Yarnbury vs Roundhegians U15s

After a couple of days of really good weather, rugby returns to Yarnbury for a Friday night match under floodlights.An entertaining game kicks off with the sun setting and temperatures dropping.
Roundhegians kick off and at the first contact regain possession. They go through numerous phases, with good link play, gaining territory. Yarnbury can’t get their hands on the ball but good tackling, particularly by Joe Pilling, James Longhawn and Jacob Rawson stalls the Roundhegians momentum before they finally knock-on in contact. Darwin Kingmakes a good clearance kick to take play back to the half way line for a Roundhegians lineout. During the next phase of play Yarnbury are penalised for hands in the ruck and Roundhegians make a good kick for a 5m lineout. Immediately following the line out Yarnbury are awarded a scrum for a forward pass and are able to then clear their lines with a kick from Oscar Andrews but it doesn’t make touch and Roundhegians are able to run the ball back in, making a good chip over the defensive line butDarwin King just beats the winger to touch down behind the try line for a 22 yard drop out.
Yarnbury gain their first real amount of possession after10 minutesmoving the ball into the Roundhegians half but Edward Green is tackled into touch. Roundhegians knock-on at the lineout and Yarnbury continue the attack from the scrum with some good running lines and slick passing by the backs before Oscar Andrews makes a break into the Roundhegians 22. He makes a long pass out to winger Ethan Dawrant but he is held up in a maul and Roundhegians clear their lines from the scrum. Yarnbury reattack with territory being gained through pick and drives by Carter Proctor and Sam Brown. They then win a penalty for side entry which Maxwell Lee quickly takes to release Ethan Dawrant who cuts inside the last defender but is tackled just short of the line and is penalised for not releasing.
Roundhegians begin to get back on top aided by Yarnbury indiscipline providing them with numerous penalties. In the 28th minute Roundhegians have a lineout just outside the Yarnbury 22. TheYarnbury forwards try to rush through but do not make the tackle allowing the Roundhegians forwards to advance deep into the Yarnbury 22. Quick ball is then moved wide and the winger touches down in the corner. 2 attempts are made at the conversion, as Yarnbury run out early, but both are missed; Yarnbury 0-5Roundhegians. In the last minute of the 1st half a Jacob Rawson tackle leads to a Yarnbury penalty for holding on when James Longhawn locks on to the ball and a kick for a lineout on the Roundhegians 22 is made. The driving maul gains some teritory before the ball is moved to the other side of the pitch. Some good phases of play sees Carter Proctor and Harvey Goodall making further territory through pick and drives and when the ball is released to the backs Oscar Andrews makes a clean break to score under the posts. Darwin King completes the conversion with the last kick of the half. Half time:Yarnbury 7-5 Roundhegians.
Yarnbury kick off the second half but Roundhegians respond with multiple phases to take play up to the Yarnbury 22 before they are finally stopped and penalised for holding on at the ruck. Yarnbury take play back into the Roundhegians 22 but lose possession through a knock on. Roundhegians try to play out from here but Yarnbury force the turnover at the first breakdown, attack the blindside and Jacob Rawson, running in at pace, breaks the tackle to score in the corner. The difficult conversion is missed; Yarnbury 12-5 Roundhegians. Yarnbury attack again following a Roundhegians penalty. The ball is moved down the back line to Darwin King who takes play up to the Roundhegians 22 but delays his pass to winger Jamie Baker for too long, allowing the Roundhegians centre to rip the ball cleanly out of his hands. A missed tackle then allows the centre to break free and score. A good pursuit by Jamie McDonnell, although unable to make the tackle, forces the try to be scored 10m in from the touch line and the conversion is just missed. With 10 minutes gone, Yarnbury’s lead is reduced to 2 points.
Following the restart Yarnbury pressure at the ruck gains them a penalty in the Roundhegians 22 when Roundhegians do not release the ball. Oscar Andrews takes a quick tap to Carter Proctor, who is driven close to the try line but Luke Woodend is on hand to make the final pick and drive to score. The conversion is missed; Yarnbury 17-10 Roundhegians.
Yarnbury are now taking control of the game in terms of territory. Oscar Andrews makes a long crossfield kick from just outside his 22 into acres of space that bounces kindly into touch on the Roundhegians 22. Play continues with Yarnbury exerting pressure, forcing the ball back to near the try line. Following a Roundhegians scrum which is won against the head, Jack Brownridgegoes over the try line but the ball is adjudged to have been held up. From the next scrum, pick and drives are stopped just short of the try line but Edward Green is on hand to dive over the mass of bodies that has built up to score Yarnbury’s 4th try.The conversion is missed and after 25 minutes the score is Yarnbury 22-10 Roundhegians. Yarnbury have one further excellent chance to score when another attack results in a pick and drive by Luke Woodend but the ball is turned over when the try looked imminent. Full time:Yarnbury 22-10 Roundhegians.
Yarnbury:Carter Proctor, James Longhawn,Harvey Goodall,Ruairi Daly, Danny Goodall,Sam Brown,Joe Pilling, Alex Koppany, Maxwell Lee, Oscar Andrews, Ethan Dawrant, Edward Green,Jamie McDonnell,Jacob Rawson,Darwin King(capt).
Substitutes:Dan Mitchell, Lex Galloway, Leo Mercer, Jack Briggs, Jamie Baker, Jack Brownridge, Luke Woodend

Man of the Match –Oscar Andrews (backs) –for orchestrating Yarnbury’s play after a poor start, getting Yarnbury’s 1st try and ensuring that in the 2nd half they played in the right areas of the pitch with some excellent kicking, and James Longhawn (forwards) – for his work rate in tackling and forcing turnovers, consistency at the lineout and winning a scrum against the head which eventually led to Yarnbury’s 4th try.

Sporting Result of the Week Accrington Stanley 2-1Yeovil Town – after 16 wins in 19 matches Accrington (“Who are they?”) confirm promotion into League 1 for the first time in their history. Honourable mentions to Blackburn coming back from 1-0 down at half time to win 3-1 against Peterborough (always good to see the Posh lose).