Malvern U13s 41 pts, Bromsgrove U13s 7 pts

The final score in this match was not the most rewarding aspect of the game. What pleased the coaches far more was that the whole team had learned from their performance in a tournament the previous week, had listened to what was said in training, and put some of the lessons into practice in their next game.

The forwards played as a unit throughout the game, not just in their rucking and mauling, but also in the loose, where they ran the ball in twos and threes, rather than letting a single runner get isolated. Their technique is improving and they frequently managed to turn over the opposition’s ball. Added to this was a sound scrum, and the overall platform was for decent possession through the first two thirds of the match.

The half backs directed the game very astutely – sometimes kicking sensibly for position, but also trying to get the ball out wide to use the space around the pitch. The backs linked well and ran much straighter lines and, like the pack, they supported each other much better.

After the first ten minutes had been pretty even, all this possession started to produce a regular procession of tries, and by the time the game entered its final phase, Malvern were 41-0 ahead. Bromsgrove then fought back and managed to exert some pressure in the home 22 but, another plus, the Malvern tackling was fierce and it was only in the last few minutes that the visitors ran in a consolation try.

After such a good all round team performance it would be wrong to single out individuals for praise but, for the record, the try scorers were Max Holt (2), Ben Jones, Jack Travis, Tom Crooks, Callum Loader and Ben Kite. March Cossali-Francis added three conversions.

Paul Clixby
Team Manager U13s

Updated: 20 October, 2009