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Sun 12 Mar 2017 ·  U15 League 2
Bognor
Under 15 Boys
29
19
We came close by the seaside....
FIONA ROBISON12 Mar 2017 - 17:14
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Bognor 29 HEG 19
Knowing we had a small squad 16 players (the A's also fielding a whooping 17), the pre-match warm up and talk focused on position flexibility, positive attitude and ability to play as a full squad to allow us to come away with something.
Bognor fielded a similar squad to Crawley so this was going to be another hard physical contest. We held well but it was clear that the Bognor game play was to use their wings and no 15 to continually probe the blind side of the rucks and mauls. Bognor took the first score against the run of play with a run from their 22. We sought to tighten up on the rucks and mauls and compete better at the breakdown which gave us better ball, albeit a counter ruck was always a threat and on the cards. The battle axe was called, but we tended to have lone runners getting isolated too early to make it effective.
We did however press on with Mark Wint crossing over between the posts and Tom Edevane slotting through the uprights so make it 7-7. Bognor responded as we struggled to cement the pillar and posts to shut down their forwards at the breakdown but missed the conversion.
Horsham scored in the corner and a great conversion by Tom Edevane pushed our nose in front so 12-14 to Horsham at half time. Will Burchell took a knock to the shoulder and had retire at half time replaced by Paddy Wheals. We retained our shape and tackling and pressed on - no mean feat given the size mismatches and testament to good tackling technique and body positions.
Our rucking improved and more ball was moved along the lines, but yet again at the breakdown we were taken down the blind side so 19-14. We responded with Charlie Clarke going over but our conversion just hit the wrong side of the post so 19 all. And backwards and forwards it went, until again a run along the sides put Bognor in front 26-19 but still within reach. After some great defence from Horsham including a scrum against the head and a clearance kick, something special from Bognor with a drop goal from outside the 22 (rarely seen as this level and all credit to the player) score 29-19. Horsham still pressed on until the final whistle which cut short our attack 3 metres from the Bognor line. Strong performance and commitment but the bonus point, like the drop goal, just sailed away this time.
Man of the Match Jake Lawton.
We go on, we refocus, we drive over. GREEN ARMY!!!!!!!!!
Andrew Robison
Bognor fielded a similar squad to Crawley so this was going to be another hard physical contest. We held well but it was clear that the Bognor game play was to use their wings and no 15 to continually probe the blind side of the rucks and mauls. Bognor took the first score against the run of play with a run from their 22. We sought to tighten up on the rucks and mauls and compete better at the breakdown which gave us better ball, albeit a counter ruck was always a threat and on the cards. The battle axe was called, but we tended to have lone runners getting isolated too early to make it effective.
We did however press on with Mark Wint crossing over between the posts and Tom Edevane slotting through the uprights so make it 7-7. Bognor responded as we struggled to cement the pillar and posts to shut down their forwards at the breakdown but missed the conversion.
Horsham scored in the corner and a great conversion by Tom Edevane pushed our nose in front so 12-14 to Horsham at half time. Will Burchell took a knock to the shoulder and had retire at half time replaced by Paddy Wheals. We retained our shape and tackling and pressed on - no mean feat given the size mismatches and testament to good tackling technique and body positions.
Our rucking improved and more ball was moved along the lines, but yet again at the breakdown we were taken down the blind side so 19-14. We responded with Charlie Clarke going over but our conversion just hit the wrong side of the post so 19 all. And backwards and forwards it went, until again a run along the sides put Bognor in front 26-19 but still within reach. After some great defence from Horsham including a scrum against the head and a clearance kick, something special from Bognor with a drop goal from outside the 22 (rarely seen as this level and all credit to the player) score 29-19. Horsham still pressed on until the final whistle which cut short our attack 3 metres from the Bognor line. Strong performance and commitment but the bonus point, like the drop goal, just sailed away this time.
Man of the Match Jake Lawton.
We go on, we refocus, we drive over. GREEN ARMY!!!!!!!!!
Andrew Robison
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