28 Feb 10 Tunbridge Wells U17 34 v 5 Petersfield U17 (Nat U17 Bowl)
Having switched the venue to Penns Place from Tunbridge Wells due to waterlogged pitches, Petersfield’s U17 turned out with a number of U16 completing the squad. The omens were ominous at the first scrum, when Tunbridge Wells shoved ‘Field back easily and it wasn’t long before the visitors scored their first try after they secured the ball with a good chase following a kick ahead.
However ‘Field regrouped, and the next ten minutes were pretty even and when ‘Field threatened Tunbridge Wells gave away numerous penalties. Fly half Stephen Gilpin was short with an ambitious long range effort and the next time Tunbridge were penalised for diving over the top, he drilled the ball down the line ten metres into Tunbridge’s twenty-two. The ball was moved quickly to the backs and centre Miles Rushworth ran a superb inside line, to crash through one tackle, then run outside the full back and dived over under the posts to even the scores.
Tunbridge then started to kick deep into ‘Fields half. Unhappily each time ‘Field showed their inexperience by trying to run the ball out of defence and were caught. As the home side came under more and more pressure, they started to give away penalties, two of which Tunbridge Wells converted to take an 11-5 lead.
Tunbridge Wells, who started to use their quick backs more and more, dominated the last fifteen minutes. Once their fly half broke through and with two players in support, looked odds on to score, but a brilliant last-ditch tackle from wing Jack Glancy saved the day. Eventually the defensive line broke, and the visitors racked up three more tries by the end of the half.
Turning round 24-5 down, coach Cosway asked the players to show grit and determination, which they certainly did that in the second half. The defence was much more secure, and although the scrum continued to creak, hooker Peter Underwood managed to secure most of the possession from scrum half Jake Jacobs. There were some slashing breaks by Glancy and centre Robert Alderman and some storming runs by prop Cameron Schmidt and flanker Tom Sturgeon. Number 8, Laurence Anderson caught the eye, winning most of the lineout balls thrown to the front, as well as making breaks and turning over ball with his aggression in contact.
Although Tunbridge Wells ran out comfortable winners in the end, all of ‘Field’s players, and in particular the U16s, can be proud of the fight and the skill they displayed in the second half to limit a very useful looking Tunbridge Wells side to just 2 tries in the second half. Special mention must also go to referee Ian Davies who controlled the match very well, allowing both sides to play what turned out to be a very entertaining match.
