U14Bs Unbeaten!

Match Report - Waterfall Cup, Surrey Cedar
Farnham U14B vs Reigate

What a game! Considering we always start slowly, the boys got their game heads on in the changing room today and pressed hard from the kickoff. Reigate were not ready for our committed 'press' and we caused them problems from the get-go.

Tom Quick (10), Bertie Chilcott (12) and Charlie Wickens (13) were up fast in defence at every ruck, maul and scrum, allowing Reigate no clean ball. Reigate have scored more tries than any team in this competition and their 12 demonstrated when he got the ball why that is; however our half backs ensured their possession was scrappy and hurried.

Our forwards supported each other well, with Rory Hodges leading from the front. After a rocky start to the first two scrums, Reef (3) gently advised his opposite number on where a correct bind should be and our front row were solid throughout. This allowed Nicky Da Gama Rose (6) and Jasper Henderson (7) to pile on even more pressure on their 10, who did not enjoy either of them up in his grill.

With all this pressure and hard running (partic. Harry Veever (5) and Jack Bonthuys (4)) we should have been 3 tries up in the first 15 minutes, as we were in their 22 the whole time. Reigate were very strong in the tackle, and following the fourth or fifth ruck recycle, the ball was moved out to Bertie Chilcott, who crashed over in the corner. Tom Quick's assured conversion took us to 7-0.

Reigate fought back toward the end of the first half, but some dominant tackling from OrsinoHW, Charlie Wickens and George Fletcher ensured the ball never got to their danger runner for the whole half. In fact, our tackling today was the best and most committed I've seen all season.

The second half was a belter. Early on, Reigate's 12 showed why they have scored so many tries this tournament, by skinning our boys with superb individual effort under the posts. Rory immediately went over in reply after an interception left Jasper Henderson with 40 yards to the try line. Jasper set off with ball in hand and looked to be neeeeeeearly caught, only to flip the ball to Rory Hodges, for a crowd-pleasing try.

Our heads never dropped, but with no subs (lots of drop outs), the boys' bodies started to flag. A sustained period of Reigate pressure led to a scrum under our posts with 5 minutes left to play. Reigate pulled their star player in at No.8, who picked up from the back of the scrum and went over under our posts. They converted, leaving us 12-14 behind.

The last four minutes of the game saw tempers flare, but Captain Rory Hodges showed assured leadership, speaking to the ref and ensuring we got to play rugby and not argue. Reigate were less even-headed and following a sustained period of Farnham pressure, Will Houghton beat the Reigate backs to a well deserved try line scramble. In his first game back after injury, Will was excellent, and man of the match. Tom Quick put over his second conversion to make the (final) score 19-14 to Farnham!

Unbeaten in our Surrey Cedar group, we have played some great rugby, none more so than in this game. Our A squad have a considerably harder group than the one we are in, and we're very fortunate that our strength-in-depth has allowed this squad to shine. We are standing on the shoulders of the whole squad.

Our last game in this group (Kingston) is likely to be called off, so we may have won this cup today. If so, well done boys, I couldn't be prouder.

Special shout out to JR,fantastic referee!

Tries
Bertie 'Silky' Chillcott
Rory 'Capn Hook' Hodges
Will 'Steel Heels' Houghton
Cons
Tom 'Tee' Quick (2)
Man of the Match - Steel Heels Houghton
Encouragers of The Year
The Parents