Penallta RFC

The sun was out, the pitch was looking great (especially the parts especially imported from Barry Island for the occasion)

..... and a big crowed had gathered to see the little people from the under 11s take on the giants from the under 12s, oh yes what a difference a year makes.

With the under 11s being deprived of their 2 East Wales stars due to match commitments and then the only other centre breaking his arm and hour before kick off the back line was going to look a lot smaller than normal and started with 2 under 10s in the line up as well as one lad making his first ever appearance for the team this year.

But size had never been a problem for the blue and white terrors as from the kick off they took the game to their bigger opponents putting them under pressure at every ruck and maul, the under 12’s looking shell shocked and wondering what was happening.

It was from this continued pressure that the 11s scored the opening try of the game after being awarded a penalty 5 meters out after the 12s had killed the ball yet again, the little Flan (Callam Flannagan) scooted over the line to ground the ball.

It didn’t take the 12s long to respond, using their greater pace outside to run around the outside of the cover defence of the 11’s to score a try against the run of play. Within 5minutes they had taken the lead, again against the run of play the ball came away to the 12s and with a crisp passing move scored the third try of the game. But this seemed to galvanise the 11s who from the kick off went back to their original task of taking the 12s on up front and it was the David and Goliath story all over again.

The 12s being the bigger pack should have flattened the 11s but they didn’t and were given a lesson on how to ruck, maul and play power rugby. It was from this continued pressure from the forwards that the 11s scored their second try with good ball being won by the forwards the scrum half, Nathan Davies) was able to sneak over and ground the ball.

With the score now 10 point each and half time looming, again against the run of play, the 12s backs were able to break away and score again under the posts to make the half time score under 11s 17 - under 11s 10.

The second half was very much like the first with both teams giving everything in and around the tackle area, on most occasions the poor under 12 player being gang tackled by 2 or more of the under 11’s players.

The commitment to the tackle was evident early in the second half when the biggest of the under 12s was brought to ground by the smallest of the under 11s (but he is only 9) and that brought a great cheer from the crowed. The under 11s were unable to score again despite some great pressure and the 12s scored 2 more converted tries, both against the run of play but showing the ability to take their chances and back their greater pace out wide.

The final score under 12s 31 points, under 11s 10 points but overall the big winners were the club with no barriers between the age groups with players and parents being brought together for the sport of rugby.

All left the ground winners, the 12s deserved to win (but wait till next time when we have our full team) and the 11’s were winners in the way they played the game.

One more match to go this year, away to St Josephs in Newport on Sunday. All to meet at the club at 10AM, Christine will send the txt as normal on Friday night.

Images from the match