DMPRFC U16's V Blaydon RFC U16's

Our first game at home for a while, with a few players still unavailable and not playing Blaydon for a few seasons an unknown outcome was ahead of the Mowden players. With the weather not really behaving itself as showers were threatening to cause the same handling errors the week previously all coaches were anxious to get the game started to see what was ahead.

A delay in the referee turning up didn't help but Mowden started strongly attacking the big Blaydon team. With great support play from the forwards and leadership from scrum half Chappy allowed Ben "Better Late Than Never" Cooper to stride to the try line and score the first five points of the game. Much to the disgust of our kicker he flopped over in the corner when really he could have got closer to the posts!

Two minutes later the Glass Man, Louis Hodge put together one of his ginking runs to cross closer to the posts allowing Callum Piert to slot the extra two points over. The only worry for Mowden was the scrum with Blaydon really giving the boys a hard time but they pressed on when it was released to our backs with George smashing through to score and Piert adding another two.

One massive drawback was the loss of number 9, Chappy after a bang to the head and nobody on the bench, Mowden dropped a forward and Charles Willans moved to scrum half.

Blaydon pressed on and with continued sloppy mistakes from Mowden letting numerous penalties pile up allowed the red 10 to slot over a great penalty kick.

Our referee for today, Mike from Washington DC really wasn't happy with the lack of discipline and put George in the bin as a team offence.

Piert showed he isn't just a fancy kicker and crossed the try line and converted his own success. Once again Mowden were on the edge and the referee was at the end of his tether and strolled under the posts for a penalty try adding seven to their total. Connor Martin, who playing in the forwards for a change added his name to the score sheet with Piert once again adding the additional two.

With the second half under way Mowden continued the pressure but once again the scrum looked under pressure and a few changes had to be made to find some stability. Callum Piert again using the boot to peg back the away team put the lads in a good attacking position and once again added his tally with another five after cheeky off the ball run from newly returned Callum Rankin.

A lack of concentration allowed Blaydon to capitalize and crossed the Mowden line for a greatly deserved try.

Once again Mowden were picked themselves up and with, in my opinion the best move of the game Jacob put in the scrum and picked up from the back and stormed towards the try line, nobody was stopping him today!

Piert, with increased confidence with ball in hand added another five to the scorecard but Blaydon stuck at it and got and got a penalty in kicking distance for their man. With three points added it was all over at 50-18.

A game played in great spirit by all players showed how well both teams have come since their last meeting two seasons ago and we look forward to seeing them at their place later on in the season.

With Chappy missing and two others going to the dark side will see the coaches under massive pressure next week at Billingham - see you there.