Match Report U14s Harrow 5 vs 69 Vees
Vees travelled to Harrow for their opening match of the season, captained by Gethin in the first half. Harrow started strongly, receiving the kick off in the forwards and running the ball a quarter of a pitch before Vees managed to bring them down. Harrow strung together a few phases, then the Vees pack, turned the ball over and Gethin took the ball in his own 22 and ran a scintillating line through the Harrow defenders, evading everyone to score under the posts. Felix, playing only for the second time for Vees, kicked the conversion. Score 0-7.
Vees now settled into their stride, the forwards appeared completely at ease with the new Flanker positions brought in this season. Eddie and Archie disrupted the rucks and forced errors and Henry R, was lightening quick at scrum half to capitalise on any loose ball. The backs really started to fire up with the ball zipping down the line in some beautiful passing to Dapo, who powered through the defence to open his season’s account with a try in the corner. Dapo followed up with a second try within minutes of his first, having been exquisitely set up by Seb, who selflessly drew 2 defenders before making a perfectly weighted pass to his fellow centre. Score 0-17
Harrow were not to be discounted and pulled one back, following some strong forward play and very sharp opportunistic play from a scrum, which led to a run up the blind side that the Vees defence couldn’t stop. James did ensure that Harrow put the ball down out wide and the Harrow conversion, while a sweetly struck kick, didn’t have the power to make it over the posts. Score 5-17.
Vees were under pressure again when Harrow again attacked up their right wing, the winger kicked ahead, but the ball was gathered in by Gethin who counter attacked from within his own 22 with another of his trade mark “slippery fish” runs to score under the uprights. Felix kicked the conversion.
Harrow forced a knock on from Vees in the next phase and so the 2 packs scrummed down against one another. The Vees pack, with Bodie and Arthur in the engine room at second row was utterly dominant, pushing Harrow back over the ball, Henry R quickly spread the ball out to Dylan at 10 who fed Seb, Dapo and Gethin, who attacked up the right wing. Now wise to Gethin’s mazy running, Harrow had packed the wing. Gethin offloaded to Dylan, Seb and finally Bodie scored the try which Felix converted. Score 5-31.
Vees had their confidence sky rocketing now and the next phase of play was beautiful, selfless rugby. The ball was passed across the pitch twice, with a menagerie of long passes, pops and off-loads until Dylan finished the try off under the posts and Billy slotted home the conversion. Score 5-38 at half time.
In the second half Vees came out firing on all cylinders. Henry F-Z, making his debut for the Vees on the wing made a good incursion into the Harrow half and laid the ball back well to set up the next phase. James, who captained for the second half, and Tom V worked incessantly at open and blind side flanker recycling quick ball for Harry B to spin out to his backs. Once again the Vees back line was firing on all cylinders to release Jayden on the left wing. Jayden ran in a hattrick of tries, all scored in the posts and converted by Dapo, Gethin and Sebrespectively. Billy was very unlucky to have a try ruled out on the right wing due to a marginal forward pass.
Seb and Oscar were rocks in defence, both grafting hard, tirelessly thwarting any Harrow attempts to run the ball. Oscar played number 8 rather than his more familiar position at prop and demonstrated an innate talent for back row play.
Vees didn’t have it all their own way though, Harrow were incredibly resilient and kept fighting back. The Harrow winger made a break down the left wing and it was only a courageous tackles from Boris, followed by another follow up tackle by Boris on the support runner that prevented Harrow scoring. Shortly after Harrow broke away on their left wing and this time it was Dapo’s covering tackle driving the winger into touch which saved the day.
Paddy and Arthur combined as 2nd Rows with such effect in the scrum that Harrow could not keep the ball on their put in. Meanwhile Felix hooked impeccably, winning every Vees put in. Off the back of a scrum, 10m out from the Harrow line, with Harrow’s put in, Luke, Mateusz, Paddy, Arthur and the rest of the pack put in another ferocious push to drive Harrow back. James at open side flanker was the quickest off the mark to scoop up the loose ball and charged through to dive over the line for a try. Final score 5-69.