Hastings & Bexhill U13 (10) 15 v Sevenoaks U13 (25) 50 - Sunday 12th April 2022 @ 11am

U13’s learn lessons in chastening defeat

Hastings & Bexhill U13 (10) 15 v Sevenoaks U13 (25) 50 - Sunday 12th April 2022 @ 11am

The U13’s welcomed a Sevenoaks team for the curtain raiser to the Vets charity match in memory of Nick Giles. It was a further opportunity for many of the newer boys to gain match experience.

It proved to be a steep learning curve as Sevenoaks were well coached and their forwards committed to a very effective shift around the park, making the hosts work for every inch of ground. Whilst the scrum worked very effectively, H&B’s work-rate was off throughout, with missed tackles in defence a real feature of the proceedings.

Sevenoaks started as they meant to go on, forcing H&B to cough up possession through aggressive tackling and then running in, with little opposition. MOTM Monty Wheeler, taking a turn in the forwards as No8, used his jet-powered boots to hit a long range try off loose ball to equalize.

H&B were delighted to see the return from injury, of front rows Teddie Selfe and James Barry. Both brought diligence throughout and Selfe announced himself to the visitors with a particularly effective tackle. The front row was highly effective throughout in gaining an upper hand in the scrum.

Sevenoaks scored a second try with determined running but a lack of pressure on the gain line was at the root of the problem. Sevenoaks then suffered a nasty injury to one of their number and a promising H&B attack was snuffed out with winger, Charlie Jones being bundled into touch. Sevenoaks were utilizing double-tackles throughout, so effective in forcing H&B momentum to stall, either in coughing up ball or slowing the ruck to allow defensive regrouping. It was a hard disciplined display by Sevenoaks pack, giving time for their backs to shine and attack off both sides of ruck or scrum.

Sevenoaks got a third try by getting width on the ball, from another scrum. Again, a lack of tackling from the host’s. H&B kept responding with nice moments but too often they were isolated and the team work rate and tackling of Sevenoaks overwhelmed the attacking momentum of the hosts, who continued to put promising moves together without the confidence and accuracy to execute them.

Another injury to a Sevenoaks player did not dent their plans, with one won against the head, allowing Sevenoaks to score in the corner. 20-5. Wheeler popped up with loose ball from the following kick off and finished off for his and his team’s second. Unfortunately, straight from kick off, Sevenoaks ran the ball strongly back into H&B’s half and with time, putting more width on the ball that allowed for a straightforward 5th try. Sevenoaks forwards were by now in the ascendancy and H&B were looking hard for a way back into the game.

Again, another promising attack took H&B via winger, Zane Wickens deep into Sevenoaks territory. A turnover allowed Sevenoaks to kick clear but front row, Alex Usher took a lovely catch over his shoulder and having made ground back toward the try line, popped up a nice pass off the floor. It was snuffed out with alert defence and Sevenoaks cleared to touch, summing up much of the hosts efforts and bringing an end to the first half.

The second half started with Tom Woodbridge chasing the kick off and gathering a loose ball, eventually being stopped by a double tackle on the 5 metre line. The attack continued and moving left to right, it was eventually cleared by Sevenoaks via an awkward kick that scrum half/winger, Finley Davies had to work hard to gather and reset the attack. Again, despite a nice passing passage to the right corner, H&B could not work Ben Coulsen into corner, with a last ditch tackle putting him into touch. Coulsen picking up an injury for his brave effort.

From here on in, Sevenoaks worked up the pitch to score their sixth try, soon to be followed by a seventh, eighth, ninth and finally tenth. H&B were well beaten on the day. The recurring pattern here was a lack of collective work rate, tackling and organisation by H&B, which gave Sevenoaks the opportunity to show their best features. Credit though for an excellent eighth try, which was a real team effort, beautifully finished. H&B centre, Rupert Sheppard responded to Sevenoaks eighth by catching the kick off and returning the length of the pitch, slalomed through a grasping defence, for a fine individual score.

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 Sean Woodbridge