First League Game

The U13’s have had a cracking season so far but it was all building up to this game, the first league match, away to Windsor.

Well the game didn’t disappoint – we had a thriller in the shadow of Windsor Castle, couldn’t have been a more exciting start to the league action. Windsor were expected to be one of the stronger opposition in the league and the game was hard and fast.

The sun shone and kick off was at 1100.

Early pressure from Ensians pushed Windsor deep into their own half for the first twenty minutes (25 mins each way), great play in the loose from the forwards, strong lineouts, Benjamin Laflin put in some great early work as the ball went wide but he was taken down by a high tackle (not seen by the ref), then on the other wing the ball got into Calum Wesley’s hands and it seemed a try was certain, but not to be. Then we had a big chance with a strong break through by John Williams who was just unable to get the offload to Calum. Connor Sharp found himself sacrificing one of his milk teeth (about time!) and Jordan Willmott came on.

TRY! – 24 minutes 5 - 0 Horror of horror, after all the hard and constant pressure in the Windsor half, a loose kick forward into space was intercepted by Windsor who scored a breakaway try. Not converted.

HALF TIME – Coaches went to work and used all their hundreds of years (combined) experience to spur the team into a blistering restart.

Windsor failed to control the ball on the restart and it went into touch. Great attacking lineout position for Ensians. Sam Cushine-Palmer took a punch to the nose (not seen by the referee) and was replaced by Will Martin.

TRY! – 26 minutes 5 - 5 Some stunning work by the forwards and they drove over the line with Jordan getting the ball down. Not converted

Restart by Windsor brilliantly taken by the Captain, Fergus Thiele and Ensians were on the charge again. A superb kick forward to the corner by Chris Andrews was chased by Shane Hancock who harried and scrambled at the Windsor defence who panicked.

TRY! – 32 minutes 5 – 10 Shane’s Lewis Moody impersonation works a treat and he bursts over the line for Ensians second try into the corner. Not converted.

Windsor kick off again and Ensians take it straight back to them. Some tough forward play with some impressive tackling, notable particularly from David Southworth and the game seemed set to be played out between the forwards. The Ensians scrum was solid and worked the ball tirelessly.

TRY! 38 minutes 5 – 15 Scotty scores, again from the excellent forward platform. Not converted.

Benjamin takes the ball cleanly from the Windsor kick off but is bundled into touch by a charging Windsor, now fired up by the scoreline. Play moves right up to a 5m scrum with Windsor really motoring and Ensians scrabbling in defence. Powerful attack is not snuffed out.

TRY! 45 minutes 10 – 15 Windsor goes over in the corner from the attacking scrum. Not converted.

By now the parents on both sides are getting so excited there could have been several accidents. Some great play from the restart by Ensians kept the pace of the game frantic but a few missed tackles meant the pressure came back into the Ensians half with three minutes to go.

Lineout for a Windsor put in - not straight – scrum to Ensians – scrum to Windsor – kick forward by Windsor – collected by Calum – ended up in touch – line out to Windsor – won by Fergus – Rory Sheppard takes a knock – scrum to Ensians – penalty to Windsor for high tackle (the referee saw that one!) – Windsor kick for touch – line out won by Windsor – Ensians coming under some heavy pressure – one minute to go – Windsor forwards really turning it on now – Ensians knock on – scrum to Windsor – penalty to Windsor for offside – kicked to touch again – its all Windsor trying to close for a draw – scrum to Ensians – great defensive kick by Chris - it’s the longest last minute in the history of the game – lineout to Windsor – last play of the game – great jackalling by Ensians but knocked on and finally it’s the end of the game – YES, YES , YESSSSSSSSSS!

Coaches debrief – 8/10 performance from the team.
Positive: Awesome play from the forwards, terrific rucking and driving in the mauls, lots of work put into practice from the training pitches, really great work in the loose by forwards drawing in defensive players.
Negative: Panicked a bit in the second half, need to talk to each other more, need to get the ball out to the backs more – wingers hardly touched the ball in the second half.

Numpty of the day – Harry Clarke, nominated by his Father for forgetting his boots!

Richard Thiele