Under 12s at Eastbourne 4/12/11

H&B RFC U12s @ Eastbourne 4 December 2011

With autumn having been more like an extended late summer, H&B turned up at Eastbourne's ground under grey but rainless skies; treading a well-softened pitch from the recent rain.

Continuing some of the good squad numbers from last week, H&B arrived with nineteen (19) players; all keen to get some game time and cement their first-team place. Against them was a well-drilled Eastbourne squad including some lightning backs and a couple of giant forwards. The last meeting was a disappointing 6 - 0 loss for H&B at the Hastings Festival, so getting some pride back was the aim.

Playing an extended match of 15 minutes each way, H&B started off strongly; posting some decent moves against an opposition who liked to run the ball. With less than a minute on the clock, it was time for H&B to test their scrummaging skills against a much bigger opposition pack. Credit to the front row; particularly loose-head prop Chandler Buckingham, who was facing an opponent at least 12 inches taller than him. The H&B pack showed that size wasn't everything by winning their own scrums and putting huge pressure on Eastbourne 'against the head'. However, it was Eastbourne who got the first try; skinning the wing to touch down. H&B's response was immediate; From a long kick-off, Wing Stuart Chisholm chased down to touch the ball over the line but was adujdged to have knocked-on. H&B put enough pressure on the home scrum to tear the ball away and pass it down the line for opposite winger CJ Johnson to score. H&B again fell behind but replied quickly when Chisholm; this time getting some clear space in front of him, touched down. Going into the lead for the first time, Tommy Russell used him excellent ripping skills to take the ball and cross the line for his latest score-per-game ratio. At the end of the first half, Eastbourne drew level with a crash-ball score from their giant prop. In the second half, H&B rested 6 players to give everyone some much valued game-time. Despite fielding a weaker side, some of the H&B players put in great performances; putting in some of the hard-earned training drills to good use. Despite this, Eastbourne eased away with an 8 - 3 victory.

Turning quickly round for a second match (of 10 mins each way), H&B started strongly with a re-shuffled team, and showed that there was plenty left in the tank. Finishing a superb move by tearing away in the corner, Chisholm bagged his second clean try of the day. Eastbourne pulled a score back, but some much superior handling skills from H&B; along with some excellent scramble defence, gave the visitors the advantage. A flowing move in the midfield through the hands of centre George Marvin, released prop Buckingham for a well-deserved score. At the end of the second half, with the game in H&B's favour, scrum-half Tom Hirst pulled off a huge tackle on an Eastbourne centre to deny the player a score. However, this big hit, plus an injury to inspirational captain Ronnie Doorey-Palmer, seemed to disrupt the karma, and allowed Eastbourne the chance to level the match with the last play. A very hard-fought game ending 2 -2.

Credit to many of the lads for each putting in some brave play. However, to sharpen up, players need to think about positional skills; communicate more effectively and (here's the 'no surprise' bit) tackle, tackle, tackle. Player of the week went to Stuart Chisholm, for some excellent running, support play and a brace of tries.

Team was:

1. Chandler Buckingham
2. Lee Hopkins
3. Max Holmes
4. Harry Samra
5. Ben Green / Owain Lusted
8. Tommy Russell / Tom Powell
9. Tom Hirst
10. Ronnie Doorey-Palmer
11. CJ Johnson / Gabriel Balde
12. George Howard-Smith
13. George Marvin / Jack Reed
14. Stuart Chisholm / Ben Gately / Josh Rumble
15. Ashley Hills