Match Report Bicester v Towcester 19/10/08

Match Report: U13's Bicester v Towcestrians 19th Oct 2008

With Towcestrians bringing a large squad it was suggested that two games were to be played, a main game of 40 minutes played by the Towcestrian stronger side then a shorter 20 minute game where the less experienced Towcestrian boys.

We at Bicester play as a single team so all played in the first game and all played in the second!

Game I,

After a little chat in the dressing room prior to the game, as Juniors do! the boys were informed of what was expected of them, simply to play as they train, to give 100% and play as a team, and with the result not being the most important thing.

The boys started with a few line out changes, with the "Oscar" injured Chris Mansfield stepping in at prop and doing a great job having his best game for some time and looking fitter, Giles White moving from No 8 to Outside Centre in an attempt to assist his niggling "heal injury" with Tom Bennett coming in to Flanker from Centre, Liam Duggan coming in to show his hooking skills with Edward Tolly moving from hooker to 2nd Row.

Final change of positions was that Charlie Pullin the "Cap-it-ain" changing from flanker to be tried at No 8.

Confident that the teams ability to interchange positions without any negative effects was quickly shown,

The Bicester Pack quickly got into there stride driving the visitors back with some strong rucking from Allan Hilman and Sam Skellern and a few controlled mauls, from these Charlie was quick to "pick and go" breaking the Towestrians defensive lines almost at will, with strong support from Max, Tom, Liam, Allun, Chris and Edward.

The backs had their orders regarding their running lines often in the recent tournament being far too flat, they were to use their set pieces to break the visitors lines which they did well.

All started well with Ed Hines at 9 executing a run around with Tim Grant at 10 then sharply straightening up to break the back line of the opposition, the game was set, hard working powerful forwards and a back line that had both pace and craft plus the added bonus of good running lines.

With the forwards dominating their game it was not surprising that the first points on the board were scored by the forwards after assistance from the backs who recycled the ball back to forwards when their passage was blocked, the first scorer was Max who spotted a gap on the blind side of a ruck on the half way line accelerating through the gap with the pace of a centre with half the opponents left in his wake.

The next 3 no tries came in quick concession all scored by Charlie at No 8, picking and smashing through all that was in front of him, Great play Charlie,

As the game was a friendly and Charlie having such a strong start, Bicester withdrew their Captain replacing him with Will Ball, although Will is half the size of Charlie he was soon in the thick of things demonstrating that he is picking things up fast in only his second season playing the game, picking and driving setting quick ball for his fellow forwards even setting good ball after being hit hard after catching a high ball.

Towcester started to get there game going only to find a very determined set of tacklers with both Tom and Ryan Moore excelling with some powerful tackles.

Bicester kept up the momentum with backs putting some good running moves together resulting in both wingers having good runs with out the reward of a score



Bicester finished the Half with a 26-0 lead.

The second half started again with Bicester on top with good around play, further changes were made with improving David Champney and Jack Taylor coming on for the hard working Sam Skellern and Liam Duggan again the changes did not affect the flow, as Bicester continued to control all aspects of the game with both Tom and Allan going over after strong forward play and then a great opportunist try was scored by the fast tricky Bicester Scrum half Ed Hines, who dummied to pass to his standoff Tim and darted through the gap speeding away from the visitors desperate backs who it seemed all took the dummy, Ed had to run half the length of the pitch always checking for support should it have been required, which it was not! Great try ED.

The in-form forwards continued to showed there dominance with rewarding trys for the hard working power prop Allan and the tuff tackling Tom Bennett on his first game in the flanker position.

Conversions after little success in the first half due to both the position of the kicks and actual length with Tim, Max and Ryan all having a go Tim converted all three second half tries.

Result of First Game Bicester 41 Towcestrians 0

So 7 tries 3 Conversions, good play play by all INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE REFEREE and a happy bunch of supporters, the boys performance was also noted by others watching the U15 match so all impressed: Well done.


Game 2.

Question HAVE THE BOYS LEARNT TO START THE 2ND GAME AS REQUIRED??

Answer Perhaps Not!

Again after a great first game a sloppy start, a few blasts from the coaches regarding slack play, as Towcestrians nearly broke through at the first attempt only to be stopped by some great cover work by François, and the ever safe full back Josh Denton who had little to do but when asked, did all 100% efficiently, Bicester quickly got there act together with the forwards getting their driving and rucking going in the absence of Charlie who was still held back on the touch line biting at the bit to re enter the game the forwards were well led by Allan and Big Sam who had got his second wind and was creating large holes in the visitors forwards, Tom, Liam and Will were supporting well.

Changes were made again to give the players the opportunity to shine in other positions, with Tim being replace at flyhalf with Ed Hines, Jack Davies coming in from the wing to inject his pace from the back of the scrum.

Bicester were again on top with Giles taking a ball some 30m out with his well known twisting run he went past almost half the visitors like a knife through butter to continue his high try tally since he joined last year.

Alas that was Giles,so last play as his troublesome heal causing him to hobble off,

This brought back into the game Jack Taylor who was put on the wing to look after the visitors large winger who was starting to show some form, Jack handled him well with some solid positional play and a few good tackles the last resulting in a bloody nose!

With Charlie back on the pitch he paired up with his flanker Max and with some good play, strong running and good hands Max went over for his second try of the day, the conversion as the first was missed with good reason as some scoundrel in an attempt to slow our scoring had pinched our kicking tee!


Half time Bicester 10 Towcestrians 0

With the game flowing the Bicester wanted to change the team again in an attempt to give all the boys a good runnout.

Max was put in at Full back and Tim brought back into the fray at outside centre, the game went the same way with the Bicester boys again on top with the final try of the day being scored by the hard working Ed Tolly.

Kick missed again!

Being the nice boys as they are Bicester decided to reward the visitors with a little gift at the end by giving them a soft try whilst waiting for a whistle from the ref who it has to be said had a good game.

2nd Game Bicester 15 Towcestrians 5

STOLEN TEE was traced to Tim Grants father Mr Hugh Grant who was last seen behind the bar ! (Thanks for your Help)

Well Done All See you next week at Wycombe