U16s 47 Upper Clapton U16s 8

Brentwood open the season with a win…

The start was frantic, which admittedly is where it all went wrong for me. I apologise now if this report is a little foggy but having been out of practice at note taking and ever so slightly tired due to getting home at 1.30 that morning anyway I really would have appreciated the usual slow start! Enough excuses, on with the report.

Anyhow, like I said the start was frantic. Brentwood kicked off and put the pressure on, pressing hard in defence. The ball was retrieved in a turn over, by whom I don’t have a clue, and the ball was flung quickly to the backs who managed to ship it as far as required to Sam Fry who went over the try line by the posts for the opening try of the season. Adam made the conversion for the dream start, 7-0 Brentwood.

So I was happily writing this bit down when I look up and see that Brentwood are off again! Thanks to Bryn/Brian/Bob etc for narrating this one. Chris McCarthy took the restart and recycled the ball near the halfway line, there was a half break in the backs and the ball was spread to Jake who threw a dummy to run past the defender and cruise in under the posts. Adam again converted, 14-0 Brentwood.

Soon after the caffeine started to kick in. That’s for me not the boys! And I managed to pay attention to the next score. Roland made a great break from fullback, slicing past several defenders and the support was good, the ball passing through several pairs of hands with Chris Doble on hand to finish. Adam hit the target, 21-0 Brentwood and the end of the first third (at least that’s what I think they were playing), just as I realised that both Ross’s, Billy and William (yes my own brother) were playing for Upper Clapton…

After the short interval the forwards picked up where they left off. The ball was successfully turned over and following a general melee Sam Morgan went over for the score. Adam whacked the conversion over, Brentwood were 28-0 up.

Following this Upper Clapton rallied and launched a series of their own attacks and came close to the try line but Brentwood kept them out. Brentwood were looking very physical but small mistakes were starting to creep in with knock-ons and forward passes and the period of play finished at 28-0.

Again the Brentwood boys started off well, to be honest it was starting to border on the alarming, and after much crashing and bashing in the middle of the field, most of which I couldn’t see due to this large yellow fluorescent blob standing in front of me obscuring my view otherwise known as Ian Dennis, Lewis (who I am informed is new, hi I write the match reports and if that’s not how you spell your name I apologise) made a good run up the middle, quick ball was sent to the backs and Jake ended up under the posts again. Adam’s conversion hit the post and went in, 35-0 Brentwood.

Brentwood ’s next score was probably the most aesthetically pleasing of the game. Nathan took the ball in and recycled, Rob continued the move and the ball was got out to Michael who made a nice dart providing space for Roland to go roaring off down the touchline where he rounded the last man to touch down. Adam added to his personal tally, 42-0 Brentwood.

To their credit Upper Clapton again pushed hard for a score following this and forced Brentwood into conceding a penalty in defence. Wanting to get some points on the board they opted to kick and the score became 42-3 in Brentwood’s favour.

Next up from a scrum Matt was off quickly and managed to intercept the pass. Some good passing created some space and an overlap out wide, Lewis passed to Ollie who passed to Joel who ran into the corner to score. Can you believe they actually managed to put an overlap away?! (Please note there is every possibility I could have imagined this…) Adam missed for the first time in the match so the score remained 47-3 Brentwood.

Chris McCarthy was caught out for napping under the tree in the next part of play when Adam’s touch kick from a penalty hit him square on the head. From the ensuing lineout there was a break in play as Billy writhed around on the floor clutching his ankle in footballer-esque fashion. At first it appeared to be serious, fortunately it wasn’t it was just Billy being typically poofy and as someone pointed out he’d obviously spent too long at fly half!

The rest if the match belonged to Upper Clapton who were still determined to get over the try line. This caused Brentwood to concede yet more penalties and from on of these they kicked to the corner for a 5 metre lineout. The ball was taken well and mauled over the try line with the try being given. And who was to emerge from the pile with the ball? William, still playing for Upper Clapton. Does this mean he starts on -1 on the try scoring stats? The conversion was missed 47-8 and full time.

Hopefully this will give the boys good momentum going into the first league game next weekend, alas I won’t be in the country so I’m looking for a willing volunteer to step in and do the report just this once!