Middlesex Rugby
Middlesex U 20 Results with some pics
Played on Sunday 17th at Sidcup
Kent 13 Middlesex 33
Played on Sunday Mar 2nd at Old Millhillians
Middlesex 23 Surrey 9
Match Report – Middlesex v Surrey 2nd Mar 08
Middlesex 23 – Surrey 9
Middlesex entertained Surrey at Old Millhillians in the final game of the pool rounds with a convincing win being required by Middlesex to go through to next stages.
Surrey started the game well with the pack taking the game to Middlesex through good scrummaging and an effective driving maul they where reward with this early pressure with a penalty. Middlesex responded quickly with strong defensive pressure creating a penalty opportunity to even the score. Both sides were penalised for a number of rucking infringements and the indiscipline of Middlesex saw Prop Simon Whitcombe receiving a Yellow card. However, during this period Middlesex rallied and again through strong defence applied pressure to create a break away try for Sean Pratt which he took very well. Surrey did not capitalise on the extra man fully only to gain a further penalty.
Middlesex’s back-row now began to apply pressure at the break down with strong running from Jack Gibbons and strong defence work from Callum Stidson Nott and John Constantinou. The Middlesex pack now started to apply there own pressure in the scrum and breakdown with Nick Dewland leading from the front.
Middlesex backs who had been short of early 2nd phase ball now started to dominate and then through a multi phase move which resulted in Orieso Agbareh charging over the line breaking a number of tackles for the final converted try of the half (15 -6 half time).
The second half began swiftly with both sides playing attractive rugby attacking from all areas of the field. Surrey where again rewarded with a penalty to keep in contention. The turning point of the game and with the best rugby of the day a move starting from a lineout deep in Middlesex half with Richard W Taylor releasing Ryan Owen to be tackle short of the line to offload to Orieso Agbareh saw him cross the line for his 2nd try of the day.
Middlesex where unlucky not to score further try’s as Surrey began to chase the game. The game unfortunately finished 2 minutes early with an injury to Agbareh which happily does not seem to be too serious.
Middlesex deserved to win the match and finished top of the pool and go through to the next round to meet the other pool winners for London and South East in Aldershot on 30th March
Result at Aldershot
NATIONAL UNDER 20 QUARTER FINAL
Result
London & SE U20 Championship
Middlesex 14 v Hampshire 26
Match report will follow
