U15s H&B v Gillingham

HASTINGS & BEXHILL RFC U15s v GILLINGHAM RFC U15s

The visit of touring Gillingham Under 15s presented an opportunity for a friendly match for Hastings & Bexhill. This allowed the coaching team to shuffle the pack following the epic victory against local rivals Eastbourne in the previous match.

Sadly, the inclement weather meant that the visitors could not enjoy the picturesque setting that a visiting the Hastings ground offers. Both teams emerged from the changing room into the murk reminiscent of a classic horror film with the fog so dense the goal posts were but vague apparitions in the distance.

H & B kicked to Gillingham who instantly started with slightly more endeavour and purpose. It was clear that Gillingham were going to employ a direct style of play that would pressure H & B in the tight. This was effective in the early exchanges with an early foray into H & B’s half only being extinguished by a good tackle from returning back Finley Davies. Although H & B had difficulty getting out of their half, the game descended into a stalemate as neither team could make any significant ground until Gillingham’s greater aggression at the background starting to reward them with more possession and territory, eventually leading to a passage of play where simple recycling led to them dabbing down for unconverted try.

Indiscipline and mistakes started to creep into H & B play and a series of offsides and subsequent penalties allowed Gillingham to work their way back down the pitch and stymied any attempt by the home team to clear their lines. This coupled with effective use of the crash ball by Gillingham allowed the visitor to power over the line for a second try and a 0-12 lead.

Gillingham were certainly winning the arm wrestle up front and could increasingly assert themselves both in attack and defence. This, combined with benefitting with yet more penalties unnecessarily surrendered allowed the Gillingham forward to cross the line once more to take a 0-17 lead just before half time.

The game resumed after a significant amount of changes at half-time and a pep talk from the coaching team. The inspirational words offered clearly had an effect as H & B roared into life with more precision, purpose and penetration in attack. Prop Kai Townsend & second row Harley Willans were better utilised as physical runners and the support offered by the team allowed better retention and created space for the dangerous attack runners that H & B possess. Full back Ben Coulson embarked upon one of his mazy runs and initiated an attack that Monty Wheeler could finish to slide in between the posts for William Roberts to convert and bring the score to 7-17.

Gillingham increased their physicality even more after the restart and once more worked the ball upfield through their power runners. The waves of Gillingham were met with more organised and resilient defence however and were consistently rebuffed. H & B could not clear the ball however, and eventually the persistence and power of Gillingham was rewarded with another try in a more central position which offered an easier conversion which was executed to stretch the Gillingham lead once more to 7-24.

This season has proved how resilient this group of H & B youngsters can be and rather than allowing their heads to drop, raised their game once more. After an excellent restart, they started to win the contact area, take better decisions in attack and spread the ball more to move the Gillingham defence around. As the visiting team were starting to be outplayed and matched physically, indiscipline started to creep in and penalties mounted up against them, including answering back to the referee. Eventually, Wheeler had his hand on the ball once more and danced through a tiring Gillingham defence to score between the posts once more for Roberts to convert and bring the score to 14-24. Both the team and supporters started to believe that yet another comeback was on the cards.

The pattern of play continued after the restart with H & B applying consistent pressure on Gillingham, however their indiscipline really started to cost them with a red card being awarded to one of their players. Alas, influential fly half Roberts was injured whilst being cleared out of a ruck in a dubious manner, however H & B continued to push forward. Prop Alex Usher powered through and with two Gillingham players hanging off of him was only stopped just short of the line by a high tackle. The resulting penalty was repelled at the last by the Gillingham defence and the game petered out as both sets of players tired.

There were many positives to be taken from this game and as things clicked in the second half; the increase in pace & proactivity displayed alongside the resilience offered by the H & B Under 15s was admirable. Equally, the return from injury of Davies, mazy dangerous running of the backs and man of the match performance of hooker Taylor Beaney offer much promise for the crunch league game coming next week.

Hastings & Bexhill RFC are always looking to recruit new players from 5 years old – adult, girls and boys of all abilities. Please see our website www.hastingsrugby.org or email minis.rugby@hastingsrugby.org for more information. Hastings & Bexhill RFC prides itself on a warm welcome to all. Come and have a free, no obligation try out.

Written by Philip Usher