U12s entertain Wallingford

Sunday 4th December 2005

70 Under 12s made the most of the sunshine at Braywick for a joint training session and series of games on Sunday. This was our first fixture against Wallingford, who we knew were arriving fresh from victory in the Chinnor Festival. We were pleased to see them join in some training with us (not something they are used to) as it seems this social aspect of Youth rugby is fast disappearing.

The victorious squad from Cobham took on Wallingford Bs, and with a fiery display of dynamic play from man mountain Hal Orchard to inspire them, the squad ran out winners by 4 tries to 1. Hal himself scored, as did Gareth Orwin, and a couple of others who must sadly remain nameless as your humble match reporter is short of facts! (We’ll rectify it in the next report!)

The As meanwhile lost one and won one against their opposition. We were missing a few regulars, but we now have good strength in depth and all players deserved their places. The challenge was in fact that we had 5 subs to rotate on, which never helps continuity. We are as ever grateful to the players for their understanding in taking a break to allow others to have a run. In the first game we showed all that is good about Maids U12 rugby, and all that is not so good!

We were first there to an early ruck, looked to have secured possession, then stood over the ball and allowed ourselves to be pushed off it and then watched as Wallingford opened the scoring with a soft try. We won’t beat decent sides by letting in soft tries, and despite some excellent attacking play once we’d woken up leading to scores for Danny Keir, Thomas Eckles and Max O’Connor (all converted by William Thompson), we couldn’t claim victory in this game.

In the 2^nd shorter game that followed it was Maids turn to catch the opposition a bit cold. Thomas Eckles got his 2^nd of the day and Chris Dow also claimed a score as Maids took the lead and although Wallingford came back in the 2^nd half that early advantage held.

I have been asked by Wallingford to mention a 2^nd game between the B sides which finished in a draw at 2 tries each. I’ve also been told by them that apparently their A side is unbeaten and that they equalised at the end of the A’s 2^nd game with them. Maybe that’s why the 2^nd half was so long! Let the records be amended!

They have also kindly informed us that they have found some lost property, so if anyone is missing any waterproofs, that may be where they are.