U15 Match Reports

Sunday 11th December 2011

U15s dominate from the start to advance in NM Plate

Shrewsbury’s under-15s were comfortable 22 – 0 winners against the visiting Veseyans side in the first round of the North Midlands Plate competition. After being narrowly edged out by 24 – 29 by Worcester Wanderers in the North Midlands Cup a last month, the squad were determined to demonstrate their growing confidence and were on top of this contest from the first kick. Flankers Regan Jordan and Finley Hughes were influential throughout as the Shrewsbury pack dominated possession despite being out-weighed by their opponents.

While ball handling was difficult, scrum-half Roan Kirkby was able to feed a series of good balls to Ben Smith at fly-half and it was Smith who found number-eight Sam Hill in support for the opener, after several good phases of play by Shrewsbury. The West Midlands side defended with determination but each time they kicked clear they found full-back Tom Williams and wingers Carney Burville and Rory England ready and eager run the ball back into the danger area straight away. The pressure was relentless and before the break, it told. After another good sequence of recycling from the pack, centres Sam Kinrade and Rufus Litchfield combined well, the former drawing the final defenders in to send the latter over.

Shrewsbury kicked-off the second period and, putting immediate pressure on the receivers, succeeded in turning the ball over. Veseyans were drawn in and when Kirkby sent the ball wide the backs moved it through hands quickly to the tireless Burville, and he happily accepted the opportunity to score a well-deserved try.

Veseyans kept working hard but could not make a break-though and with the rain making the pitch heavier and the ball more slippery by the minute, both sides started to flag. Shrewsbury though were able to make use of their larger squad to refresh tired legs and that made a big difference. With a couple of minutes to go, Litchfield got the home side’s fourth try; for once it was not in the corner and Williams was able to slot the conversion.

~~~

Sunday 23rd October 2011

Brave performance from under-15s

A Shrewsbury under-15s side weakened by half-term absences and injuries put up a fighting performance at home to Stoke. While they went down 27 – 0, Shrewsbury were never really out-played. The four tries Stoke scored in the second period were all breakaways – and the one that separated the sides at the break, was squeezed in at the corner late in a very evenly-contested first half. Shrewsbury spent most of the second period in the Stoke half and had they scored one, might have been able to press on. But they just could not quite break-through. Fly-half Ben Black, who put an impressive all-round performance in attack and defence, came closest, but was held up just short of the line. Shrewsbury’s pack more than held its own and the game saw welcome returns to action for lock James Owen, flanker Richard Heath, and prop Joe Robson, all of whom have been absent due to injuries or other commitments so far this season. Wing Carney Burville put in another solid shift, foiling several Stoke attacks with some tremendous tackles.

Sunday 16th October 2011

Under-15s enjoy success on road to Wales

Shrewsbury under-15s put in a strong performance against a spirited and determined Llanidloes team, played in perfect conditions for running rugby, to run out 27 - 0 winners on their trip to mid-Wales. Shrewsbury secured their own ball at scrum and line-out but were often counter-rucked at the breakdown. The away side were much stronger in the backs and ran the ball well, although with more direct running and better decision making, the try count could have been somewhat higher.

Shrewsbury had by far the better of the territory throughout the game and their try-line was rarely under pressure; but when it was the defence proved resolute enough to cope. Captain and number-eight Regan Jordan, was impressive throughout, leading his men by example and scoring two of the five tries. Winger Tom Stanton made big gains whenever he got the ball and scored a good team try. Rufus Litchfield, another try scorer, was impressive in the loose until an upper arm injury forced him out of the game. Ben Black had a very encouraging game at fly half regularly bringing centres Ollie Greenhous and Alex Shaw into the game. Hooker Charlie Adams went over for the last of the tries which was converted by full-back Tom Williams.