Windsor RFC U14’s at The Newbury 10s
2nd May 2004by Dr FT Bosh
The listing was posted by
From L to R - Standing: Sam Phillips, Davin Allway, Caspar Hughes, Ross Cumplen, Tom Bouch, Baldeep Sahota, Jamie Fleming, Ed Clemance, Richie Eccles.
Kneeling: Tom Newman, Mickey Welch, Jonny Whitehead, Andy Pedder, Rehmen Grewal, Sam Turner.
Windsor U14’s have had an excellent season in 2003/04, both on and off the field. With the players maturing and the revitalized coaching staff encouraging their abilities, they have justifiably grown in confidence and self belief. Add to that a solid development of the team ethic and you have a very capable squad.
Today 15 of them travelled to Newbury, for the end of season 10s tournament and, whilst unfamiliar with 10s, the squad and supporters looked determined to enjoy the day. As it turned out they had a lot to be proud off. The Windsor players showed great heart, determination and, above all, enjoyment as they went about their business.
Their first fixture was against Swindon, an unknown quantity for Windsor, as they have never played each other before. Windsor, notoriously slow starters, had the measure of their opponents, but were unable to convert the possession into enough points. The first break through came when prop Sam Phillips broke through a maul, but was “pushed” wide by the covering Swindon defence. As he was about to be driven into touch his overhead, inside, Fijianesque pass fell into the hands of the supporting centre Ross Cumplen. The Swindon defence was caught on the wrong foot and Cumplen needed no further advantage. His swerving, fast run took him through the would-be tacklers and in for Windsor’s first score of the day. This should have opened up the floodgates for Windsor, but a series of difficult to understand penalties saw them give ground, from the third of these a Swindon forward drove low and hard and went in to score.
Windsor 5 - Swindon 5
The next fixture for Windsor was against the mighty Bath. Now properly prepared Windsor looked very capable against the eventual tournament winners and were holding their own. Bath played a very open, running game, utilising their powerful and mobile forwards they played more like a 7’s side than in a conventional “forwards and backs” style. As a consequence there were some very powerful runners that needed to be brought down. Unfortunately, for Windsor, centre Ross Cumplen was badly shaken up doing just that and was substituted early on. Shortly afterwards Sam Turner fielded a mis-kick and from the resulting tackle ended up on the sidelines with a rapidly swelling ankle. Bath were quick to exploit the gaps and scored a very workman like try that saw the ball travel across the pitch to their prop/centre. With Windsor always competing you felt the game could go either way, but close to full time Bath kicked ahead and were awarded a penalty try when the referee felt the chasing kicker was interfered with. Bath won, but Windsor were now truly fired up.
Windsor 0 - Bath 12
Windsor’s next and last pool match was against the much fancied Camberley and proved to be a wonderful game of rugby. Both sides needed a win and both were well into their stride. Windsor took the initiative and applied early pressure, that clearly unsettled their opponents. Fly half Jonny Whitehead kicked ahead into space and a charging Baldeep Sahota and Jamie Fleming put sufficient pressure on the receiver for him to hesitate, caught in two minds, he was soon caught in the Windsor second row’s powerful tackle and the ball was knocked loose. It was juggled momentarily by the Camberley defence, until winger Tom Newman popped up in the right place. He took the ball at full pace and powered his way in to score. Camberley came straight back at Windsor and a poor miss tackle in the Windsor line allowed Camberley in to score. Camberley continued to apply the pressure in the second half and things looked ominous for Windsor when Camberley had a scrum 5 yards out from the Windsor try line. Hooker Mickey Welch struck against the head and Jonny Whitehead timed his pass to the, now recovered, Ross Cumplen to perfection. Cumplen then weaved, side-stepped and sprinted his way 90 yards up field to score. The game was on a knife edge as Camberley kept the pressure on. Rock solid tackling from full back Tom Bouch made Windsor look very secure in the open and Camberley switched quickly and efficiently to a forward drive. Windsor reacted quickly, but not quickly enough. The maul had momentum and this took it over. Whilst it came down in a heap the referee was well placed to see what happened and awarded a try. The final whistle went shortly afterwards and both sides were warmly applauded by the appreciative crowd.
Windsor 14 - Camberley 14
Bath and Camberley went through to the quarter finals and Windsor went through in to the Plate competition. In the Plate quarter final they were up against Gosport & Fareham and it seemed to be a game too far for the boys from the south coast. Windsor tore into them from the outset and seemed to be able to score at will. Ross Cumplen started the ball rolling with a ruthless direct run, that left two would be tacklers face down in his wake. This was followed by a jinking 50 yard run from scrum half Andrew Pedder, that put him in under the posts. Cumplen bagged another shortly afterwards and then a nicely worked three quarter move put Tom Newman over in the corner. In the second half there was a real crowd pleaser as Captain Caspar Hughes broke out of a maul and thundered the remaining 15 yards to score his second try of the season and centre Richie Eccles, so often the creator of chances for other people, chanced his arm with an extended run. Breaking and avoiding tackles, he realised it was going to be his day, hung on to the ball and swept in for a marvellous solo try. Jonny Whitehead finished it all off with a “show and go” sidestep that took him in for Windsor’s seventh try. Scoring at a rate of one try every two minutes Windsor were ready for the semi final.
Windsor 47 - Gosport & Fareham 0
The semi-final was against Crawley (a side that many had tipped as potential pool winners). This was everything you’d expect from a semi-final, full of passion and end-to-end rugby. Once again Windsor came out all guns blazing and put Crawley on to the back foot. A huge tackle from second row Baldeep Sahota set up a maul, Ed Clemance turned the ball over and it was whipped down the line to Ross Cumplen, he made no mistake and skirted the Crawley defence to score. Windsor kept the pressure on and in a moment of madness one of the Crawley players lashed a boot out at the prone Caspar Hughes. As it connected with his head the referee had no option but to send the offending player off. Hughes stayed on the field and from the penalty Windsor repeated the earlier play and spread the ball wide to Cumplen, once again he took the ball in for a Windsor score. Crawley came back at Windsor and kept the ball in the forwards, such was their commitment, it was hard to believe that they were one man down. They were rewarded with a pushover try just before half time. In the second half Windsor were keen to take the initiative back and stuck with the game plan. Cumplen once again utilised his speed to circumvent the Crawley defence and got his hat-trick. But Crawley refused to give up and doggedly stuck to their task. Their pack camped on the Windsor try line and Windsor gave up three penalties in quick succession. This proved to be their undoing as the Crawley pack drove over again. Crawley now only needed a converted score to draw level and it was Windsor’s turn to dig in. Rehmen Grewal and Davin Allway were instrumental in tying up the Crawley forwards and Windsor closed the game out. As a foot note it was good to see the dismissed Crawley player come over to apologise to Windsor’s captain and equally good to see the apology accepted with good grace.
Windsor 19 – Crawley 12
So Windsor made it through to the final and prepared themselves for a “battle royal” against Havant. On the main pitch, in front of a very vocal and supportive crowd Windsor hurled themselves into the fray again. Once again, they made all the early running and, initially, made Havant look very ordinary. The forwards asserted themselves and moved the ball slowly, but surely up field. When the ball came out to Jonny Whitehead his quick miss pass to Tom Bouch caught everyone by surprise and Tom Bouch was able to slip his tackler and run in under the posts to score. As the game began to settle down, Windsor were unable to keep up such a high level of intensity and Havant began to get back into the game. Several strong forward drives were stopped, but they gained good ground and pulled in the Windsor defence. When the ball was spun out down the line the Havant winger got around Windsor’s defence and headed for the posts. Ross Cumplen, playing in the centre, sprinted across to try and protect Windsor’s lead and in the process badly pulled a muscle in his hip. He was stretchered off and Windsor had lost one of their main scoring threats. Sam Turner came back on for Windsor, but did not look fully fit.
Windsor continued to compete, but the imposed break and the loss of Cumplen seemed to deflate them slightly. Havant needed no second invitation and raised their game. Windsor were now on the defensive and every player was called on to make tackles just to survive. No one missed tackles and in the cases of Jamie Fleming, Sam Turner and Tom Bouch, certain tries were prevented, but the Havant support and continuity was just too good and they ran in three more scores before the final whistle and Windsor U14’s ended up with runner’s up medals, whilst Havant were deserving winners.
Windsor 7 - Havant 22
This was a superb day’s rugby for the players and ever supportive parents and every player should be proud of his contribution and success. Here is to next season and the U15 league.