Stroud U11’s finish the season in style with big victory over Hucclecote

It was the last game of the season for Stroud U11’s and they were looking forward to trying to finish the season on a high with another power performance over rivals Hucclecote who Stroud had closely defeated 15-10 in November. The Stroud Senior XV had won the Glos Premier League on Saturday in style so the pressure was on the kids to keep the positive vibes going around the club.

Summer had arrived with Sam handing out the Weymouth tour tops, Stu Evans showing off the loudest pair of chequered shorts you could legally buy, and a rock hard Fromehall pitch ready to give the kids grazed knees for their tackling efforts.

The kids warmed up with typical intensity (and a Keyan sleep on the tackle bags that was interrupted with a Will H drop goal attempt that clanged Keyan instead of the posts!).

A large squad of 18 was always going to make it hard for Mark and Phil to mix up the subs, especially with only 1 forward sub, and 5 backs to cycle in where possible. Any more volunteers to join the forwards? Its great fun and the No 8 position needs filling next season....

The pre-match team talk was all about starting with a high intensity and showing Hucclecote we really wanted to win this game and not letting them settle down.

Game 1

Stroud got off to a good start with a good run back from the kick off. The ball came out to the backs and they ran it right and then left to make a big dent in the Hucclecote defence. The ball came back to Dave and he saw a gap and ran right to score the 1st try of the game.

At the next kick off Keyan caught the ball cleanly and had a good weaving long run back until he was forced out of play. Hucclecote won the line out and did a long defensive kick. Alex cleanly caught the ball and ran it back to the left to regain good yardage but was forced out of play. The next phases of play were forward dominated with lineouts and scrums with Stroud being very competitive and keeping Hucclecote pack under pressure. The ball popped out on the Stroud side and Arthur picked it up and ran back to the left and offloaded to a well positioned Archie E who carried on the attack and scored in the left corner to give Stroud a 2 try advantage.

The next kickoff was well controlled by Stroud again and the ball was recycled well through both forwards and backs with eventually Will H making a break and eventually getting tackled causing a Hucclecote turnover due to lack of Stroud support play. Hucclecote ran the ball back into Stroud’s half and a big Stoner tackle stopped this attack. As Jenks called the lineout position fairly he was rewarded with a close range pass that he wasn’t expecting. Luckily his cat-like reflexes meant he caught the ball instead of swallowing it!

At the lineout Orgy did a great throw and Will T cleanly caught the ball and scrum half Tom H quickly fed Will H who ran straight down the middle to score a good try – one that the forwards had earnt for the team. 15-0 to Stroud.

Hucclecote would not lie down though. They kept attacking and some missed tackles gave them a good opportunity on the Stroud line. The ball came through their backs and as they cut back inside they were first denied by a last ditch Alex tackle and then good swarming play by Jed and Will H forced them back. Hucclecote adjusted well though and ran the ball back to the left to score their first try in left corner to make it 15-5.

Stroud showed their mental strength and instead of being disappointed and sitting back they instead went back on the offensive with more good back play with Arthur and Dave, well supported by Archie E on the wing. At the breakdown the forwards played well to keep the ball under Stroud control. Hucclecote responded well though with their own turnovers. On one occasion they were running back and Stoner did another big tackle to remind them that Stroud were up for this game big style. At the resultant line out another Will T clean take gave a good attacking base. Jed took the ball on and was brought down by good Hucclecote tackling. In very combative rucks it was Hucclecotes turn to steal the ball. Not to be denied though Arthur did a famous rip-tackle and then gave the ball to Will T. He rumbled up the right wing and was forced out of play.

Hucclecote won the lineout and again kicked deep from their try area. Alex again well positioned caught the ball low down at pace and ran it right back. As he was brought down he offloaded to Archie E who then set off to the right. Will T supporting well then received the ball and came back to the left and again with good support to his left he passed to Will H who finished off a fantastic move with a try to make it 20-5.

In the next phase of play Hucclecote were again deep in Strouds half but another turnover in a tackle gave Dave the opportunity to pick up the ball and he ran back the length of the pitch down the right wing to score again. Special mention goes to the ref who managed to keep up with the play here. Lets just call it preparation for the coaches vs First’s game on 8th May! 25-5 to Stroud.

In the last passage of play of the half Finn had a good run. Hucclecote won the turnover though but Finn was quick to tackle again and play petered out. Half time score was 25-5. A very dominant half of fast flowing rugby.

The 2nd half was always going to be a harder slog after all the efforts of the 1st half. Hucclecote had a long run back from the kick off and only a last gasp Arthur tackle stopped them scoring. Hucclecote stayed camped on the Stroud line but good tackling by Callum and Orgy kept them out. Hucclecote tried to run up the blind side but got forced out of play by Lewis (aka Dash).

Stroud were dominating the lineouts and Orgy again found Will T at the back of lineout and he cleanly caught the ball and fed Flash (Archie C) who quickly got the ball to Will H to then kick long.

The game was getting quite messy for both sides. An alert Alex dived on a loose ball and set it back so that there was a good platform for next attack. Keyan got the ball and ran back to half way. Hucclecote got the ball and kicked long again. Alex covered the kick and ran it back and offloaded to Sam who attacked down the left and was then forced out of play by a good tackle.

Both teams were cancelling each other out. Good Stroud tackling from Stoner, Will T, Orgy, Callum and Keyan showed Hucclecote that our forwards were not to be messed with. Dash had a good run down the left. The ball came back to the middle via James and Edgar. Keyan then got the ball and ran over people to score and give Stroud a 30-5 lead.

The next kickoff gave Keyan another run back chance that he took. Hucclecote snuffed this out though and attacked themselves and good tackles by James, Sam and Edgar stopped them. As time was running out there were more good attacking runs from Finn and Archie E but no more scores happened. Final whistle went and Stroud had won the first game in style.

Final Score Stroud 30 – 5 Hucclecote.

Game 2

Could Stroud repeat their dominance in the 2nd game? It would be a big ask.

Keyan had a good run back from the kick off but was penalised for running over a Hucclecote player who wasn’t able to run out of the way in time ! Edgar was having a good game in the backs with tackling and snuffing out Hucclecote attacks.

There were a number of injuries on both sides that disrupted play. Hucclecote were the quickest to settle down again and scored the first try of game down the left wing. From the restart Hucclecote attacked again and this time a Dave tackle was enough to stop them scoring again. They were camped on the Stroud line but luckily a knock on in the tackle as they crossed the line stopped them extending their lead.

Will H relieved the pressure with a long kick. Stroud won the next lineout and Tom H got the ball out to Dave who ran right and then quickly cut back to the left to score in the middle to make it 5-5. At the next kickoff it was Tom H’s turn to run the ball back and set up a good attacking position that unfortunately came to nothing.

Hucclecote wanted this game though and kept attacking back. Only good defensive work by Callum ripping the ball away in a tackle stopped them from getting the ball out to the Hucclecote backs. Will H again kicked long to relieve pressure. Stroud went to their favourite lineout person and Will T again caught cleanly. He passed to Keyan who went up the blindside to score. 10-5 to Stroud.

To their credit Hucclecote kept attacking and another Alex tackle stopped them. Stroud won the ball and Will H ran the ball back a long way. Just as he was tackled he offloaded to Archie E who carried on the attack. He was held up just short of the line and a well supporting Orgy was unlucky to knock on the ball as he attempted to score a try. Half time whistle went with Stroud just in the lead.

2nd half didn’t start well. Hucclecote caught the ball and ran it straight back and a number of missed tackles meant they scored an easy try to level the scores at 10-10.

Stroud again showed their mental strength and in the next passage of play Orgy was very alert to stay on his feet and win a turnover in a ruck. The ball came out through the backs and Dave scored a try in the left corner to make it 15-10.

Stroud were doing really well in the scrums and winning clean ball that gave Flash the chance to make sniping runs. If Archie wasn’t sniping he was passing the ball cleanly to the backs. This time Dave took the ball at pace who ran to the right and then cut back inside to score in the middle nad make it 20-10.

It was the turn off the forwards now to slow down Hucclecote. Jed and Stoner were doing well and Will T was fighting for the ball at every opportunity. Hucclecote were still kicking from defensive positions though and Finn caught the ball cleanly and ran it back and passed to Dash who went on a long mazy run. He was unfortunate to knock on though in the tackle. At the scrum Stroud put the pressure on but Hucclecote scrimmaged well. Hucclecote backs went on the attack but Arthur did a good tackle to force them out of play.

In the last passage of play Hucclecote broke through the Stroud line but a well positioned Finn dumped the guy backwards with a great tackle. Full time whistle went and the kids formed tunnels to clap each other off the pitch.

Final Score Stroud 20-10 Hucclecote

Overall Score: Stroud 50 – 15 Hucclecote

Forwards Man of the Match: Will T for his great performance in the lineouts
Backs Man of the Match: Dave for his attacking play and try scoring

A great end to the season with a complete performance from Stroud and another 50+ points scored. Another confidence boosting win to set us up nicely for next weekends rugby festival.

We then retired to the bar to make planning notes for Weymouth tour and for Keyan’s dad Jon to query how many tries Keyan had scored. Luckily the impartial reporters notes found in favour of Keyan so he will have enough pocket money to buy enough Mars bars to get him through the first few hours of Weymouth festival…..

See you all on the (sunny??) south coast.