Match Reports - Newmarket v Swaffham Sunday 13th January

Newmarket U12, 14 – 0 Swaffham U12

A try in each half was enough to give Newmarket victory in the first game. The key to the win however was a very determined tackling performance against a Swaffham side with a quick backline and forwards who were strong in the loose.

Swaffham showed their intent early in the game, stripping the ball from the Newmarket backs at the kick-off but then being driven into touch before they could take full advantage. This set the pattern for the game with the Newmarket forwards providing a solid platform at the lineouts and scrums, but struggling to pick up and go from the rucks. With slow ball coming to the backs, Oliver Green made good use of some tactical kicking from hand to establish territorial advantage, but the home side were unable to turn territory into points until the last play of the first half. In a driving maul from a penalty on Swaffham’s 10 metre line Newmarket drove Daniel Bristow over for a try, by the narrowest of margins.

The second half followed a similar pattern with solid tackling needed to stop the runs of Swaffham’s increasingly influential Number 10. It finshed in an identical way with Newmarket’s second try coming with the last play of the game. Chris Le and Joe Stafford who had been introduced into the second row as an injury replacement interchanged some slick passing before Stafford picked up from the ruck to dive over.

Newmarket U12, 7 – 21 Swaffham U12

Swaffham might have regarded themselves as slightly unfortunate not to have scored in the first match, but they quickly put that right in the second. They caught Newmarket with two converted tries in the first few minutes, before the home side switched on. Once they did, the remainder of the half was much more balanced, with Newmarket unlucky not to score, having a try disallowed for a knock-on on the line.

Early in the second half they did reduce the deficit, with the try of the day after some great support play close to the ruck by Bristow created an opening for Joe Stafford to convert from 5 metres out. But Swaffham had the last word with their Number 10 touching down in the corner for his second try of the match following a mazy cross field run.

Honours were even and both teams deserved to be congratulated for the spirit in which both matches were played.