CRUFC U13s win County Cup!

Peterborough RUFC U13 0-27 CRUFC U13 

Cambridge were crowned under 13 County Champions after a fine performance against a very strong and committed Peterborough side.  Solid scrummaging and counter rucking provided plenty of ball for the Cambridge backs who stretched a tenacious Peterborough defence and, via the pace of man of the match Jackson Dennis, duly delivered four tries.  Louis Bodrozic scored from a lineout for the fifth and final try.

The half continued in a similar vein with the whole Cambridge side working hard to ensure that they enjoyed the majority of possession. However Peterborough were still very much in the game, working hard in defence and trying to set up attacks of their own.  These were quickly snuffed out by equally robust tackling from Cambridge, with Elliott to the fore as the lead enforcer and Jonah and Harry at times doing fine impersonations of loose-forwards to help secure possession at the breakdown. Although the visitors manufactured other opportunities, notably from a quickly taken tap penalty and good combination play between backs and forwards, they were unable to convert pressure into points and the half ended without any further score.

The half time message from the coaching team must have been ‘more of the same’ and the team were immediately on the front foot. A fine re-start kick was secured by the marauding Louis Bodrozic and recycled quickly with a swift pass from Hugh at scrum half setting the backs free. Good hands down the line where a series of well timed and accurate passes ended up with Jackson scoring the second try of the game in the corner to make it 10-0 to Cambridge.  Another tricky conversion opportunity was narrowly missed by Harvey.

If the first two tries had been fine examples of team play, the third try was all about one thing:  the pace of Jackson Dennis.  A passage of broken play resulted in Jackson picking up the ball just in front of the assembled crowd in the stand by the touchline level with the half way line. Undaunted by the fact that he had entire Peterborough team, and most of the Cambridge team, in front of him he set off sideways across the pitch seemingly in second gear at best before accelerating to outstrip the defence and score in the far corner.

By now, although Peterborough heads hadn’t dropped, Cambridge’s tactic of moving the ball quickly meant that they were starting to tire and astute kicking from Harvey and Harry, using the breeze to keep them penned deep in their half, only exacerbated the situation. The increasing space in midfield was exploited by the Cambridge backs with Freddie especially making the most of the extra room and a further flowing move saw Jackson score both his and his team’s fourth try. This time, after 3 excellent but unsuccessful attempts from wide-out, Harvey had a more straightforward kick from in front of the posts which he duly converted to make the score 22-0.

The rugby adage goes that ‘it is forwards who win the game; the backs decide by how much’ and with this in mind it was appropriate that the final try was all the work of the pack who secured the ball at an opposition lineout for Louis to make a trademark break for the line and score with the last play of the game.

A fantastic performance by all the boys who all worked extremely hard and played some excellent rugby to earn a thoroughly deserved victory. After his 4 try haul, Jackson was named man of the match.
   
Michael Jones
 

Coaches' view

This Cambridge team thoroughly deserved to become county champions.  From the beginning of the season the coaching team's aim was to focus on and improve core skills as well as develop rugby "match play".  The emphasis on core skills has meant the team has gone from strength to strength.  In attack the forwards consistently retained possession; ball presentation in contact, rucking and sealing the ball in the ruck were outstanding particularly given the strength of the opposition forwards.  This enabled the backs to quickly move the ball down the attacking line resulting in a number of tries out wide.  In defence the tackling was faultless, being aggressive, quick and often resulted in turn over ball.  The team stuck to the game plan of maximising possession and playing rugby in the oppositions half.  This was a fine team performance, and a worthy conclusion to the tournament.

Peterborough fought to the end - it took two teams to provide a great spectacle for two passionate sets of supporters. Thanks to all those who travelled to watch and support.

Squad

Robert Baldwin, Hugh Barker, Louis Bodrozic, Tom Cox, Jackson Dennis, Josh Ghoorahoo, Walker Harmer-Perrin, Harvey Jacklin, Harry Jones, Marcus Lankford, Max Malakfam, Lewis Maude, Freddie McKibbin, Harry Molton, Jonah Omitowoju, William Pallett, Elliott Roberts, Reuben Tooth, Tom Williams, James Young, William Zeitlyn