Under 14's

Handsworth RUFC

Fixtures

SPARTANS U14 XV v HANDSWORTH U14 XV

Handsworth arrived at Spartans off the back of a loss to Stafford, which had hurt pride more than bodies, determined to improve performance and work rate. For the 2^nd week running an unchanged starting line up was named meaning those who lost to Stafford were given the opportunity.

Captain Lilly lost the toss and Spartans elected to receive. From Eammon's kick the Spartans 2^nd row collected and made good run only to be cut down at the 22 by a huge tackle from Ben (who was starting in the 2^nd row) and spilled the ball which was picked up by Rhys who moved it on to Connor and out to Jack on the wing who made it to the ½ way. A lack of support left him exposed and Spartans regained control at the ruck and broke down the blindside and scored the 1^st try of the day (SCORE 5-0)

From the restart some sloppy tackling resulted in Spartans making 20 metres a good tackle from winger Jack saw a ruck formed. Handsworth are still getting to grips with the new LVA's and due to this were still too far from the back foot of the ruck - this gave the Spartans outside centre (who had an excellent game) plenty of space to attack the line, draw in 2 men and ship the ball out to the winger for a score. (SCORE 10-0)

Again Handsworth kicked off and the ball was knocked on. Handsworths pack is starting to become a thing of legend and won the scrum again pushing Spartans all over (in all they won all but 2 of their own scrums and stole 7 of Spartans scrums!!). good control at the back by captain Lilly saw him pick up and drive 10 metres, from the resulting ruck the pack carried on the momentum via Jacob (who made some excellent breaks throughout) and 5 phases of play later Handsworth were harshly pulled up for some slightly fruity language from winger Ed (who had already made 3 great breaks with the ball) when only 2 metres from the line.

From the penalty Spartans kicked and from the line out got quickly out to the backs who with a slight whiff of a forward pass (it was a full 1 metre forward!!!) touched down, again the conversion was missed. (SCORE 15-0).

A phase of Handsworth pressure gave several scrums and penalties with which Handsworth slowly marched down the pitch - good runs from Jack and Connor coupled with intelligent kicks from Irish again got them to a whisker of the line only for the final ball to be rushed, which meant Handsworth coughed the ball up to the opposition. From a line out Taz was adjudged to have come in from the side of a ruck and gave a penalty about 15 metres out from the Handsworth try line. Again some slack tackling gave Spartans the upper hand and Handsworth again were saved by brave tackling from Alex, Connor, Bobby and Ben (who are fast becoming Handsworth's very own bash brothers). A well worked Spartans move gave them one more score before half time (HALF TIME SCORE 20-0).

Due to injuring himself in a try saving tackle just before half time Connor was replaced in the centre by Ben whilst the physio's worked their magic.

An inspirational half time talk by Coach Phillips sent the boys out with renewed vigour and the game was taken to Spartans. Excellent movement by the backs and clever play from both Adam and Alex got the ball out and Handsworth were again unlucky not to score. A Spartans kick was well caught by Irish and a counter attack was launched smooth movement sent the ball through a full 10 pairs of hands before an unfortunate forward pass stopped them in their tracks. Again the pack put in a typical big shove but could not get the ball back. Spartans Kicked on and the ball was plucked from the air by winger Ed who took off another mazy run only for good tackling to hold up Hadsworth.

The ball was recovered and kicked out for a line out.

Handsworth kept momentum up and were beginning to get the upper hand in the loose. Connor had recovered enough to return to the pitch which meant a rest for Irish and a move for Ben to fullback for his 3^rd position of the day! The forwards were still in control in the tight and another great scrum gave the backs a platform to attack the line with winger Jack again making a great run. A clever kick through and excellent chase meant that the action was again on the Spartans line and only a good kick from the Spartans no.10 took the pressure off. From the resulting line out the ball was again kick through and chased by Lilly, Connor and Ed - an opposition player body checked Lilly as he was attempting to pick the ball up and the Ref interpreted Lilly's push on the player as unsporting!! A penalty was given and Spartans cleared their lines only for the ball to be stopped by Ed's crown jewels (OWCH!).

Spartans regained possession and from an interception pass and ran in the last try of the game on the full time whistle. (FINAL SCORE 25-0)

Manly performances from all of the players, great tackling from Jack and Ben and a marked improvement on the previous Sunday

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