Windsor at the Worthing 7's Tournament
1st May 2005by Dr FT Bosh
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On the day that His Royal Highness Prince Phillip was Guest of Honour at the official opening of The Windsor RFC clubhouse at Home Park, the Under 13’s travelled to Worthing for their end of season 7’s tournament. Whilst not known for their 7’s skills the squad and their loyal fans were looking forward to the day and hoping to close their successful season down with some entertaining rugby.
The tournament had a two Pool format. Pool A with Windsor and four other sides and Pool B with four teams. The winners and runners up of both Pools went into semi-finals of the main tournament and the third and fourth place in each pool went into a Plate competition.
Windsor’s first game was against East Grinstead, who were an unknown quantity.
Windsor v East Grinstead:
This was the perfect start for Windsor. Settling in quickly, Sam Yeandle made an early break with a nice sidestep and sprinted for the East Grinstead line. As the cover came across he off loaded to supporting hooker Alex Devereux, who powered through the tackle to score. Converted by Yeandle. Windsor restarted to East Grinstead, but a sprinting Alex McKeith was first to the ball and recovered for Windsor, from the resulting maul, scrum half James Cullen’s nippy break took him 35 yards for the second score, also converted by Yeandle. Yeandle scored again before half time, when his next break did not require support and he sprinted 45 yards for a simple score, which he then converted. In the second half it was all Windsor. Good support play and confident handling brought about two scores for centre Josh Casey, and one a-piece for Chris Laidler and Russell Chester. East Grinstead looked pleased to hear the final whistle, but not as pleased as Windsor.
Result:
Windsor 41 East Grinstead 0
Scorers:
Tries: Devereux, Cullen, Yeandle, Casey (2), Laidler, Chester.
Conversions: Yeandle (3)
Next up were Hove. Windsor have competed with Hove on several occasions before at Worthing mini tournaments. The last time was a Hove victory, when Windsor were slow to start having come, literally, straight off the coach and onto the pitch at last years Minis tournament. However now they were warmed up, relaxed and confident.
Windsor v Hove:
From the kick off Windsor looked solid and in control. The ball was secured and passed along the line, testing the Hove tacklers. Recycling well Windsor looked threatening. Sam Yeandle put Alex McKeith into space with a well timed and exceuted pass and the Windsor winger raised the tempo of the game with a burst of pace that took him through the Hove line. As the cover sought to catch him, he broke one tackle, avoided the next and went in for a score, converted by Yeandle. Soon after another Sam Yeandle break threatened the Hove line, just as Yeandle was caught he popped an inside pass to the storming Josh Casey, who demolished the tail end of the Hove defence to score, again converted by Yeandle.
Windsor scored once more before the end when a James Cullen blindside break stretched the Hove line. As he ran out of room, he passed back inside and the move seemed to lose some momentum, but Chris Laidler, coming up from deep took the next pass at pace and smashed through the Hove line to score under the posts. Yeandle converted again.
Result:
Windsor 21 Hove 0
Scorers:
Tries: McKeith, Casey, Laidler.
Conversions: Yeandle (3)
Windsor v Horsham:
After emphatic and convincing victories against their first two adversaries Windsor looked confident and were perhaps a little too over confident against a Horsham side that looked, compared to Hove, smaller and less muscular. However their organisation and support play was exemplary and they soon had run in two tries against the increasingly frustrated Windsor players, by the simple tactic of recycling the ball and creating two on one situations where ever they could (usually out wide). When a kick through resulted in Horsham getting a penalty try for the chaser being held back things looked bad for Windsor. A Josh Casey try helped to raise the spirits, but Horsham came back with another two of their own and Windsor lost their first game of the day.
Result:
Windsor 5 Horsham 25
Scorer:
Try: Casey
Windsor v Oakmedians:
Their was only a short break before Windsor had to come back on again. They were up against a powerful side that looked to be forward orientated. A lot of the wind seemed to have left the Windsor sails and they started slowly. Oakmedians on the other hand simply tore into the Windsor players, rucking and mauling powerfully they knocked Windsor back and, unusually for Seven’s, mauled their way up field and scored a try that would have graced a 15’s match, but looked out of place on a sevens pitch. However, Windsor had to play the team in front of them and that team was playing not only to their strengths, but also, it appeared, too Windsor’s weaknesses.
With the Windsor faithful exhorting their heroes on they began to alter and raise their game. Instead of getting caught up in forward tussles for the ball they kept the ball alive. Russell Chester and Jack Williams both made strong runs, deep into Oakmedians territory and with Oakmedians on the back foot a chip ahead from Yeandle was dribbled on by Casey. It bounced up into his hands and he dived over for a try converted by Yeandle. From here the game began to change. Windsor lost several players with injury and tiredness, but Casey, Williams and Jack Clemance kept the zip in the game. Oakmedians had given it their best shot and initially looked to have all the momentum, but some adroit kicking from Yeandle took the sting out of Oakmedians physicality. In the second half Casey found himself chasing another chip. He dribbled it for 30 yards, to calls of “Shearer” from the faithful, before finally dropping on it over the line. Adding another “Campese-esque” score to complete his hat trick before the end, this was a tough and well won victory.
Result:
Windsor 19 Oakmedians 5
Scorers:
Tries: Casey (3)
Conversions: Yeandle (2)
Windsor were runners up in their group and this took them through into the Cup semi-final against group winners Medway.
Semi Final
Windsor v Medway
Not only were Medway unbeaten, they had not let a try in. It was a game too far for Windsor. Tired and carrying a lot of injuries, they had a 10 minute break before taking to the field against the eventual tournament winners. It was a masterclass in power-based sevens rugby and Windsor competed, but could not overcome this side that seemed to have it all. Power, pace and organisation put 6 tries passed Windsor. Medway were a class above everyone else in the tournament and were worthy wnners in the final.
Result:
Windsor 0 Medway 30
However, despite the loss at the end, it had been a good day. As always Worthing were excellent hosts, the tournament was well organised and Windsor did not have to use the double headed coin that they have recently acquired specifically for Worthing fixtures.