Match Reports: Sunday 27th January 2008

Wenden’s Ambo U12, 10 – Newmarket U12, 21

In the first match of the three-way tournament Wenden’s Ambo kicked off and stunned Newmarket with an unconverted try from the second play of the game. Some poor defending allowed the opposition a clear run to the line from a scrum 10 metres out. Although Newmarket worked their way back up the steep slope with strong forward drives, especially from Nathan Buckle, Ben Jeacock and Josh Quinn, the ball was held up over the line and the opportunity to level the scores was missed. When Wenden’s Ambo re-gathered their own penalty and crossed for their second try shortly before half-time it looked as if an uncharacteristically high number of missed tackles was going to cost Newmarket dear.

However, the change of ends brought a change of fortune and from their own kick off Newmarket regained possession for Ethan Brown to touch down. Wenden’s Ambo’s re-start then went short and straight into the arms of Daniel Bristow and following his strong run, Daniel Downing was able to cross the line for his first ever try. With confidence growing from such a quick reversal of fortune, Newmarket then pinned Wenden’s Ambo in their own half. Iain Moffatt was unlucky not to chase down a long kick, but after stealing ball at the resulting lineout Newmarket won a scrum. For once the backs got quick, clean ball and, in one of the best moves of the season, it passed smoothly along the line for wing, Henry Smith, to evade his opposite number and become the second Newmarket player of the match to record his maiden try.

Royston U12, 24 – Newmarket U12, 7

The start of the game showed that Newmarket hadn’t learnt the lesson of their first match. Royston kicked long down the slope, recovered the ball and went straight over to take a 5 – 0 lead. The game had hardly re-started before Royston scored again to stretch the lead to 12 – 0. It was no surprise, and no less than they deserved, when Royston completed the half with a third try from short range.

Newmarket might have hoped that with the slope in their favour they would be able to repeat the reversal of the first match. Unfortunately they were to be disappointed. In a lacklustre performance Newmarket’s downfall was their inability to hold onto the ball in contact. Time and again they found the ball stripped away from them by the more aggressive Royston forwards who also succeeded in preventing any quality ball getting to the backs from the ruck. As a result Newmarket found themselves defending on their own try line and valiantly though they tried they couldn’t prevent Royston’s fourth try.

After some scrappy play by both sides, a rare foray by the backs saw Gwilym Davies make some progress down the middle of the pitch to gain territorial advantage. Newmarket then managed to cross the line several times, one from a blistering run from Christopher Le, only to be denied a score each time by last minute infringements. Just as it seemed that the final whistle would come before the sustained pressure could be turned into points, Daniel Downing rounded off the match with his second score of the day.