Redcar U17s v Mowden Park U17s 3rd.Oct.2004

Sunday morning saw Redcar U17s welcome Mowden Park for their first home match of the season. Six months ago Mowden inflicted a 65-7 defeat on the home side, so this game was a chance to measure any improvement.

Once again Redcar had to field a weakened side due to County trials, and injuries.
Despite playing with the wind at their backs, Redcar struggled to get in to the opposition half in the first period, but some excellent defending kept the game scoreless, until, after 20mins.a lapse in concentration allowed Mowden to break through, following a tapped penalty 25m out, and score the opening try of the game under the posts, which was easily converted.

10 mins later Mowden scored a 2nd try with a carbon copy move to really emphasize the fact to Redcar that, at this level, you must be totally focussed for 100% of the time, or you will be punished!

Half Time Redcar 0 v 14 Mowden Park.

Playing in to the wind in the 2nd half Redcar began to claw their way back in to the match. At this stage play was largely confined to the middle of the park, with neither side to concede ground without a battle. Mowden did manage a try early in the half from a good attacking move following a line out. This score spurred on Redcar even more, and urged on by Captain, and Man of the Match, Andrew Wills, they now produced their best performance of the season, and although a late converted try made the final score Redcar 0 v 28 Mowden Park 28 this really was a performance to savour.

The whole team played with commitment, and a refreshing attitude. The tackling at times was awesome, and the Forwards are finally beginning to feed the ball out to the Backs.

Both teams were congratulated by the referee for their hard tackling, and obvious enjoyment of the game, which he described as the best Sunday morning game he had been involved with for quite some time.

Special mentions to:-

Dave Hockney. A more than able replacement Scrum Half.

Ollie Bennett. Excellent defensive wing play, and some tenacious tackling.

Mark Ellis. Back from a long injury, grew in confidence as the game wore on, played in a new position at No.8, really made his presence felt.

Man of the Match Andrew Wills. pulled the team together when they could easily have let the game run away, and as always , led by example.