Youth Rugby - U15B Reports

13th January 2008

Twickenham A 17 - 10 Cobham B

(Friendly)

Our first game after Xmas and the need to blow the cobwebs away as well as rotate the team so that everyone got some game time. On a windy day the two strongest sides started proceedings.

Twickenham started well and their pack seemed to be winning easy ball, Cobham starting slowly and not contesting well at the ruck. Our tackling also was poor and their dangerous centre was able to carve some lines and create space for others. Playing with the wind and using the conditions well they were able to force us back and control the majority of the game in the first half. They converted the pressure into points and scored 3 times and converted once to lead 17-0 at half time .

Both sides made changes at half time to allow everyone game time. Cobham started this half better and playing down the slight slope with the wind were able to get more on the front foot. The forward battle was much more even, the tackling improved and as we won ball we were able to move it. Eventually we opened our account with a try. We continued to press and on a couple of occasions had decent overlaps but poor passing let us down and we failed to convert into tries. Eventually Seb Sharpe saw a gap and showed his pace to cut through and score our second try. We tried to look for further points but were unable to get away from the cover defence.

A fair result in the end. Twickenham were definitely the better drilled and more organised side in the first half. We did better in the second half and showed that we have the ability and players to compete but we must tighten up on the basics, improve the tackling, compete from the first whistle and settle earlier into our game plan.

Steve