More Friday Night Rugby...

A busy weekend for the old leather egg, Upton kindly invited the U12 to a 3-way Friday night game under the lights with Malvern, then England off to Paris on Saturday to sort out the beastly French and then the Evesham Festival on Sunday. The coaches decided to share the duties as far as possible, so Upton was the reserve of the players who did not play under the Evesham lights v Stourbridge plus a few to make a side.

Playing Squad: 15 selected, 12 available so no subs, we had a few ‘coaches kids’ in shorts just in case - Hamish, Olly Wych and Will Brett

1. Will (Dick) Tracey 2. Indie Roberts 3. Olly (Shaquelle) Neal 4. Geordy (Carpet) Wright 5. Will (Swing) Lowe 9. Will (Mighty) Mullen, 10. Max (Maximus) Aris 11. (Gentleman) George Tinson 12. Joel (Doobs) Duberley 13. Matt (Ears) Pearce 14. Isaac (Billy) Graham 15. Ben (Smiffy) Smith

Game 1 – Malvern
Evesham looked lively from the whistle, Will Tracey good wrestling for the ball, onto Swing Lowe on a break but the ref spotted accidental off side.
Try 1 Olly Neal on a crash ball
Will Pearce strong tackle into touch allowed try 2 to Smiffy off a good break by Max
Joel huge tackle man and ball in the midfield, ball spilt by Malvern and collected by Will Lowe to run in Evesham’s 3rd
Malvern into contact but spilt the ball, collected by a wide awake Geordy to cross for Eveshams 4th
Solid running and support by Geordy
Joel benefited from a jinky run by Maximus to score Eveshams 5th
Good tackling and press defence by all the lads kept Malvern out.
Olly Wych keen to get on but not needed – grumpy face

Game 2 – Upton
Smiffy looking keen, ball distributed by Max to Smiffy on a break onto Swing Lowe for a try. Lovely rugby boys
Try number 2 to Max who ran this way then that then back over there to find the line
A test for a new fullback, high ball under the lights, Smiffy took it at pace without missing a step and ran hard and straight to gain ¾ of the pitch
Upton on a break down the left side, Max and Smiffy combined to put him behind the parents and save a certain try
George Tinson put in a solid tackle, shoulder first to halt an Upton advance
The Joel, running with ball in hand like he has just nicked it from SportsDirect, made half the pitch before feeding Max to cross for Evesham’s 3rd.
Olly Wych desperate to get onto the field – slumped shoulders and puppy dog eyes

Game 3 – Malvern
Big lad from Malvern took some stopping, Indie and Joel combined to take him down.
Will Tracey and Will Lowe good rucking secured the ball for Joel to run from his own 22 for a try
Smiffy looking quick on the break, a loose ball quickly pounced on and presented by Isaac
Will Mullen great work at 9 digging the ball from the rucks
Max on a swaying run under advantage to Evesham
Olly Wych was now like a Labrador watching through the window of a tennis ball factory, as live pheasants inside play catch in a bath full of gravy - and he STILL did not get on
Indy over the line from a determined straight run but held up
Malvern rucking very well, repeatedly counter rucking Evesham to gain possession
Max on another break, onto Will Tracey to score
Try number 4 came from Ears Pearce off great work by the whole team

Any side that can play 3 games without conceding a try and keep Slippery Wycherley confined to the bench is doing something right. Great to watch a few leaders emerge, confidence grow and the lads play with emerging flair and smiles all round.

Fantastic rugby to watch chaps, everyone stepped up and contributed to the team performance. Not everyone can be the one to run the length of the pitch for a try, but pouncing on a loose ball (Isaac), pushing a winger into touch to save a try (George Tinson) or ripping the ball from the arms of a prop (Will Tracey…..repeatedly) is equally important to secure possession for the team.

Tough calls for Man and Tackle of the Match as so many to choose from. Mentions for Smiffy doing some great work in his debut at 15, Swing Lowe looked lively in attack and defence and Will Pearce solid in defence. In the end….

MoM: Max Aris, for a solid debut at 10, for being everywhere in defence and giving Evesham real forward drive.
Aimees Award: Tackler of the Match: Joel Duberley for a text book stop man and ball in the midfield.