Thames U9 & U10s vs. Rochford U9 & U10s, 7 February 2010

With some personnel changes from the first game, this became a much more open and even game. Thames were making some good runs, and starting to hold their own in the rucks and mauls, and very soon took the lead through a well worked move, though the Rochford defensive tackles could have been better. This was end to end stuff, with attack and counter attack. Just before half time, Rochford won turnover ball from a maul in their own half. The ball was passed out to Ryan, who showed a fine turn of speed and a good sidestep to run through and make the score 1-1 at half time.

The second half started with a period of play mostly confined to the midfield. Some fine tackling from Ryan, James Berry and Chris Hastings, stopped some promising looking Thames breakouts, and Rochford were similarly frustrated with line breaks stifled with good tackling from Thames. From another midfield scrum, Conner Jones passed out to James, who passed down the line to Chris Hastings, who somehow found some space where there didn't appear to be any, and ran through a few despairing tackles to put Rochford in the lead.

Unfortunately Thames came back strongly, and very quickly regained parity after bursting through our midfield and evading the cover tackles. The last minute or so saw Thames apply further pressure, twice nearly getting to the touchline, but Rochford managed to hold out, and enable a well earned draw.

Overall, two very good games, especially considering the players in the combined side were not used to playing alongside each other. The U9s certainly learnt a few things from the U10s who played, and I hope that the U10s also learnt from the experience.