This game was played in almost perfect playing conditions as we approach the end of the season.
The early exchanges gave us the (correct) impression that it would be a close game as both sides struggled to dominate the other. We opened the scoring when after good initial work from Joe Hobson, Matthew scored a try from close range with a little help from his fellow forwards. Straight from the resulting kick off we doubled our lead when Harry S darted down the wing evading the tackles to go over in the corner. It appeared even at this stage that both defences were struggling to cope with their opponents back line and whichever side had the ball for long enough would score. Windsor bounced back into the game when quick recycling of the ball meant that we were unable to stop their progress over our try line. In a try crazy first half we regained our 10 point lead when Ethan ran diagonally across the pitch from half way to score in the opposite corner for a good individual effort. Our defence was soon found wanting again though as Windsor got through tackles on the right wing to get another try back. Our back play continued to impress though and we should have gone further ahead when a lovely move through the backs ended with Harry S failing to put downward pressure on the ball when touching down unopposed. We soon made up for it though and got the try our play deserved when Max’s strong tackle turned the ball our way. Ben C and Ethan combined on the counter attack to enable Joe Hobson to slide over. Just before the break, Harry S once again got the ball in midfield and kicked through to chase with Ben C in support. A Windsor tackle off the ball gave us a penalty which Lewis handed to Simon and he powered through from 5 metres.
The second half was undoubtedly Windsor’s as we spent much of the half stuck in our own 22. Our defence initially held firm through good tackling from Max and Joe Heffer in particular but we failed to turn the ball over enough to give us some much needed rest bite. We managed to hold up Windsor’s best chance before the resulting scrum ended with a try when the number 8 peeled of the back to score. Max gave us all a demonstration of the perfect tackling body position on more than one occasion to deny Windsor further points but he was powerless to halt another score soon after as Windsor sauntered across the pitch a little too easily. Our second half demise continued as we let Windsor draw level as we were a little slow to cover a back line move. With the match in the balance going into the final minutes it seemed that we would buckle as Windsor held all the momentum. Thankfully, we held on and actually had a couple of attacks of our own. Phillip ripped the ball expertly at one stage mid way into their half but Windsor’s defence had tightened up sufficiently to halt our progress. We were in danger of losing the game as the last play was a scrum for Windsor on our 22 but we managed to disrupt them enough to force a knock on and the game was over with both sets of coaches and parents fairly content with the outcome.
Under 14 - B v Windsor - Sun, 25 Apr 2010