Colts Lose At Boro

By PG - September 23 2014
Colts Lose At Boro
West Colts travelled to Middlesbrough for their latest under 18’s Saturday league fixture after a difficult game last week. Everyone was hoping for a reasonable performance this week. Unfortunatley, as a result of the late withdrawal through injuries and unavailability of four key players, they could only muster 12 fit players to travel...

 All credit though to Middlesbrough who were also short of players with only 16 available agreed to lend West 2 players so that a 14 a side game could go ahead.

Middlesbrough, were into their stride straight from the kick off and charged up-field to score in the right hand corner with only two minutes on the clock (unconverted) [5-0]. This set back did not deter the young West players who immediately counter attacked from the kick off and after a series of rucks, the ball was, moved to the left wing where Anthony Hannet rounded his opposite number to score wide out (unconverted) [5-5] with only 6 minutes on the clock.

From the restart West were again on the attack and after sustained pressure by the whole team on the 16th minute mark Johnny Graham was able to burst through the home defence and score under the posts, which was converted by Baden Knibbs (pictured.)

This seemed to galvanise the home team who then applied considerable pressure on the visitors and ran in two tries wide out which were unconverted, before half-time [15-12]

The second half was a completely different affair with the two borrowed players who had been exceptionally good for West returning to play a key part in the Middlesbrough’s second half performance, whilst two other Middlesbrough players came to fill their places.

The home team hit their top form from the kick off and ran in seven tries in the second half four of which were converted as the depleted West team struggled to contain the home teams backs. There was however one spark of light in the dying embers of the game after some very enterprising play from the young West team when Frazer Handley (a second row playing in the backs) was set free to round the Middlesbrough winger to score in the left hand corner, unconverted, which resulted in a 58-17 score line.

Whilst this score line may seem somewhat disappointing to some, the late withdrawals and current crop of injuries especially to the older players, has given the younger members of the squad some valuable game time. It has also given them a taste of a higher level of rugby, which has certainly not diminished their enthusiasm as they look forward to playing their first home game of the season against Alnwick at home next Saturday at 3pm.

Squad: Jonny Graham, James Boyd-Hill, Josh Tyrell, Elliott Angus, Matthew Birch, Baden Knibbs, Joe Whillis, George Wall [Capt], Matthew Ward, Frazer Handley, Anthony Hannet, Cameron Mould

Referee Wesley Crowther (Yorkshire Society)