Windsot U15's at the Southern Regional Tournament
24th April 2005by Dr FT Bosh (with Peter Eccles)
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Seb Barfoot slips his marker.
Fans of the U15 side have had an interesting season this year. The side, occasionally brilliant and packed with County players have dazzled and disappointed in equal measure. Whilst the league has not gone to plan, on many occasions this mercurial side have put together phases of rugby that would make a Frenchman’s jaw drop. So it was a fitting reward for those who have followed them and for the players themselves that on Sunday at the Southern Regional U15’s tournament hosted by Henley, the Windsor side swept all before them and took home the trophy. Scoring 12 tries and conceding none it was a tour de force from a side that “came together” at just the right time.
The day was warm and sunny and Windsor’s first game was against old rivals Reading. Windsor were slow to start, but once the cork on the champagne rugby was popped there was no stopping them. The forwards supplied the backs with possession and the ball was played through the hands with a confidence that brought great success out wide. Six tries from the following five players: Rehmen Grewal, Tom Birch, Lawrence Alder, Baldeep Sahota and Casper Hughes and 2 conversions by Andy Pedder gave Windsor a convincing 34 – 0 victory.
Next up were Oxford Harlequins. Windsor swopped the squad around to ensure all players got a game and, whilst The Harlequins never stopped tackling and played with enormous heart, they could not put enough attack together to seriously threaten Windsor. In order to score Windsor needed every ounce of team support and co-operation to break through a determined Quins defence. This is what they gave and the result was a try a piece from Andy Pedder, Jonny Whitehead, Andrew Slade and Peter Lewis, with a conversion from Pedder. To rack up a 22 – 0 win.
The final game was against an unbeaten High Wycombe and was not a game for the faint hearted. Windsor were ruthless in their execution and dominated from the start. The forwards played an uncompromising game and the backs, notably centres Ollie Soundy and Ross Cumplen, were up fast to pressure the opposition and close down the High Wycombe backs. The result was a tough game that flirted with ill-discipline and could have tipped over into open hostility under a lesser referee. But this did not mar a tough game and a score each from Lawrence Alder and Rehman Grewal, with a conversion from Pedder’s trusty boot gave Windsor the winning 12 – 0 scoreline.
The trophy was presented by organiser Jason Bower to Windsor Captain Ross Cumplen and it was noted that Windsor’s inspirational Captain had led from the front, presiding over no less than nine of his colleagues scoring. Also worthy of note were the multi-skilled talents of Rehman Grewal, the commitment and power of new County selectee Baldeep Sahota and the running skills of Jonny Whitehead and Andrew Pedder. New boy Andrew Slade got himself on the scoresheet and it was also good to see wingers Tom Newman and Seb Barfoot playing with such strength, speed and determination.
All in all a great day for the U15’s and a perfect end to the season. Congratulations go to the boys and coaches Clive Lewis and Peter Eccles. The squad will be back next season as U16’s, keep your Sunday’s free.