A Learning Curve

One of the difficulties playing an older team is that not only are they a year advanced in development but a year more in Rugby literacy and the later was in much evidence today, I've listen to many a teams comments against us this season but the U15 where at a level above all of those, despite being either 1,2 or 3 players light on us.

Their team interaction and decisiveness was clinical at times and with a ruthless streak that predicted our play,My head nearly fell off when I heard their communication.... "we'll wrap the first forward play"..... "Wait for the over commitment".... And their final try I counted a six player overload, no other opponent has come close in these dynamics and to rub salt into the wound as the turn overs suggest when playing an advantage we where given a lesson,

Their fifth try being a fabulous team effort, from our own kick off where Toby (playing for the U15) caught the ball running direct and with a superb off load to a colleague , this was replicated three more times and our defence was gone,....... clinical thoughtful and quality rugby.

The first half was almost exclusively played in our half ,with yards being made but as the turn overs suggest we kept loosing the ball after a gain.The effort was impressive and our tackle count was a very high 55(I'm aware I missed a few as I couldn't keep up ) we posted five penalties but only took the kicking as an advantage.

The first 8-10 minutes of the second half appeared a horror flashback and we rode our luck, and We conceded two tries of quality although one was from a mistake five yards from there line. We managed to move the ball effectively twice in the game and scored both times.

Nevertheless the commitment to rucks and mauls continue to improve and we posted the second highest tackle count. I was very impressed with many of the players reflection on the game after chat, I counted a majority of comments pin pointing elements of where we were undone today and In the Rugby learning curve of life it's upon this trajectory we need to travel.

Final score Rochford U15s 41-10 Rochford U14s

Scrum 6-6(u15 won two against the head)
Line out 4-4
Penalties. 0-7
Turn overs. 7-1

Tackles
Mihi. 12%
Malikay. 10%
Omar. 10%
Matt. 6%
Kyan. 6%

Yards
1st half. 300
2nd half. 210