Colts
Matches
Sun 15 Sep 2019
Stroud Rugby
Colts
36
19
Minchinhampton
Another new season – another tense victory over rivals Minch

Another new season – another tense victory over rivals Minch

russell vale15 Sep 2019 - 16:42
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https://www.stroudrugby.co.uk/

Stroud U16s start season with forward led dominance leading to long distance backs tries

First game of the season was going to be a belter. Hot weather, hard ground and arch rivals Minch coming down off the Common to lock horns with friends, school mates, footy mates, Glos Academy mates, but for next 70 mins arch rivals. As soon as they crossed the whitewash it was Blue vs Green. Win at all costs. Patch up the injuries and friendships after the full time whistle.

Stroud had won the 4 previous encounters but they were always tense close occasions and this would be no different. New rules – contested lineouts and minimum half game per player. 3 new players to integrate into the large squad. Now 35 minutes each way. Coach Mk II would be knackered running the line. More water bottles needed to keep Lucas hydrated for longer. An even bigger notepad for the match reporter to record his rambling fairy tales…….

A massive squad of 27 players were ready to go to battle in the blue of Stroud.

Forwards: Lucas, Liam, Carlos, Jed, Laurie, Jake, Stoner, Mr T
Backs: Hilly, Ryan, Dave, Arthur, Flash, Big Mac, Alex
Subs: Bernie, Orgy, Darion, Bailey, Euan, Callum, Perys, Will, Keyan, Billy, Lofty, James

Stroud kicked off and a good kick chase and defensive pressure kept Minch hemmed in their own 22. Eventually pressure was relieved with a kick to touch. Time for the first contested lineout of the season. It was messy – kids lifting at the wrong time and errant throws. The ball came loose and Stoner bravely dived on it. The ball was kept with the forwards but was knocked on in contact. Minch quickly zipped the ball out to their backs and attacked right but Alex was there with a try saving tackle. The ball squirmed loose and Stroud attacked from their own 22. Jed pounded forward, then Jake and finally Stoner. But Stoner ended up 10 yards in the wrong direction with a monster tackle. He of the big tackle had to finally receive one. He came off in pain. Now you know what its like young man!

Stroud were awarded a penalty but it was turned around and awarded to Minch – presumably for some errant words by a fired up Stroudie expressing his rather vocal support for the “Extinction Rebellion” protest that seemed to be running every day….

Minch kicked for the corner and won their lineout on the Stroud 5. Good forward defense held up the drive and Minch were forced to use their backs but went nowhere so back for an off-side penalty under the posts. A quick tap penalty threatened to score but Mr T was quick to defend and Liam was there next to put in a “Barnes”torming tackle that forced a turnover. Stroud – never lacking in confidence - decided to run the ball out from the dead ball line and were awarded a penalty that Dave then hoofed 50 yards up the pitch. Laurie won the lineout on halfway with lifters Carlos and Lucas elevating him to the height of the floodlights. Jed took the ball into contact and sucked in a number of defenders. Good hands from the backs got the ball out to Big Mac who got hauled down by good Minch defending. Optimistic 20 yard passes caused Stroud to lose the ball but Minch couldn’t capitalise and the ball was won back by Stroud with a Perys led turnover. Dave had a good run but more Stroud indiscipline gave Minch another penalty.

Their deep kick missed touch and Dave ran it back into contact. Carlos and Lucas won the ruck and Jed and Jake took it in turns to pick and go. Both teams were neutralising each other with knowing each others strengths and weaknesses. Penalties were traded and tackles, turnovers and knock-ons. Stroud had a scrum restart on halfway and Ryan switched play and attacked right. He saw a gap and kicked into space for Big Mac to chase but Minch defended well and ran it back but were soon turned over by Jake. Jed was again the beneficiary with a bruising run into contact. Good hands with Dave and Alex gave Big Mac a chance to score. He danced along the line looking for a gap and seemed sure to score but somehow Minch intercepted it under their own posts and ran out to halfway but a fast retreating Stroud back division chased down the runner and Alex tackled him and then Stroud won a penalty that they kicked to the Minch 22.

The resulting lineout was lost and Minch attacked back well and good hands got the ball deep into the Stroud half. Laurie and Mr T were tackling well. Hilly was also diving in to chop down the big Minch runners. Minch were getting frustrated with the stout Stroud defensive and resulting turnovers. A slap to Dave “The Diplomat” face forced Minch into a sub change while their errant player was shipped over to Brussels to carry on the BoJo led Brexit negotiations. Stroud’s penalty kick reached the Minch 10 metre line. A good Liam throw and Laurie catch set the backs up to attack. Hilly to Ryan and a perfect pass to Dave “Crash Ball” gave him a gap to exploit. 35 metres later and trailing 7 Minch tacklers Dave dived over the try line for the opening score. His talking was always best done on the pitch with his feet and hands and not through verbal negotiation…. 7-0 to Stroud and a raft of subs to replace the tiring players.

Minch kicked off and Laurie caught it well. The forwards took charge again and Carlos and Mr T pounded the Minch defensive line. Minch were up for the battle though and held firm and competed well at the breakdown. A loose ball was bravely recovered by Darion as boots went flying. More Carlos and Laurie runs to soften up the Minch defenders. The backs went left and Dave cut back inside to the right. Another try we thought but Minch forced Dave wide and dragged him to the ground but forgot to wrap his arms as he offloaded to a well positioned Lofty who scored his 1st Stroud try after less than 2 minutes on the pitch. Dream debut. Ryan had to be subbed off so Will replaced him and his first touch was a wide conversion that narrowly missed. 12-0 the lead.

All the new players and half-game subs made communication essential and that let them down as the next kickoff was allowed to bounce and Minch stole the ball. They tried a gruber kick but Alex was there to safely give Stroud a 22 drop-out. In their eagerness to attack the short drop-out was adjudged to have not bounced so Minch had a scrum restart on the Stroud 22. They won the scrum and attacked right but more good defending kept them out. Minch lost their lineout and Keyan ran the ball out from under the posts. Good hands gave Arthur space to run and Stroud were now accelerating upto half way. The after burners were lit and Big Mac was released and the next 50 metres was a blur of legs and desperate diving tacklers. The result was the same. Big Mac going in under the posts untouched. Easy conversion and the lead was upto 19-0.

Will caught the kickoff and Arthur ran left. A forward pass gave Minch a scrum restart on halfway that they won. They quickly attacked left but an even quicker Keyan was ready with a devastating tackle that knocked the ball loose. Big Mac had refuelled his afterburners and hacked the ball on a few times and calmly picked it up 40 metres later to score another try that Will duly converted.

Half time whistle went and Stroud finally had the game under control. Had it really been a tense 0-0 after 20 minutes we thought?

Half Time: Stroud 26 – 0 Minch

Minch kicked off and Jed caught it well and ran it back with interest. The quick hands brought the ball back left but more optimistic passing gave contortionist Alex the only option of going to ground. Will kicked long and winger James put in a great kick chase and forced Minch to check back inside where they got nailed by Euan. Minch reset and again Euan was there to snuff out the attack with classic chop tackling. Minch were not to be denied though and kept attacking strongly but kept out by Perys and Callum tackling well. A sequence of lineouts and penalties edged Minch close to the Stroud try line and a final quick tap penalty was rewarded with a try in the left corner that was expertly converted to make it 26-7.

Minch ran back the resulting kickoff and this time it was Bernie who was on double-tackle duty with 2 great tackles in quick succession. Keyan and Billy joined the tackle stats with 2 more pile drivers. Orgy was also causing problems at the breakdown. Minch were still competing well and won another scrum in the Stroud half from which they attacked left. Captain Will was well positioned to win a turnover and Carlos quickly turned expert defence into punishing attack with a strong run up the middle. Minch’s day wasn’t getting any easier as next Bailey pounded further up the pitch. Stroud were penalised though and a promising attack came to nothing – much like Minch’s next attack that was single handidly stopped by Keyan with 2 tackles and a turnover. Jed rumbled forward. Then Arthur and Alex combined well. Ruck was won and then Arthur drew the defender and released Will who scored in the left corner for a great try. Conversion from wide was missed as the score ticked over to 31-7.

Flash caught the kickoff and ran it back well but Stroud were penalised at the breakdown. The next 2 minutes was a constant barrage of refs penalty whistle, Stroud retreat 10 metres, Minch tap penalty. And repeat, and repeat….until they scored a try in the right corner to make it 31-12.

Stroud kicked off and another good kick chase ended up with Jake nailing the catcher at the perfect time – and dumped him in the hole that Stoner had created with his back-side in the 1st half. Stroud attacked from the turnover but went nowhere. Stroud’s indiscipline was hurting them though and Minch won another penalty. This time we believe it was charged to Coach Samak who was heard explaining to the ref that our new powerful forward Carlos was Italian and wouldn’t understand the ref advice to stay bound to the scrum. We need a Brexit deal ASAP and as long as Stroud keep Carlos the EU in exchange can charge 200% tax on Stroud’s top export – Winstone’s Ice cream.

Minch kicked their penalty to halfway but Jake was lifted expertly by Mr T and Lucas and stole the ball. Good forward play kept the ball close and sucked in more defenders. At just the right time Flash and Dave combined to exploit the gaps in the middle and Dave scored under the posts. The conversion was missed as the subs were too busy gossiping with their Minch school mates to give Dave the kicking tee….. Attention to detail lads….. 36-12 to Stroud.

Keyan caught the next kick-off and Big Mac made some good yardage. More indiscipline though cost Stroud and they worked their way upto the Stroud try line with a sequence of quick tap penalties. Good defence by the boys in blue looked to have denied Minch but showing how much this game meant to them Minch kept the ball under control and finally punched over in the left corner for a well deserved try. Another great conversion closed the score upto 36-19.

Another kickoff and another chance for Stroud to hear the refs penalty whistle again. This time ahead of the kicker. Minch couldn’t take advantage from the scrum restart and knocked on. Strouds scrum restart was much more impressive with Carlos at #8 picking up and going on a long run. Eventually he was hauled down but then Liam was there to carry on with his own typical barrelling run into the Minch 22. Loose hands at the ruck though managed to deny Stroud a walk-in try on the left.

Minch were still playing with great passion. From their own 22 they attacked left and made good yardage. Tackles from Will and Keyan slowed them down but more penalties got Minch upto the Stroud 5 metre line. Minch won the lineout and tried driving, then tried attacking right, and then came back left where they eventually knocked on. Stroud won their scrum on their own 5 and again Carlos at #8 picked and dragged his body and associated Minch tacklers a good 30 metres. As he slowed up he offloaded to well supporting Jake who took the ball into the Minch half. A heap of bodies formed in desperate defence and Jake was accused of holding on. When they finally unpicked the Minch heap they found an injured player at the bottom and the game was called off 5 minutes early to allow medical attention – thankfully player OK.

Full Time: Stroud 36 – 19 Minch

All the players and coaches congratulated each other for a great opening game of the season. Plenty of aching limbs will be felt at school on Monday, but the Stroud boys will wear their bruises with pride and no doubt show them to any Minch player they see as a reminder of bragging rights!! I am sure Minch will be fired up for the return fixture in Feb - helped by the 3 metre visibility and -5C temperatures that the Common will have waiting for us......

Team debrief was held and plenty of things to work on but some great skills shown in the game. Everyone had contributed. The constant subs to allow for injuries and half-game rule was disruptive to a fast flowing game so there were positional and handling mistakes made that should be ironed out in future weeks.

Special mention to the 3 new players on their debut for contributing to a great overall team display. Jake for his tackling and punishing runs. Lofty for his quick distribution and try, and Carlos for running over about 36 Minch players and making about 80 metres while dragging the 36 players along…. “Ben fatto Carlos. Continua così! Spero ti sia piaciuto il tuo debutto.”

Thanks to the ref for keeping the game under good control when hot bodies and hot heads could have spiralled out of control in the passion of a local derby. Thanks to the kitchen staff for catering for the masses. Probably easier to feed 5000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish then make a massive bowl of chilli and spuds to feed 50 rugby kids – especially with our front row, and Dave/Keyan always up for 2nds/3rds/4ths…..

Next week St Brendan’s away in Bristol. Could be an early start due to England vs Tonga (11:15 kickoff) at Rugby World Cup.

Match details

Match date

Sun 15 Sep 2019

Kickoff

11:00
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Main Club Sponsor - Stroud Brewery
Club Sponsor - Nortim Engineering Ltd
Sponsor - Cotswold Appliances (Oxford) Ltd
Club sponsors  - Howard Tenens Logistics Ltd
Club Sponsor - EPS