7

Tries 1
Conversions 1
Penalties Awarded 0

12

Tries 2
Conversions 1
Penalties Awarded 0

With a squad of 23, we played uphill in the first half into the wind on a muddy pitch which was always going to be a challenge against a well drilled Bredon side.

As to be expected from the conditions (playing up the slope and into the wind and rain) we were under the cosh for much of the first half and bravely absorbed a lot of pressure.

The boys did manage, through dogged phase play, to get into the Bredon 22 on occasion but were not able to convert this short-lived pressure into points.

Twenty minutes into the half, scrum half Johnny Hogg, who had been having a great game for us with his bullet like distribution and general all-round awareness took a knee to the face and came off as a precaution.

Able Harry Burridge came on as a replacement and played out the rest of the game. Bredon eventually did score a converted try from a pick and go which was not unexpected given the conditions and their territorial dominance.
0-7

The rain then started at 11.30am and did not stop. With more sustained pressure and 3 minutes of the half still to play Bredon then scored an unconverted try.
0-12

Halt time and given the conditions, the boys could be proud of being only 12 points down with the amount of defending they had to do.

This was, as always, a great team performance which is the defining hallmark of this group of talented boys.

There were also many phenomenal individual efforts, for example an outstanding cover tackle by Captain Alex Moore and some amazing turn overs including from Max Stanley Jones, Angus Walker and Ben Lord to name some examples.

A few sentences about two unsung workhorses of the team. Powerhouse props, gutsy Luke Smith and steely Ben Chandler are our Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler both in the tight but also in the loose. They really had their work cut out today and did not, as ever, let the team down.

Second half, playing downhill now and with the rain and wind behind us it was Bredon’s turn to be on the backfoot. Right from the kick off, crowd favourite and utility player Ben Lord, took a clean catch and with a great dummy, thundered into the opposition 22 but was felled before scoring. We then spent a lot of time in the opposition 22, in wet conditions, including a notable charge from Luke Smith. With more pressure coming from the impactful Max their defence buckled and centre Alex Moore scored a well-deserved TRY which Sam Stevens converted.

7-12

There followed a period of see-saw with neither team being dominant and then Bredon worked their way into our half through multiple phase play. They looked like scoring a certain try but an incredible cover tackle from Max who then, in one movement and Richie McCaw like, got back onto his feet and turned the ball over and kept us in the hunt.

Whilst behind by five points and with the game entering the final 10 minutes we were in the ascendancy and piling on the pressure looking like we might score at any moment.

During one of our attacks, Bredon’s Jake Kinnersley, put in a brave tackle but caught his neck in an awkward position causing the referee to rightly stop the game due to concerns over the player’s safety.

With specific cervical spine tenderness and thus a potential neck fracture, there was indeed cause for concern and the game was abandoned so that his neck could be secured, and an ambulance called.

Well done to his parents for keeping calm and a special thank you to everyone on the side-line for your support and help at a worrying time (We have since heard that Jake sustained a soft tissue injury which is fortunately not serious, and we wish him and his family well whilst he recovers).

There was so much to be proud of in a close game with fine margins against good opposition and adverse weather conditions. Importantly some things for us all to reflect on and practice include being more purposeful at protecting our own ball in the ruck. We also need to be mindful of putting into action our much practiced exit strategy in our own 22 particularly when the conditions are with us (slope and wind). There is always an opportunity to learn and improve when playing a good side. Today, at times, Bredon and the weather put us out of our comfort zone and we should be proud of how we responded to these twin challenges – well done boys.

Just one photo from today of both teams under the posts at the end of the match and an apt reminder as to why we all love our rugby. A special thank you to referee Gethin who helped us out at the last moment. Good luck to the Balcarras boys who have GSCE mocks this week. Training at Newlands on Tuesday from 6 to 7pm and training next Sunday at Old Pats.

Hein le Roux