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Youth Rugby - Juniors' Match Reports 2009/10

Sun 20 Sep 09: Sidcup U16s 13 - Westcombe Park U16s 25

It was exactly five months to the day since these two sides last met. This time the victory went to Westcombe, who piled on the pressure and the points in the last 10 minutes to come from behind and win.

Sidcup started well, and Max Driscoll took a throw to the front of the line out, and the ball was moved crisply into midfield where Westcombe intercepted. WP recycled possession twice, changing the point of attack, before moving the ball wide on the left and outflanking Sidcup’s defence. No conversion, WP led 0-5.

From the kick off Sidcup pressed the WP try line in the left hand corner. After a series of rucks, scrums and line outs WP were able to clear. However Sidcup regained possession and Nick Weighill reversed direction after receiving the ball going right, and set up a ruck on the left side of the field inside WP’s 22. After further forward pressure and retaining possession, open side Reece Bradbury burst over from a ruck close to WP’s line for the equalising try. No conversion, all level 5-5.

Both sides then swopped possession without really penetrating each others defences, often knocking on or going over the top at the breakdown. But from one ruck on half way, Max made a surging run almost to the WP line in the right hand corner, losing the ball forward as WP made a last ditch tackle. Although WP cleared with a kick from the ensuing scrum, Sidcup were able to keep the pressure on. Just when a try seemed inevitable the ball was knocked on in midfield before the overlap could be exploited. However Sidcup pushed WP off their own ball in the resulting scrum and after further pressure won an attacking 5 metre scrum. Max picked up at Number 8 and scored. No conversion, so at half time Sidcup led 10-5.

Sidcup had shown plenty of forward strength – particularly in the scrum – and had defended well, particularly as the half ended, with Nick Weighill stepping in from the right wing to steal the ball as WP threatened a score.

The second half began much as the first had ended, with both sides swopping possession. A series of Sidcup attacks foundered on slow ball, sluggish execution in the backs or handling errors. So when Sidcup were awarded a penalty of WP’s 22, Danny Watson stuck it over to put Sidcup further ahead 13-5. Entering the final 15 minutes WP upped the tempo and put a lot of pressure on Sidcup in the loose with ground gaining surges by their forwards. From one of these a WP forward was able to cut through some weak Sidcup tackling in midfield to score under the posts. The try was converted and at 13-12 the momentum in the game had shifted.

Whilst Sidcup were still strong at the scrum, often pushing WP off their own ball, they were losing possession at the line out and getting isolated in defence in attempting to run kicks back. One kick ahead by WP, after scrappy play in midfield, was spilled by the Sidcup defender as he was isolated without support, and tackled as WP followed up. A WP player pounced on the ball over the Sidcup line. Unconverted try, 13-17. Another WP try – a pick up from an attacking scrum in the right hand corner – took the score to 13-22, and then to 13-25 as WP kicked a penalty in the last minute.

Overall a much better performance than many of last season’s, and there is a powerful scrum as a source of possession. General fitness may have been an issue as WP sustained their effort better and upped the tempo at the end of the game.

NM - 24 Sep 09