U15s at Burnley

Date: 19 September 2014

Burnley RUFC U15 vs Hoppers U15
Practice game
14th September

Hoppers started the season with a practice game against Burnley at their ground. The first time Hoppers had visited the Burnley ground in our age group. The practice game was split into 4 quarters to give coaches the opportunity to let as many players as possible get a spell on the field. The weather was very good for rugby, mild with little wind, but not too hot.

Burnley kicked off and conceded straight from the first play, with Jake fielding the kick off before storming down the right wing, outpacing the defense to score under the posts with the conversion made by Jake. The pattern was set where, unfortunately for Burnley, Hoppers were just too strong and fast, whatever selection we fielded. Ryan L scored hoppers’ second try and his first on his return to Hoppers. After another strong run from the Burnley kick off by Lewis, good handling by the backs put him away on the left wing.

Hoppers were also dominant in the scrum all day depriving Burnley of any decent possession, and after a couple of missed opportunities the pressure told with Harvey taking advantage of a strong run again by Jake to jink through to score. The next score came from Ryan again in the left hand corner after good work by the forwards. Ryan scored his hat trick soon after, having outpaced the cover for the previous scores, he showed his strength by powering trough the middle of the forwards, then sprinting 50m to go over the line. Lewis added to the score before the end of the quarter with the subsequent conversion made.

The second quarter started with a much changed Hoppers team, but the pattern of the match was the same. Burnley received the kick off, but were under real pressure immediately and Sam M on his return from injury last season intercepted the loose ball, to score – converting himself with a deft drop kick. Ethan had an excellent game at stand off, and scored himself after good work on the right wing by Jamie and a powerful run in to score, Ethan also slotted the conversion.

Will set up another try with a strong run back from a Burnley kick off, with Ryan linking well with Tom W, eventually feeding Tom W back inside to score. Soon after the score was increased with Jake also getting his hat trick but missing the conversion. Ollie scored his first of the season when a great kick over the top by Ethan was not collected by the Burnley defense, Ollie gathering and going over to score.

The Burnley players were still trying really hard and never gave up, or let their heads drop. They struggled, though, in the set pieces and after taking one against the head in the scrum, Lewis picked up from No 8 and ran straight at their defense, before popping off the ball to Tom N who went over to score.

The third quarter was similar in pattern and saw tries from Will and Jamie, before a debut try from Agus from Majorca. Bien hecho en su primera puntuacón. Tom W finished off the quarter converting his own try. The fourth quarter saw tries from Nathan (2), Jake and Harvey.

A successful first outing for the lads, who are looking forward to the start of the season proper in a couple of weeks. Training next week before Waterloo away the following week.

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