Windsor U17's v Amersham & Chiltern LEAGUE
14th December 2008by Dr FT Bosh
The listing was posted by Windsor RFC - Juniors - u17s become colts - Season 08/09
Windsor U17’s Squad after their victory over Amersham & Chiltern
In their final League match, prior to the knock out stages of the National Competition, Windsor U17’s welcomed Amersham & Chiltern to Home Park this Sunday. Both sides needed to win and played with a passion that reflected this ambition. In the end, Windsor won a pulsating game by 5 tries to 2, giving Windsor the all important bonus point to move them up the OBB League table.
The Home Park pitches had stood up well to the deluge of rain in the preceding days and although Windsor are still beset with injury worries and missing second row Jack Clemance, flanker Ciaran Keen and fullback Conor Sawdon, they were set up to play running rugby.
Windsor started as the brighter of the two sides. With the forwards asserting themselves in the loose it was only some “early in the match” handling errors from the Windsor three-quarters that saved Chiltern from going behind in the opening exchanges. But as Windsor began to settle into their game they lost none of their intensity. A set of pick and go’s from the forwards, notably a straight drive from powerhouse second row Sukh Gill, took Windsor to within 5 yards of the Chiltern line. Defending well, two attempts to drive over were held out by the Chiltern defence and in the end a clever dummy and low, hard dive for the line by scrum half Joel Turner gave Windsor the break through, well converted by centre Chris Laidler.
Unfortunately for Windsor, Amersham & Chiltern were able to come straight back, when a penalty for “holding on” gave the visitors excellent field position, from which their three-quarters ran in a well worked try to bring the scores level. Laidler regained the lead shortly afterwards with a penalty.
With the forwards continuing to dominate in the loose, Chiltern tried to utilise their able looking three-quarter line, but Windsor skipper, Aaron McGroatty and colleague Asif Ahmed, had set their sights on the Chiltern fly half and harried him all day. Plays were disrupted, or broken up as the beleagured Chiltern stand off took hit after hit from the Windsor flankers. The ball was turned over from one of these tackles and Turner whipped it away from the breakdown before Chiltern could re-align their defence. Centre Alex Tindall made a powerful run into the Chiltern half and the recycled ball was chipped ahead by fly-half Sam Yeandle. As the forwards drove into the tackle area, prop Charlie Herd secured the ball and was driven over for a superb Windsor score.
Windsor put in another strong effort as the half time whistle approached. Laidler punted the ball high over the Chiltern three-quarter line. As the fullback struggled to deal with the catch he was tackled hard by a chasing Tindall, the ball came loose and supporting winger Buddy Bradbury ran on to the off load. Strong enough to break through the cover defence’s tackle he ran over for an unconverted score.
At half time Amersham & Chiltern re-grouped and came back out with some attitude. They put huge pressure on the Windsor defence and once again Windsor stood strong on their own try line. After five phases of play from less than 10 yards out, Chiltern were unable to break through and eventually gave up a penalty to allow Windsor to clear upfield. From the lineout Turner continued the upfield move with a well judged box kick that pinned Chiltern in their own 22.
As the intensity of the game raised, it began to get a little scrappy with both sides making errors of judgement and execution. But, as the Windsor forwards began to regain some composure, they moved a driving maul on towards the Chiltern line. From two yards out McGroatty forced his head and shoulders loose of the maul and got the ball down, but the referee was unsighted and unable to give the try. However the “score that wasn’t” served to re-focus Windsor’s efforts and their play became more considered. Chiltern played a high-risk strategy from under their own posts and got the ball to their powerful and fast winger. Running well he made it out to his 10 yard line until he was brought down with a text book tackle from Yeandle. Prop Alex Devereux was first to the breakdown and reclaimed the ball. Laidler then kicked it back from whence Chiltern had come and they found themselves back on their own 5 yard line. Once again Chiltern broke out, but this time, Windsor kept the ball in hand once it had been turned over. The forwards drove the ball on and No 8 Sam Windmill broke from the back and arced a 30metre run into the centre channel, with 2 supporting three-quarters outside him, he dummied the Chiltern defender and continued in to score a crowd pleasing solo score that had the Faithful cheering.
It would be tempting to say that Windsor took their foot off the pedal, or that they became a little complacent with their lead, but they didn’t. They continued to play with the same intensity. The next score came from sheer determination and pride from the Amersham & Chiltern team. A penalty and several phases of back play took them into Windsor’s 22 and from here they were able to drive over to score a converted try.
But Windsor weren’t finished. A chip ahead from Tindall was neatly caught by the Chiltern fullback. As he turned to move upfield he was caught by prop Charlie Herd in a smother tackle. Herd lifted the unfortunate Chiltern player off his feet and marched him 10 yards into touch. From the line out Yeandle pumped another high ball into the Chiltern 22 and a chasing Tindall pressured the catcher. Once again Bradbury was there in support, took the ball on and forced his way over for another unconverted try.
The referee blew for full time shortly afterwards and Windsor had won a keenly fought contest that will take them into the Festive period with a good win to reflect on.
Result:
Windsor 30 – Amersham & Chiltern 14
Tries: Turner, Herd, Bradbury (2), Windmill
Conversion: Laidler
Penalty: Laidler