Harsh Sevens Lesson In Yorkshire

Report by Marcus Edwards

We arrived in sunshine, it became windy as we started the game, and half time was reached having experienced showers and hail stones!

Nine Manchester players made the long trip across the Pennines with West Park Leeds having just the seven players available. The match would be played as a seven-a-side fixture over two fifteen minute periods with the teams made up of three forwards and four backs.

Manchester’s forwards started with a front row line-up of Caitlin Knight, Jess Davids and a very welcome debutant for the team Aisha Choudhry.
The half backs comprised Jess Johnson (Captain) as scrum half with Olivia Farrow as fly half.
Manchester’s backs started with Chloe Snape and Casey Thompson as wingers.
Rolling subs were Katy Bacon and Courtney McNamara.

Leeds due to their very small squad size have played seven-a-side rugby all season and have been well coached in this game format. Also their team has some talented quick backs, including the league’s leading try scorer, meaning that this would be a hard match for Manchester.

From the kick-off Leeds, on receiving, spread the ball up and down the back line probing for gaps in the Manchester defence. This tactic proved successful straight away with a missed tackle allowing Leeds through for the first try after only a minute’s play. Playing seven’s rules, conversion attempts were to be made by drop kicking the ball. The match started with these attempts but was soon abandoned when it became apparent that no player could drop kick successfully!

Despite the game being played on a smaller pitch Manchester was not able to contain the evasive free flowing style of Leeds who began to score tries on a regular basis in the first half. With Manchester not able to sustain any pressure, despite a few good line breaks by Aisha and Olivia, Leeds gained all the momentum in the match and finished the half leading by seven unanswered tries.

With the match effectively lost the half time team talk revolved around regaining some pride back for Manchester. The defensive line would try to push up quicker in an attempt to stop Leeds getting the ball out to their quick wingers. Tackling would have to be sharper, not allowing Leeds to break the Manchester defence as easy as they had in the first half.

Following a ‘nil’ score in the home match against Leeds last December Manchester was determined to score a try against Leeds this season. From the kick off Manchester was at last able to put together some effective phase play, driving the ball through the Leeds defence culminating with a dive over the try line by Olivia.

With Manchester spirits lifted the team successfully tightened up the play considerably. Both Chloe and Olivia were able to make their customary line breaks but the Leeds quick wingers were able to make the cover tackles. However at the breakdowns Manchester was nearly always second best to the ball so could not maintain sufficient game pressure. Leeds was just as determined to keep the game as free flowing as possible and on twenty minutes they managed to score a breakaway try to secure the league win.

Leeds tactics were to get the ball out to their talented wingers who were adept at straightening the play, drawing the Manchester defence-in, and then swerving to the outside creating open space to exploit with their speed. This tactic proved successful and Leeds ran in two more unanswered tries. Manchester stretched their defence in an attempt to stop the wide tries but with Leeds moving the ball along the whole width of the pitch they were able to pick out the gaps in the centre of Manchester’s defence and closed the game off with a couple of more tries.

Manchester had just faced the best seven’s all round team performance against them this season. Despite this format of the game not suiting Manchester the team spirit never faltered with some good player performances, especially Aisha on her debut.