Windsor U17's v Oxford Harlequins League Seed Decider
1st March 2009by Dr FT Bosh
The listing was posted by Windsor RFC - Juniors - u17s become colts - Season 08/09
Windsor relax after a great victory over Oxford Harlequins
Fresh from a good win against Milton Keynes last Sunday, the Windsor U17’s travelled up the M40 (again) to Oxford to take on Harlequins in the seeding decider prior to the National Competition. Quins play in a division below Windsor, but are unbeaten in that League and have recently seen off Windsor’s league rivals Witney and were clearly motivated and confident prior to this fixture. Windsor are gathering momentum and hitting form, so this game promised to be a sparkling jewel of a match and an antidote to all those who had sat through England’s defeat to Ireland the previous day. The match lived up to expectations and provided a pulsating 80 minutes entertainment for the near capacity crowd. In which a valiant Quin’s team were beaten, 5 tries to 1, by an inspiring display of 15 man rugby from the Berkshire side that was full of passion and panache.
In perfect playing conditions Quins kicked off and recovered the ball. They indicated their intent straightaway with a tactical kick into Windsor’s 22, but full back Chris Laidler, ably supported by his wingers was alert to the threat and returned the kick with interest deep into Quins’ territory. Windsor, notorious for starting slowly, were on top of their game right from the start. The forwards set about their business with a muscularity and determination that knocked Quins on to the back foot and allowed the Windsor three-quarters to play with a flair that has been dormant for most of this season. A series of pick and go’s from the forwards took play into the Quins’ 22. A sharp break from Jack Williams took the Windsor centre to with in 10 yards of the Quins’ line where he was well tackled. Flanker Asif Ahmed was first to the break down, secured the ball and recycled it to second row Suhk Gill. Gill went low and hard for the line and took two tacklers over with him to score his first try for Windsor, converted by Laidler.
Quins’ restart was too long and Windsor secured possession. Scrum half Joel Turner broke to the blindside and popped a pass to a speeding Laidler. Laidler made 40 yards in a solo run, before being caught. The ball was recycled quickly and spun down the line. Winger Kudsayi Makurumure threatened to go through, but was well tackled 15 yards out. Fly half Sam Yeandle looped round at a sprint, took the off load and jinked his way towards the try line. He was bundled into touch on the 5 yard line. Quins threw to the back of the line out, but hadn’t counted on Ahmed stealing the ball and going for the line. Once again Quins tackled well, but Ahmed slipped the ball to prop Charlie Herd, who is hard to stop from 2 yards out and he scored an excellent unconverted try.
Two tries down, Oxford Harlequins tried to regain their resolve and come back at Windsor with some passion of their own. Their forwards drove on forcefully and made good territory. In the three-quarters their centres looked threatening and gained ground, but no points as Williams and Alex Tindall made their tackles. Good tackling from Russell Chester on the wing also snuffed out one of Quins more dangerous attacks. Windsor saw out the remainder of the half with no points lost.
During the break, Oxford Harlequins came up with a game plan and renewed determination. From their first possession they kept the ball in the forwards and drove the ball upfield. Assisted by a couple of penalties they were soon camped on Windsor’s try line and a powerful break from a maul saw them over for a hard won converted try.
Quins continued to play at a higher level of intensity and although Windsor regained their composure in defence, they made basic errors whilst attacking, by trying to do much, or by trying to be over-elaborate. Quins came close to scoring again, with another series of forward drives, but strong tackling from Turner, Sam Windmill and Cai Harrold saw these come to nothing. On the way to the next lineout, skipper Aaron McGroatty could be heard encouraging his team, in somewhat forceful terms, to “keep it simple” and on the next possession the ball was passed fluently along to winger Makurumure, who stutter-stepped past his opposite number and sprinted for the corner. As the full back came across to make the tackle Makurumure fixed him and passed inside to a supporting Jack Williams who muscled his way over to score a try that was well converted by Laidler.
Windsor now had all their composure back and began to run the game. The scrum was solid and hooker Cai Harrold even nicked a couple against the head. Windmill dominated the front of the lineout and Ahmed seemed to be everywhere mopping up anything loose. McGroatty harried the fly half and made creative play for the Quins three-quarters very difficult. Under pressure, Quins kicked away their next possession and the ball fell to Gill, from the resulting maul Turner broke inside the cover, got over the gain line and offloaded to Yeandle. With support inside and out, Yeandle made 40 yards, dummied the full back and went over to score, converted by Laidler.
From here on in, it was all Windsor. As individuals, Quins tackled well, but Windsor had a 15 man game going. As he seemed to have done all game Ahmed cleared up loose ball and the forwards drove on. Once again the three-quarters broke to the blindside and Yeandle put centre Alex Tindall into space with a superbly timed pass. Tindall powered into Quins’ territory, was tackled and Turner recycled the ball. Laidler came into the line at pace and burst through the Quins’ defence to score an excellent team try that he then converted.
Windsor took this opportunity to bring on Chris Spring and also welcome back Will Foy at flanker, after his long term knee injury. Both were soon in the game and Windsor closed the game out well in charge, with two number 8 breaks from Jack Clemance, both being adjudged to be held up over the line, by a well placed referee.
This was undoubtedly Windsor’s best performance of the season and they retired to the clubhouse to partake of Oxford Harlequin’s excellent hospitality in good spirits. Our thanks go to the helpers who stayed late to look after us and the chef who concocted the excellent curry.
Result:
Windsor 33 – Oxford Harlequins 7
Tries: Gill, Herd, Williams, Yeandle, Laidler
Conversions: Laidler (4)