U17s vs Bicester

For our penultimate OBB League match we tootled up the M40 for our first ever match against Bicester. The promise of pre match Outlet Shopping for parents ensured that the whole squad was there on time......

Bicester had a reputation for a big front row, but one wondered what other strengths they had. The game plan took care of itself; "more of the usual, lads". Quick ball, recycle wherever possible and lets keep the ball alive as much as we can.

Conditions were good, although a blustery wind would have to be taken into account. The first 15 minutes went to plan and Rams played the best rugby that we have played so far this season. Sharp interchanges between forwards and backs ensured that we kept the home side on the back foot. Quick ball, direct running and great communication skills....great to watch. Worryingly for the home side Holt leapt like a leaping thing to get his hands to their first lineout ball, and whilst Lu was quick to tidy up and drive forward the referee spotted a knock on as he went into contact. Rams applied pressure, managed to force the turnover and kept attacking left until Bicester simply ran out of defenders allowing Leicester to burst over down the left wing and touch down. The conversion was fluffed.

It was great to see Weir back in the thick of things and it was following one of his trade mark inside balls that George found himself on hand to crash over from 5 metres out to score. The conversion was fluffed. 0 - 10.

Towards the end of this initial purple patch for the visitors Leicester found himself back in defence just inside the opposition half when he tidied up a hopeful punt up field from the Bicester defence. Gathering the ball he surveyed the options in front of him and set off on one of his "how on earth did he get through that little lot" runs, wrong footing defenders left, right and centre to score a great solo effort. Umm.... the conversion was fluffed.

Bicester were then allowed back into the game as Rams took their foot off the gas and allowed the home side to use their only real attacking weapon, their big front three. Whist 'ensians managed to defend well the pressure eventually told and Bicester scored a well deserved try shortly before half time. 5 - 15.

Half time enabled the Blues to regroup, diagnose the issues and get things back on track. More importantly it enabled two packets of jelly babies to be demolished. With the wind behind and the slope in our favour quick, heads up rugby was required.

Richardson had already had a solid match in defence but with only a few minutes of the second half played he showed what he could achieve in attack also. Collecting a clearance kick just inside his own half he set off up field sidestepping his way through desperate defence much to the delight of the watching support. He was only sacked some five metres from the try line. There were a number of forwards up in support, but sadly they we adjudged to have handled on the ground resulting in a penalty to the home side. The clearance kick failed to find touch, picking out Richardson on the touch line instead. Still puffing, he set off down the left wing with Hughes up in support, returning the ball with interest. Wareham was in the thick of things to finish the attack off by scoring. Yup, you guessed it, the conversion was fluffed.

Dolton was next to trouble the scorers when he burst over to score from close quarters. Guess what happened to the conversion....

The backs had generally executed a blitz defence to good effect throughout, making ground even when they didn't have the ball. Somers tied in defenders when he crashed through, generally staying on his feet. Oliver put in several good defensive tackles, but it was from one defensive move that he anticipated his opponents pass, grabbed the interception and sprinted through to score from twenty metres out. Shock, horror, expose; Richardson converted. Surely not. Ironic clapping from the travelling support!

The home sides frustration began to show as their forward repeatedly flopped over the ball. From one such resultant penalty Jones took "route one" crashing over from 8 metres out to score. Normal service was resumed as the conversion flew wide of the uprights.

Wholesale changes were made in personnel, and 9 came off for a well deserved rest, 15 moved to 9, 10 moved to 15 and 12 slipped into 10. Check mate.

The shy and retiring MacDevitt, resplendent in pink boots and pink thermal top (pink?) was unlucky not to get his name on the score sheet when Leicester left it a fraction late to release him down the right flank and he was stopped in his tracks by a crunching tackle.

The home side were tiring fast and struggling for shape. From broken play the ever industrious Holt collected a ball about 25 metres out and jinked his way through half a dozen defenders to score under the posts. And yes, dear reader, MacDevitt converted, in a flash of pink. Hurrah!!

The last word however was left to the home side who stuck to the task until the last play. A good attacking move resulted in a simple try when Somers committed himself to and missed the interception, leaving a gap which the home side exploited well to score and convert. The final whistle blew.

There were some sublime passages of play from the Rams, and whist individuals get mentioned it was another TEAM performance, with players working hard for each other. Lee provided quick accurate ball from the base of set play. The lineout functioned well and the scrum more than held it's own against a bigger pack. Sharp looked lively in the loose and showed all round ball skills with a couple of cracking kicks from hand.

Well done to Richardson for justly taking the man of the match award. Thanks also to the large contingent of travelling shoppers, I mean supporters. Fingers crossed that the damage to Weir's hand isn't too bad.

Thanks to Bicester for their hospitality.