Sun 8 Dec 2019, 11:00
Match Report
Despite the early sunshine, this was a cold bitter day for a rugby match, which didn’t bring out the best in our boys.
The score line makes this look like a comfortable win, but it was messy, with way too many penalties and handling errors. We won because we are a better team, with better players, but Ormskirk played a solid, well organised game and deserved far better than the final result.
We had 21 boys for this match and lent Josh Wagstaffe to Ormskirk as they were down to 14. Credit must go to Josh for integrating really well with the Ormskirk team in the ideal spirit of Rugby Union.
The match started according to the script, with Josh H scoring in the third minute, but despite some great pressure we couldn’t capitalise on our territorial advantage and 11 minutes in Ormskirk replied to make it 5-7.
After some rather hurried defensive scrambles we got a penalty 5m out. Sam tapped and passed to Harry who scored. Sam then converted to give us back the lead 12-7. Unfortunately, 5 minutes later Ormskirk got another converted try and we were behind again 12-14.
2 minutes later we received a technical yellow card. Several of our new league recruits still don’t 100% understand the finer points of the breakdown, and unfortunately Louis was given the card for a second infringement in the ruck. We will be covering this more carefully in our next training sessions.
Just before half time Tom Unsworth received a wide ball and scored, Sam then converted allowing us to go into the half time break with a 19-14 lead.
After half time we re-jigged the team a little and tried Ethan at fly half, a position he was keen to play since joining at the end of last season. Ethan made a positive impact to our play and we ran in three quick tries. Euan and Louis both scored from deep runs in our own half, with Harry scoring again after selling a great dummy to the defenders. This put us 36-14 up after 56 minutes.
Our frustrations at being penalised for our own sloppy play got the better of us, and after 60 minutes Henry received a yellow for dissent. To be fair to Henry, his language was directed purely at himself, but he was already on a warning.
A few minutes later we were fortunate a get a penalty 5m out, Sam gave a quick tap to Thomas who drove over. Ethan converted to make it 43-14.
Just before full time Harry was penalised for an over horizontal tackle. Given the teams previous poor tackles he received our third yellow card of the match, a record for the boys that I don’t want us to ever beat!
So full time gave us a 43-14 win, I just wish we had deserved it.
Match Captain: Harry
Men of the Match: Ethan for making a great impact as substitute No10 & JoshW for fine loan play.
Report by Andy Connell, Eccles RFC U16 Manager
Highlights
3’ 5-0 TRY Josh H
11’ 5-7 TRY & Conv Ormskirk
21’ 12-7 TRY Harry Conv Sam
26’ 12-14 TRY & Conv Ormskirk
28’ Yellow Louis
34’ 19-14 TRY Tom U Conv Sam
35’ HT 19-14
47’ 24-14 TRY Euan
53’ 29-14 TRY Louis
56’ 36-14 TRY Harry Conv Ethan
60’ Yellow Henry
63’ 43-14 TRY Thomas Conv Ethan
65’ Yellow Harry
70’ FT 43-14.
