Hertford u13B vs Bishops Stortford B's Sunday 13th January

HERTFORD DOMINATE AT HOME TO STROTFORD

HERTFORD DOMINATE AT HOME TO STROTFORD
Hertford u13b 60 Vs Bishops Stortford 5
Try scorers: -
Morris x 4 Joseph x 3 Abbot x 1
Cannon x 2 Shanley x 1 Hurd x 1

On a cold blustery morning at Hoe Lane, the Bs had been put through their warm up with coach Robbie marshalling his troops.
Stortford looked up for a fight following their hour long warm up but was this just smoke and mirrors?
Hertford Kicked off with a strong wind directly into their faces. Colin Chapple was running the line and a young Hertford ref, Will Tyrer, was directing proceedings.
The boys were off, quick running from the backs and pressure on the ball sees a quick turn over. Fast ball from the breakdown from Cannon with ball moving out wide and Morris is in for the first score in less than 1 minute 5-0.
Hertford restart and again good work from the backs and forwards who are pounding Stortford with their quick line. Turn over to Hertford from some great work from Abbott, Woody, Kyle and Day. Murphy is there to feed the backs and with some strong running, cheeky off loads and Abbott scores 10-0.
The Hertford crowd are baying for blood in the local derby and the boys didn’t disappoint.
Some pressure from Stortford, but the front row is working hard at the break down and Stortford have nowhere to go. A loose pass and great interception from Isaac who goes on a little run and off loads to Morris for another great try 15-0 and 10 minutes gone.
The forwards were hungry today and Bishops Stortford couldn’t handle it. Our backs look like there in for a bumper day, but Stortford are not here to make up the numbers as they continue to try to play running rugby from the back. There is a quick break from BS and they break the line. Shanley and Cannon are there to make good covering tackles and the break is on.
A quick tap from Murphy who feeds Chapple to Finn, then Isaac to Evans, then onto Shanley, who passes out to Hurd and with some more running rugby Hurd dives over the whitewash and scores. 20-0
Like all teams Hertford encounter Stortford’s big lad gets the ball and tries to break through the Hertford line, but today the forwards eat him up like a Sunday roast dinner. Joseph, Day, Abbott, Champney, Kyle, Woody, Max, Poulter are having a feast on their opposite numbers
Injury to Hurd and Audrey is out on the field to administer some first aid. Hertford go to the huddle and coach Robbie gives some clear direction about moving the ball quicker at the breakdown to the backs.
Restart and BS apply some pressure, Hertford are just too strong and turnover again. Quick ball to Shanley who makes a darting run but is stopped 5 metres from the line, Woody is there to pick up and drives with the other forwards, again they are stopped with some determined defensive work from BS, but Hertford moved the ball from left to right at pace with Murphy, Chapple, Isaac, Finn, and Evans involved and Cannon is in. 25-0
Watching from the side-lines Stortford look like they are running out of ideas of how to stop this momentum. Robbie the master tactician has out thought their large coaching staff. More brilliant rugby from Hertford quick ball from Murphy, out to Finn, Chapple, Issacs, Shanley, reverse pass and along the line and Evans is in. 30-0. The forwards are making our tactics easy to apply with some brilliant scrummaging at the loose.
Stortford continue to try and play running rugby, but it’s playing into Hertford hands. Robby rotates the bench imperiously and communicates directions to the backs, with Chapple giving his guidance.
The half is coming to a close, but from a Hertford scrum, the ball is whizzed out across the line and Shanley is in 35-0 half time.
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Hertford led 35-0 at the break despite opting to play into the wind. They needed to be patient against an organised defence that was alert to turnover opportunities and most of the half was played in Stortford’s territory. One move from the home side went through 12 phases and there is no team better than Hertford Bs at not being deflected from a game plan.
The first 30 minutes were uncompromising.
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Stortford restart and off we go. Great line speed from the boys, turn over to Hertford after some good rucking. Quick ball from Jason at Scrum half, ball into the backs great reverse pass by Finn and Hertford off again playing some sexy rugby or is that slick rugby? Stortford break after a mistake from Hertford backs and they are in for their first score. 35-5
The Hertford boys look at each other in dismay. I sense some trouble for Stortford here, and I am right. The forwards didn’t like that score and hit Stortford hard with some great counter rucking from Woody, Day, Kyle and Abbott before Joseph picks up the loose ball and scores. 40-5
Now with the wind against them Stortford decided to start kicking? Shanley collects at full back and goes on a mazy run with brilliant support from the other backs he off loads to Finn and then to Morris who dives over for another score. 45-5
What do Stortford do?
Morris kicks off with a high ball. Evans and Chapple are there like a flash and rucks for the ball, no try but good rugby. Stortford come at Hertford, but Hertford turn over. More champagne rugby and Cannon is in after a great run from Evans. 50-5
Hertford are now playing some quick rugby. I see them practice this on Wednesday nights, but today they are putting it into game situations. Quick thinking and tap 10 metres out from Jason and Joseph is in. 55-5
Another quick tap this time from Murphy, good hands across the lines with forwards and backs making dummy passes and leaving Stortford boys tackling air.
Everyone is involved and Morris is in for his fourth and Hertford’s last. 60-5. This was a very one-sided game, but you must beat what is in front of you and the boys did that today with some very good passing rugby. The forwards got tired at the end but performed excellently.
The whistle goes for full time and the boys do the right thing and clap Stortford off. Great team spirit amongst these boys. Thank you to Robbie, Colin, Audrey and the Chuckle brothers for putting the fence up ?

Thanks to Darren Shanley for his great sports recount of the match and keeping tally, and as always Granny Day for washing the shirts. Much appreciated.