HOME IN THE COUNTY CUP

Last Sunday brought the team to our sort of home fixture to Hummersknott Academy where our opposition were a physical Acklam team. Weather conditions were perfect for running rugby, dry and bright.
The first half was once again a slow start from the lads with many mistakes including a multitude of knock ons that hindered the team from getting into any kind of rhythm. With players not being part of a team and wanting to have their names on the score sheet restricted the way the coaching staff had envisaged the game to pan out. Some hard work from our opponents, especially from their big forwards put the Mowden team on the back foot for most of the first 25 minutes.
Once the ball had been shipped out to the backs and away from the Acklam forwards we managed to create some good running rugby with Rory Anderson eventually crossing the line just before the half time whistle.
The second half also saw players not linking up with their teammates when it was clear that if the ball had been passed it would have ended with much needed points on the board. Good scrummaging from the lads including many hooks against the head from Tomas Nicholson set a platform for the backs to punch holes in the Acklam defence and allowed Callum Piert to cross the line, much to the coaches and parents relief.
Forwards did play their part on the scoreboard with a try from number eight Adam Brown who crashed over the line once more after a pick up from the base of the scrum.
Anderson added another try with one of his Wheezy runs down the pitch and Max Pepper joined the line from full back and added his strength and skill to get his name on the honours list. Winger Fergus "terrier" Hewitson finished off what in the end looked like a convincing win on paper but in reality was a hard game for the Mowden boys.
Two conversions were struck over today by Callum Robinson and Max Pepper, something for us to work on when we get up to the Arena training pitches as I believe this could let us down in future games.
All the lads in the competition stipulation of 22 played their part even though some didn’t get a great amount of game time, which has been duly noted by the coaches and means they start our next game against Bishop Auckland along with the players who were not chosen for this game.
All in all a great result but I believe if we are to progress further in this competition we need to be switched on from the first whistle and not the second half start!

Well done lads and see you at West Mills (Bishop Auckland).
Love,
Rohan xxx