Youth Rugby - U15B Reports

Cobham B 0 - Battersea Ironsides A 22

League Two

27th April

We arrived at our final league game knowing that we had to win to stay up. We also knew it would be a tough game with BatterseaIronsides having their county players back (they didn't play against Old Alleynians).

Cobham started well and tried hard to execute a game plan of moving the ball away from their big forwards and trying to stretch them wide. We managed to make our first up tackles, win enough ball to give our back line a chance and on a couple of occasions managed to release Seb Isherwood and Peter  Saunders. However they were denied by the cover defence. Gradually Battersea began to exert some pressure particularly in the scrum and from recycled ball were able to create an overlap and score in the corner 0-5 at half time. Unfortunately at this stage we had lost Dom Booth, Seb Isherwood and Will Hardy to injuries and fact the sidelines looked like "Emergency Ward 10" for those of us old enough to remember the TV programme.

Into the second half we continued to execute the running game but we were falling slightly off the tackles and despite trying hard in the loose were being forced back. Battersea won clean ball and the big quick prop easily went through our defence to score and covert 0-12. With the need to try and win the game we had no choice but to try and run the ball and create space. We tried on several occasions to break out and did gain some good territory but unfortunately we couldn't create an opportunity to score. This game plan is clearly risky and unfortunately in an effort to save the game we conceded two more tries. Final score Cobham B 0 Battersea 22.

So in the end we were well beaten by a physically bigger side who took their chances. However this was a really good team performance. The spirit and effort was first class and although we lost we never stopped trying to play an open and running game. In the end we were relegated by 6 points difference as Kings lost 29-24 to Old Alleynians.

The team’s commitment, effort and discipline throughout this season has been fantastic and with a little more luck and rub of the green we could have stayed up .

Well done to all from a pleased and proud coach.

Steve