Under 14s Hemel Hempstead v Verulamians 0 - 7

Hemel Hempstead v Verulamians Friday 14th October

Vees travelled away to play Camelot (Hemel Hempstead) in a friendly under floodlights on Friday night.

The conditions we very tricky with wet ground and a very slippy ball. From the kick off it became

apparent that this would be a hard fought contest. Camelot’s pack was very big, strong and well drilled.

From the initial phases Camelot were disrupting the Vees ruck and putting huge pressure on the Vees

scrum half Harry B, when trying to pass the ball out. The link between Harry B and fly half Dylan suffered

as a result of this pressure and Vees struggled to get decent quality ball out to their centres. Camelot

also operated a very quick rush defence which meant Seb and Dapo in the centre were often receiving

ball with a tackler almost on top of them. To Seb and Dapo’s credit they handled the pressure well and

Dapo made an early break through the Camelot line, only to be brought down in the mid field but having

gained 25 metres. Camelot used their strength in the ruck to turn the ball over and it was only ferocious

and fearless tackling from James, Oscar and Tom D that prevented the Camelot forwards marauding up

the middle of the pitch. The ball went out to the Camelot backs and after 1 phase they kicked over the

Vees back line. Billy, on the wing prevented a Camelot try with a blistering run back to remove the

danger and give Vees a chance to clear. The Vees pack battled well but Camelot turned Vees over in the

ruck and Camelot forwards came charging again, more courageous tackling including Manny, Bodie and

Felix from Vees forced a knock on from Camelot and the sides scummed down. The Vees scrum was

immense all night, Harry P was unbeatable at hooker winning not only his own put in but also numerous

balls against the head. From a solid base, the pass from Harry to Dylan was perfectly weighted which

unleashed the Vees back line and allowed the centres time to pass out to Jayden on the wing. Jayden

stepped the winger and set off down the line zipping past all the covering defence to dot down in the

corner. Unfortunately, it was deemed he had put a toe out of touch and the try did not stand and play

was brought back for a line out. Harry P was impeccable at the throw in and Vees secured their ball.

Several more passages of play followed. Camelot played a strong kicking game which Boris dealt with

confidently and assuredly, running the ball back at them. Billy made a stunning break at winger, with a

beautiful cut in that beat 4 defenders. Bodie made incisive runs from 2 nd row, however it was not

enough to break the deadlock and they reached half time 0-0.

In the second half the Vees pack came out raring to stamp their authority on the game. Bodie made a

break, Max joined on and they forced their way 20 metres up the pitch before being overcome by

numbers. The fierce and relentless battle continued in the forwards. Henry R came on at scrum half and

made a number of feisty sniping runs off the side of rucks which helped give Vees momentum. Vees

rucks tightened up and Henry had a platform to launch the backs. The ball whizzed through the hands

out to Jayden who outstripped the Camelot defence for pace to score under the posts. Billy stepped up

from winger to take the conversion and neatly and nonchalantly added the extra 2 points. Camelot

came back strong and won a penalty within 5 metres of Vees line. Camelot ran the penalty through their

big runners, but Vees tacklers, including Luke were a match for them and brought them down with

phenomenal tackles, followed by forcing an error from Camelot which allowed Vees to clear their lines.

Vees ploughed forward and won a scrum 5 metres out from Camelot line. Max, fed by Henry, made a

run from flanker off the side of the scrum and nearly made it but was stopped just short. Vees drove

forward and it was unfortunate that the Vees player was on his knees when he put the ball down,

otherwise there would have been another try. Camelot were able to clear their lines from the

subsequent penalty and the battle of the packs resumed in the mid field. The game was hard fought up

to the final whistle there were no more scores and the game ended Camelot 0 Vees 7.