U14 XV Boys
Matches
Sun 08 Feb 2015  ·  U14s Division 2
Wasps FC
U14 XV Boys
27
12
Bishop's Stortford
Wasps u14's vs Bishops Stortford

Wasps u14's vs Bishops Stortford

Lachlan 'Jok' Dunbar9 Feb 2015 - 13:26
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Forwards win the game, the backs decided by how much!

                                Wasps  Bishops
Scrum
Won own.           5              4
Won Against      2              0  

Line out
Won own            5              6
Won Against.     3              1
 
Passes.                49            36
Offloads.             40           9
Tackles made     55          60
Mistakes.            22          21
 
 
Following on from a great performance away 2 weeks ago, Wasps FC put in an equally good performance to win this league match. An unusually warm February winters morning greeted Wasps FC U14A in this eagerly awaited league fixture against Bishops Stortford at Twyford Ave. After a close encounter last year and both teams displaying similar records this season, we were expecting a real battle and both teams contributed to a highly physical encounter.
 
On paper this should have been a close game but the greater discipline showed by Wasps forwards stifled the equally big Bishops forwards. The Wasps FC Chairman, who graced us with his presence for this match, summed up the game nicely, "a strong display by the forwards, allowed the team to keep their shape and create the opportunities for the team."
 
The first try for Wasps FC was created by the forwards and finished by the backs, 5 minutes into the match after good work from Flanker Mark and loose head Ossama on the Wasps FC 10 the ball was secured and driven forwards to half way by the forwards, the ruck formed and scrum half Theo quickly moved the ball onto stand-off Jamie, then to inside centre Conor, Jamal  (making his debut for Wasps FC) and just on the Bishops 10 the ball got to winger Ashraf who pinned his ears back to round 4 players and score in the corner.
 
The second was a great example of turning defence into attack, from the kick off Bishops made their way up to half way through a series of pick and goes, with the ball from the ruck passed out to their No10 Jamie timed the tackle well and forced the player back and the ball spilled even further back, it was Mark who picked up with hooker Harry in close support. Wasps FC continued to punch holes in the Bishops defence, No8 Jordan received the ball just outside the 22 and drew in 3 players, he offloaded Ossama, who built up a head of steam, handle off 2 players, his eyes lit up, with the white of the try line matched by the whites of his eyes he dived over for Wasps FC second 14 phases in the move from the Jamie tackle.
 
By this stage the offload and pass count was heavily in Wasps FC favour by 3:1 and 20 minutes into the match the 3rd try was scored. A jinking run by Theo offloading to Jamal who forced his way up to the Bishops 10, it was then the forwards took over. Flankers Liam, Elliot and tight head Alex all touched the ball as Wasps got up to the 5, where stout defence held the up the Wasps FC pack, the ball was recycled, where Elliot acting as scrum half got the ball out to Ossama, who quickly passed to Jordan then onto Mark, who despite the attention of 3 Bishops players swivelled over the line to score under the posts. Inside Centre Conor duly converted the score and Wasps FC were 17-0 up after 20 minutes.
 
A shell-shocked Bishops, who were expecting a close game became a little rattled and spilled the ball from the restart allowing Mark to pick up, first to the breakdown were the forwards who created space allowing Theo to go on a jinking run up to the 22. Jamie and Conor quickly cycled the ball and spun it out to the opposite wing where Ashraf clocked up his second try and leave the score 22-0 at half time. The try count in the first half should have been higher with 3 good breaks by Wasps FC where the ball could have been off loaded earlier, something that continued into the second half and a lesson to heed for Wasps FC U14.
 
The second half started ferociously and there were strong tackles from both teams. On a rare occasion the Bishops forwards broke the Wasps FC forwards shackles and the No8 battled through but was taken down by a combination of Ashraf, full back Yusuf and Jamal. There followed 15 minutes of intense pressure from Wasps FC where the offload count doubled, to their credit Bishops continued to battle. An infringement on the Bishops 5 lead to Wasps next score, with Wasps asking for  scrum from an inaccurate line out from Bishops. From the resulting scrum, No 8 Jordan and Liam put into play a move that we had practiced in the warm up. Wasps FC won the ball and Jordan held it at the back, he knew and Liam knew Jordan was going blind, as Jordan picked up Liam moved in the opposite direction momentarily putting the defence on the wrong foot, just enough for Jordan to drive up to the line and dive over - a well worked move by the forwards.
 
By this stage Wasps FC forwards had lost their intensity with Jordan, Mark and Ossama all suffering injuries, this allowed Bishops to score 2 well worked tries by running great lines through a tired defence. A special mention to the Bishops No 15, who although small in stature made last ditch tackles on 4 Wasps players in the second half, again with earlier offloads/ passes Wasps FC would have scored.
 
A match on paper that should have been close was anything but with Wasps FC using their big players to great effect and exerting great control on the game.
 
Positives:
Forwards maintaining structure and creating opportunities Intense tackling and the offload count
 
Things to work on:
Using the support when near the try line!
 
Man of the match: The forwards
 

Match details

Match date

Sun 08 Feb 2015

Kickoff

11:00

Competition

U14s Division 2
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