Sunday22nd April 2007
Bolton U13’s 21 Trafford MV 12
As the saying goes ‘I love it when a plan comes together!’ The squad have had their ups and downs over the season and lost players who thought they were better than the Team and those who couldn’t bear to lose (Footballers probably!). But at the end of the day it’s Team spirit and enjoyment of the game that counts for these lads. And today was the justification of that.
Not the most stylish rugby they’ve played but it worked! From the kick off Bolton were under pressure in their 22 due to their usual slow start – why does it take a try to wake them up?! – and it came within 5mins from the pressure Trafford put them under. Then a recurring rib injury to our stalwart at tight head Liam ‘The Boar’ Hampson meant the Captain, Richard Sanders, normally the linchpin at Fly Half had to come on in this position as the only other player available who had played front row. This left the fifteen out there as the team to finish the match - and only 20mins of the 1st half to go before a break!
Less than five minutes later Yousuf ‘Sid Snakehips’ Sidat kicked a loose ball through the defence 60m out, took chase and after dribbling the ball in a style that Sam Allardyce would have applauded he picked up and took it over the line to ground under the posts – game on! Soon after this Bolton drove up the pitch to get good field position within 10m of Trafford’s line. After an excellent tackling game Ollie (Silent Assassin) Parkinson then received the ball and jinked his way to the line only to be denied on the whitewash by a deftly place boot on hand. The rest of the half was played out without further score but good rugby from both teams, Bolton’s tackling much improved from intensive Wednesday night training in the last few weeks.
With both tries being converted the score was 7 -7 at the re-start. But soon after tackling everything that moved ‘Snakehips’ Sidat was there again early in the half to make a blistering run losing all defenders as they attempted to stop him and coming to rest under the posts for an easy conversion by ‘Surefoot’ Sanders. The Captain then turned on his own style after recovering a ball cleared by Trafford to just short of the Bolton 22m line and hit out to the left wing outflanking the Trafford defence to score. James ‘The Converter’ Timms kicking over his second of the day to make it 21-7 to Bolton with 3mins to go. From the re-start Trafford threw everything at Bolton’s 15, now flagging, diehards and drove down to the line forcing a 5m penalty that they then worked into a good maul allowing a peel of the back and dive over the line. The score remained unconverted leaving it 21-12 to the home team at the final whistle and an excellent match from two even teams.
Bolton’s set piece wasn’t as good as it had been but off loading and using the width were much improved, as was tackling from the squad as a whole. Rob ‘The Tower’ Smith fought to the last in every maul and Scrum Half Sam ‘Megaphone’ Kelly shouted himself hoarse directing play. Best performance as a Team all year and a much deserved win. Well done lads we’re proud of you all! Thanks to the Trafford team for the match and their Coach for refereeing when our ‘officials’ pool ran dry.
Man of the Match – Richard Sanders – after getting over the shock of being the 16th man to confirm he was playing and so starting on the bench, then playing out of position he still managed to put in a durable performance and get on the score sheet.
Tackler of the Match – Yousuf Sidat – despite two of his own excellent tries, tackles made were try stoppers.
Sunday 3rd december 2006
Pendle 24 Bolton U13’s 45
Bolton U13’s boosted by new players Mo Qasim and Eddie Morton ventured into the mountains of Pendle with a full squad +2 subs on a morning that had cleared after a stormy night. This had left the pitch in Nelson with a shallow and deep end at the top and bottom of the pitch’s slope respectively. Playing uphill initially, although with a strong wind at their backs, the Bolton players got stuck in the mud from the start and allowed the strong (must be something in the water that grows them that big by 13?) Pendle Hooker to run right round them to score under the sticks within the first minute!
But the next 10 mins then saw sustained Bolton pressure that pushed Pendle back to their line and resulted in a mistake that allowed an interception by Centre Tom Swift which he pounced over the line with. Unfortunately almost straight away from the restart a repeat of the match opening saw Pendle’s Hooker again shrug off all comers with another break through Bolton’s defence to put it down between the posts. The next Quarter of the match saw great play from both teams with Bolton’s recent intensive rucking drills starting to pay dividends. James Lupton also showed the way with his tackling and ripping of the ball from the opposition. The result of the pressure and working the ball out from set piece gave Full Back James Timms the opportunity to open up and score Bolton’s second try. Not long after this Bolton were holding firm 15 yards out from their try line when Scrum Half Sam Kelly was flattened in a ruck and had to be helped from the field with a back injury and played no further part in the game (he’s OK). The team’s response to losing a key player was then to up the pressure again and put Timms through for his second. Half time came with the score at 14-21, all our tries being converted by the unflappable Captain Richard Sanders.
The second half unfortunately started as the first with Pendle’s usual suspect brushing our players aside, although at least twice the size of our more than willing Winger Sam Adamson he was going to take some stopping on a run one on one. It’s worth mentioning that at least two players did it though Lupton (The Demon) and Ollie Parkinson shone out as the main terminators along with Pat Jennings in his usual role of stopping anything in arms reach. What followed now was a sustained pressure into the ‘deep end’ of the pitch resulting in three unanswered Bolton tries from Sanders (2) and Timms. Although unfortunately even the usually surefooted Sanders struggled to convert two of them against the wind kicking from under water! An injury to Lupton’s hand forced him out and then Pendle’s one man try machine slipped the net one more time five minutes from the end. But our own ‘tower’ Lock Rob Smith then drove over the line for Bolton again and with Sanders back to kicking form (5 from 7) the final score ended 24 - 45 to the mud encrusted visitors. The second win of the seasons and another move forward for teamwork and tenacity.
Again hard to pick out two from and outstanding team of 17 players on the day but:
Man of the Match – James Timms – ran in three tries at critical stages.
Tackler of the Match – James Lupton - showed the way in tackles and close play until unfortunately injured.
Sunday 5th November 2006
Bury U 13's5 V Bolton 35
The U13's second EFE Junior Challenge match of the season away to Bury was looking in doubt up to Saturday with the number of players confirmed only 14. A call to secure our shared resource 'guesting' with the U14's got us up to the minimum to play so the match was on! Confidence has taken a battering in the squad so far this year with conceded points well into three figures to barely double scored in three matches. But some concentrated tackling 'back to basics' over the last few weeks had improved confidence in
contact to get the defence prepared. Added to that has been the 'acquiring' of two shiny new trophies for 'Man of the Match' and 'Tackler of the Match' - what more encouragement could a player have!
After travelling to Bury the trophies were unveiled to the unsuspecting squad. After repeating 'look at the trophies not around the trophies' a few times the team talk was over. At this point there was little to reveal the transformation that had taken place. Although there should have been a clue as the Coach walked out and the squad were warming up on there own!!! The balls had not been kicked to the far corners of the pitch nor were they being used as missiles to throw at one another. A few more words about perhaps getting the tackle counts up and listening to the 'encouragement' from the Coach occasionally and it was time for kick off.
Bolton kicked off and immediately it was obvious there was a wind of change in the playing attitude. Bury were bowled over from the start by the tornado of early tackles. Being fair to the opposition they stood up well and technically showed superior skill. But something had changed in the Bolton U13's. An early try from Conor McGrath was converted by Richard Sanders, soon followed by James Timms crossing the line again converted by Sanders. Bury's skills drove the Bolton team down within their 22 at times but the defence held! Flankers Sam Garrett and James Lupton harried the opposition despite our scrums repeatedly being turned against us and the
opposition runs along the wings were driven back or out to touch by complete team efforts in contrast to our last few outings. The assembled parents saw a new fire in their offspring and the Coach needed oxygen! Further tries by McGrath (2) and Timms (1) ably converted from all positions by Sanders took the score to 0-35 until less than five minutes before the end when Bury again pinned Bolton down on their line but this time cracked the defence for a try which remained unconverted. Full time 5 - 35 a Bolton U13's victory!
A fantastic team effort that saw all the players excel. The individuals know how well they did but collectively they achieved so much more. Well done to each and every one a team to be proud of.
But what had brought on this change in the squad? Had the shiny objects bewitched the players? Had they really been listening during training after all? After discussion with the Parents who had been on all the touchlines in the past there was only one rational explanation; Alien Abduction and replacement from the Planet Mahnekciwt on the orders of the leader Ufr.
Only two awards available on the day but the whole team could have been named for both, in the end it came down to:
Man of the Match - Conor McGrath - non stop and flat out exhausted at the
end - even his tongue!
Tackler of the Match - James Lupton - fantastic work rate stopping all who
came before him - most of whom had the ball at the time as well!
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