Minis U11 Match Report
Read the RFU Guidelines on Minis' Rugby for the Under 11s
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Sunday 16th March 2008.
WEST HARTLEPOOL U11'S 12
DMPRFC U11'S 21
Following both sides exploits in getting to the last three in the County Cup the previous week, it was always likely that this would be an evenly-contested game. Whilst West, as last week’s overall winners, would have perhaps been favourites, Mowden obviously savoured the prospect of a bit of friendly revenge, and it to their great credit that they were able to triumph, due to a fine team effort.
In a game played over four, ten-minute, quarters, West began in the ascendancy, and managed to pressurise the visitors defence, who held out gamely enough, until a series of technical penalties against them proved too much, and a home player managed to run into the left corner unchallenged. The successful conversion was the last kick of the quarter, at which time West led 7 – 0.
The second quarter began with a fine run from Megan Ryder, supported by the forwards, and Benjamin Potter picked out Sam Henderson’s well-timed run to allow the latter a fine solo run for a try. Joe Craggs added the conversion, but the home side stormed back, only to be thwarted by committed Mowden defence. The pressure told in the end, however, as the home forwards managed to rumble over for an unconverted try. The visitors attempted an immediate riposte, but were thwarted by the half-time whistle.
The second half began with a determined run from Sam, who almost made it to the line, before the home side managed a turn-over. An ill-judged clearance kick allowed Elliot Wanless to return it with interest, and with confusion reigning in the West ranks, another poor kick went straight to an alert Sam, who rounded the defence for his second try. Joe again added the extras, and Mowden led for the first time, 14 – 12.
West stormed back, but strong defence from the visitors was equal to the task, and Joe was able to steal the ball, and set off on an excellent run into the home half, before handing it on to Sam, who finished in trademark style. Joe’s third successful conversion moved the score on to 21 – 12, as the referee blew for the end of the third quarter.
The final quarter was largely a tale of West attacks, ably repelled by determined Mowden defence, until a great steal by Megan relieved the pressure for the last few minutes. During this time, the visitors were able to keep the home side pinned in their own half, and there were no further scores as the clock ran down.
This was a very encouraging performance against arguably the best side in the county, who were welcoming hosts, and very gracious in defeat.
Lord Craggs
Connoisseur of Fine Lagers and Gout.
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DMPRFC u11s County Cup Tournament 09/03/08
Mowden u11s, along with ten other u11s sides, travelled to Middlesbrough for this year’s County Cup tournament, and emerged with great credit, if no silverware, and a deserved third place finish.
Mowden were placed in a qualification group including the hosts, Durham City and Jarrow, and did extremely well to win it, playing some good rugby on the way. A very tight first game with Durham City ended in a 7 – 7 draw, but a comfortable 26 – 0 win over Jarrow meant that the game against Middlesbrough would decide things. Mowden managed to prevail with a single try near the end of the game, and therefore moved on to the ‘final’; a round-robin competition between the three group winners.
The other finalists were West Hartlepool and Blaydon, so the team would have had to have been at their very best to prevail. As it was, their earlier efforts in winning a tough group seemed to have taken a lot out of them, and they struggled for any fluency in the two final games, losing the first, against West, 7 – 0, and the second, against Blaydon, 21 – 7.
All can be proud of their efforts, as they did credit to the club in getting as far as they did, and provided great entertainment for the large contingent of mums and dads who went along.
By kind permission of:
A. Craggs.
(Inventor of the 'Bermuda' lounge shorts)
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Sunday 24th February 2008
DMPRFC u11s 70 v 0 Bishop Auckland u11s
The u11s took a full-strength side to play against a newly-formed Bishop Auckland set-up, and everybody enjoyed a full-blooded encounter, even if the hosts were slightly lacking in experience.
Mowden were always in control, and the scoring began after two minutes, when Joe Craggs drove to the line for a 5 – 0 lead, following a scrum against the head. As the visitors pressed from the restart, Elliot Wanless fielded a defensive clearance, and ran back 30 metres for a great solo try. 10 – 0 became 15 – 0 with Elliot’s second try, when good work from forwards and backs allowed him to round the home defence and score in the right corner.
There followed, from the home perspective, an encouraging period of strong defence, stemming many Mowden attacks, until a scrappy line-out allowed Megan Ryder a tremendous solo-run through midfield, and a try, to extend the lead to 20 – 0. The re-start gave Sam Henderson the opportunity to race 40 metres to the home try line, and hand a present to the supporting Matthew Warr, but further defensive effort from the home team prevented any addition to the 25 – 0 score line before half-time.
On the resumption, a powerful scrum, followed by slick back play, allowed Sam to race in for his second try, and, straight from the re-start, Elliot made the ‘extra man’, racing into the line from his full back berth, to claim an impressive hat-trick, and extend the lead to 35 – 0.
The visitors appeared to be properly in their stride now, and good team rugby resulted in Joe again making the line, this time off-loading to Sam, who claimed his umpteenth hat-trick, whilst pushing the score on to 40 – 0. As the Bishop Auckland defensive effort finally began to weaken, replacement centre, Mark, ran in a try, and strong running from Megan added another, immediately afterwards. It got no easier for the home side, as Tom Lawson and Megan combined to hand a fourth try to Sam, and within seconds, a good midfield tackle from Alfie Wilson freed-up the ball for Joe to run in his second, and push the score on to 60 – 0. Megan’s well-deserved hat-trick came moments later, as she overlapped her backs division to take the final pass, and a try that took the lead to 65 – 0.
At this point, Bishop Auckland visibly rallied, and it was a great credit to them, and their coaches, that despite facing a large deficit, they played great attacking rugby for the final five minutes of the game, coming within inches of what would have been a well-deserved consolation try. Such was the defensive resolve of the Mowden side, however, that no such try was conceded, and in a cruel twist of fate, a dropped ball allowed Sam to run the full length for his fifth, and Mowden’s last try of the game, and a final score of 70 – 0.
This was a decent performance that got better as the game went on, and if the team can continue to ‘go through the phases’ as it did in the second half, things will only continue to improve.
Many thanks to Bishop Auckland for their hospitality, and for providing a good game, played in the right spirit. Particular thanks to Mr Gallone, for his fine refereeing.
By kind permission of:
A. Craggs.
(Inventor of the 'Bermuda' lounge shorts)
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Sunday 27 January 2008
Sunderland 0
DMP 21
A strong squad of eighteen players travelled to Sunderland for the latest u11s fixture, and put on a very mature performance in comprehensively beating a side that had the better of them this time last year.
The home side had plenty of experienced players, with the odd big lad thrown in, but Mowden’s superior power up front and guile behind the scrum made it impossible for them to function as a unit, and the likely outcome was obvious from the first whistle.
A deep kick-off and a good chase trapped Sunderland in the corner, and after several players made runs towards the line without success, Sam Henderson was able to round the defence to open the scoring, and Tom Lawson’s conversion added the extras.
Straight from the re-start, fine interplay took the ball back into the Sunderland half, and from an attacking line-out, Joe Craggs was able to take a clean catch and power his way over from ten metres for a try. Sam Henderson’s conversion made it 14 – 0, and the same player was soon celebrating again, as he took a great pass from fly half Megan Ryder, to outstrip the home centres for another try. Tom Lawson converted, and on the stroke of half-time it seemed as if he would be needed again, as Joe once again drove into the in-goal area, but the hosts were saved by a very dubious ‘foot in touch’ decision.
With the visitors totally dominant at 21 – 0 at half-time, the Mowden coaches took the opportunity to make a plethora of changes to personnel, and in some cases, positions, and it is to the team’s credit that this didn’t adversely affect the second-half performance.
Elliott showed his paces as a running full back, and was unlucky to be the victim of a superb defensive tackle by his opposite number, after a 30-metre run that deserved a try. Shortly afterwards, Tom was unfortunate to be pushed into touch just as he scented a try in the corner, and other than the occasional kick ahead, the home side struggled to get out of their own half for most of the rest of the game. When they did, Mowden’s defence proved to be as uncompromising as their attack, and although neither side managed a further score, a thoroughly entertaining game ended Sunderland 0, Mowden 21.
This game shows how far the squad has come over the last year, and everyone can take pride in a very satisfying performance on the road.
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Sunday 4 November 2007
DMP 38
Middlesbrough 19
With the very encouraging fact that both sides had a large excess of players, it was decided to play the game in four quarters to maximise the number of people able to participate. Happily, it also maximised the drama, with an evenly contested game that could have gone either way almost to the final whistle.
Mowden were first onto the scoreboard with a piece of extreme good fortune. A poor pass bounced off Joe Craggs’ knee, straight into the ‘boro in-goal area, where Sam Henderson pounced to record his first try of the game. Tom Lawson’s confident kick added the extras, and the home side led 7 – 0. A deep restart was expertly caught by Megan Ryder, and after an offload and a series of driving plays, the ball was spun wide to Mathew Warr, who did very well to squeeze in at the corner for 12 – 0, and a lead which the home side held until the first break.
In the second quarter, Mowden appeared to be exerting a degree of pressure on the ‘boro forwards, particularly in the scrum, but the visitors were enjoying more success in the backs. This came to fruition when a flowing move culminated in a good try for the left winger, and the deficit was down to 12 – 5. The home side’s advantage was quickly restored, however, when Sam Henderson got the ball in his own half, and, resisting the urge to kick, ran around the entire visiting team for a superb individual try, right on half-time.
With Mowden leading 17 – 5 at the break, a more determined Middlesbrough side started the third quarter, and they were rewarded for their endeavour when the scrum half was able to ghost down the blind side from half way for a great score. The extras were added, and the away side were right back in it, at 17 – 12. The home side responded with some powerful driving of their own, but Joe being held up on the visitors’ line was as close as they got to a further score in this period.
The fourth quarter started with everything to play for, and it seemed like the away side had grasped the initiative, when they were able to run-in a tap penalty, awarded for off-side. Another successful conversion took them into the lead for the first time in the match, so the onus was really on the home side to respond.
This they did, in fine fashion, scoring no fewer than three converted tries in the final ten minutes. First, Sam pressured the re-start catcher, who was forced to carry the ball over his own line for a five-metre scrummage. The ball was won, and a powerful drive to the line by Joe and Tom allowed the latter to spin off, and dive over to restore the Mowden lead. On the restart, the home side seemed to have realised that they needed to suck-in the ‘boro forwards in order to leave room outside, and this they did with an impressive series of driving mauls. Eventually, the ball was spun out to Sam, who again showed his pace in outstripping the cover defence to claim a hat-trick. At 31 – 19, the game was finally safe, but there was still time for the brave Middlesbrough side to launch a final, sustained assault on the Mowden line. Unfortunately for them, the attack eventually broke down, and Sam was able to kick ahead for the chasing Sam Lorimer to score, and Alfie Wilson added the goal points with the last kick of an exciting and entertaining game.
Both sides did extremely well, and played in a sporting spirit throughout. Particular thanks go to the Middlesbrough coach who made a great job of refereeing all four periods.
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Sunday 7 October 2007
DMP 26
Durham City 24
Mowden travelled to Durham City, and to some extent into the unknown, with a host of new players to complement the more well-established, and a whole set of new positions and game rules to master.
It was to be a steep learning curve, as City were a big, well-drilled side, who attacked with confidence from the first kick-off. The original thrust was repelled with some committed defence, but only at the expense of a line-out. The hosts managed to secure possession, and the ball was moved swiftly down the backs for a try in the corner. For the first time for these players, conversion kicks form part of the game, and the home kicker was able to add the extras to give his side a 7 – 0 lead. The early score seemed to have dented Mowden’s confidence, and from the kick-off, a City player was able to collect and run through almost untouched to record his team’s second score, establishing a 12 – 0 lead after only five minutes.
For some reason, the home side’s second score seemed to galvanise the visitors, and tremendous forward pressure was exerted for much of the rest of the half. In one instance, a powerful drive to the line from Joe Craggs was stopped inches short, and Sam Henderson was on hand to pick up and score the simplest of tries. Tom Lawson confidently stroked over the conversion, and Mowden were suddenly in business, trailing only 12 – 7. It almost got even better on the stroke of half time, as a good offload from Tom to Megan Ryder almost allowed her to open her account for the season, stopped only by a great tackle from one of the home backs.
In the second half, a number of personnel changes looked to have disrupted the visitors’ pattern to some extent, and though they kept pressing, it was City who established control, scoring two tries in quick succession, one of which was converted, to take them out to a seemingly unassailable lead at 24 – 7, with only about ten minutes to play. As in the first half, though, Mowden dug deep, and with the new players gaining in confidence, good backs play allowed Megan to race to the line, only to be thwarted again by a last ditch tackle. This time, however, Tom Lawson was on hand to force the ball over for a try, to pull the score back to 24 – 12. This score felt like nothing more than a consolation at the time, but suddenly everything was to play for, as the home side failed to close down the visitors’ backs, and Megan was able to outpace the entire City team for a superb try in the corner. Tom’s cool conversion brought the score to 24 – 19 with about a minute to play, and in a fairytale ending, Mowden secured the kick-off and fed Megan who unbelievably repeated the feat of the previous minute, rounding the home defence for the equalising score. This left Tom with a nerve-wracking conversion to clinch the game, and he succeeded with the very last kick of the match for a magnificent away victory.
Congratulations to both sides for an excellent game, played in good spirits throughout.
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