uckinghamshire vs Oxfordshire (Development squads)
March 25th 2007, Shiplake College
Warm sunshine and firm ground; a big turnaround from four weeks earlier in the deep mud at Aylesbury. .Shiplake College provided a splendid backdrop for the third (and final?) fixture of the season.
Bucks kicked off and countered the strong Oxon ruck and maul game with excellent tackling and turnovers in the centres, particularly from Mark Tarrant. Oxon’s repeated kicks for touch enabled Bucks to retake possession, winning a lot of ball at the front of the line out. Powerful breaks from Chris Clarke exerted mounting pressure on the Oxon line, and it was not long before Connor Jordan found space and was able to cross the line in the left corner. Conversion missed, 5-0.
Bucks immediately put the pressure back on after the restart, with Stuart Bullimore deemed held up over the line 5 minutes later. Bucks remained encamped in the opposition 22 for the next 10 minutes, twice deciding to run kickable penalties, before Connor Jordan cut in from the left wing, broke through two defenders, and crossed the line again. James Hackney successfully converted, 12-0.
The whistle blew for half-time, a half in which Bucks had dominated both territory and possession. Oxon had only made it into the Bucks 22 on one occasion.
Oxon made some significant substitutions at half time, bringing on two (A-team?) forwards. The strengthened Oxon scrum exerted themselves effectively, and Bucks found themselves encamped in their own 22 for the first 10 minutes of the second half. Oxon ran four consecutive and kickable penalties, but strong Bucks defense held them back with nothing to show.
James Nicholls at full-back took some excellent high kicks, and returned them effectively. With penetrating runs from Ross Wilson on the right wing, Bucks soon re-established themselves in Oxon territory. Wilson broke through the Oxon line with a powerful run through midfield, and was one off-load short of a further Bucks try.
Bucks continued to counter the Oxon attacks, with further excellent tackling and turn-overs from Mark Tarrant. Charlie Esden was deemed help up following a scramble for the line behind effective rucking from Bucks forwards.
With ten minutes left, Esden, as replacement scrum half, broke quickly on the blind side from a Bucks maul. With three on two, the Oxon defense drifted; he dummied the Oxon flyhalf and went in over the line himself to make a good score. Successful conversion, and final score19-0.
An excellent all round performance again, and a comfortable victory against a successful Oxon side who were looking to retain their unbeaten record.
Man-of-the-match for outstanding defense and great turn-over ball in midfield: Mark Tarrant.
Buckinghamshire vs Oxfordshire (“A” team)
March 25th 2007, Shiplake College
Warm sunshine and firm ground; a big turnaround from four weeks earlier in the deep mud at Aylesbury. .Shiplake College provided a splendid backdrop for the third (and final?) fixture of the season. (where did you read that before…?)
From the Oxon kick-off, Bucks immediately came under pressure as Oxon dominated early ruck and maul possession, and seemed to win most of the 50:50 ball. Aggressive defense from Bucks midfield prevented Oxon from crossing their game line. Within ten minutes, the Bucks pack realised that they could match or beat their Oxon counterparts; Tom Carroll took the game to the opposition, and the other Bucks forwards followed suit. By half way through the first half it had become clear that the Bucks pack was dominating loose play, as they did throughout the rest of the match.
Set pieces however were under pressure, particularly line outs which Oxon dominated with a tall 8 with good jump and good hands. Bucks were unable to respond, with little variation in their own line out ball.
But Oxon were unable to put this possession to good use, and increasingly found themselves running across the pitch in the face of the aggressive and vocal Bucks defense. The Oxon game shifted, as both their half backs began to kick away the possession they got from the set pieces. Quigley at full back was calm and effective under the high ball, with penetrating runs deep into the Oxon half.
In contrast, Bucks ball was put to good effect: straight lines of running with good support play and inter-passing.
As the first half progressed, the Bucks dominance became increasingly clear; the referee’s whistle blew to Oxon relief, following five minutes pressure on the Oxon line. Score at half-time 0-0, but by now no-one expected a re-run of the Bedfordshire result.
The second half began in the same fashion that the first half finished: turn-over ball immediately from the maul following kick-off, deep in Oxon territory. Within five minutes from half-time, Jack Benson broke from a maul on the Oxon 22, and dispatched the ball to Michael McGirr who had space and support to cross the Oxon line in the left corner for the first Bucks score.
The Bucks back row continued to attack the poorly protected fringes of the rucks and mauls, drawing in the Oxon defense, and creating great attacking space out wide for Bucks backs.
Frazer Hegarty was particularly prominent around the field, especially killing loose ball. Oxon were unable to respond to the pressure in the rucks and mauls, and were penalised several times for coming in at the side.
The Bucks set-pieces also re-established themselves, with good line-out ball from James Dobree Carey Tom Carroll, stacked at the back of the line. With good quality ball, the Bucks back line became more adventurous, making good ground with effective handling and running moves. Quickly recycled ball from one such move put Zack Theodore into space on the right, and he went over to score. Charlie Quigley converted from distance.
As time began to rum out for Oxon, they tried to salvage the game by running from everywhere, but into consistently solid defense, leading to counter attacking.
All in all a great game and one everyone can be proud of. Final score: 12-0 to Bucks.
Man-of-the-match for powerful attacking play, dominating rucks and mauls: Tom Carroll.
U14s Match squads for Sunday 25th March
You will see that there are some further changes from last time, as we continue to develop our thinking, and are keen to trial certain players in certain positions between the two sides.
These will also be the squads for training this Friday 23rd at Aylesbury 6.30pm -8.30pm. As always, let me know asap if you cannot make either Friday or Sunday (if you have not already done so).
Rob
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A Squad
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15
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Charlie Quigley
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14
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Joe Stevens
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13
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Tom Jervis
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12
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Steve Wiggill
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11
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Zack Theodore
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10
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Sam Dickson
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9
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Scott Robinson
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1
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Alex Dark
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2
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Aaron Farnborough
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3
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Richard Edwards
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4
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James Dobree-Carey (captain)
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5
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Tomas Carroll
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6
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Frazer Hegarty
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7
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Jack Benson
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8
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Michael McGirr
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Subs
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16
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Ben Symington (1)
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17
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Matthew Major (2)
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18
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Tom Riley (4,5,8)
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19
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Cameron Denton (6,7)
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20
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George Wilcox (9)
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21
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Jack Whitehouse (12,13)
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22
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Connor Jordan (11, 14)
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Development Squad
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15
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James Nicholls
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14
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William Feast
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13
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James Blackham
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12
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Mark Tarrant
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11
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Ross Wilson
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10
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James Hackney
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9
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Matt Labron
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1
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Tawanda Bwerudza
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2
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Nic Chamberlain
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3
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William Fawcett-Hirst
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4
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Jonathan Liddell
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5
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Callum Tilbury
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6
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Luke Martin (captain)
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7
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Stuart Bullimore
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8
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Chris Clarke
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Subs
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16
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Richard Hampton (1,3)
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17
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Claude Taylor (4,5,8)
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18
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Conran Wheels (6,7,2)
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19
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Charlie Esden (9)
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20
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Jack McNally (12,13)
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21
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Tom Willingham (11,14,15)
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ABSENT / INJURED
David Jones
Chris Gann
Sam Osborn
Chris Delaney
Total Squad = 47
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County Match Reports
Buckinghamshire vs Bedfordshire - U14A
25th February 2006
Although the rain held off, the muddy pitch had altogether other ideas and, from the first whistle, ensured that all 30 boys on the pitch, as well as the referee, had their work cut out.
The first 15 minutes appeared evenly matched as each team pushed to break past the opposition 25 yard line, with the Bucks scrum showing a better structure and winning some good loose ball but invariably giving away hard won possession at the vital stage. Unfortunate handling of the slippery ball almost proved Bucks’ undoing on several occasions and gradually Bedfordshire started to assert their control, using the lofted high ball to advantage. Fortunately for Bucks their full back, Quigley, was up to the task of gathering in the ball and bringing it to the security of his forward pack.
20 minutes into the first half Quigley chased down a dangerous deep up & under and, from inside his 25, he then sprinted past the marauding Beds backs to feed Wilson out on the wing. Wilson in turn made a good run up the right side of the field to bring play back well into the Beds half, the first time that Bucks had penetrated this far. Regrettably we were unable to capitalise and were again soon on the defensive. Despite a se
