38

Tries 6
Conversions 4

5

Tries 1
Conversions 0

The Colts faced Local rivals Saracens in our first competitive fixture of the season. Last week was ridiculously hot but the forecast was decidedly dodgier today and right on cue, the rain clouds rolled down the hill. Tactics need altering but the basics remain the same. We need to win our bail and use it well.

The Saracens were a little bit of an unknown to us having not had a team in the U18 age group through the years, but they had fielded their now U17s last season and, in fact, beat us handily. They were also robustly constructed. This, however, is not a new situation for us and our usual fast game negates the size of the opposition by tiring them out. But would it work in the pouring rain?

Yes.

Playing downhill in the first half for the second week running, we hoped that we could build up a lead and tire the defence out simultaneously.

Given that this is the development league, and the whole point is to give lads game time to, um, “develop” we’d again picked a largish squad based on, who trained, who didn’t play last week and who hadn’t got injured playing for school yesterday. That meant that we were, once more, developing partnerships as the game went on. Archie started at 9 with Johnny outside him at fly-half in a new combination of the crucial half-back roles. An experienced midfield was on hand in Ollie D and Tris to lend guidance, if necessary, but we trust our lads and give them licence to play as they see it.

Sharp work at the base from Archie and good decision-making in his variations from Johnny meant that we had good momentum. The pack were up against some large units but carried hard. Ollie A lead from the front at the back of the scrum with good support from Benji in particular. The rest of the pack was also doing their best but in close support and I can’t recall a lost ruck the entire game. Indeed, the penalties in our favour flowed freely as we dominated the breakdown.

It was a surprise that it took as long as it did for the ref to lose patience and yellow card someone, as repeated offending at scrum and ruck, occurred throughout the first half.

Dominance of possession and territory usually brings rewards on the scoreboard and today was no different. Opening the account was Ben L who has been a dynamic carrier throughout the opening exchanges. He forced over after ten minutes, but Tristan’s conversion went astray.

The rain was increasing in intensity throughout the match meaning that the expansive game we hoped for was shelved in favour of some attritional carrying. It took a while for the spaces to appear as their pack was, initially able to repel us. Not until 25 minutes had elapsed and we’d forced them back repeatedly was Callum able to surge free and score. However, the gaps were coming.

Ollie A had been picking up from the scrum all half and making good ground. This time from, yet another, penalty at the break down he took a quick tap & charged at a gap going over almost untouched by the posts. We’d needed a couple of rangefinders, but Johnny slotted the extras with a lovely kick from wide of the posts and we led 17-0 after half an hour.

We knew we’d be playing in the rain, uphill against a big pack in the second half and wanted a bigger lead. Happily, Benji knew this too and extended the lead by driving over just before halftime. 24-0.

We shuffled our resources at half time using all the lads as is right and correct in this competition. Without exception, they did their jobs with commitment even though some were playing in somewhat unfamiliar roles. Aiden came in at full-back, which I don’t think he’d done before and was lively. Charlie L on the wing collected several nice passes by being in great supporting positions and made ground.

Sadly, Ben L who’d been excellent all game at hooker, made one hit too many and had to come off with what looked like a broken collar bone. X-rays awaited but he looked sore. Luke stepped into the breach and having been formidable at prop, continued where he’d left off carrying hard.

Sam replaced Johnny at half-time to take up fly-half duties. By now their line speed was perhaps a little less than it had been, and the inexperience of the opposition was exposed. Spotting a gap between players after a line out on halfway, he accelerated through it, stepped the inside centre and drifted wide outpacing the full-back to the line. It was very pretty and leaves your correspondent wondering just how quick his mother might have been as he obviously doesn’t get his pace from his father.

To add salt to the wound, he spotted the conversion from wide, and the lead looked unassailable.

Credit to Sarries, they never gave up and a ruck in our 22 allowed their scrum half an opportunity to snipe close to the break down and scramble to the line for a consolation score.
Still time for us to return to the danger zone with first Benji making inroads then Luke driving over from the subsequent ruck. The final score was 38-5 and a good, bonus point win in our opening fixture.

Man of the match could have been a few lads but, chosen by the opposition, went to Luke S for a powerful performance in the scrum and the loose.

Next week, National Cup against Thornbury which has tighter rules on squad selection. Still, a very encouraging start to our season. And away we go!

Allez les Pats!

Tom Perris