Old Lemingtonian’s U12’s – 0 Kenilworth U12’s – 21
8 March 2008
Kenilworth U12’s were warmly welcomed to the OL’s ground for the second encounter of the season. The pitch was a purpose marked U12 size and the ground was firm.
A slightly misjudged kick by Kenilworth to start play, against the prevailing wind, sent the ball curling straight out. This was to mark almost the only error made by Ken's throughout the game where the players excelled in handling skills. Following the kick, OL's started the match with a scrum. Again throughout the games scrums were very even and mostly won with the thtrow. In the initial stages of open play, OL’s went through three or four phases of play but made little ground before Ken’s pinched a turnover by rucking OL’s off the ball. Ken’s were initially dominant in the ruck’s recovering their own ball and pushing any opposition away to set up repeated attacks from the back line. Good hands and retention of possession in the first five minutes following the turnover and throughout the match forced OL’s to defend repeatedly. The repeated pressure however finally opened a hole in the defernce for Sam to burst though and over ten metres to open the scoring. Tactically in the first half Ken were superior and some excellent direction by Neil from scrum-half marshalled his forwards to play a combination of driving and releasing. In what was some of the best driving by the Ken’s forwards in a maul this season, they moved nearly fifteen meters before dropping over the line but failed to score as they were held up by OL’s. From the ensuing five meter scrum a quick and clean ball from Neil to Will who set James up for the crash ball to score the second try.
The second half gave the advantage of the wind direction to Ken’s. In what was a noticeable development in team play, Ken’s took advantage of this and to protect their lead they returned any advance into their half with well placed kicking by both Neil S and Owen B from full-back. In what was only the second minor error of the match, Owen allowed a high ball from the second half kick-off to bounce off his chest for a knock-on to set OL's up for a scrum ten meters from the Ken's line. This was to be the closest OL's were to get to the Ken's line and a vitel scrum that Ken's pinched against the head and kicked to clear. OL’s to their credit upped their game and they started to win possession in the ruck’s including and excellent turnover in mid-field and this pressurised the Ken’s defence but never looked like breaking through. On several occasions their handling let them down and gave possession back to Ken’s. The best play of the second half came from a set piece on the nearside passed out by Neil to Will, followed by a jink to put James N through and with superb quick hands the pass went to Sam and right to the right wing leaving Stuart for a superb run to score the third try of the day. Kens showed that they are clearly developing as team, working well together and applying moves to adapt to the circumstance and this is a credit the individuals.
A big welcome goes to James R who played his debut match today. As a new player to Kens he showed excellent forward skills and we look forward to his contribution in future.
Tries: Sam, James N, Stuart
Con: Stuart, (3).
