Match Reports 03.04.22

U13s Verulamians v Welwyn 30 - 15

The U13 Vees team approached this penultimate match of the season at home, on the back of 7 consecutive wins. From the kick off it was clear that Welwyn meant business, driving the Vees back deep into their own half. While it was clear that the Vees team are not morning chaps and the early kick off had caught some of them not yet awake, the Vees repelled consistent pressure, broke out on the counter attack and Vees flyer, Jayden, ran ¾ of the pitch, demonstrating individual brilliance and beautiful footwork to open the scoring 5-0 to Vees. This score was against the run of play and Welwyn fought back strongly; Vees found themselves defending a penalty 5m out from their own line. Oscar threw his body on the line to prevent the try and succeeded in stopping the marauding prop, however, sustained a head injury and had to come off. Welwyn attacked again and this time made it over the line to bring the scores level at 5-5. Vees were still not firing on all cylinders, but managed to contain the strong Welwyn pack who were excellent at jackaling and turning ball over. Some superb Vees tackles from Gethin at full back and Tom V in the centre, plus Dylan W ripping the ball off players considerably larger than him, prevented the Welwyn backs running in tries. The Vees pack started to pick up their game and managed to turn Welwyn over in some terrific counter rucking which Henry capitalised on at scrum half by whipping the ball away quickly through Harry B at fly half and down the line where Max came in from full back to take the ball from his half way line to 10 m out, where he off loaded to Jayden. After another quick ruck Manny dived over to score in the corner, 10-5. Once again Welwyn came back strongly, their well organised and very sharp pack rapid to turn over the ball if a Vees player became isolated in their run. Welwyn very put together impressive multiple phases of rucking, pulling the Vees defence out of line before putting in 2 neat passes close to the Vees line to take the score to 10-10. In truth, Welwyn could have been several tries ahead but for some ferocious tackling, in particular Billy who prevented several incursions on the right wing.

At half time, the Vees regrouped, reflected on the rude awakening of the first half and took to the field for the second half reinvigorated. The Vees pack were unrecognisable in their fervour and organisation in the rucks. Tom D made several penetrating charges up the middle which Paddy and Archie secured with strong rucking to create a strong platform to launch the electric back line. It was Jayden running from his own half, in a mazy run, foxing Welwyn with sides steps incredible acceleration, who scored the first try of the second half, score now 15-10. Welwyn knocked on at the kick off after a high questioning ball put up by Max and excellent scrummaging with Harry P hooking superbly and Paddy controlling the ball at no 8, led to a strong platform for the Vees pack to start to show what they could do linking phases of play themselves. Harry P was a force to be reckoned with making phenomenal ground through the Welwyn defence and the Vees support being much more alert, secured the ball for subsequent phases. Henry played superbly, sharp at the break down, whisking the ball away to forwards or backs. Harry P won the ball back in a counter ruck which Henry quickly distributed to Harry B who showed slick hands to pass on to Max who drew in the centres and wing to put Jayden into space to run in his hattrick on the right wing, taking the score to 20-10. Welwyn again fought back strongly and pushed the Vees back to just in front of their try line, however determined rucking from Tom D and Paddy forced a penalty. Henry passed to Max who cleared with a huge kick which forced a knock on from Welwyn and took Vees into Welwyn’s half. Another strong scrum from Vees pack and impeccable hooking from Harry P once again allowed the Vees backs to kick into action, this time centres Tom V and Billy putting Max through a gap on the half way line. Max looked to pass out to Manny but the pass wasn’t on so he stormed through to score a nonchalant try, score now 25-10. A tenacious Welwyn side fought back again with some of their own individual brilliance, with their inside centre beating the Vees defence on the outside and running in a try from his own half way line. Jayden caught and tackled him on the try line, a fraction of a second too late to prevent the try, score now 25-15. Vees pack, especially Paddy, Luke and Archie were now relentless in their work ethic, forcing errors from the Welwyn pack, bringing down their runners and not allowing them any time on the ball or in the ruck. Some excellent work from Tom D to turn over the ball created another platform for Tom V and Billy to put Max into space where he drew in the winger and delivered a beautiful pass to Manny who looked certain to score, when his boot fell off when he was over the try line and caused a knock on. Welwyn ran the ball out from their own 5m scrum and only some ferocious tackling from Tom V halted their progress, the Vees pack, were back on point and some excellent work from Luke helped secure the ball for Vees which allowed Harry B to put a long pass out to Max who straightened his run enough to draw in several defenders and pop a neat pass to Jayden who beat his winger and the full back for pace to conclude the scoring at 30-15.

Huge thanks a well drilled and organised Welwyn team who gave the Vees a fantastic game.