H&B 5 Brighton ‘B’ 14

H&B U13 took to the field looking to continue their good start to the league season against a Brighton side still smarting from a defeat to neighbours Lewes in their only league match to date. With the early rain being replaced by blue skies, conditions improved, but a strong wind still prevailed. H&B were forced into late changes in the back line due to the absence of Mitch Dennis (overnight illness) and Leon Driver (sore back during warm up). Having decided to play with the wind H&B kicked off and put early pressure on the Brighton side but were unable to set up any real attacking positions. Brighton cleared to the halfway line; H&B continued to probe through the middle and Brighton using their big forwards to counter attack. Strong tackling from both sides ensued and the play was contained predominantly within the middle half of the field.

After 12 minutes H&B, working off a driving maul, managed to get the ball down the back line to Joe Whitehall-James on the left wing who rounded his opposite number and made a break to Brighton’s 22m line before being brought down by the covering fullback. The back row secured the ball and when joined by the front five worked the maul in-field allowing George Upton to break off the side, burst through two tackles and take the ball under the posts for the first score. Upton’s conversion then bouncing back off the crossbar.  The play continued in a similar vein for the rest of the half with neither side being able to create scoring chances in the windy conditions. Half-time 5-0.

Brighton restarted and used the wind to kick long into H&B territory. H&B defended stoutly but were unable to work the ball up field, eventually the pressure told with a Brighton second row driving over from 10m out to even the scores after 27min. The try was well converted to give Brighton a 7-5 lead.
Play then returned to the familiar pattern of the first half with both sides battling hard and putting in big tackles on their opposition preventing any moves from gaining any real ground. After 42minutes, Brighton managed to force their way into the H&B 22, allowing the forwards to drive over the line for the decisive score which was converted to make the score 14-5. H&B kept working hard for territory and managed to threaten the Brighton line after a series of phases in which the forwards drove and the backs made short breaks. The final whistle blew when a maul collapsed with H&B pushing hard on the Brighton try line.

Ultimately, H&B did not make full use of the first half in the windy conditions to press home their advantage and give them enough of a points cushion to resist the pressure from Brighton in the second half. On a positive note all the players can be praised for their determined tackling and battling qualities in a competitive game against opponents that will go on to give other sides in the league difficult matches. Special mention should be given to the back row of Coyle, Upton and Gooch for several big tackles made across the pitch, the front row of Marchant-Hall, Smart and Brereton for their scrimmage work, Jamie Barker for continued good work on the right wing, Cameron Monro who made a good impression on his first start at centre. Man of the match went to prop Jack Marchant-Hall for a several big tackles, his ability to rip the ball in the maul and some barrelling runs.

Next game Sunday 11th December away versus Lewes (KO 11am)

Squad: Marchant-Hall, Smart (Ames), Brereton, Southgate (Stockdale), Squire, Upton, Coyle, Gooch, Nicholls (Grain), Mortimer-Harvey, Monro, McLean, Whitehill-James, Barker, Farrant (Scott), Driver