U13s Kent Plate Champions!

Metal Sparks has produced a special, detailed report for the benefit of the Minis Tourists, below. All I'd add is to thank Thanet sincerely for a cracking game which frankly could have gone either way, and to acknowledge their boys' and coaches' dignity, sportsmanship and sense of fair play. Maybe we could arrange a friendly for next season - would be quite a game. Over to the Scribe...

The day had arrived. Those players with siblings and parents on Minis Tour had all been fostered out for the weekend. They were now here with their second family.

There was no history to speak of between these sides, and certainly Beccs were confident of their own game being good enough, against any side, providing they performed.

April showers were still in evidence but luckily one of the sporadic dry spells had settled over Ashford just in time to make redundant all the umbrellas of the cautious ones in the crowd.

Thanet, comparatively, were a big looking side and as the first tackles and contacts took place it was evident that in particular their heavy pack was their strength. Beccs were not put off and in the opening skirmishes they were much the equal - both in the loose and comfortably winning their own first scrum. The wind was not strong, nor was it cold - but it was there, and coming from behind Thanet. It helped their clearing kicks as Beccs made the first probing attacks into their half.

Nerves were much in evidence. It was a big day for both teams (and also for the groundsman, but his must have been a special night on Saturday as well… the strange and amusing sight was him trundling along, pushing his wheel and box, still marking out the 15 metre lines 5 minutes after the game started.)
Dropped passes and knock-ons from both sides were stalling the game. Despite the referee doing his best to find an advantage, scrums seemed to be the conclusion to every short passage of play. Set and reset as the two packs sought their own advantage and it became apparent that Beccs forwards were not going to get an easy ride. The extra weight of the Thanet pack was telling. The Beccs backs looked more dangerous and in those opening minutes two or three breaks made good yardage before the unforced error led to turn over ball or another scrum.

A long wind-assisted defensive kick from Thanet put Bertie at full-back under pressure and, as the ball bounced and bobbled around his ankles, he knocked on. The resulting scrum was won by Beccs (an eager Thanet penalised for a misdemeanour) and the ball cleared up field, but before too long it is turned over and punted back at Bertie. He nearly knocked on again but just managed to gather the ball and set off on what was to be the start of a sparkling passage of play. Bertie’s trademark arcing run made important yards as it took him towards the right side of the pitch but, as he cut back near the halfway line, he was blocked and brought to ground. He had got everybody back on-side and a strong ruck by our retreating forwards gave clean ball to Freddie (our new and very vocal scrum half), Miles to Ben S and a crash up the middle, through Zac’s hands onto James, (going up the left now). James starting to step and jink but held and spun, he off-loads to the supporting Ben S. Ben brings it back across to the centre and, as the tackle hits, he passes it to Henry. Thanet are now defensively out of shape and Henry is in clear space and his determined straightening run takes him near to the Thanet 22; as their scrambling cover closes on him he floats a class pass out to Ty who takes it at pace but is almost immediately dragged down by two covering Thanet players (like lions dragging down a Wildebeest). As Ty goes to ground and presents, Henry, Dan and Kai arrive and protect the ball. Only for a second though as Dan picks up and goes for glory from 15 yards. Thanet are still there and a strong low tackle drives Dan back and up, but feet off the ground he pops sideways to Luke who with the Thanet defence at last exhausted speeds over in the corner. A lack of equipment hindered Miles’ conversion attempt but the Beccs support didn’t care. They were sure there would be more where that came from.

But Thanet weren’t there just to watch us score great team tries. From the deep restart, they came with a purpose and when Beccs tried to run out from deep another knock-on gave Thanet the platform they wanted in our 22. Yes it was another scrum. This one was reset three times before their 8 broke off the back and thundered towards the Beccs line. He was stopped but Beccs were penalised in the ruck for going over the top; Thanet took a quick tap, into contact, and off the back of the ruck their very quick 2 broke away to score beside the posts.

Thanet tails were up and they started to push Beccs back. A ten minute period of play was spent in the Beccs 22, Thanet using the wind, winning penalties and kicking into touch, using their line out to start rolling mauls and Beccs trying to run and play from deep (or kicking poorly into the wind). The Beccs tackle count was growing and they eventually ground Thanet to a standstill even winning a scrum against the head. Beccs broke out and ran up some territory, when the passes stuck Beccs looked the most dangerous, but they were really having to scrap for parity up front. Thanet won a scrum (yes another one) against the head and kicked with the wind beyond Bertie. Running back toward his own dead ball area he managed the most beautifully timed (but heart stopping) side foot hack (on a bouncing bobbling ball) 25 yards across the pitch - putting it into touch just before the Thanet wing arrived.

More scrums and line-outs took us to half-time with Thanet leading both in points and scrummaging. Thanet had won 8 scrums (1 against the head), Beccs had won 4 scrums (2 against the head ). Score 7- 5 and all to play for.

Changes by the Beccs coaches at half time appeared to be tactical but, as the game recommenced Thanet now playing into the wind were still at parity and possibly slightly up in the forwards department. Thanet’s hooker threw in magnificently and they were beginning to get the upper hand in the line-outs despite Dan and Kai constantly competing. Toby and the massive rock that was a fully fit Sonny held our scrums up against what was probably a good 2 or 3 stone disadvantage. The plethora of scrums continued, awarded for every reason and law possible; and through no fault of the referee who was probably wishing by now that he could bring his judgement skills to another part of the game, but mistakes and scrums were the order of this final. The Beccs pack rucked and counter-rucked on a par and with the bigger Thanet forwards and both sides tackled as if their lives depended on it. Of course Luke’s yellow cap was everywhere felling players of all sizes.

The next score was going to be a big turning point and, as both sides began to work out where the danger players were, and then playing on the offside limit, began to nullify each other. A score was most likely going to come from a missed tackle or a mistake. The crowds had gone quiet, not silent, but the tension of the match was affecting everyone. The game hung in the balance for the first 10 minutes of the half. The breakthrough came when, after a comfortable reset scrum on the half way line, the Thanet scrum-half, box-kicked in field and Miles under pressure lost the catch backwards. Ben S gathered up and, seeing that the wide route was blocked with the remains of the scrum, he checked back inside and threw a pass to new full-back Ellis. At least he threw it to where Ellis was going to be in about 10 seconds time. We all know the boy has some pretty fancy wheels on him but how he covered the 3 yards to catch that pass around his ankles was special - but it got better as he now stumbled through two tackles and then, straightening upright, got up to full speed to leave the Thanet cover dead in the water. A roar from the Beccs crowd as he put down near the posts and a skip of delight from Ellis. Miles, now with correct equipment, made the conversion.

From the restart Ben S took advantage of a still slightly stunned Thanet defence and made a break through to their 22 but they gathered themselves and countered when we failed to secure the position and then went over the top at the ensuing ruck. It should be noted at this point that the referee, whilst having an outstanding game in general refereeing terms, (controlling the game and making all the right and fair decisions) could have been auditioning for the Village People. His clear and high hand signals didn’t quiet spell out YMCA - but they were close at times.

Penalties were not so helpful to Thanet now as the breeze was now in their faces and their kicks were not making the same distance. Beccs attacked again and, like Thanet in the first half, started to maintain pressure in their 22. Again Beccs were penalised and the Thanet 9 in an attempt to clear their lines further ran the tap forwards and then kicked. He was unlucky as the ball fell straight to Ellis. He ran straight, stepped outside, parried an advancing tackler and was gone beyond all cover, running it in equal distance from touchline to posts. Miles pulled his conversion and will surely talk to Ellis about scoring under the posts in future.

The Beccs bench started to empty as the coaches tried to bring fresh bodies on for the kill. That should have been it. Beccs should have controlled the game, kicked the corners on the wind and moved the big Thanet pack around. Perhaps that’s just for the professionals and anyway Thanet weren’t about to play that game. As Beccs started to throw passes around Thanet raised their game and defended stoically eventually counter-attacking and twice nearly breaking through the Beccs defence. Beccs stopped committing to the ruck and, although they tackled and tackled, the blue and yellow train kept coming. Beccs were getting pinged and Thanet kept it tight, constantly running the ball back to their strength, slowly edging towards the try line. Beccs did win a scrum - probably from a knock on - and Miles kicked clear but the Beccs chasers were off-side. Desperate but solid last-ditch tackling on the try line looked to be just delaying the inevitable but Thanet never went wide and they were beginning to tire. They were held up but from the resulting scrum they knew how the Beccs clearing kick process worked and charged Miles down. Thanet dived on the loose ball first (Ben S disputes this) to score near to the posts.
Nerves got to their kicker but it was all too little too late. The restart saw more fierce rucking and slightly more open play from both sides, then surprisingly a scrum or three but it was all around the half way line and the clock was ticking. The final play saw Thanet throwing it wide down their backs but at last a knock-on meant something other then another scrum. A whistle and a Capital I from the ref signalled the end of a not pretty, but pretty intense game of good hard fought, extremely honest rugby. Thanet had the better of the scrums in the second half winning 7 (1 against the head) Beccs won 3. Neither side really rose to the occasion but both can hold their heads high for all the players certainly gave everything on the day. The record books will show:-

Final Score

Thanet Wanderers RFC Under 13s. 12 v 17 Beccehamians RFC Under 13s

A longer more detailed report of this match is available on request. (joke)