U16s - Show Blyth(e) Spirit

Another glorious, apart form the grey skies and cold wind, day for rugby and an opportunity for the team to put the previous weekends defeat behind them. The Northumbrian opposition meant an early start and a trip up the A1/A19 for the faithful and a first game against the Blyth boys in green and black. A traditional rugby/cricket ground and a cosy clubhouse provided the welcome, but sadly no bacon butties, surely things could only get better....and they did!

The referees whistle signalled the commencement of play and with a swirling wind to contend with in addition to the opposition the boys from MP might have been forgiven for feeling that local knowledge meant they were in for a long spell of defence. From the outset however they played fantastically well across the park. Initial forays from the visitors were held up by the forwards and where the ruck might have signalled the Achilles heel of last season, this time the boys were driving through with vigour and freeing up useful ball for their backs. There was some good early tackling throughout the team, both inside and outside their own twenty two and on more than one occasion the visitors were either prevented from recycling the ball or held up in the midfield. The strength of the boys in their set plays was carried over from last week and the scrum was also proving to be a success, with all of the forwards prepared to bend their backs for the cause. The boys were more than a match for their opposing numbers and it was harsh that they conceded a couple of breakaway tries in the closing ten minutes of the half. There were opportunities to tackle but unfortunately they were missed, this weeks area for development. At oranges the boys from Blyth edged it at ten points to the good.

The second half commenced with a couple of changes from the starting fifteen with Danny Walker making his bow for this season and Daniel Wanless-Brown having already come into the fray midway through the first half for the unfortunate Josh Murray, this weeks recipient of a nasty looking shoulder injury. The team would suffer a further injury blow a few minutes after the restart when Andrew West succumbed to a leg injury and had to make his exit. This meant that for the opening ten minutes the boys were on the back foot as the team had to readjust and settle into formation. This time allowed the hosts to take a grip on the game and a couple of early tries saw then take a grip on the game, which might also have meant it would remain as one way traffic, but that was certainly not the case. There was a good half back combination going on between Tom Hunter and Liam Bracken and the power of the forward pack was working in synergy with the agility of the backs. This meant there were opportunities being created through good use of the ball and the boys attempts to change the direction of attack. The more direct approach being well mixed up with the utilisation of the full fifteen, the backs taking an increasingly active role as an attacking unit and with the hour approaching a great driving run from Ross saw the ball arrive in the hands of Calum who showed a good turn of speed to shrug off a defensive combatant to go over for the five points. Ross adding the extras. The visitors then had another opportunity for a try when they evaded a number of tackling opportunities to score what would be their final try. Once again the boys came straight back and showed great play amongst their backs, Ross making a good break once again and finding Danny Winter with an offload, great support play on the wing by Harry Evans allowed Danny the chance to dummy pass the last defender and go over for the try. The boys in blue and white were really bossing the game now and it came as no surprise when Ross made a fantastic solo run, beating a number of defenders, to go in under the posts. Once again the extras were added by the boot of Ross. The final whistle was blown a few minutes later to signal the end of a great game.

A performance from the boys (each and every one) that was full of courage, commitment and unstinting endeavour was unfortunately just not quite enough, most onlookers commenting however that the score was not necessarily a true reflection of the boys performance. Full congratulations to the boys from Blyth for a very fairly contested game.

MotM - Ross Boddy
Penny - Nice one Tom H!