The U14 have had some fantastic shared experiences in their time together, the weekend ahead providing another fantastic opportunity to firmly store in their budding and expanding rugby memory banks. We visited Twickenham, in great anticipation of a weekend that genuinely offered a fantastic festival of Rugby…Saturday to watch England receive the Aussies after committing them to a whitewash few envisaged. On Sunday, Brods U14 played Old Wimbledonian Warriors, a team with fantastic pedigree enjoying Harlequins Academy and Surrey squad players aplenty; a squad which held all members of the National Schools 7’s champions and many of the team of National Schools 15’s finalists. It was going to be an uphill test for Brods, who having reached the Yorkshire Cup final two years in succession, always look to test their abilities when on their travels.

As ever on tour, some bleary eyes and mumbling at the unsociable roll call, breakfast turning many frowns to smiles. Yesterday fantastic performance in defeating the Aussies hopefully giving them purpose! Our hosts Old Wimbledonian Warriors, had a bustling junior section played neighbours Rosslyn Park, on a fantastic winters morning with the clear sunny sky working hard at the light frost…PERFECT!

Unbeaten in the last 2 years, Wimbledonians came out fast, Brods slow to get up to speed and not holding their usual structure, they where under pressure from the first whistle. Conceding early penalties, Brods defence no match for Wimbledonians pace and power. Brods knew they where in a game alright, as the hosts went over to a powerful score in the corner, set up by their back row. 5-0 to the hosts in under 5 minutes.

The rallying calls rang out between the Woodhead boys , Brods kicked onto the 10yd line, great ruck defence saw the ball come our through Wimbledonians backs, wow... we witnessed some real pace through their fullback! A great step saw them break the gain line putting Brods under pressure again. Quick ball saw the resulting ruck spread wide to the right wing who broke through several tackles to score again in the opposite corner. Brods where dazed…it had been a long time since we had encountered opposition that dealt such an explosive start.10-0…come on boys you’re better than this was the cry!

This Wimbledon team were sizeable…very technically strong with several very, very talented players…could Brods step up, they needed to!

Brods intensity now stirred…the usual voices started to lift those around them, Brods visibly lifted and making tackles they had been missing in the earlier exchanges…good cohesion at the breakdown and at last we secured good ball to open up our backs..Inman starting to have a growing impact, Leahy some real hearty work at the breakdown, Brods getting onto the front foot and put the hosts under pressure for the first time. Brods onto the 22 and working well around the fringes, tight in two’s and threes, going in numbers and punching holes. Wimbledon’s pack phsyically stronger, this was a battle of grit and determination..An injury to the hosts right wing saw the first change. Brods broke through Stewart in the midfield, great recycle ball and Inman set Leahy up and a superb line saw him breakthrough , excellent cover defence, bodies piled in..Brods lost the ball, too slow... scrum down, Wimbledon ball.

Brods pushed against the head taking possession, two phases saw them get close to their 22, pressure telling, Wimbledon penalised off their feet...you could feel the urgency…tails up, Brods went to the corner. Haldenby took off the top…Drive!! ..Drive.. !..the ball recycled to the back, Thackray, pumped hard for the line , Jones, Haldenby, Lorimer all driving on the shoulder..In came Inman as a final push, they where over!! 10-7 - back in it…Game On!!

The kick off saw a great take, Brods driving through, ball not coming out.. scrum Brods ball..big push saw the ball fire to the back foot, Smith taking two huge hits from either side courtesy of the Wimbledon back row, controversially ending his game. The injury provided Parkin the opportunity at a return, following a 6 week layoff..although in the unfamiliar role of 9…great to have you back TP... Some tight exchanges and the game now felt quite even, but no less tense…Wimbledon again spread the ball following a kick from Inman, the return was excellent, their back row making great yards, scattering the oncoming Brods, great technique from the big 8, not many do that to us!! The ball went wide again to see the pace outside hurt Brods again. Great feet taking them over again…not what we needed! 15-7 to Wimbledon…

The half seemed like it would never end, but both sides fully committed and knowing anyone failing to step up would be punished by the other…the atmosphere fully charged, the game felt more like a cup final. At last we had the break...time to recoup and refocus, strengthen our resolve and build.

"Stick to our game boys, we dominate the set piece, we play front foot, we step up our defence”.

Brods kicked to Wimbledon, the low sun a huge distraction in the first half saw the hosts knock on. Scrum Brods..The pack tighter today, we held good shape and showed great strength…Inman went blind and set up Macdonald for a great run taking us close to their 22..the Wimbledon wing taking a knock for their 3rd change. Some great exchanges and excellent rugby saw the game tighten, the next score would be key. Inman again turning them around taking Brods onto the 22. Chin taking good ball from the ruck having a great break down the right, great defence taking man and ball, forcing turnover ball and the hosts cleared their lines. Thomson and Lorimer making great inroads playing a tight attacking shape, Nixon clearing out, great rolling maul and pick and go, the hosts defence scrambling..Brods now 5 out. Thackray driving low again, Leahy in support..Wood picks up and goes for the line going over..yes!!!…No!!! Brods pulled back for accidental offside…Well done boys we go again!! Wimbledon clear…but miss touch. Cliff catching well making good yards, pulling the defence wide, unleashing Stewart…great feet, steps one, two back on the 22, great support saw Brods ruck the ball back, Parkin recycling well Hodgson and Stewart making headway 5 out…good defence holding Brods up..Thackray again driving low. Jones picks up and with 3 in support drive over…15-12..no extras from the tight angle…How long Sir…10 was the reply. The rallying calls from all sides on the touchline sensing the finale was building.

Wimbledon’s return saw Inman take a huge hit in defence. Lorimer picking up the spillage only to take another great tackle from the hosts lock. Brods knocked on too, however Wimbledon mad ethe advantage tell and broke wide, only excellent cover defence preventing a certain score..forcing excited screams from the home touchline.

Discipline slipping from the hosts they conceded for off their feet on their 22. The corner was Brods call, Inman delivered.The hosts defending well taking Haldenby at the line, perfectly timed, said the referee Brods went right to force in the corner, more outstanding defence preventing Stewart. Sweeping left Thackray picked up from a quick ruck, bouncing two defenders reaching for the line, his momentum almost there, reaching at full stretch to touchdown!! 17-15…19-15…!! YES!! from the travelling hoards! ..the boys bouncing of each other in celebration..they really earned that!

The hosts feeling real pressure lost their 8 to a yellow for descent to the referee…”How long sir?" asked the hosts.. "6 minutes"..this was becoming the longest half in history..at least it seemed so... Brods dug in deep again, great defence and fantastic play from Wimbledon saw them kick to halfway and catch their own kick…a great tackle from Parkin on their nine forcing yet another turnover…Brods went deep, Chin taking the follow on only to be turned over by great cover defence…To the surprise of all, the hosts 8 returned to the foray, within minutes he went on a surging run, making 30 yards as Brods desperately covered. On the Brods 10 yard line the referee whistled..for offside…the end many thought.. alas..a second penalty put Brods on the edge of their 22..the ball broke, Wimbledon fighting for their lives went wide the flying wing broke one, two three…he’s in….NO! excellent final tackle from Stewart and Cliffe preventing a certain winning score. The winger holding on, took a knock in the ruck stopping play..penalty…Brods cheered…to soon, against us for offside. A penalty not enough..they needed a try. A kick to the corner missed its target…only to come back as the referee had apparently failed to put time back on!! … surely not ..still we played…gripping, captivating, nerve endings shot!!… The kick finally hitting target, lineout on the 5…Come on boys, we dig in!! We ruck and we don’t miss..The Wimbledon pack convened for a final surge..quick ball of the top, to their 8 and he drove low 8..6…3 out, he went down…Brods went at it with their lives , in numbers ..ball out.. the hosts have it, picking from their open side to go over in the corner… giving relieved home support the score they were looking for … the whistle blew as the kick shot wide…... an enthralling, captivating game was over….20-19. … What a game !!

Thirtysome’ spent teens gave earned respect to each other on a day all will be remembered for a long, long, time... learnings a plenty….The North met South today.. today the south won the battle, but Brods will take much from the game into the remainder of the season, and next weeks Yorkshire Cup Semi Final…we saw an awful lot of character today, they learned a lot about each other.. that surely bodes well for the game! ...Stand tall boys!