Windsor RFC U14’s V Waterland RFC - Purmerend
17th April 2004by Niall Turner
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"It took three of them" - Man of the Match James Farrant takes on the Waterland defence (again)
Windsor RFC U14’s V Waterland RFC - Purmerend
Windsor U14’s continued their European tour with a visit to the aptly named Waterland Club at Purmerend. Playing for the first time below sea-level, the Windsor team were missing three players after yesterday’s heroics, but were in good spirits and looking forward to playing a side that was, mostly, the same age as themselves. As it turned out, it was a massive performance from the visitors as 9 different players scored 12 tries to seal a solid victory.
Waterland kicked off to Windsor and the tourists immediately set up a solid platform for the backs to work from. An early break from fly-half Jonny Whitehead took Windsor up to the Waterland 22. The three quarter line linked well with, in form, flanker Laurence Alder to set up the second phase. Prop Sam Phillips peeled off the maul and scored Windsor’s first unconverted try.
From the re-start, prop Marc Williams fielded the ball, gained ground and, once again, Windsor forwards set up secure possession for the backs. As the ball moved down the line, speeding full back Thomas Bouch came in at pace and sprinted over to score a try that he then converted.
It was text book stuff for Windsor. The forwards secured the ball and the backs used the full width of the pitch to stretch the Waterland defence. However the home side were beginning to get the measure of the Windsor game and put in some strong tackles to break moves up. Windsor brought the ball back into the forwards and No:8 Ed Clemance and Laurence Alder made strong runs close to the pack. From a penalty close to the Waterland line, scrum half Peter Lewis got the ball out to Alder who, despite a good tackle, got over to score an unconverted try.
As Waterland brought more players in to deal with the forward threat, Windsor returned to the backs and span the ball down the line to winger Luke Carter, outflanking the Waterland defence, his determination took him past the fullback to score under the posts. Tom Bouch converted.
Although four tries down Waterland continued to compete and played with great determination. Their powerful No:8 Roy Brouwer broke from a set piece scrum and caught the Windsor defence unawares. His direct run took him through 2 covering tackles and he went in under the posts to score an unconverted try.
The try raised the confidence of the home team and their forwards increased their efforts to wrest control of the ball away from the Windsor pack, but Windsor second row David Lisk was instrumental in breaking up this endeavour as he made tackle, after tackle. Luke Carter pounced on a loose ball and darted up field, his way was blocked by the Waterland defence, but his excellent, speculative grubber kick suddenly looked very dangerous as it was chased down by a supporting Jamie Fleming. The Waterland prop dived to touch the ball down before Fleming and did enough to ensure that the ball was not grounded properly, however, it came at a cost as the Waterland prop was substituted with a suspected broken elbow. As Waterland were lacking in substitutes, sporting Sam Phillips agreed to become Windsor 2004 U14’s first European transfer (albeit for 40 minutes or so).
Jamie Fleming’s determination was soon rewarded when he took the blind side channel from a Windsor scrum and drove over to score an unconverted try.
Next came a bizarre episode where the Waterland kicker fired an “end over end” restart kick at the Windsor defence, presumably looking for a knock on. The ball shot underneath the grasp of the waiting forwards, then bounced and looped slowly over the secondary defence. Waterland prop Sam Phillips followed up the kick and got the run of the green as the ball bounced into his path and he ran in for a straight forward try and, as far as we are aware, the first Windsor player to score a European try whilst on loan to a European side and to score for both sides during the same game.
This bizarre incident was followed by one of sublime perfection. Jonny Whitehead picked up the ball and, with time to kick, aimed a high ball into the corner of the Waterland 22, it was designed for the winger to run on to and Rehmen Grewal’s sprint was perfectly timed. As the ball dropped, he stretched and caught it at full speed, breaking the full back’s tackle he went into score. The fact that this move has failed, spectacularly, time after time at home was not wasted on the touring crowd, who showed their delight as it, finally, succeeded.
Windsor continued to dominate the game. Davin Allway made a superb break in the centre and when finally slowed up by three Waterland tacklers, his off load to a supporting Jamie Fleming, gave Windsor another score.
Windsor were awarded a penalty try when Laurence Alder’s fine break was stopped prematurely with a high tackle and Jonny Whitehead kept the momentum going when his quick thinking at a penalty enabled him to dart in almost unopposed.
Davin Allway was rewarded with a score when Ed Clemance, trying out at centre, broke through the Waterland defence and set up a second phase on his own. Allway was first to the breakdown, took the ball on and powered in to score.
Laurence Alder added a second to his tally (he’ll claim it as a hat trick following the penalty try) when his direct charge was initially held up by the still determined Waterland defence, only to be driven over by Marc Williams arriving strongly at the tackle area.
The backs demanded some of the ball and played some entertaining rugby. Scrum half Peter Lewis came very close to scoring, as did centre Richie Eccles, but it was James Farrant who really caught the eye. The slightly built Windsor winger was unparalleled in his determination. Dwarfed by his opposite number, he tackled and was tackled all afternoon and every time, got up, dusted himself off, worked out which way he should be facing and played on, usually with a smile on his face.
The game was finished off with a flourish from the Windsor backs, several phases of play were concluded with Luke Carter racing in to the corner to score his second and Windsor’s twelfth try.
In the clubhouse, James Farrant was made Man of the Match for his tireless efforts and great spirit, a decision that was thoroughly approved of by the Waterland faithful and everyone set about cementing relations between the two clubs.
Result – Windsor 64 Waterland 10
Scorers: Tries: Philips (and 1 for them), Bouch, Alder (2), Carter (2), Fleming (2), Grewal,
Whitehead, Allway, Penalty Try
Conversions: Bouch (2)