February 7th 2010. Dorset & Wilts U20s 13 – 12 Buckinghamshire U20s
The game at Bournemouth RFC finally resulted in a tense conclusion as Dorset & Wilts U20s clung on to beat Buckinghamshire U20s by a single point. The result was in doubt up to the final seconds when Bucks battered the D&W line only to be forced into a knock on by a desperate tackle a yard from the line.
Throughout the game the two sides swapped the lead. The game flowed from end to end with both sides defensive capability called upon, but Bucks enjoyed the majority of possession. There were three yellow cards during the game which were apparently all the result of technical offences brought about by the intense struggle for supremacy in the ruck, although the single Bucks yellow, at approximately 5 minutes into the game, was never satisfactorily explained.
Edd Rhodes, the Bucks captain, led by example and Buckinghamshire held sway in the scum, ruck and maul with outstanding performances from all the forwards. The D & W pack were given little mercy in the scrummaging with the Bucks front row in total control. Both Buckinghamshire trys were the result of their supremacy in the tight aspects of their forward play, the first from a pushover scrum, converted nicely by Jack Kenyon, the second a well organised rolling maul. The centres performed excellently with Sam Deal crashing through the D & W line and Steve Wiggil not only carrying and running the ball superbly but providing excellent defensive cover. Liam Roads at full back proved to be stalwart in defence and exceptionally strong in running the ball from deep in the Bucks half. Ted Reus and Tom Smalley at 9 and 10 ran the game well for Bucks, with Reus in good form organising the forwards and Smalley providing excellent place kicking.
Tactical substitutions in the second half did not detract from the Bucks performance, with Stuart Rogers replacing Ben Amos at Hooker and Tom Blackburn replacing Mike Hughes at tighthead; both had proved decisive at destroying the D & W front row. Matt Reeder started the second half as replacement for Waleed Khalik on the wing, with Dan Butcher stepping in for Sam Deal at 13. Butcher proceeded to carry on Deal's outstanding work in smashing through the D & W line to gain extra yards for Bucks. David Graham replaced Ted Reus at 9 and proceeded to display touches of genius, narrowly missing a try from a chip and chase move and, at one point, avoiding the clutches of five forwards all of whom were commited to tackle him.
Josh Curtis (Man of the match), and Michael Shipman were instramental in winning rucks with both all over the opposition within seconds of the ball going to ground. John Smith, playing out of position at 8 to cover the injured Jonny Wolf, performed excellently.
Bucks completely dominated the last 20 minutes of the game, with D & W having to defend time and time again to stop Bucks going over the line. In the dying seconds Edd Rhodes came within a whisker of winning the game but had the ball knocked from his hands literally inches before touchdown.
Despite the Bucks dominance the game was lost by conceeding a soft try immediately after the start of the second half. which brough the score to 10-7. A penalty awarded to D & W gave them a 6 point lead which was immediately responded to with the Bucks second try. Unfortunately, the resultant conversion, which would have given Bucks the lead, was narrowly missed.
Conclusion
All-in-all an outstanding performance from Bucks, especially as it was their first game this season (compared to Dorset and Wilts who had enjoyed three warm up games prior to this encounter). Dorset and Wilts were well aware that they retained the game by the skin of their teeth. With a little more strength on the wings the Bucks line up looks formidable, and with Oxford gaining a 28-0 victory over Berkshire, the pool is still wide open. A win over Oxfordshire is paramount, but with home advantage and the return to play of several of our injured players confidence is high. With this in mind, qualification from the pool stage is still very much on.
15 LIAM ROADS PRINCES RISBOROUGH RFC
14 WALEED KHALIK GUYS KINGS AND ST THOMAS'S RFC
13 SAM DEAL STOCKPORT RFC
12 STEVE WIGGILL AMERSHAM AND CHILTERN RFC
11 JACK KENYON AMERSHAM AND CHILTERN RFC
10 TOM SMALLEY AMERSHAM AND CHILTERN RFC
9 TED REUS AMERSHAM AND CHILTERN RFC
1 SAM CHAPPEL AYLESBURY RFC
2 BEN AMOS BEDFORD BLUES RFC /AYLESBURY RFC
3 MIKE HUGHES DRIFTERS RFC
4 EDD RHODES (C) BEDFORD BLUES RFC
5 CHARLIE SMITH BEDFORD BLUES RFC
6 JOSH CURTISS DRIFTERS RFC
7 MICHAEL SHIPMAN EALING TRAILFINDERS RFC
8 JON SMITH AMERSHAM AND CHILTERN RFC
16 STUART ROGERS AMERSHAM AND CHILTERN RFC
17 TOM BLACKMORE HIGH WYCOMBE RFC
18 TOM CORMIE LEIGHTON BUZZARD RFC
19 DAN BULLIMORE DRIFTERS RFC
20 DAVID GRAHAM NUNEATON RFC
21 DANIEL BUTCHER AYLESBURY RFC
22 MATT REEDER LEIGHTON BUZZARD RFC
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