Chinnor U 13's v Bicester U13's

After a number of postponements due to inclement weather, the boys finally had a game, away to a Chinnor side that had won all of their last five matches with a strong ever improving squad the game would be a good test on Bicester’s ability to hit the ground running after the long delays between games and the loss of the regular Sunday training.

Would the Tuesday training evenings One hour sessions be enough to maintain the boy’s fitness (or 1 ½ Hours if the writer does it!)?

With a full squad to pick from with the exception of the holidaying Tim and Will there were 17 to pick from.

Confidence was high with a strong line up to start the match with the ever improving Jack Taylor, Jack Cowley and
David (“Dave” the power) Champney ready when required on the bench!

Returning after injury was Oscar at Prop and from illness was Ryan,

The Starting Team was as follows:

Forwards:
1, Chris, 2, Ed T, 3 Oscar

4, Liam 5, Sam

6, Max 7, Ryan
8, Giles
Backs:

9, François,
10, Ed Hines,
12, Charlie,
13, Tom,
11, Jack Davies 14, Luke
15, Josh
Replacements:

Jack Taylor, Jack Cowley & David Champney

Prior to the game in the changing room the boys were informed of what was expected of them, good rucking, better clearing out at the rucks, good defensive lines, lots of positive talking on the pitch, intelligent play i.e. using the ball, giving their all, not saving themselves as all players would be used and finally trusting the coaches regarding the proposed positional changes that were planed during the game in order to try and change the dynamics of the game at set periods.

The positional change plan was to switch Charlie from Inside Centre to No 8 and Giles from No 8 to Inside Centre,

The intention was to surprise the opposition with Charlie picking up from the base of the scrum, with his powerful running and power, then with the Chinnor forwards hopefully caught off guard and broken up, the ball would be moved across the back line to Giles to show his own individual powerful running lines and strength.

This change was to be supplemented if required by swopping Max at Flanker with Tom at outside centre with the intention that Tom inserts his power in to the pack and Max bringing his explosive running angles to back line (we have other options but they were to be saved for another day).

It was agreed that the changes would be tried in the second half to ensure the boys had a good period to play themselves into form and at the same time blow any cobwebs away after the long layoff without a game.

The game started with Bicester starting strong with some good strong running from the backs and good play from the pack, Bicester had the Chinnor team backed into their own 22.

The result was like déjà vu with Chinnor playing the same game as Bicester’s previous opponents Marlow by choosing to elect to constantly kick for touch opposed to trying to run and pass the ball in hand.

Bicester kept up the continuous pressure and were unlucky on a number of occasions with the final pass or a knock on when positioned well to score, guilty at time in making the wrong decision on when to make the final pass or carry the ball.

A little rusty it seemed, but the omens were good and the play getting better as the game progressed.

The pack had the better of the Chinnor forwards who it must be said were no push over, with the Bicester Flankers sniffling out the oppositions Scrum half and No 8, François at 9 (who showing great commitment, had travelled non stop from France the previous day arriving late in the night to ensure he did not miss the match) provided good ball to Ed at Fly who fed Charlie, who on many occasions drew his man well if not going past him, before feeding the ball to Tom, Tom looking strong throughout constantly broke the Chinnor defensive line, only to be stopped close to the opponents try line by some desperate tackling by the home team.

Tom was encouraged to pass to Jack D on the wing, was supporting well and ready to receive the ball after Tom had drawn in Jacks opposing winger in addition to his own opposite number.

Tom was quick to show he was alert and listening, soon providing Jack and Luke on the other wing with good ball, this allowed both wingers to show their form and intentions with some good runs deep into the Chinnor lines, only being prevented from scoring by good tackles.

From these runs Tom was the benefactor as once the Chinnor backs had to mark man for man Tom was able to break through his opposite number to score on no less the three occasions to come away with fine a hat rick of try’s.

When Chinnor did finally attempt to break through the Bicester defence with their big Centres in particular, the boys showed their improvement in the tackling department, with Luke and Charlie leading the way with some excellent tackles.

During the first half Sam was rested with Jack Cowley joining the game at lock, Jack quickly slotted in to the game and instantly aided the Bicester line out with his strong aerial presence.

The Bicester Front row were more then looking after their opposite numbers both in the loose and in the scrum, Liam was again showing his improved fitness and aggression with a lots of contact in the open play Ed T was hooking well with his props Oscar and Chris doing good work in the scrums.

Ryan seemed to be all over the pitch enjoying the freedom of the flanker position constantly chasing down the Chinnor Fly half, with Max doing the same on the opposite side preventing any runs from the Chinnor Scrum half and No 8, Giles was constantly in the fray, always at hand to support the Bicester rucks and picking any loose ball, although un able to quite break free when picking from the base of the scrum.

The first half was played out with Bicester playing all the rugby and almost scoring on no less then five occasions with the only score being Tom’s unconverted try.

The boys were looking good; the second half was to be the real test. Would they tire? Would they lose shape, they were to be playing in to a wind that was getting stronger? Would they be able to adjust their shape to cope with the opponents kicking game that would benefit by the wind in their favour???
The boys that finished the first half started the second, after a few minutes played Sam returned to the game after having rested replacing Chris at prop who had played well and was himself showing signs of requiring a rest, David Champney soon joined the action replacing Liam in the 2nd Row, David had been doing well over recent weeks during the mid week training sessions, it was clear that his fitness was improving as he was running and keeping up with the pack,

François was having different kind of a game then usual as he was being asked switched along the back line playing it seemed in all back line positions with the exception for full back where Josh was having one of his quieter games of the season only having to make a few catches and by result having a only a few ventures into the Chinnor half.

That said Josh’s positional sense and positioning was excellent always on guard ready for any high ball or break away.

The game was going as it did in the first half with Bicester having all the ball in hand passing, rucking and clearing out well, using both wings in their ventures into the opponents half, only to be stopped by some good Chinnor defensive work, on the odd occasions the Chinnor centres did manage to break free of the Bicester shackles Charlie swept across the pitch almost at will to provide the covering tackle that was required.

Bicester were managing to probe for gaps and were passing across the pitch but were only able to add a single try which was again scored in the corner by Tom after good work from Ed H who was doing well at his return to scrum half, the conversion was taken by Tom himself but the distance being to great it fell short.

Chinnor 0 Bicester 10

Jack Taylor came on at outside Centre for the injured Ryan with Tom switching to flanker, after a few minutes of good rugby Bicester seemed to lose concentration for the very first in the match resulting in a lose of shape, and by result their previously impressive defensive line, Chinnor were quick to pounce, breaking quickly, with an angled run from one side of the pitch to the other from 50m’s out, due to loss of shape and discipline the chasing Luke, Charlie and Josh were not quite able to prevent the try that was put down in the corner.

The conversion was also missed.

Chinnor 5 Bicester 10.

Sensing the possibility of the lose of shape and conceding a try, the Bicester Coaches decided to re adjust the shape of the team with the unfortunate Jack Taylor being with drawn and being replaced by the recovered Ryan, Tom reverted to his centre position to allow Ryan to return to flanker, soon after this the intended “Impact Play” positional change previously mentioned was played, Charlie swopped with Giles.

The next ten minutes were simply great to watch unless you happened to be from Chinnor!

Charlie at No 8 quickly got his chance to pickup from a strong scrum which had seen Chris return to prop with Sam returning to lock in place of Jack C, the ball was picked up with Charlie exploding from the base with ball in hand, he broke clean through the Chinnor No 8 like knife through butter, the planned impact was made, Chinnor had to desperately defend and attempt to catch and tackle Charlie to prevent him going through to score, the ball was set well for the closes Bicester players to pick and go again with the ball then being distributed to Giles by Ed H, Giles then played his “impact play” by exploding through no fewer then four desperate Chinnor tackles with his strong jinking driving run to score a deserved try under the posts.

Max Slotted over the conversion.

Chinnor 5 Bicester 17

Bicester did not sit back on this score, they upped their work rate they grew in confidence with ball in hand and simply played great expansive rugby, next came what the coaches had wanted to see from David C, picking up a loose ball David took on his new found “Dave” power attitude, he ran straight at the heart of the Chinnor pack and smashed into them forming in the process a perfect ruck presenting the ball for Sam who seeing the previous perfect example of how to ruck did his own again resulting in a perfect presentation of the ball, Ed T quickly swept up the ball for the ball to be carried and then swept through the back to the wing to Jack D, who was having an excellent game, not quite managing to get free Jack returned the ball inside to ensure possession was kept the ball was again worked across the line through a number of players for Charlie to obtain his much deserved try.

The conversion although very close from an acute angle was narrowly missed by Ryan.

Chinnor 5 Bicester 23.

At this point a telephone conversation was overheard with the Chinnor coach being asked how his team were getting on? Answer “His boys were getting a lesson in how to play rugby and the score did not reflect Bicester dominance!”

Well one more charge was to come, Bicester were now showing such confidence with the ball, with Jack Taylor back on the pitch, now on the wing with Luke stepping inside to centre, further good play was again provided with the final try of the day coming from some great play from it seemed all 15 Bicester players on the pitch having a phase of play, Oscar was who had, had a great game on his return was again used to carry the ball, before the ball was with Giles, again showing power and pace who switched the ball to Chris who showed his good hands with a great running pass to Max who switched direction in attempt to break a scrambled Chinnor defence only to be just stopped in time to prevent a score, Bicester were now playing as if training and not wanting the game to be stopped so keeping the ball alive, with some champagne rugby, Max turned and lobbed the ball over the defender/tacklers head to Ryan who passed to Tom who powered through the gap in the corner, then with his previous two tries in mind Tom quickly turned to run the ball under the posts for a well deserved third try.

This Assisted with Ryan’s Conversion OVER it went!

Chinnor 5 BICESTER 29.

The game was soon to end however just before it did, Jack Taylor whilst attempting to pick up a loose ball in amongst the forwards was smashed by a hard tackle from above, Jack although shaken and with a nasty bang to the base of his spine plus a bloody nose caused by his own knee, was soon up on his feet, showing all that not only could Bicester play rugby they could also take big hits.

A BIG WELL DONE TO ALL.

It was a great performance by the boys and good to see all the supporting parents and siblings there after long break without a game.

Bring on the Banbury next week I say we will require more of the same and then a bit more.

No apologies for report being so long, you all deserved a mention plus I have not had to do one for a while.

Mark