Windsor at the URC U13's Tournament
2nd April 2005by Dr FT Bosh
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Windsor (2) team with Frank and Rod
As many Youth coaches will know, a preparation of insufficient sleep, inappropriate diet and high excitement is often the best possible way to start an Under 13’s team off on a tournament. Always professional, it appeared that the Windsor Touring Coaches had used this as the preferred option. The boys got off the coach, bleary eyed, smiling and with an insouciant air (look it up). The format for the tournament was in line with the Italian continuum. Seven minutes each way, twelve a side, with uncontested scrums, however, with Pope John Paul II at death’s door, it was unclear exactly how many teams would attend.
Having travelled over 1,100 miles and being keen to get as much rugby in as possible, the Windsor squad divided up and offered two teams to the organisers. Initially the idea was to have two groups of 4 that played towards a semi final and final, but this was abandoned and a series of “round robin” friendlies took place. Windsor divided their sides almost equally and (lacking any creative inspiration) named the teams 1 and 2.
Windsor 1 v Bradford & Bingley:
It was somewhat ironic that Windsor U13’s first ever fixture on Continental soil should be against a side from England. The Bees were a very gritty and determined side, who had already established their European credentials with a fixture against URC earlier in the week. The Windsor team shambled around aimlessly until the ball was kicked to them, neatly caught by Jack Clemance they quickly perked up and put some running plays together. Unfortunately some of the players had been watching the Hong Kong Sevens and now saw themselves as honorary Fijians. One handed carries and overhead passes led to the first three Windsor three-quarter moves coming to a premature end and an increase in the likelihood of a coronary for at least three of the coaches. As the forwards started to try and impose some structure on the game the Bees made a series of strong tackles to break up the Windsor drives.
It fell to Jack Williams to start the ball rolling, unable to utilise his normal “Number 8 pick up”. He timed a run to the blind side and took a pop pass from scrum half Joel Turner. Bursting through the Bees line he outstripped the covering tackler and went in for Windsor U13’s first international try.
The Bees were not slow to counter-attack. Poor tackling from the Windsor players allowed their blind side break to work and net them a nice score of their own just before half time.
In the second half it was all Windsor. Josh Casey came into inside centre and with his first play of the second half was put into space by fly half Sam Yeandle. Strong as ever, he broke three tackles and went in to score. Shortly afterwards Joel Turner broke away from the base of a maul, dummied his opposite number and was through into the Bees backfield. His pop pass to Rohan Dhaliwal was carried on by the Windsor flanker and shipped to Chris Laidler. The Windsor full back, in the uncustomary position of centre, showed he had been listening to the coaches at half time, clamped both hands on the ball and powered in to score. Windsor nearly scored again, when a penalty was taken quickly by Turner, fired down the line, only to be driven in to touch, two metres out.
Result:
Windsor (1) 15 Bradford & Bingley Bees 5
Scorers: Williams, Casey, Laidler
Next on the agenda was Windsor (2) against Roma (2), followed shortly afterwards by Windsor (1) v Roma (1). Both these provided Windsor with a reminder that there are no easy games at this level.
The first game started well for Windsor (2), with powerful prop Stijn Hanson bulldozing his way over for a typically bullish try. However Roma (1 and 2) had some particularly powerful and big three-quarters and it was one of these that levelled the game early in the second half. But Windsor (2) were not to be denied. Once hooker Cai Harrold had secured the ball. A clever sidestep by fly half Connor Sawdon put him past the Roma defence and he went in to score Windsor (2)’s winner. This was an excellent win for the Windsor side, showing great determination.
Result:
Windsor (2) 10 Roma (2) 5
Scorers: Hanson, Sawdon.
When Windsor (1) came up against Roma’s first team it was a different story. Whether Windsor under-estimated the Italian side, or their late night preparation had worn off we’ll never know. But they were, initially, unable to handle the powerful and flowing three quarter play. Utilising two big, fast and well balanced centres the Rome side swung the ball around and always seemed to have overlaps. Missed tackles helped, but Roma earned their three early tries. However some pride crept into the Windsor side during the second half. Joel Turner’s chase down & smother tackle on the gargantuan Roma centre when he was through to score, brought a cheer from the touring Windsor faithful and appreciative applause from the home crowd. Sam Yeandle timed his powerful tackle, on his opposite number’s attempt to side step him, to perfection. As shoulder hit ribcage the Roma fly half could only hang on and pray that the landing was not too heavy and Russell Chester, on the wing, put two penetrating runs in that reminded the Roma defenders they had to defend well to keep Windsor out. But it was a comprehensive win to the Rome side.
Result:
Windsor (1) 0 Roma (1) 15
Worse was to follow for the Windsor Touring party. Windsor (2) faced our hosts Union Rugby Capitolina, or URC for short. The Rome U13 side are Italy’s southern regional Champions. Coached by the First XV Argentinian fly half, they are a team that loves to run the ball and are very good at it. Running 4 tries past the unfortunate Windsor defence, they always seemed to have more men in the line than Windsor. Tom Lynskey, on the wing, made several tackles only to have his man off load to an overlapping player that went on to score. The high spot of the game for Windsor was Stijn Hanson breaking through a maul, with the ball under one arm and choosing route 1 through the URC defence to score his second of the tournament. Unfortunately for Windsor, this game also provided the touring side with their first casualty when Max Wilson, playing in the centre, came off with a damaged foot and was unable to play any further (playing) part in the tour.
Result:
Windsor (2) 5 URC (2) 20
Scorer: Hanson.
In need of a spirit lifter, Windsor (1) took to the field against Amatori. This Italian side did not have any players with the impressive physique of some of the URC or Roma players, but size is not the only quality in an athlete and their players looked very accomplished during their warm up.
They kicked to Windsor and the Windsor forwards began an impressive drive deep into the Amatori 22. However Windsor lost possession and Amatori were awarded a 22 drop out. Taking it quickly, Amatori hoped to find space and were unfortunate enough to find Josh Casey. He gathered the ball, aimed his run for the corner and broke 2 tackles getting their. From the restart winger Russ Chester exploded up the left wing, as he was brought down, his off load went to a supporting James Cullen, who in turn linked with hooker Alex Devereux, Devereux was fired up and unstoppable from 10 yards out.
On Windsor’s next scrum, Joel Turner fired the ball out flat to Sam Yeandle, the Windsor fly half, caught the ball at full stretch, side stepped his opposite number and sprinted the length of the pitch with such searing pace that no one was within 10 yards of him as he went in to score. He was back on the score sheet shortly afterwards when James Cullen’s nippy break put him into space for a gentle jog to the corner.
Windsor scored once more before half time when a hurried Amatori clearance kick went straight to the well positioned Chester. This time the winger’s powerful run, took him through the defence and in to score. At half time Windsor were 25 – 0, but unfortunately scrum half Joel Turner was substituted with a knee injury.
In to the second half and Windsor carried on from where they had left off. An early Yeandle break gave him his hat trick. Josh Casey and James Cullen both scored, Casey with power and directness, Cullen with dancing feet and vision. Now the forwards decided to get in on the act, having supplied the three quarters with good possession all game prop James Tunnacliffe kept the ball close and drove for the Amatori line, held out, just short, his well timed off load to Jack Williams gave the Windsor Number 8 a short drive to the line. Chris Laidler put the icing on the cake just before the final whistle with an angled run that cut through the demoralised Amatori defence.
Result:
Windsor (1) 50 Amatori 0
Scorers: Casey (2), Devereux, Yeandle (3), Chester, Cullen, Williams, Laidler.
It was now time for Windsor (2) to play URC (1). URC generously offered two of their players to fill in for Windsor’s injured players and Rodrigo Reccli and Francesco Ciriello. Bearing in mind that Windsor (2) had earlier lost to URC (2), this was going to be a test.
However with the 2 URC players playing at full bore and having inside knowledge of their current opponents, combined with the Windsor players lifting their game, this turned out to be a very even game. Windsor were first on the scoreboard, when the ever combative Stijn Hanson charged through for his third of the tournament. URC (1) came back with 2 scores of their own, using their big and powerful runners. Late in the second half, the game was evened up when Francesco Ciriello scored his first (and probably only) try in a Windsor shirt. A fast break and jinking run put him past his “team mates” to leave the game a draw.
Result:
Windsor (2) 10 URC (1) 10
Scorers: Hanson, Ciriello.
Following a break for everyone to recover and the crowd to settle (we need a literal translation of BASTA! BASTA! Please) the final game of the day was Windsor (1) against URC (1). Although the Windsor boys were hot and tired, this proved to be their best game. URC (1) started the game well, keeping the ball alive and darting at the Windsor defence and continually making ground. Strong tackles from Alex Devereux and Jack Williams kept the centre secure and Russell Chester and Will Everett kept the wing channels shut. When Josh Casey made a half break from the centre, he was forced wide, cutting back inside he created space for Chester and the Windsor winger powered his way through to score. URC visibly raised their game. By committing fewer players to the loose they had overlaps and continually threatened the Windsor backs. It seemed inevitable that eventually they would have a 2 against 1 match up and use it to score. This happened just before half time.
Early in the second half, Jack Williams hit a pop pass from Sam Jordan at real pace, straightening up he broke through the first tackle and seemed odds on to charge the length of the field and score. But the big covering winger ran him down and executed a perfect smother tackle. Williams was shaken up, but carried on. It was well for Windsor that he did. Following a period of defending, Windsor counter attacked via an Alexander Moody drive penalty. From the recycled ball, Williams took Laidler’s short pass and ran through to score. The momentum was now going Windsor’s way, on the next possession Josh Casey passed to Tom Lynskey and looped round to create an overlap. Still needing to break a tackle, he forced his way over to put Windsor 2 scores clear. However URC weren’t finished. In the last minutes of the game their big powerful winger was able to dash in from 15 yards to help close the gap. But Windsor played possession rugby after that and ran out as winners.
Result:
Windsor (1) 15 URC (1) 10
Scorers: Chester, Williams, Casey.
That concluded the rugby, but not the visit. URC were impeccable hosts and we only just made it back to the hotel for food.