Stow descend from the Highlands

Evesham U10 lured the mountain men of Stow down for a game on the banks of the Avon on Sunday. 22 boys and girls from Evesham and 14 from a Stow side depleted by sickness on the day were divided up into ‘A’ and ‘Development’ sides for 2 matches in the sunshine.

Game 1 – Evesham A (Blue) v Stow A
We last met in monsoon conditions in Stow for a close game and that competitive theme continued here. With both sides competing for the ball, runs from each side met with rigorous defence from the other and rolling subs through the first 15 minute half it looked like it would end up scoreless at the break. But a strong team effort by Evesham passing the ball through the hands was finished off in the corner by Will Brett two minutes before the whistle. A well organised Stow side then crossed the whitewash on the stroke of half time, no argument from either side that 1:1 was a fair reflection the game so far.

The second half upped the intensity with some lovely rugby on show, moving the ball, strong tackling and particularly pleasing for the Evesham coaches was the support play where a breakaway runner had support, even options either side with team mates joining the sprint for the line. All good things must come to an end, and so it was with this half, but not before Max Aris, Will Brett and Olly Wycherley (twice) had crossed the line all from strong runs finishing off great teamwork at the breakdown. Credit to Evesham’s defensive line who managed to keep Stow out in the second half.

Final Score Evesham 5 (Wycherley (2), Brett (2), Aris (1)) : Stow 1

Game 2 - Evesham Dev (Maroon) v Stow Dev
The ‘Development’ team is not about pigeon-holing ability it is all about giving talent the opportunity to emerge, where the ultimate goal is a strong squad to field a 15 man side every week in a few year’s time. On Sunday Evesham Dev stepped up against a Stow Dev side who had a couple of players borrowed from their A team.

We saw Will Mullen hungry for work, Will Parkinson carrying the ball into contact like a man possessed, Jack Witherford (who actually weighs less than the match ball) tackling anything that moved in a black and white shirt and Jack (Fast) Lane out pacing the ref.

I think it reasonable to suggest that it might have been a closer game had some of Stow’s dev side not been ill on the day, but with heads held high and gum shields visible through the smiles on their faces, Evesham scored through Jack Lane (3), Jack (Russell) Witherford (1) and Big Oli Neal (1). Stow scored 13 in reply – we will file that under character building.

Thanks to Ed for donning the ref’s jersey and keeping the games flowing.

Man of the match this week was James Hoare for excellent work in the ruck.