North Dorset vs Oaks 2/03/08
11/03/08 09:09
On Sunday
the U15’s left a sunny and calm Meyrick Park to travel to sunny and
windy North Dorset. After the 1st teams performance against North
Dorset the previous day the pressure was on the boys to get a
result.
Due to injuries and unavailability’s we travelled with a squad of seventeen to find the opposition’s squad had twenty eight players.
In the first half North Dorset had the advantage of the slope and with the wind blowing diagonally towards our try line. From the moment we kicked off it looked like the opposition were more “UP” for it than us and we became encamped in our own half. On numerous occasions they pressed our line and only our stout defence stopped them scoring and the only time they breached the defence we were fortunate that they knocked the ball on.
Half time came with the score 0 – 0 but possession and territory was 80% to North Dorset.
After the half time rollicking from the coaches the boys seemed to wake up and believe that they could play this fine game called Rugby. Sustained pressure on the opposition five metre line was finally completed when Matt went over in the corner (Steve Keir finally accepting the boy’s decision to keep driving on the open side when at last they heard his booming voice to move it blind. By this time Lisa and Karen had left him to his own devices).
This spurned the boys on and you could see the self belief start to flow through the team. A good move involving both the forwards and the backs culminated with Craig crashing over for the second try. Tommy now started to dictate the game with excellent decision making and his kicks being inch perfect kept North Dorset pinned in their half. From one of these kicks Jordan outpaced the opposition winger to touch down for the third try.
Now the boys were in the driving seat and where the North Dorset team controlled the first half going forward they had no reply when put on the back foot. The boys now had the bit between their teeth and from a driving maul Hovis and Toby crashed over together with both trying to claim their first try for the club after deliberation it was decided that “HOBY” had scored the fourth try under the posts. Tommy converting the try with a drop kick. From another kick forward by Tommy the North Dorset fullback took the ball back in goal and touched down to give us a five metre scrum; although North Dorset drove us back Matt picked up and crashed over for his second and the teams fifth try. This turned out to be the last play and the Boys had run out winners by 27 – 0.
The opposition coach in his decision for men of the match told the coaches they had found it hard to choose a forward as all ten players used by us worked hard as a unit but finally decided on Keiron. Again whilst the backs all played their part, Tommy orchestrated them as a true fly half should and was voted in. Hit of the match was Didi who we think did not miss a first up tackle and who has fitted well into the inside centre berth. Good to see Alex Shearsmith and Jake back in the club colours and we hope to see the squad back to full strength in the near future.
It just goes to prove that a good small team can beat a large team if they play as a team, remember there is no “I” in team. Although a very good performance from the boys there was only one criticism from the Coaches. North Dorset had six kick offs and only one was caught, other teams will capitalise on this basis error. But next week we have Bridport at home and we have to maintain the same intensity and belief in our game.
As it was Mothers Day the Boys did their Mum’s proud and in the tradition started last year the Mum’s toasted the boys performance with melon, strawberries and chocolate all washed down with sparkling wine.
Due to injuries and unavailability’s we travelled with a squad of seventeen to find the opposition’s squad had twenty eight players.
In the first half North Dorset had the advantage of the slope and with the wind blowing diagonally towards our try line. From the moment we kicked off it looked like the opposition were more “UP” for it than us and we became encamped in our own half. On numerous occasions they pressed our line and only our stout defence stopped them scoring and the only time they breached the defence we were fortunate that they knocked the ball on.
Half time came with the score 0 – 0 but possession and territory was 80% to North Dorset.
After the half time rollicking from the coaches the boys seemed to wake up and believe that they could play this fine game called Rugby. Sustained pressure on the opposition five metre line was finally completed when Matt went over in the corner (Steve Keir finally accepting the boy’s decision to keep driving on the open side when at last they heard his booming voice to move it blind. By this time Lisa and Karen had left him to his own devices).
This spurned the boys on and you could see the self belief start to flow through the team. A good move involving both the forwards and the backs culminated with Craig crashing over for the second try. Tommy now started to dictate the game with excellent decision making and his kicks being inch perfect kept North Dorset pinned in their half. From one of these kicks Jordan outpaced the opposition winger to touch down for the third try.
Now the boys were in the driving seat and where the North Dorset team controlled the first half going forward they had no reply when put on the back foot. The boys now had the bit between their teeth and from a driving maul Hovis and Toby crashed over together with both trying to claim their first try for the club after deliberation it was decided that “HOBY” had scored the fourth try under the posts. Tommy converting the try with a drop kick. From another kick forward by Tommy the North Dorset fullback took the ball back in goal and touched down to give us a five metre scrum; although North Dorset drove us back Matt picked up and crashed over for his second and the teams fifth try. This turned out to be the last play and the Boys had run out winners by 27 – 0.
The opposition coach in his decision for men of the match told the coaches they had found it hard to choose a forward as all ten players used by us worked hard as a unit but finally decided on Keiron. Again whilst the backs all played their part, Tommy orchestrated them as a true fly half should and was voted in. Hit of the match was Didi who we think did not miss a first up tackle and who has fitted well into the inside centre berth. Good to see Alex Shearsmith and Jake back in the club colours and we hope to see the squad back to full strength in the near future.
It just goes to prove that a good small team can beat a large team if they play as a team, remember there is no “I” in team. Although a very good performance from the boys there was only one criticism from the Coaches. North Dorset had six kick offs and only one was caught, other teams will capitalise on this basis error. But next week we have Bridport at home and we have to maintain the same intensity and belief in our game.
As it was Mothers Day the Boys did their Mum’s proud and in the tradition started last year the Mum’s toasted the boys performance with melon, strawberries and chocolate all washed down with sparkling wine.