U15's Draw with New Milton

U15’s Hampshire League versus New Milton

Squad:

James Farley
Nick Turner
Danny Foley
Jonny Crawford
James Voss
Matt Le Bourgeois
Ben Cochrane
Luke Huelin
Bradley Stratford
Sam Fuller
Sam Crabtree
Hugo Powell
Miles Richardson
Harry McLinton
Jack Burroughs

Oliver Smith

Todd Michael

Charles Hubert

Chris Levesley (the wounded soldier)

Coach: Pat Dean

Report

Difficult conditions for a running game as it was wet and quite cold making handling difficult for the backs but the forwards stepped up after a slow start to take the game to New Milton.   The first ten minutes were a bit of a repeat of the first game with Jersey looking very rusty and not really playing any rugby being pushed back in the scrums, out rucked and giving away penalties.

New Milton took full advantage of the early looseness from Jersey to make a break in their backs and with some good handling release their left wing to run around the outside and score in the corner, fortunately so close to the touchline that they missed the difficult conversion. Within a few minutes Jersey transgressed again to give a penalty in front of the posts midway between the 22 metere and half way line. The New Milton kicker, having lost his kicking tee, decided on a drop kick attempt which seemed to just dip under the bar although the entire New Milton supporting crowd saw it as just dipping over. In view of the doubt and neither linesman being sure the referee asked for the kick to be taken again and this time it skewed wide which was a let off for Jersey.

Slowly the Jersey team started to find their marks. Danny Foley started to lead by example and make some solid runs which inspired the rest of the forwards to step up and start making their tackles and runs, Nick Turner and Ben Cochrane joined in to make some good progress through the middle ably assisted by Jonny Crawford which culminated in a strong break from Danny Foley to touch down in the left corner with two New Milton players hanging off him but unable to hold him back. This typified the strong game that Danny was playing seemingly tireless in his tackling and running all afternoon. With the wind against him, Bradley was unable to make the conversion.

Jersey were starting to get on top now and were looking forward to the half time whistle when they could turn and get the wind behind them when they were caught out by a break by the New Milton inside centre who got inside Harry McLinton and set off in a bit of space at speed. The two Sam’s, Fuller and Crabtree, both tried to cover across and managed to get hands on him but couldn’t bring him down from the angles they were running. Jack Burroughs also coming across was equally unsuccessful as he looked to take him high and prevent him unloading to the supporting player outside which the number 12 didn’t need to use as he ran through to score just right of the posts. New Milton missed the conversion which ended the first half.

In the second half Jersey came out in a much more determined mood and pushed forward at every opportunity only being stopped by some desperate New Milton tackling. The constant pressure led to another powerful try scoring run form Foley which was again unconverted.

This seemed to galvanise the entire pack as Oliver Smith in his first game and James Voss from the second row started making incisive runs. Unfortunately the backs didn’t make the most of the ball that the forwards won for them with some poor decisions to kick which lead to the forwards seeming to decide to do it all on their own. Twice they managed to get the ball over the line, Danny Foley being the ball carrier each time, but on both occasions the referee decided the ball was held up by the defence and gave a scrum five.

With frustration setting in at the inability to break through the New Milton defence and score an irrefutable try Jersey attempted a drop goal through Luke Huelin which seemed to just scrape over the bar from its low trajectory but it was too close for the referee to give. So with Jersey having camped out for almost the entire second half in New Milton territory the hosts managed to keep them out as the clock ran out for a 10 -10 draw.

"We really need to apply the set moves we practice in training in our match situations as the opportunities were definitely on a number of times" said coach Pat Dean,. "The match was really there for our taking and with a bit more mental application to take on board what the coaches are telling them week in, week out and apply it we could have been sitting on two wins. But the efforts of the forwards were a real plus point and something to take forward to our future games".

James Voss was selected as man of the match for Jersey by the New Milton coaching staff.

The U15’s were additionally sponsored by Sanne Group to whom we are extremely thankful.