Under 16 Match Report
Sunday 9th December 2007
Mkt. Harborough RFC 7 v Lutterworth RFC 52
Captained for the day by Mikey Ingham this was a Lutterworth side that came out of the starting blocks looking as if they meant business and determined to avenge the shock defeat by Harborough of a few weeks ago. From the kick off Lutts surged forward using both forwards and backs to their full advantage, power forward play and quick ball out to the backs soon paid off. After only four minutes a beautiful long ball out from Elliot Bale found Alex Steventon on the wing who took the ball over in the corner for try number one, 5 – 0. Bale then stepped up and converted 7 – 0. Not to be outdone by his brother Jamie Steventon was soon in on the action but was tackled twenty yards short and the ball was taken out of play, Lutts won the ensuing line out and quickly spread the ball wide from which it was powered over the line but adjudged to have been held up. Not downhearted, Lutts attacked again this time in the shape of Joe Leeks, who seemed out to prove himself in his first game back after a long lay off due to injury, made a wonderful jinking run through the middle before offloading to Jamie Steventon who crossed the line for try number two on ten minutes, 12 – 0, and again converted by Bale, 14 – 0.
It’s not that Harborough were playing badly, they were putting up a spirited display but had no answer to Lutts on this sort of form and it wasn’t long before Leeks crossed the line, unfortunately he was just unable to control the ball from his punt forward and no try was awarded. The running play continued resulting in Ingham being stopped just one metre short. Leo Yorke then made a great run with a fantastic hand off worthy of someone twice his size, eventually the ball was kicked forward and after a great chase which saw the Harborough player just miss the ball, Alex Steventon touched down for his second and Lutts third try, 19 – 0, again Bale converted 21 – 0. Lutts carried on coming forward and just before half time Mikey was driven over and touched down, unfortunately the referee was unsighted and the try wasn’t awarded.
The half time talk was obviously “More of the same please” as player after player made great runs forward, Martin Rayner made valuable yards and offloaded to Barker, the ball passed slickly through many hands to be carried over by Sandford in the corner after four minutes, 26 – 0, he then converted his own try from a very difficult position and lost his dad a quid! 28 – 0. After another four minutes Leeks chased his own kick forward and touched down to score his first try for ages and Lutts fifth! 33 – 0, Sandford converted 35 – 0 and his dad another quid down. On sixteen minutes this flowing style of play saw Bam Barker cross the line after receiving the ball from Sandford, 40 – 0, this time the conversion was just missed. Three minutes later Ewan Grunwald passed to Will Marsh who duly crossed for try number seven, 45 – 0, converted, 47 – 0. At this point Harborough showed that they possessed plenty of spirit and that they were not down and out, they started to pile on the pressure and during one particularly hard fought scrum Greg Taylor’s underwear was revealed and to all watching looked unnervingly like he had raided his mums knickers draw! Despite the shock of the bright pink kecks, Harborough kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Andy Blackshaw crossed for their first try, 47 – 5, which was successfully converted, 47 – 7. With full time looming Lutts renewed the pressure and smarting from conceding a try surged forwards, Barker scrambled over the line but was held up but then with seconds counting down Greg Taylor crossed in his pink underwear to seal the win,
Coach’s comments: - This was “Champagne Rugby with every player playing their part”!
Men of the Match: - Forwards, Will Marsh. Backs, Joe Leeks
The author would like to apologise in advance for any errors in naming players correctly or omitting to mention anyone, you were playing too quickly for me to write everything down in the cold and you all deserved a mention! Nick Barker.
Well done to Nick Barker for a very good report.
(Administration Department get better every week, I am sure you will agree)