Windsor U12's at Worthing Mini Tournament 2004
25th April 2004by Niall Turner
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Chris Laidler kicks off for Windsor at the Worthing Tournament
Windsor U12’s began the last leg of their south coast tour with a huge day ahead of them. The Worthing tournament may not be as large as it has been in the past, but the quality of the sides who attend it is at the top level. The current U12’s won the tournament 2 years ago and were knocked out of last year’s semi final by the toss of a coin (whilst being unbeaten). This year they came to the tournament with high expectations.
The coaches (6 wheeled variety, not sporting mentor type) were late and the players had only 3 minutes preparation time before their first game against Hove. This was insufficient time to blow the cobwebs out and Hove tore into the lethargic tourists right from the start. Their big second row did the early damage when he powered in low and hard from 5 yards out. A good Sam Yeandle tackle was insufficient to hold him out. Before Windsor could re-settle Hove were back at them again, but this time a bizarre penalty decision went against Windsor and Hove span the ball down the line to score a good try. During the half time interval the players began to wake up and came out as a different side in the second half. The forwards asserted themselves and Max Wilson and James Tunnacliffe nullified the second row threat. A good break from centre Josh Casey put winger James Cullen into space, but he was adjudged to be held up when trying to ground the ball. Windsor kept the pressure on and looked certain to score when a well controlled maul went over and Tunnacliffe appeared to touch the ball down cleanly, but the referee once again adjudged it to be held up. Hove re-organised their defence and the rest of the game was a very entertaining stalemate.
Winsdsor 0 – Hove 10
For their next fixture Windsor came up against a powerful Gravesend side, also featuring a second row who was over 6ft tall, unlike the first game Windsor were ready. The early running was all from Windsor, but the Gravesend defence was resolute and Windsor could not penetrate the try line. When Gravesend counterattacked it was Windsor’s second row Alex Devereux who countered his opposite number's threat. From his tackle the Windsor forwards put together a driving arrowhead that gained excellent field position. Scrum half Joel Turner got the ball out to his backs and an incisive break from Casey, supported by Richard Ayres was eventually taken over for a score by winger Alec McKeith. Gravesend looked shell-shocked and were even more dispirited when prop Max Wilson’s grubber kick was collected by the Gravesend full back, only for him to be dump tackled by centre Richard Ayres. The Windsor forwards swarmed over the break down and the ball was delivered out to Josh Casey who broke his opposite numbers tackle to score.
Windsor 10 – Gravesend 0
For their next fixture Windsor faced up to Old Elthamians. It was Old Elthamians that they had lost the “game deciding” toss to last year, so Windsor were looking for retribution. The game started well for Windsor and Old Elthamians gave up a penalty in the opening minutes of the game. Max Wilson pounced on it and powered his way through to score. Second row James Ashby Harvey caught the restart and bulldozed his way into the opposition. Making 30 yards Windsor got quick ball from the maul. Joel Turner’s nippy break away was supported by Rich Ayres and the Windsor centre, who is enjoying a return of form, went in for a well deserved try. Old Elthamians were not prepared to give up with out a fight and in the second half used their backs to great effect. Windsor were caught out twice when, positional naivety on the flanks was exploited by the Old Elthamian three quarters and, they ran in two tries to equalise.
Windsor 10 – Old Elthamians 10
At the end of the league section of the tournament Windsor went through, as first runners up, into the “full” knock out, quarterfinal stage of the tournament on points difference. They were up against Beccehamians. Some of the Windsor boys were beginning to show the pace and this promised to be a nerve-wracking game. Both sides played great, committed rugby and it was Beccehamians that looked strongest at the beginning. However, despite a territorial and possession advantage they never actually came close to scoring. As the game wore on it was Windsor that looked more likely to succeed. Forwards pressure brought about a virtual siege of the Beccehamians try line. Max Wilson was held out and only a superb smother tackle prevented Josh Casey from scoring from a centre break. In the end the strong Beccehamians defence kept Windsor out and the fixture was a draw. However this was not the end of the drama. With no extra time, the referee declared a coin toss to decide the winner. Surely it couldn’t happen to Windsor two years running. Yes it could, they lost the toss and their day was over. The gracious way in which the Beccehamian coach and players accepted their victory and acknowledged our defeat is to be applauded, but the organisers of this event must find alternatives to the coin toss if they are not to devalue their tournament.
Windsor 0 – Beccehamians 0 (Windsor lose on a coin toss)
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