Battle royal ends in draw for U14 Black at Westcliff today

Westcliff U14 A 19 – 19 Ipswich U14 Black (Tries: Ian, Harry 2 Conversions: Callum M 2)

We went into this traditionally bruising encounter missing a number of players through injury, illness and non-availability and had to shuffle the pack and ask players to play in unfamiliar positions. Something we are keen to do as we look for better combinations so yet again a good opportunity for the coach team but also those boys given further opportunities. An early start and a biting wind saw us look a bit leggy in the warm up and we tried to stress that we knew Westcliff would come at us like a train to see if they could finally get one over on us after all these years of close encounters.

Within 10 minutes of kicking off we were 19 – 0 down.

As Paul and I crossed paths on the touchline I remarked that this was pivotal and would go one of two ways. We’d either get run over of we’d dig in and start to turn it around. Character is everything and without shouting at players, it is always interesting to see how they will react. We’d been undone early on by some poor decision making when it came to passing or taking the ball into contact and also going along the line rather than stepping forward ball in hand and punching the gain line as well as a few poor missed tackles. Then we clicked, started to hit our tackles and suddenly we looked like a different outfit.

Our rucking today was immense. Absolutely first class. We started to turn the ball over in the scrum through good work from Will, Otis and Dom and our set pieces, scrum and line out were good. We worked our way up the park and Westcliff started to panic giving away penalties for offside and eventually we ran a quick penalty and Fred vM hit Rory who popped to Ollie S who got Dom moving and Ian wriggled home wide left to put us on the score card. Callum M stroked home the conversion and the lads were now buzzing and starting to believe.

Stood on the touchline I fancied our fitness and told the lads to keep the tempo high. Our front 8 to a man were very good along with Fred H when he stormed on at half time. Callum C had probably his best game ball in hand for us today and is really starting to grow in confidence. Our front three were tight in the scrum, Callum M slotted in well for a first outing at 7 and we moved Arch to 6 to deal with their 8, which we would have done last week had we had everyone available. Harry went to 8 today and worked hard. He drove at the heart of the Westcliff defence on a number of occasions and managed to get us in again after great team pressure where we pulled Westcliff all over the park. Callum M finished it off again with his second conversion and now it was 19 – 14.

The Westcliff coaches were very impressed with our ferocity and determination to win and retain ball. They were working hard from the touchline to organise and cajole the Westcliff 15. We felt we would score again and it came in very similar manner to the last score even down to Harry getting on the end of it. The wind was very strong throughout the morning and Callum M couldn’t find the conversion into the wind so we were tied at 19 – 19.

This is how it stayed. That said we had more than a handful of chances to win it.

Fred vM and Rory have a really very good understanding having grown up together at school and Ollie S and Joe M look a really exciting centre partnership when they go. I was really pleased with Ian today who came in at no notice and turned in a really accomplished display and Harris looked pacey as did Ollie W.

So we were pleased with the outcome today. Yes we’d have liked the win but given the shake up, the start, the elements and how we were staring down the barrel, a great mornings shift.

Star Men

We’re giving it to the whole group today for the attitude they showed and the way they dug in and turned it around. Yes there were lads that had stand out moments but those moments came because of the way the lads were performing in the upper limits of their capabilities to allow that to happen. Well done squad, great shift.

Thank you

Thank you to all the U14 family that made the long early trip to support our lads in this fixture. I hope you’ve now managed to warm up again! Thank you to Westcliff for hosting.

Next week

We need you all at training as we prep for the County Cup. We have much to get through and the squad will be set after this training session.