Wetherby U18s v Yarnbury Colts

Wetherby – big physical pack with hard runners in midfield. Short on numbers so not sure how the team we played stacks up against their usual team.

Carried hard around the corner and off 10, very good clear-out and securing of their own ball. Managed to disrupt our ball initially with good jackaling and a counter ruck (we got better in the 2nd half). Yarnbury hardly saw the ball for the first 10 mins of the game as we could not get anywhere near a turnover and defence was far too passive. Good centre who made the most of some weak tackling in the 10/12 channel and also moved the ball wide to take advantage of a lack of pace on the wing.

Yarnbury – good line-out play considering the conditions (very windy), with a decent catch and drive, although this was mainly defensive as we had no attacking lineouts at all in the game. Good direct running from the usual suspects around the edges of the ruck and very good strong lines from Ed and Harry in the centres (Ed hat-trick). Could have made more of this but the handling let us down in the backline, a few chances butchered by ball going to floor.

Gave Wetherby a 3 try head start by not being able to get the ball off them. Good breakaway try by Ed just before half time. HT - 19 – 5.
Second half started poorly conceding 2 more early tries, breaks from the centre and big 8 finished nicely. Got back into the game with 2 more tries from Ed after some sustained pressure, then conceded a soft one right at the end. FT - 38 – 19 Ed 3 tries Al Carroll 2 cons

Work-ons – Press defence, as we are still too passive. Handling in the outside backs needs improvement.

We will certainly be better for the run-out, but do need to work on intensity and aggression in defence.