack some bite and I am sure Danny Williams and Bradley Edwards would have given their backs some attacking options. As it was the weather conspired against our plans and the game was abandoned. Rather than try to re-arrange Cobham conceded but I hope we will see them in the plate final.
Easter
Two defeats and a walk over leave us in third place and a place in the plate semi-final on Wednesday April 22 2009, with the plate final on Saturday April 25.
I will supply more details when I have them.
David
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