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U10’s Match Reports 2007-8

January 13th U10’s vs Caldy (Home) Won 5-2
It was a big grudge match with Northwich having the opportunity to avenge the defeat in the Cheshire Plate final 2007. Northwich started very well and soon started to dominate the game, especially in the scrum which Caldy found far too strong. Some great ripping work by Alex "Snakes" produced an early opportunity which was scored due to great support play. Caldy worked well at the line out, winning long ball but the Northwich defence held well with very few tackles missed. The Northwich scrum became more dominant as the game progressed, setting up good ball for Matt to launch his trademark mazey runs with Rauiri providing the support to score. A fantastic performance by all the team after the xmas break, final score 5-2 to Northwich which could have been 6 if "snakes" remembered where the try line was. Well done to you all.

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January 27th U10’s vs Winnington Park & Wirral (Away)
Winnington Park Won 6-4, Wirral Won 8-1 & Drawn 2-2
Today’s games were played against Wirral and the old adversaries Winnington Park. All the team knew they were in for a hard mornings rugby as we had already faced Wirral at the start of the season and had been given a lesson in rucking and Winnington Park (well you can’t loose against them without suffering a years ‘we beat you’ at school).

We had a full turnout again, so we had a full squad to call upon. Rolling subs being the order of the day against larger squads. The first game was to be against Wirral’s second string. We started well winning good ball but kept making the same old mistakes of not driving over at the ruck to secure good ball. With good play the tries started to come and by half time we were in a commanding position of 4-1 up. The scrum was looking very strong again and turned defence into attack with excellent team work (well done Tom, Emily, Patrick and Reiss). This allowed Rauri at scrum half to feed good ball to the backs with Matt, George, Snakes, James, Libby and the Henderson’s all having good runs. There was plenty of good support play which turned the runs into more scores ending in an 8-1 victory. Great play by Shaun and Jack when they came on. Finney wasn’t happy with the lack of rucking and the team received a talking too to prepare them for the next game against the Wirral first string.

The second game would be a much harder fought affair. Having lost to this Wirral team 1-5 earlier in the year mainly due to their superior rucking. It was time to step up to the plate and show the coaches and supporters what we were made of.

The Wirral started strongly but the Northwich defence was a match to anything they could throw at us, with excellent work to stop Wirral just short of our try line. The scrum again showed its metal and matched the opposition, helping the backs to launch attacks (squeeze, knees, push was working). This time however we did not allow Wirral to dominate at the rucks and surprised them with our urgency and work rate. Northwich took the lead with a great score in the corner but were caught cold still celebrating at the restart allowing Wirral to break tackles and score. A great pep talk at half time re-energised the pack. More good work followed in the 2^nd half and the shear pressure exhorted by Northwich on the Wirral backs lead to a mistake and dropped pass which Rauri pounced on scoring in the corner and if it wasn’t for some last ditch tackles by Wirral, Northwich could have scored more. In the dying seconds of the game Wirral launched there last attack down the wing and were generously rewarded with a score in the corner after stepping into touch. The game ended 2-2 and was one of the best performances ever by this team.

Now for the crunch match, with local pride and bragging rites at stake it was time to take on Winnington Park in their back yard. There was a nervous anticipation amongst the crowd. Park looked a big side and we would have to be at our best. It was the worst possible start, Park made a strong run and dived over the line (not strictly allowed) but the score was given. We regrouped, got our game heads on and started to dominate in all areas of play. The scrum again won good ball and turned defence into attack. The rucking at the break down was again top notch and we were soon level. More scores followed from Matt and snakes resulting in a 1-3lead at the half. The pack was in a buoyant mood and started the second half were they left off opening up a 2-5 lead. The spectators sensed that victory was ours but Park had other ideas. They rallied with pride at stake and reduced the deficit to 4-5, but it was not to be and Northwich produce the final score of the game making it 4-6. I’m sure that the team will have fun at school on Monday.

No man of the match was awarded as today was a total team effort and we didn’t have 13 trophies to give out. You can all be proud of the heart, effort and team work shown. May the rucking be with you.

Match 1 WIRRAL 1 – 8 NORTHWICH
Match 2 WIRRAL 2 – 2 NORTHWICH
Match 3 WINNINGTON PARK 4 – 6 NORTHWICH

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February 3rd U10’s vs Crewe & Nantwich (Home) Lost 10-3
It was a cold wind that blew across Moss Farm this morning. Crew and Nantwich were the visiting team and brought 2 full teams with them. The Northwich squad were 1 short of full numbers and it was decided to play 4 quarters, with Northwich using rolling subs.

Northwich started with the same line up that had beaten Park so convincingly last week.From the start it was clear that Northwich were affected by the cold conditions far more than our visitors. Crewe and Nantwich started the better with good play, moving the ball quickly with short passes out to their wing. With missed tackles from Northwich the score was 0-2 at the end of the quarter. We also lost Libby to an ankle injury. The score could have been more without some last ditch tackles from Matt.

The second quarter started much the same as the 1^st with C&N moving the ball about quickly. Northwich were able to put some scores on the board through Rauiri and Matt, but missed tackles again cost dear. The quarter ended 2-4 to the visitors.

C&N made wholesale changes in the third quarter and again played their short passing game. Northwich made some good runs in broken play but failed to find the killer pass when the overlap was on. This resulted in a 0-3 score line.

4th quarter and time to play for our pride Northwich started well, with some good running and the scrum started to work better. Matt went in for a score in the corner though C&N levelled soon after. The quarter ending 1-1.

The strong cold wind seemed to affect the Northwich game and never really got going. The short passing game plan adopted by C&N was much more effective in these conditions.

Training next Sunday, be prepared.

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February 24th U10’s vs Congleton (Away) Won 7-3
It was an away fixture today for the Blacks at Congleton, with the heavens opening just before kick off. Congleton had a squad of 8 players so Northwich kindly provided the 9^th player for each of the 4 quarters. A big thank you to James, Patrick, Alex and Rauiri for pulling on the red, white and black of Congleton.

The first quarter started with a torrential downpour and it was the Blacks who got into their stride much quicker. Excellent runs and driving over at the rucks produced great chances which resulted in a 0-4 score line courtesy of tries from Matt, George, Reiss and Thomas. James produced some fine tackling whilst playing for Congleton to keep the score down.

The second quarter was to be much more closely contested and it was Patrick who opened the scoring but was wearing the colours of Congleton at the time. From the restart Reiss went on one of his barging runs and broke tackles to score in the corner. The game started to be come a tight affair though Congleton never really used their Giant forward to his full ability. The score ending 1-1.

The third quarter went much the same way as the second but this time the Blacks defence had “snakes” to contend with. Once again the Northwich player in the Congleton colours scored first, through and outstanding solo run. Northwich produced some good play though started to spoil the overlaps by not running straight. This eased the pressure on the Congleton defence and it was late in the quarter before Matt took the ball from the back of a ruck to get in for the score. The quarter ended 1-1.

The final quarter again went the same way as the last with Northwich having good territory, but again closing off the space of the overlap through not running straight. It was Joe who scored his first try for the Blacks through a solo run beating the Congleton defence for pace. Congleton started to pressurise for the equaliser and this can from their Giant forward who powered his way to the Northwich line. Again the quarter ended 1-1.

Final score 3-7 to Northwich. Man of the match: Joe

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March 2nd U10’s vs Macclesfield (Away) Won 4-3
Today was a visit away to Macclesfield. The Blacks arrived in Macc to find the sun shining, though a cold strong wind was blowing. Northwich began their warm up focusing on short passes taken with soft hands in order to combat the windy conditions.

The Blacks started off with only 8 players (due to Mothers day and someone forgetting that we were away), so thanks go to George who pulled a Black shirt on over his Macc blue. The game was to be played over 10 minute sessions.

Macc started and it was Tom who was straight into the tackling the likes of which we have never seen from him before. Macc had a large pack and it would take better tackling from all of the team to stop them. This Northwich did to a man and girl, with ball coming from the rucks and fast short passing the scores started to come from Matt. He was feed ball from strong runs by Tom, Reiss and Rauiri and finished his chances well. The players were looking outside them for the overlaps and used them well ending the period 1-3 in the lead.

Northwich to start and Reiss had one of his bulldozing runs into the heart of the Macc defence and did as instructed by not loosing the ball, this set Northwich put with good ball and once again the Macc defence was stretched a great pass from Libby out to James came close but a last ditch defence from Macc prevented the score. Northwich were awarded a scrum and held it well to retain the ball, a quick pass out from Rauiri to Matt produced another score. Macc came back at us and it took some great defensive tackling from Northwich to stop them. Eventually Macc’s pressure told and they managed to get the equalising score to end the period 1-1.

Third and final period and it was Northwich who were into their tackling the quickest at the restart. Again Tom and Matt were pressurising the Macc attacks. Joe picked up the ball from a ruck and made a strong run down the right wing only to be tackled 5 meters short of the try line. Northwich continued to pressure but a wayward high pass in the wind was picked up by Macc and lead to a score. The game was now poised at 3-4 to Northwich and with Macc not wanting to go down at home they went for the equalising try. Great last ditch defence from James and Joe and Jack saved the try. The whistle blew and the Blacks had taken a great scalp 3-4.

Squad: Jack, James, Joe, Libby, Matt, Rauiri, Reiss, Tom, George
Man of the Match: Tom 

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March 16th U10’s vs Knutsford (Home) Lost 6-1
Northwich had a 12 player squad available going into this game. Knutsford were to be a very tough test for the Blacks, but after the performance against Macclesfield there was an air of expectancy.

The game was to be played over 4 x 10 minute periods. Knutsford started the stronger and got into their game right from the off. The Blacks seemed jaded and it was Knutsford who played with more urgency and desire. The first period ended with Knutsford scoring 2 unanswered tries.

Knutsford rang the changes for the second period and Northwich started to make some headway in the scrum, though the blitz defence of Knutsford continued to put the pressure on. It was Northwich who scored 1^st after a well held scrum that allowed Matt Ward at scrum half to take the ball and score a great solo try in the right corner. This was to be the Blacks only score of the game. Knutsford equalised just before the break.

The third period saw Knutsford return to the same team as the first. Hungry for more tries Knutsford turned the screw and through a winger that even Matt had trouble getting to they put on 3 scores. The forth and final period was a hard fought affair with neither team giving ground and a stalemate ensued, with the period ending 0-0. Northwich showed more of what they were made of.

We were beaten by a team who simply wanted the game more and to a player we need to switch on right from the off. We know we can do it!

Man of the match : Sean 
Tries: Matt x 1

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