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U14’s Match Reports 2006-7
September 24th U14’s vs Congleton (Home) Won 62-24
Northwich U14`s got their season off to a flying start with a 62-24 home win over Congleton. After a tight first ten minutes, Northwich forwards over powered the opposition allowing stand off Sam Gough to bulldoze through for the 1st of his 3 tries. Congleton replied with a well worked try otf their own. Half time at 17-7 in front, Northwich upped the pace. Good handling got the ball out to wing man Nathan Jefford who out paced the defence for his first try, two more touchline runs saw Jefford complete his hat-trick. Congleton came back with 2 tries and a conversion, However Northwich centre Paul Blakeman’s skillful running saw him score two tries.
Man of the match Tom Richards got in for one as did Josh McCormack. 6 conversions from Sam Gough brought the total to 62. However Congleton dug deep and got in at the corner in the last play of the game.
Tries Conversions
Sam Gough 3 Sam Gough 6
Nathan Jefford 3
Paul Blakeman 2
Tom Richards
Josh McCormack
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October 1st U14’s vs Crewe & Nantwich (Home) Won 36-0
Northwich u14`s secured a 36-0 win over Crewe & Nantwich, in a forwards orientated game. Some gutsy defending & 2 trys from winger Nathan Jefford (conv S. Gough) saw the half time score at 12-0. From the restart N`wich took the game to C&N. The N`wich pack kept C&N pinned back in their own half for most of the remainder of the match. Prop Jonathan Dale’s strength saw him shrug off several tackles to cross the line, with 2 more from Jefford. A jinking run got a try for centre Paul Blakeman & 2 more conversions from captain Sam Gough sealed the match.
Tries Conv
Nathan Jefford (4) Sam Gough (3)
Jonny Dale
Paul Blakeman
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October 15th U14’s vs Wilmslow (Home) Lost 58-0
Northwich U14`s, due to a very lacklustre performance at home lost to Wilmslow 58-0. Apart from 1 or 2 good performances they played with out commitment and as individuals not as a team. Due to some very poor tackling Wilmslow ran in 3 quick tries, from which Northwich never recovered. More poor defence and a refusal to secure loose ball led to a half time score of 39-0.The 2nd half showed more promise, a slightly better defence held the score to 19-0. Northwich came close to scoring on several occasions but due to playing as individuals and not as a team they never crossed the line.
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October 29th U14’s vs Macclesfield (Away) Lost 81-19
A robust start from N`wich and some superb handling from the backs saw Nathan Jefford get in under the posts inside of 3 minutes. Sam Gough duly converted.Good power and ball retention from the forwards,saw the Macc defence split allowing Mark Stone to get in for one, on the 15 minute mark, then macc` pulled one back followed by a second that was converted. With all things level, some good rucking from the forward`s and once again excellent handling from the backs saw Jefford outpace the defence, once again, to get in under the posts for the second time. Sam Gough once again adding the extra`s. However Macc` came back and due to some very poor defence got in twice more (one converted) before the break, seeing the half time score at 24-19 to the hosts.
Macclesfield came out for the second half prepared to "run it" at N`wich, which they did with huge success. The poor defence, general idleness, refusal to tackle and lack of character by n`wich saw Macc` romp away , their backs having an absolute free hand. In the second half N`wich played to about 20% of their true potential and did their selves, the coaches and the club a massive injustice, with a final score of 81-19 to the hosts.
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November 12th U14’s vs Whitchurch (Away) Lost 24-12
Whitchurch chose to play 4 quarters rather than 2 halves. A revitalized and well disciplined Northwich piled the pressure on Whitchurch from the start, opting to keep the ball tight, a ploy that worked until a play from one of the numerous penalty`s awarded to Whitchurch saw the Northwich defence stretched and Whitchurch got in at the corner. A well taken conversion added the extra 2. Northwich fought back and were rewarded when Nathan Jefford, playing atoutside centre, crossed the line. Sam Gough duly converted, seeing the 1st quarter all level. Some very good team work from N`wich saw w`church on the back foot in the 2nd quarter, however they took opportunities when they arose and got in for a 5 pointer. The Northwich pressure told, and in the 3rd quarter a scrum inside the W`church "22" gave quick ball to stand off Sam Gough, who used his strength to bulldoze through the defence to level the score. However W`church replied with a converted try.In the final quarter man of the match, Kieran Shaw, playing at open wing, broke through the defence, for what should have been a score but a lack of support let Whitchurch clear their lines. Whitchurch later got in at the corner for a generous 5 pointer.
The scoreline does not reflect the all round good performance from Northwich, playing as a team and putting in some big tackles against a well drilled side.
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November 26th U14’s vs Congleton (Away) Won 32-17
On a very heavy sloping pitch, with some key players playing out of position, Northwich struggled to retain ball against a larger pack. However Johnny Reilly, (flanker) supporting the backs got in at the corner to open the scoring for N`wich. Nathan Jefford taking on the kicking duties in the absence of Sam Gough, failed to convert. However, playing at inside centre, the ball came to Jefford just inside the c`ton half. He shrugged off the 1st two tacklers, wrong footed the 3rd and out paced the rest of the field to get in under the posts, but failed to convert. Northwich absorbed some fierce attacks from c`ton on several occasions. Just before half time Gavin Vaughan (flanker) picked up a spilt ball from c`ton, burst through the f`wards, shrugged off two tackles, danced round two more defenders to get in for a 5 pointer, the 1st half ending 17-0 in Northwich`s favour.The 2nd half saw C`ton come out with a renewed determination, keeping it tight in the forwards they eventually broke the N`wich defence for a 5 pointer. N`wich quickly replied with a 5 pointer of their own courtesy of Gavin Vaughan.Some good defence held c`ton out for the next 10 minutes, however they eventually got over after a string of penaltys against n`wich. Tom Richards playing at 10 soon replied however but now on kicking duty failed to take the extra 2 points. Some poor tackling from n`wich allowed c`ton in for a breakaway try this one being converted. Tom Richards, from a scrum in the c`ton half, got the ball out to Jefford who beat the defence only to get bought down inches from the line, but Richards had stayed in support and dumped the ball over the line for an easy try, this time he made the conversion. N`wich then went on to staunch a volley of attacks from C`ton, who did cross the line again but the n`wich defence `s quick thinking in getting under the ball prevented the score. At the final whistle it was a win for n`wich 32-17.
Tries conv`s
Reilly Richards
Jefford
Vaughan (2)
Richards (2)
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February 25th U14’s vs Warrington (Away) Lost 40-14
Due to a succession of cancelled matches the trip to Warrington was the u14`s first match of 2007.
Things started well when after 10 minutes Sam Gough (c) put up a well weighted kick from about the 10 metre line for Nathan Jefford to chase. Warrington’s full back caught it in his in goal area but spilt the ball when he was flattened by Jefford, who was alert enough to get to his feet and dive on the ball for the first score, which Sam Gough converted for the extra 2. The N`wich forwards despite winning nearly every scrum, thanks to the efforts of the front row of Sweeney, Puds & Atherton, struggled to secure 2nd phase ball and left the backs with little else to do but defend, which they did well.
Tom Richards quick thinking saw him getting under a Warrington player to hold up a try. Despite this, half time saw N`wich 12 points adrift. In the 2nd half N`wich forwards inability to win lineouts, due to not competing for them, and reluctance to get to the breakdown and fight for possession cost them dear, with Warrington running in 3 well worked tries and having 2 more held up by Jefford and Gough.The last ten minutes however, with Warrington tiring, saw N`wich make a stand and they pinned their opponents back in their half. Nearly every time the ball got out to the backs they looked threatening, only to be thwarted by some last ditch tackles. With 5 minutes to go the ball came out to Jefford on the wing, thanks to some good handling from the backs. Jefford outpaced the defence from halfway to get in under the posts, Sam Gough adding the 2 with a quick drop kick.Despite keeping the pressure on N`wich were unable to cross the line again. If the first 50 minutes had been played like the last 10, the scoreline could have been very different. But credit to Warrington who played a good game.
M.O.M. was Stefan Haspell who, playing out of position at full back had a superb game. I dont think he missed a single one on one, or catch and played some very intelligent rugby. WELL DONE !
Tries Jefford (2) Conversions Gough (2)
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March 11th 25th U14’s vs Crewe & Nantwich (Away) Won 24-3
C&N played host to Northwich u14`s at Brine Leas school playing fields in Nantwich. The pitches were very wet and boggy ,not suited to fast flowing rugby. Up against a much larger pack the forwards appeared to have their work cut out. However the front row (Sweeney, Puds & Atherton ) shone once again, winning plenty of ball despite being driven backwards, this making the scrum halfs work difficult.The 1st score came courtesy of Chris Southern, who picked the ball from the back of a ruck on the C&N line and dived over for a 5 pointer. C&N fought back down field and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, for handling in the ruck. Strangely they opted for the 3 points rather than using their big forwards. 1st half ending 3-5.
After instruction from coach Mike Penny at half time and playing down the slope, Northwich piled on the pressure and got the reward when Gavin Vaughan (8) broke from the back of a scrum, darted down the blind side, committed two defenders, off loaded to Nathan Jefford who shrugged off two attempted tackles, outpaced the rest of the defence to get in under the posts, sadly the conversion was missed. C&N came back and did get in under the posts but the Northwich defence were smart enough to get under the ball and "hold up" the ball. Northwich won the following scrum and cleared their lines. From then on it was all Northwich, the forwards retaining possession in the rucks and Matthew Flaherty controlling things at scrum half gave the backs good ball. The pressure told when, from a ruck 10 metres out the ball found its’ way to Sam Gough at 10 and there was no stopping him from that distance once he had sniffed the line. Gough converted his own try for the extra 2. C& N were struggling to find a reply and Northwich suffered a few injuries due to some flying knees and elbows. Full back Stefan Haspell should be sporting a black eye on Monday morning but despite the forearm in the face, for which the C&N prop should have been "binned" but wasn’t, Haspell still took his man.
Some good handling and support play saw the best move of the game unfold down the very boggy right hand side. Half a dozen passes left the C&N defence in disarray allowing Tom Richards the space out wide to not only get over the line in the corner but to ground the ball a lot closer to the posts. Sam Gough obliging with the extra 2, this the ref decided was to be the last play of the game.
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April 14th-15th Scottish Internationa Tournament Ayr - Plate winners
N`wich 26-5 Ledbury.
This was our 1st match on the Saturday scheduled to k.o. at 17.00. we arrived at 15.30 to be told that all the games were running 90 minutes late....."great start" However it did give us the chance to give Ken`s lads some support and get in a really good warm up, which paid off.
The 1st half saw N`wich in control and some good handling by the backs got the ball out to Nathan Jefford on the wing who once again outpaced the defence to get in under the posts, Sam Gough adding the extra 2. However Ledbury came back with a 5 pointer, which saw half time 7-5 to N`wich.
Proving that they do take notice of the h`time talk, the ball was kept tight in the forwards and from a line out on the 22 the pack got a driving maul going, pushing Ledbury back over the line, Josh Mc Cormick grounding the ball for a 5 pointer. Sam Gough was next to bulldoze his way over, from 15 metres out he received the ball saw the line and despite the defensive line it was always going to be a score, goughy converted his own score.
Then came what the team voted the "try of the tour". A scrum just inside the Ledbury half, gave N`wich the chance to use a new set move. N`wich won the scrum, a "scoop" ball from No8 Gavin Vaughan to Goughy standing deep & square. Goughy put up a high kick into the left corner for Jefford to chase, Jefford outpaced two defenders, juggled the ball in the air twice, secured it, stepped the full back and got in under the posts to make another easy 2 points for Goughy.
Macclesfield 17-5 N`wich.
Being a local match as it were, it was always going to be hotly contested. Due to a couple of incidents I didn`t get to see too much of this match. After 5 minutes and 7 points down we were still well in the game when a display of unbelievable ill discipline from N`wich saw the structure of the team blown apart and from this point on the game was lost. Basically the Macc backs were given too much space and poor tackling allowed them to get the scores. A bit of "handbags" in the first half which wasnt pounced on by the ref laid the foundations for what was to come, Our Hooker "Pudsey" came off at half time with a shoulder injury, which turned out to be a broken "something," therefore his weekend was over.
Gavin Vaughan was next to go down. Whilst on the ground he received a head injury which needed stitching. Once again the ref took no action even though this was a blatant attack which every one else saw. I shuffled the positions again and left them to it as I was dealing with injuries. In fairness to the Macc` coaches, they found me next morning to check Gav was o.k. which apart from a headache and a new hairstyle he was. They expressed their regret at the incident and told me that the player responsible for Gav`s injury had been suspended from the club for the rest of the season, indeed he took no more part in the weekend. Due to the delays during the day we didn`t get to play our third game on Saturday, which meant we had to play at least 3 games on the Sunday.
Ysrad Rhondda 10-7 N`wich.
Due to our toll of injuries a couple of lads who had gone to Ken’s squad came back to us. The standard of ref`ing in this game beggared belief , even the Rhondda guys didn’t know if they had won the game fairly. However Rhondda were a very big mobile team and our guys did well to stay with them. To lose by only 3 points shows how well our guys did, sadly the details of this match have got lost in my small brain somewhere.
Ayr 12-0 N`wich
This was without a doubt the biggest team our lads have ever come up against, I wouldn`t have fancied having to stop some of those guys myself and we had to come into this game straight after the Rhondda game. Once again the details are lost but the 2 Ayr tries were well worked and deserved. The N`wich lads defended with great determination and certain individuals put in hit after hit after hit to deny Ayr a far greater margin. N`wich came close to crossing the line on several occasions but the Ayr defence was up to the task and denied us a score. We now had a break before our next game, so a chance to re-group and get a quick look at our next opponent, Stratford-Upon-Avon, who were playing Rhondda and indeed beat them.
N`wich 7-0 Stratford
Just before the K.O. we were told that if we won this match we would go through to play off for the shield, this I think gave the lads the lift they needed. Working to instruction our lads kept the ball tight and played most of the match in the Stratford half but just couldn’t get over the line. We had the S`ford lineout tactic sussed and closed them down every time, denying them a platform to work from as our scrum was also stronger. Eventually we got the break through we wanted when the ball found it`s way out to Jefford on the wing, with space, his pace did the rest getting in near the post for Goughy to add the extra 2. The last 5 minutes were a nail-biter reminiscent of the 1st teams cup game against Stratford, we were so close to the 2nd score but credit to S`ford they defended well enough to deny N`wich a 2nd score what a relief when the final whistle went.
This put us through to play Malton and Norton for the SHIELD !!!!!
Malton & Norton 7-28 Northwich
This match didn’t K.O. till turned 7 o`clock, this might have been a good thing as it was a bit cooler by then. The lads although completely knackered by now got a 2nd wind from somewhere. The news of the 1st teams victory and the thought of a trophy of their own spurred them on.
From the K.O. N`wich took the game to Malton. The scrum worked well, giving our backs some good ball, and some slick handling and determined running from the backs resulted in 4 tries in the 1st half all converted by Sam Gough. The 2nd half was a different story, Malton changed tactics and decided to keep it tight and take us on up front rather than risk our backs cutting loose again. By now our lads were exhausted but managed to keep Malton out, clearing their line on several occasions. Then as a result of a "held up" ball under the N`wich posts a 5 metre scrum was awarded, which N`wich duly won, however a mix up at the back of the scrum resulted in a loose ball which Malton dived on for a 7 pointer. This being the last score of the match N`wich ran out worthy winners 28-7 and returned home with a well deserved trophy.
Apart from one incident, the conduct of the squad was admirable on the pitch as well as off it. I must confess I had more than a few concerns before we left but these proved to be completely unfounded. The lads were a credit not only to the club but more importantly to themselves.
WELL DONE LADS !!!!!!!!!
Tour Awards
Players Player....Gavin Vaughan
Best Score........Nathan Jefford
Coaches award....Sam Gough
Coaches player.....The front row....Sweeney, Puds, Liam, Davy
Last and by no means least we would like to say a huge THANKS to Ken Houghton for organising the tour and all the assistance he and his gang gave us whilst in Scotland. Thanks also go to Ian Dale, Bob Phillips and of course to NURSE Mc CORMICK, for tending to the injured. Have to get you a uniform for next year Ann, unless you`ve already got one of course, lol ????????
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