Middlesex Rugby
Club Middlesex U16 Squad Training and Matches 07-08
Under 16s management team & coaches for 2007-2008
Training and Match Schedule for Club Middlesex U16 Squad
Match reports
Managers: Rob Magie(Lead) Mobile:07785 364 315 Click to email
Paul Burke- Mobile 07773 040 113 Click to email
Coaches
Matt Burdekin (Lead) M 07834 172 176
Zoran Higgins M 07967 217829
Adrian Lewis M 07906 277 799
John Flynn M 07767 301 189
Ben Jones M 07825 538 075
Norman Parker M 07917 265 824
Matt Hastings M tba
Physio Aileen Kilshaw M 07946 320 607
U16 Season
| Date | Objects | Venue | Arrive latest |
| 10-09-2007 | Trial for CB Training Squad | Trailfinders W13 0DD | 18:45 |
| 17-09-2007 | Training Sqaud Session 1900-2100 | Trailfinders | 18:45 |
| 24-09-2007 | Training Squad Session | Trailfinders | 18:45 |
| 01-10-2007 | Training Squad Session | Trailfinders | 18:45 |
| 08-10-2007 | Training SquadSession | Trailfinders | 18:45 |
| 15-10-2007 | Training A& B Squad Session | Trailfinders | 18:45 |
| 21-10-2007 | Hampshire A & B v Club Middlesex A &B | Portsmouth RFC | 12:30 |
| 22-10-2007 | Training cancelled | Trailfinders | 18:45 |
| 28-10-2007 | Surrey A v Club Middlesex A | KCS Old Boys RFC | 12:30 |
| 29-10-2007 | Post match Session | Trailfinders | 18:45 |
| 11-11-2007 | Hertfordshire A v Club Middlesex A | St.Albans School | 09:00 |
| 19-11-2007 | A&B Squad Training Session | Trailfinders | 18:45 |
| 25-11-2007 | Club Middlesex A&B v Essex A&B | Trailfinders Sports Club W13 0DD | 12:15 |
| 05-11-2007 | A & B Squad Training Session (19:00-21:00) | London Irish Sunbury | 18:45 |
Hampshire “A” 26 – Club Middlesex “A” 27 21 October 2007 – Portsmouth RFC.
Middlesex started out impressively and immediately were camped out on the Hampshire try line but could not convert pressure into points. The run of play immediately reversed with Hampshire driving the length of the field to earn a scrum under the Middlesex posts. The Hampshire Number 8 picked up from the base of the scrum only to be felled inches short of the line; Hampshire scooped up the ball and went over with a concerted second phase drive. The conversion missed and Hampshire went ahead 5-0. Middlesex struck back after the kick-off and a bit of skilled footballing saw the ball fly-hacked half the length of the pitch into Middlesex hands. A series of drives brought Middlesex to within the Hampshire 5 metre line when Middlesex fullback John-Henry Smith managed to get over with and nicely angled scything run; Middlesex failed to convert and the scores were level at 5-5.
The next phase of play saw a sustained back and forth battle between the 22 metre lines. Hampshire launched a Garryowen which was bobbled by Middelesex and picked up by Hampshire for a breakaway try under the posts. The conversion was straightforward and Hampshire led 12-7. Middlesex fought to get back in the game and worked their way into Hampshire territory when the ball got out to winger Marland Yarde who struck quickly in the corner for a try. The conversion proved too difficult from the touch line and the score at halftime was 12-10 to Hampshire.
The second half started immediately with Hampshire’s openside stealing the ball off a weak bit of Middlesex rucking, sellinjg a convincing dummy and breaking for the posts and grounding the ball; an easy conversion saw Hampshire in the ascendancy at 19-10. After a prolonged period of unsettled play from both sides, Middlesex seemed to develop increasing focus and found themselves putting extreme pressure on the Hants defense before replacement prop Joe Wasinki broke through, stand-off Josh Smith split the posts and Hampshire’s lead reduced to 19-17.
Hampshire immediately fought back with a a sustained passing and running effort right off the kick-off which led to the Hants centre scoring; the conversion was good and Hampshire appeared to be pulling away with the spoils a 26-17. Middlesex visibly raised their game and the contact at the breakdown became increasingly ferocious. This led to a sustained eight minute period of pressure inside of the Hampshire 22 which saw wave after wave of attack culminating in Callum Burke punching through for five points, the conversion was unsuccessful but the tide of the game was clearly turning as Hampshires lead was down to four points at 26-22. Middlesex sensing, in equal measure, a weakening Hampshire effort and the dying minutes of the game, sustained the pressure from the restart. A series back line linking play looked increasingly sharp and the next Middlesex score saw the ball pass through all hands from 9 outward resulting in replacement wing Jack Dillon scoring in the corner. The conversion failed to find the mark but did bring with it the referee’s final whistle and a good start to the U16s county campaign.
Hampshire “B” 15 -Club Middlesex “B” 30 21 October 2007 – Portsmouth RFC.
Middlesex dominated possession and territory throughout the first half but were unable to capitalise on a number of scoring opportunities. An impressive display from the forwards gave little opportunity for Hampshire to obtain decent ball; when they did get ball Middlesex’s back row forced repeated turnovers while the backs missed few tackles. The first half ended with Middlesex up 10-0 with tries from Jonny Mills following a charge down and from Ollie Murgatroyd who finally broke through following a period of sustained pressure.
Middlesex continued their dominance through the third quarter with tries from Ollie Murgatroyd on one of his characteristic straight runs; from Tor Dahl-Neilson scoring in the corner from line out possession; from Brendan McDermott from a passage of play that started near to our own posts and Matt Dever with a blind side break from 30 metres out Hampshire scored a penalty given for a shoulder charge. The last quarter saw Middlesex tire dramatically resulting in Hampshire scoring twice. Both scores came from slack tackling. Overall, a very strong performance, especially from the forwards who allowed Hampshire few chances at getting clean ball. Despite tiring towards the end a most impressive start to the season.
Surrey “A” 27 – Club Middlesex “A” 5 28 October 2007 – KCS Old Boys RFC.
Surrey were dominant from the kick-off and immediately had Middlesex on the back foot and looking vulnerable in the opening minutes. Surrey exploited the situation with a good break from the inside centre to open their account with a nicely run try; the conversion was unsuccessful and Surrey looked immediately to build on a 5-0 lead.
After methodically working their way back to the Middlesex line Surrey led a series of barrages which culminated with the scrum half scoring a “peek-a-boo” try between the legs of the battling forwards above; despite the proximity to the sticks the kick went wide and Surrey were quickly on top 10-0.
Middlesex started to awake from their stupor and put together some coherent play and the pressure led Surrey to a period of kicking to relieve pressure. Following on from a kick deep into Middlesex territory a passing error gifted Surrey a break away try and a 15-0 lead. Surrey then embarked on a sustained period of pressure within the Middlesex 22, Middlesex fought doggedly in defense but the try was always on the cards and Surrey work the ball along for a neat score in the corner leaving Surrey ahead by 20-0.
Middlesex upped defensive efforts and for a sustained period looked to be staunching the flow until the Surrey fullback made a great break from the Surrey 10 metre line and run through numerous Middlesex hands to score under the posts. This was easily converted and Surrey led 27-0 at the halfway point.
To their credit the Middlesex boys came out for the second half with evident determination, the initial 20 minutes saw both sides undertaking good forays into opposition territory. Surrey got the ball into to Middlesex 22 and promptly spilled it where it was fly-hacked beyond the halfway line by scrum half Will Magie for fullback Marland Yarde to take over the footballing duties with another long flyhack to get the ball inside the Surrey 5 metre line where it popped up nicely allowing him to beat two Surrey defenders and ground the ball for a very stylish try and a reduction of the Surrey lead to 27-5.
The conversion was unsuccessful but Middlesex were finally starting to fire on multiple cylinders. Middlesex kept the pressure up during the remainder of the second half and were consistently operating in the Surrey half with more determined play. Middlesex twice crossed the try line with the ball to be denied by the refereee; once for being held up and a second time for the pile of bodies not allowing the grounding of the ball to be seen. Middlesex continued to keep up the pressure but the Surrey lead and the remaining time proved too much.
Hertfordshire “A” 40 – Club Middlesex “A” 22 11 November 2007 – St Albans School
A windswept afternoon at St Albans saw Middlesex hosted by Hertfordshire. The first 15 minutes saw Middlesex apply good steady pressure but fail to turn that into points and Hertfordshire methodically moved the ball down the length of the pitch to get within the Middlesex 22. There was continued pressure which led to Middlesex conceding a penalty in front of the posts. Herts opted to go for the posts thus kicking into a ferocious wind, the ball was blown back into Middlesex hands where it was promptly gifted to Hertfordshire within the 5 metre line. The ensuing drive saw the ball over the line and Middlesex were fortunate to hold it up to avoid an early Herts score.
Herts continued to apply the pressure and, as Middlesex were breaking upfield, a long pass out wide was blown off course and fell to Hertfordshire’s centre who grounded the ball for an easy score. The conversion was good and the hosts were in the lead 7-0. Middlesex immediately brought the game back to Hertfordshire and applied a period of good pressure within the Herts 5m line. Frustratingly, this did not result in points and Middlesex needed to restart efforts toward the Hertfordshire try line. This lead to a good period of endeavour and resulted in a penalty to Middlesex in front of the posts, stand-off Zafar Ansari passed to ball to Alistair Bone at No. 8 who went over to the right of the posts for the first score. The conversion was not successful and Middlesex trailed 7-5.
The game settled into a prolonged period of handling errors and minor infringements from both sides and eventually Hertfordshire began to build some momentum and get the ball into the Middlesex half. The ball was worked up to the Middlesex try line and, after a long series of punchy attempts, it was grounded. Harts managed to convert in the high wind and lead 14-5 with very little remaining in the half. Middlesex worked the ball well to within the Herts 22 and a series of attacks saw Herts discipline falter. Scrum half Will Magie ran a quick tap from one of the Herts penalties and offloaded to Ansari just before the line. The fly half dove over and grounded the ball. Fullback Marland Yarde converted under very difficult circumstances and half time arrived with MIddlesex behind 14-12.
Middlesex found themselves facing an increasingly strong northerly wind in the second half as well as a more focused Herts team. The Londoners were on the backfoot immediately and a sustained Hertfordshire effort over five minutes resulted in a classic pick-up from the base of a scrum and the resulting drive saw the ball quickly grounded. Hertfordshire’s luck kicking into the wind held and saw them with a 21-12 lead. Middlesex’s woes increased during a period of lacklustre play which was made worse when the ball squirted out of a Middlesex scrum to be toe-poked over the line and promptly pounced on by Herts. Again the kick split the uprights and Herts were putting some daylight between themselves and their opponents with a 28-12 lead. Hertfordshire continued to pile on the pressure after the restart and this soon resulted in a nice working of the ball towards the try line and a ball spun out wide to the left for a score. The conversion was good and Hertfordshire found themselves 35-12 to the good. Further sustained efforts saw Herts exploit the Middlesex sonambulance with a hasty try for a 40-12 lead.
Middlesex finally stated to wake from their second half stupor and immediately began to seek a way back into the game. Luke O’Keeffe had a highly effective break out of Middlesex territory which was subsequently taken to within inches of the Hertfordshire line allowing lock Fraser Wem to scoop up the ball and go over. Middlesex’ conversion into the near gale blowing out of the north saw the ball pushed back on to the left post from where to the ground an indicator of Middlesex’s fortune’s. Middlesex trailed 40-17. Following the restart Middlesex worked the ball downfield with new-found purpose and the support play at the breakdowns showed marked improvement. Middlesex got to the Herts line and prop Joe Wasinski went over though the ball was somehow judged to have been held up. Middlesex continued to bring the game to Herts and the dying minutes of the game saw Marland Yarde make a good catch of a Hertfordshire clearance kick and run the ball the length of the pitch breaking tackles and sidestepping with great effect. He grounded the ball for a well deserved try. The conversion was unsuccessful and Middlesex trail by 18 points at 40-22. There was very little follow on play before the final whistle.(RM)
