Thames vs. Rochford U11s, 7 February 2010

Straight from the off Ewan Hardie and Tom Child performed a try saving tackle. However the pressure applied by Thames just became too much and they managed to open the score from the base of the scrum. Rochford quickly answered back after Jake Spivey ripped the ball out of a rather familiar looking Thames players hands. The player had just nicely got under the ball from a high kick and I only hope he didn’t feel Rochford was in need of assistance….

By this point the boys on both sides were starting to get a little tetchy with each other. The pitch had a lot of gravel on it and consequently a lot of boys were taking quite a few knocks and scrapes in the tackle. Alex Seville had already been carted off to hospital after a nasty knock in the tackle. I understand from Stuart and Toni he has a bruised elbow with no serious damage, hopefully he will be okay for next week.

Jake Spivey got Rochfords second try of the game after picking up loose ball. Tom Child who has managed to convert all of his conversion attempts this season went to continue with his unblemished record. Unfortunately, Tom just missed on this attempt (just like the professionals do Tom). This however, did create a little bit of jeering from the Thames boys, which was quickly stamped on by their coach.

Now, as in the Burnham game last year, nothing seems to unite our boys more than a little bit of adversity or when they feel someone has been wronged in the team.

The second half saw one of those rare moments when our lads really worked as a team with well organised play. All the boys became really fired up and were hammering blows into an under siege Thames. Harry Gibson got our third try after running straight through the Thames defence. Tom Child converted after settling his nerves from the first half. Jamie Camp scored our last try after an excellent passage of play. The two Rochford tries in the second half doesn’t quite tell the tale of how convincingly Rochford took control of the second half. Mathijs almost scored, and our forwards were strong in the scrum.

The only criticism would be; again we were not securing ball in the ruck. Other than that a good win with plenty of ball retention and for once passing the ball out wide, which kept the opposition guessing.