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U13s' Cardiff Tour 2006 Dinas
Powys U13s 20 v Maidenhead U13s 17 |
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The U13s squad enjoyed a memorable tour to Wales packed with highlights and capped by a nail-biting encounter against Dinas Powys. Dinas
Powys U13s 20.17 Maidenhead U13s Over the sixty minutes of this pulsating match, played to a very high standard and with total commitment from both sides, the lead changed hands no fewer than four times as Maids battled, fought back and went 17.15 ahead. Dinas Powys play skilful, fast-flowing physical rugby and deservedly won last year’s MRFC U13s tournament at Braywick. This match tested how far Maids had improved in the intervening months. The answer was highly satisfying. It was Maids who started the more positive, setting their stall out early on. Their aggressive tackling and mauling gave them possession and within five minutes Thomas Simpson made an excellent off load to Michael Habgood, who needed no invitation to slice open the Dinas back line and open the scoring. Maids then seemed to lose the initiative and allowed Dinas to spread the ball about. The hosts were very quick to the breakdown and began to drive Maids onto the back foot. Maids’ fatal mistake was to allow Dinas overlaps on the wings. These rare chances were seized by Dinas as they scored twice to make it 10.5. A rousing captain’s performance saw Ben Pritchard rally his troops time and again. He covered the width of the pitch to come within inches to halting Dinas’ second try in a style that typified his commitment to the cause. With a strong breeze and angled slope to the pitch conversions were always going to be a challenge. There was little to choose between the two sides. Scrum half Sam Yates scrapped for every ball. Oliver Evans and Tristan Cadden, dogged and dived for the openings. The rucks were about even, with both sides losing and winning some but Dinas gave Maids little time to think on the ball whenever they gained possession. James Parrott and Michael James were sold in the Forwards. Paul Sweeney was tenacious and Connor Murphy made his presence felt. Maids returned to action in the second period knowing it was vital they were first on the scoreboard. Again, they began the more aggressive. Sayers and Simpson upped the pace. Michael James powered forward into the tackle and turned perfectly to pop the ball to Charlie Wickham-Smith in a textbook move that had the coaches beaming from the sidelines. Thomas Simpson suffered high hand offs but otherwise Dinas tackling was one of their key strengths. Maids retook the lead when Charlie Wickham-Smith, having ripped hard in the maul broke free and surprised everyone, including himself, with a burst of pace that took him half the length of the pitch and beyond the desperate lunges of a couple of Backs. Agonising seconds passed until, as if in slow motion, he crossed the line. Paul Sayers ensured this was a turning point by sending the tricky conversion sailing between the posts. The spark had been provided and Maids stepped up a gear. Rory Creffield and Connor and Michael were fired up and flying in. But the boys were still standing off and letting Dinas gain the initiative and dictate the pace. Another gap exposed the danger of the overlap and Dinas exploited the weakness to regain the lead. But it was only temporarily relinquished. By now Maids were a team in full flight. Paul Sayers held the ball, drew in players and timed his release perfectly to Thomas Simpson. With explosive power he sprinted down the wing to score and put Maids 17.5 ahead. The referee confirmed there were 10 minutes left to play, which seemed a generous amount. As the clock ticked down Dinas launched an all-out attack. Wave after wave pounded Maids’ defence. This was backs-to-the wall stuff with every player tackling, getting up and getting in again – and again. Dinas just couldn’t work a way through though. 10 minutes passed, then 11, 12 and 13. There had been no stoppages. It began to dawn on the away supporters that something other than justice was about to happen. Maids defended heroically until a Dinas player finally put the ball down short of the line – there were too many Maids bodies holding up to confirm where – and the ball was somehow deemed to have landed beyond it. The final whistle blew. After such a passionate game the end was rather muted. Neither side was happy with the result. It was a harsh lesson for the boys and probably not the last time it will happen. But the moral victory was with Maids. Dinas’ coach said it was the hardest match his team had played all season. The hospitality from the home side after the match helped ease the frustration felt by the boys. Tour
snapshot Highlights from Saturday included the Powergen Cup semi-final double header where Wasps romped home against Leicester, followed by Llanelli Scarletts last-ditch victory over Bath. The boys had front row seats and appeared on BBC TV’s live coverage of the Wasps game. Their celebrity status was confirmed within minutes by a text message from across the Atlantic, where the boys’ former coach John McCarthy was startled to find his viewing enjoyment of the game live via satellite interrupted by the surprise appearance of the flag-waving MRFC cohort. The boys then enjoyed a bowling session in the Red Dragon Centre before returning to the luxury of their Future Inns hotel rooms. Parents and coaches continued to discuss training grids for a short while longer. In perfect sunshine on Sunday morning the boys and a few hardy grown-ups, confident enough that their breakfasts wouldn’t be making an unexpected re-appearance, jumped aboard two RIB powerboats for some high speed circuits of Cardiff Bay. Then, it was on to Dinas Powys’ ground for their meeting with destiny. As Chris explained to the squad at the end of the tour, there was no single man of the match – the whole squad dug deep when a gritty performance was needed and showed great team spirit. Many thanks go to the coaches and organisers of the tour: Tony Davies, Chris Pritchard, Mat Simpson, Ed Parrott, Geoff Tomlinson, Phil Ridgeway, Henry Walker and Andy Evans. And a special mention to Derek ‘the whip’ Tydeman. Tour
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