St Neots U14s 7-25 CRUFC U14s Full Report

County Cup semi-final. 22ndJanuary 2012

Cambridge U14s headed off to St Neots into a fierce westerly wind for the County Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Even though the pitch ran N-S, the cross-wind had quite an influence on the game as passing with the wind and into the wind required different techniques. This was not the team’s best performance of the year by some margin, and the forwards particularly took some time to wake up.

St Neots claimed the ball from their own kick off as no one from Cambridge seemed to want it and this put Cambridge under immediate pressure in their own 22, compounded by simple handling errors or basic infringements.  Fortunately, St Neots made as many errors and committed a similar number of infringements and were not able to press home this initial territorial advantage.

What was clear from the beginning and throughout the match was that Cambs defence has come a long way since earlier in the season. Despite a series of rucks and penalties on Cambridge’s line, no St Neots player was able to breach the defence and as Cambridge warmed up a bit, they began to take control. From a scrummaging platform that was great all game, Harry Jones took play to the St Neots half with a great kick using the cross wind well. From a series of excellent rucks and scrums, Cambridge began to click and after about 10 mins, Cambridge opened the scoring. From another excellent scrummage, Robert M took a ball against the head. Showing how turnover ball can be used to devastating fashion, the half backs Hugh and Harry combined quickly to take the ball on the blind side and Harry put Jackson away in enough space for him to easily out pace the opposition. Good heads up rugby. 0-5.

But once again, the kick off was not collected by Cambridge and in a somewhat similar passage of play to the first 5 mins, they ended up on their own line. It was taking a while for the Cambs forwards to interpret the referee’s handling of the rucks and they did not learn. After three successive penalties for offences at the ruck on their own line, Cambridge conceded a penalty try, which was converted. 7-5. The Cambridge coaches thought this was a bit harsh, but video evidence suggests it was not unreasonable and the boys really need to work together more to stay on their feet at the rucks. Something to work on in training.

This really woke the boys up a bit and Cambridge then enjoyed a 15 min session before half time that ultimately won the match. From the restart Cambs secured turnover ball again on the St Neots 10 m line and this time 1^st receiver Marmion took Hugh’s pass from the base of the ruck to release Owain into space, which he used well to score. 7-10.

Subsequent rucks were still messy, but Cambs continued to dominate in the scrummage. Yes there were dropped passes but actually, there was some excellent back play as well, none more so that the next try. Again from about 30 metres out the try of the game came from two phases which stretched St Neots first into the wind then the back the otherway. Quick ruck ball was sent neatly through all the ¾ hands, Tristan and Harvey (in the line form full back) nicely drawing their men, putting Johnnie away down the right wing.  7-15.

There was time in the half then for a Jackson special. From deep in their own half, Cambridge span the ball out to Jackson on the left wing who had over half the pitch and around 4 defenders to beat. Rounding the first two, he also swerved outside the next and nonchalantly hurdled the full back and ran to score. Despite some debate about the legality of this amongst the crowd, the score stood. 

On a very difficult day for place kicking, Harvey didn’t quite master the wind with his conversions.

Half-time 7-20

St Neots looked a little perplexed to be behind 4 tries to 1, but they did not take their foot off the gas. Indeed, they upped the ante in the second half and territorially dominated. Their forwards scrapped and spoiled and kept on driving, but were always met with a stern defence. Suddenly, Cambridge could not clear their lines at all, and much of the play was spent camped on or around the Cambs 22. This half was less pretty than the first (which hadn’t been very pretty to start) and play degenerated somewhat, becoming quite tense. St Neots, only two scores away from winning, tried to break Cambridge’s excellent pressing defense with some chips and grubber kicks. One nearly came off but a cruel bounce and a timely Jackson boot ensured St Neots could not touch down. The next (un)memorable moment was a yellow card for Tristan, for a dangerous tackle. Video evidence suggests this was unlucky but with 15 mins to go this might have been costly. However, the team raised their game a bit and the 14 men inched their way out of trouble towards the half way line where Elliott picked up from the base of an excellent ruck and spotted a gap that extended all the way to the try line. Shoving a couple of chasing defenders out of the way he made the 50 metres to the line, the last 10 with a defender hanging from his shirt. The tension was lifted and this score killed the St Neots spirit, finally securing the game. 

Full time 7-25.

And so we left a spirited St Neots, thanking them for their hospitality, happy but not satisfied. My MoM goes to Robert Marmion - in the past few matches he has done a lot of hard work and frequently is in the right place just when he is needed, and he took a whole slew of balls against the head, but on a day when we also needed some aggression and purpose, Robert led in this respect.

So a scrappy team performance that will need to be improved before the final. Some more urgency and clarity with their decision making is required. This is the age where they must learn some game control and having weighed up the opposition and the conditions, the team must learn to manage the game better. 

What is apparent, however, is that the Bob Crooks philosophy is becoming engrained in this squad. They play positive, clean rugby with width and pace. Like the CRUFC 1^st team, the U14s do not always get it right, but they are learning and have huge potential. What a travesty that Bob will not be able to witness it. Thanks, Bob, for inspiring us.

Paul Barker

Photos - Simon James 

Try Scorers Jackson Dennis (x2), Owain Collard, Johnnie Cottrell-Mason, Elliot Roberts.

Squad

Hugh Barker, Louis Bodrozic, Owain Collard, Jon Cotrell-Mason, Tom Cox,  Jackson  Dennis, Stephan Gaiser-Porter, Josh Ghoorahoo, Harvey Jacklin, Rupert Jackson, Tristan James, Harry Jones, Marcus Lankford, Robert Marmion,  Will Pallett, Ed Quare, Elliot Roberts, Dan Scott, Will Sewell, George Sherwin,  Alex Turner, James Young