Middlesex Rugby
CLUB MIDDLESEX U 16 2008 - 2009
Fixtures & Contacts,results & reports.
Middlesex U16 B vs Hampshire U16 B at Ealing Trailfinders, 26th October 2008
Middlesex U16 B team put in a superb all round team performance and was rewarded with a 4 to 2 try victory over a strong and well drilled Hampshire U16 B team.
Middlesex got off to cracking start and were two tries up after 5 minutes. From the kick off Middlesex forwards returned the ball down the left into the Hants half with a series of carries and drives. Middlesex continued the attack with flanker Rhys Wilson penetrating into the heart of the Hants mid-field defence. With quick recycle the ball was spun wide for fullback Luke Fowler to take a great diagonal line on a pop pass from centre Charlie Jewers to score in the right corner. Middlesex continued to attack in similar style but had the ball turned over in a ruck, however with pressure on the Hants backline, Joe Butler charged down a clearance, re gathered and scampered 25m to the line out wide. Alex Hodgkinson came close but failed with both long range conversions. 5 minutes later Hants were back in the game, a foot outside the 22 on a long clearance gave them a lineout and using their big forwards they drove the ball in field towards the posts ending with their big robust No 5 crashing over for a converted try. After another 10 minutes, Hants went ahead when their loosehead going over for a converted try following a series of close drives.
Middlesex then started to get to grips with stopping the Hants big forwards charges, their main tactic. From the halfway and with half time approaching Middlesex scored again following the ball being spun wide to winger Josh Mark. He showed real determination and pace to skin his opposition and then just got the better of their full back to wriggle over in the corner for a terrific individual try. The try was not converted but Middlesex had regained the lead 15-14.
Hants had the advantage of the slope and wind and started the second half the stronger team. They maintained a series of attacks and for the first 15 minutes most of the play was in or around the Middlesex 22. However the Middlesex defence remained sound with all players supporting and working hard for each other to soak up a lot of pressure. After managing to ‘hold up’ the ball for the second time to deny Hants a score, Middlesex won the resulting 5 m scrum against the head. Scrum half Tom Dawkes spotted the gap on the blind and beat their back row and before being tackled by the wing when kicking ahead. Back rowers CallumYetman and Camy Mulcaire with winger James Stone were in pursuit and after hacking on, Callum finally touched down by the posts, Alex Hodgkinson converted. Not only did this put Middlesex 2 scores ahead, it deflated Hants and Middlesex managed to ride out the rest of the game to secure the well earned victory 22-14.(RM)
Essex U16 A (20) vs. Middx U16 A (17)
Middx. Team (all played):
1. Hugo Lewis 2. Rob Patterson 3. Rory Mercer 4. Rory Tredwell 5. Gerrard Ellis 6. Billy Harding 7. Paul Herbertson 8. Scott Spurling 9. Tom Brocket 10. Stephen Boatman 11. Owen Bates 12. James Middleton 13. Aaron Lowe 14. Max Muirhead 15. Sam Stanier 16. Nick Auterac 17. Lewis Jones 18. Rhys Wilson 19. George Williams 20. Sam Yamuah 21. Charlie Jewers 22. Luke Fowler 23. James Lightfoot-Browne
Try Scorers; Bates (2), Spurling Cons: Boatman (1)
Despite a number of injuries and unavailability meaning that the side were only able to field one of the eight second rows available, the Middlesex team adapted well to put in a dominant display which was unrewarded with a victory. Middlesex played expansively throughout the game looking dangerous whenever the ball went wide to the wingers and full back. However, the team, playing into a very strong wind in the first half, conceded a penalty in front of their own posts within minutes of the kick off and found themselves 3-0 down. Penalties were a key feature of, and littered throughout, the game as the referee enforced, to the letter of the law, the new ELVs at the ruck regarding players staying on their feet. With limited kicking options due to the wind, the team played a good tight game in their own half although when the backline decided to throw the ball wide on the half way line they found themselves chasing the Essex outside centre back under their posts after he had intercepted a pass – Essex were now in front 10-0 with only a quarter of the game gone.
Middlesex responded well and persevered with their game plan, which brought rewards when Owen Bates took a half chance well to round his opposite number and score on the left hand side after a fluid movement between backs and forwards. The conversion was kicked by Stephen Boatman to make the score 10-7. From this point on the team dominated Essex and created chance after chance, but failed to convert this pressure into points.
The second half started well for Middlesex, who with the wind behind them, kicked deep and set-up a good platform for their next attack. From this Scott Spurling, the bullocking number 8, barged his way over the tryline on the left hand side taking three Essex defenders with him to make the score 10-12.
However, Essex fought back straight from the kick off and after a number of penalties found themselves crossing the Middlesex line to take the lead, 15-12. Mid-way through the second half, a poor cross-field kick was collected by the Essex full back who then started an attack which saw the impressive Essex outside centre cross the Middlesex tryline on the left hand side after 5 phases, 20-12.
Middlesex scrambled and fought back and with 15 minutes to go, Owen Bates took a pass 25 metres from the Essex tryline to hand off and break a tackle in order to score a try wide on the left, 20-17.
This is the way the game finished leaving Middlesex very proud at the nature of the performance, but feeling that they really should have won the game.
CLUB MIDDLESEX U16s 2008 – 2009
Club Middlesex 2008-09 Fixtures and contacts
| U16 | Team managers: Rob Magie & Paul Burke | Head Coach:Zoran Higgins | |
| 08.09.08 | Latest date to receive County Nominations | rmagie@researchitects.com | 18.00 |
| 14.09.08 | Trial for CB Training Squad(14:30-18:30) | Trailfinders Sports Club W13 0DD | 12:45 |
| 21.09.08 | Training Squad Session(13:00-18:30) | Trailfinders Sports Club W13 0DD | 13:45 |
| 29.09.08 | Training Squad Session(19:00-21:00 | Trailfinders Sports Club W13 0DD | 18:45 |
| 6.10.08 | Training squad Session(19:00-21:00) | Trailfinders Sports Club W13 0DD | 18:45 |
| 13.10.08 | Training Squad Session(19:00-21:00) | Trailfinders Sports Club W13 0DD | 18:45 |
| 19.10.08 | Essex A & B v Middx A & B | Bancroft RFC | 12:30 |
| 26.10.08 | Middx A & B v Hants A & B | Trailfinders Sports Club W13 0DD | 2:30 |
| 02.11.08 | Middx A v Surrey A | Harrow School HA1 | 11:00 |
| 10.11.08 | Training Squad Session(19:00-21:00) | Trailfinders Sports Club W13 0DD | 18:45 |
| 16.11.08 | Eastern Counties A & B v Middx A & B | Bancrofts RFC | 2:30 |
| 23.11.08 | End of Season Dinner | Trailfinders Sports Club W13 0DD | 18:45 |
| 30.1108 | L&SE Preliminary Trial | St.Albans School | 10:45 |
| 06.12.08 | L&SE Development Weekend – Day One | St Albans School | 10:45 |
| 7.12.08 | L&SE Development Weekend – Day Two | St Albans School | 10:45 |
| 14.12.08 | L&SE Final Trial | St Albans School | 10:45 |
If you have any enquiries regarding this age group please contact – Rob Magie 07785 364 315 rmagie@researchitects.com , Paul Burke 07773 040 113 rosina_crisa@lineone.net or Nicky Fielder at the Middlesex County RFC 020 8896 9050 admin-middx@therfu.com
CLUB MIDDLESEX U16s -2007 -2008
Under 16 results for 07-08
Middlesex 27 Hampshire 22 Surrey 27 Middlesex 5
Hertfordshire 38 Middlesex 22
Middlesex 15 Essex 10
