AWAY - to Middlesbrough

Another away game to a very wet Middlesbrough saw a large squad once more of the U13’s. Although missing some of our key players including forwards George Spink and new powerhouse Ben Cooper along with absent backs Jasper Metcalfe and Fergus Hewitson, Mowden travelled with a group of lads who have played well so far on the road.
A slow start and playing in four quarters to allow all the lads to play saw the boys nip a try through Charlie Pearson but unfortunately unconverted. Middlesbrough came back strongly showing great skill and determination at the breakdown with superior rucking skills and strong running from their big centre enabled the Teesside team cross the try line twice with one conversion.
Mowden crossed the line through Callum Piert but was judged to be in touch but later on our other Callum, Robinson managed to cross the line and convert his own try.
Tomas and Rob struggled to dominate in the scrum as in previous weeks, unable to bag as many hooks against the head although the scrum as a whole worked well but still work to do to protect the 9 on our own ball.
As always, strong straight running from Max Pepper all day but we just didn’t seem to be “at the races” and a greasy ball and wet conditions didn’t help our style of play.
Other shining stars from a miserable morning were Adam Brown who goes from strength to strength and Rory Anderson who nearly clinched the game for the lads but it just wasn’t to be.
We have a lot to take away from this defeat including what we need to do to put things right and attitudes of the players on and off the pitch – we were beaten by a better team on the day and that’s that.
Chin up guys and let’s move onto the next game as an ever developing squad of players.