U16s away at Waterloo

Date: 13 October 2014

Waterloo U16s  17  Hoppers U16  17
Blacksticks Blue Challenge Cup Round 1
Sunday 5th October

Judging by the supporter’s cheers and player’s celebrations the home team from Merseyside were clearly more delighted to escape with a draw after a largely one sided game dominated by Hoppers, played on a postage stamp of a pitch. This may have been an obvious tactic to limit the pace and power of the Grasshoppers backs.

It quickly became clear that Waterloo have based their game around their one leading player who intimidated his way around the pitch and enjoyed spoiling the visitors attacks. There wasn’t much protection from the referee and Grasshoppers spent a frustrating hour being pinged back for a variety of minor infringements.

Once unleashed great back moves resulted in tries being scored by Aaron Reed and Callum Owen which were both converted by the lively Matt Sturgess.

Concentration probably cost the Preston side a well deserved victory as every time they scored the opposition made quick work and went over for easy tries.

The Grasshoppers forwards led by the energetic Morgan Sword and tireless Sam Tickle got the team into a good position and a penalty given away by the home side let Sturgess convert to level the points at 17 all.

The home team were happy to run the clock down for the final few minutes. It was most definitely a game that Hoppers felt they could and should have won.

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