Under 14 Match Report
SUNDAY 25th September 2005
Syston 0pts V Lutterworth 42pts
Pitch Conditions: Firm/Soft
Weather: Fine
Firstly apologies it’s the cub reporter standing in this week so please forgive the lowering of the normal high standard set by the editor in chief however, please feel free to blame him for any mistakes or omissions.
Anyway, 2nd game of the season & second away fixture, this week though it was a real changing room, not a large tin box, and no birds nest!
The conditions were much as the previous week, not too hot and dry, but with enough give in the ground. So, with good conditions, a squad of 25 and the County Cup fixture next week, it looked like everything was set for a good game. However Joe & Ryan may have understandably been a little bit apprehensive, having moved from Syston to Lutterworth for this season and then facing their old club this soon.
So Syston kicked off but Lutterworth returned immediately into the opposition half. It soon became clear which team had the upper hand in this first period, with Lutterworth dominating the possession and Syston constantly on the defensive. Even when Syston did gain the odd piece of possession they were closed down so quickly that they never had the chance to do anything with it. The result of just over 5 minutes constant pressure came from a penalty awarded to Lutterworth, just inside the Syston 22. Quick ball down the line with good running and passing drew the Syston backs in and an excellent off load from the tackle enabled Joe Leak to open the scoring (and make his first try for Lutterworth). The attempted Drop Goal conversion failed.
The pattern of the game continued from the re-start, it’s not that Syston were playing badly it’s just that Lutterworth were relentless and retained possession never letting Syston into the game. The way Lutterworth were retaining possession and moving the ball meant that another score was on the cards, it was just a case of when and it came in another 7 minutes in the form of one of those penetrating runs from Barney. The Drop Goal conversion attempt failed again.
And the same happened again from the restart with the inevitable result, this time the try being run in for a put down under the posts, The scorer, Joe again. This time Paddy opted for the placed conversion attempt and made the points.
What was left of the first period was played out with Lutterworth remaining in control but with no further points being added. So Lutterworth finished the first period 17–0 up and with a new cure for apprehension, go score a try and just to make sure, go score another one!
With the start of the second period it was evident that Syston were not going to accept the way the game had gone in the first period and came out in a determined fashion. In this period Syston worked hard at obtaining ball so they could take the game to Lutterworth. Unfortunately for them each time they did this they were met by a rock solid defence that tackled (literally) anything and everything that was thrown at them. When Lutterworth were in possession they were still playing good flowing rugby with some excellent pieces of skill on show but Syston had managed to step up a gear and their defence, which was far from bad in the first period, was now keeping the Lutterworth backs in check (just). So, with the Lutterworth backs having sharpened their attacking skills in the first period and taking the opportunity to hone their defensive skills this quarter it fell to the forwards to add to the score line. This came from second phase ball being spread wide and halted just inside the Syston 22 resulting in a loose maul. The Lutterworth pack took control of the situation, the ball being ripped clear by George Hargreaves who broke away to make what ended up being the only score of the period, it ending 22-0 for Lutterworth.
This period was much more of a match than the first, Syston appeared determined not to let the game slip beyond their grasp. I heard it said that the game was being played with a certain amount of “intensity” by both sides, the same way they would find it a “bit cool” at the North Pole in T-shirt and shorts.
The pattern for the third and final period was much the same as the second with neither side managing to make sufficient gains to change to the score line although Mikey came closest with a valiant effort.
Throughout the second and third periods Syston were much more in the game but it was Lutterworth that remained in overall control. The Lutterworth attacks, and the support that went with them, were that of a team that was working well and confidently together. The defence, both covering and tackling, was challenged but did not look as if it was going to break no matter what, and some of what was coming their way looked at time as if it should be running on tracks.
Overall an excellent team performance with the good points heavily outweighing those odd points that were not so good.
Coaches man of the match.
For his “you’re not coming past” tackling of some significant opposition, Jack Hendy
Editor Comments:
Due to the age of my staff, I am afraid I have to opologise for the failure to count up the tries correctly I am being told that the score was 42 – 0 I do not know what happened to my stand in today? Sorry.
Alcohol, Memory loss or just talking instead of watching. Don’t worry I am back this week.