BOYS’ SPORTS REPORTS 13/12/16

RUGBY

1st XV v Millfield Won 28-6
Sedbergh hosted an in form Millfield side on Buskholme 1 in one of the most highly anticipated matches of the season. Straight from the first whistle it was evident that Sedbergh were the hungrier of the two teams as they dominated the contact area both on attack and defence. The first score of the match came from powerful No8 Sam Moore when he received a neat inside ball from Cameron Redpath who sliced through the first line of defence.

Millfield replied with two penalties to trail by one point with time running out in the first half. On the last play of the half Sedbergh executed a perfectly planned line out move which saw Moore break off the back, beat two defenders and offload to the exceptional Will Haydon Wood who glided under the Millfield posts. With a half time lead of eight points Sedbergh knew the next score in the match could be crucial.

Fortunately for the home side it would be them who would execute as they scored arguably the try of the season from a 22m restart. Will Hill regathered the kick & offloaded to Brad Clements who passed an inside ball to Ben Watson who was just dragged down short. The ball was quickly then moved out wide to Josh Hodge who finished brilliantly in the corner. With twelve minutes remaining an unfortunate Millfield injury meant the match was moved on to Busk 2.

One minute later Sedbergh landed the killer blow as Harry Laidler sniped on the blind side and gave a beautifully timed pass to Ben Watson who sprinted in from 25metres. Redpath converted to give Sedbergh a 28-6 lead. This would be the final score as Sedbergh defended their line with pride as Millfield searched for a final score in the dyeing minutes. This was a brilliant performance for Sedbergh against our much respected old enemy. Llandovery to finish on Saturday will be a brilliant end to the season. 
Tries: Moore, Haydon Wood, Hodge, Watson
Cons: Hodge 3, Redpath 1
SM

2nd XV v Millfiled Won 31-21

3rd XV v Millfield Won 50-7
As I sit down to write the last report of the season I reflect that it has been a fantastic journey with a group of young men who enjoy their rugby and thrive on the team being out there in shorts in a gladiatorial contest. This is never truer than at Millfield.

We left on the Tuesday evening with the last person leaving Sedbergh turning the lights out, and made our way to the West Country. MacDonald’s will see a spike in their annual sales as the boys attempted to eat their body weight in Big Macs as we went south, all those hours of training to shed the pounds….Wednesday saw a beautiful day in Somerset with sun in the sky and gentle breeze blowing down the pitch. 

The storm came with the boys in Brown. There was genuinely too much of quality to mention all the boys by name and select moments of the game to describe. The first ten minutes saw three tries scored by our wingers showing again our desire and ability to play wide. All season we have tried to bring together the perfect game and for 25 minutes on Wednesday it was there. The forwards were hard and rucked well, delivering clean and fast ball for our backs.

They ran from depth with movement and the ball being passed in front inviting each other to attack space. This said Millfield started with the ball and Park-Johnson put in a huge tackle to set the tone. Chamberlain then emulated his skipper and we could see the body language of the opposition three quarters change. A scrum followed in the mid field and Heathcote finished a super team try. Madronal on the other wing scored a trio in quick succession. The forwards won line out ball against the head with Ward attacking space and Bolton dominating his area. 

Halsall and Whitehouse were backed by Williams in the front row and the three of them set a fearsome sight for the boys in hoops. After each score the boys in brown ran back to their end and discussed the next job on the list.

They varied their game with Moss putting his rugby thinking brain and his natural ability together to organise stretch and test the defence with his half back partner Taylor. The tries rained in and the pressure was maintained, the game really was won in the first 25 minutes with the opposition coach stating that we were clearly the better side.

The level of controlled aggression was not to be matched by the opposition and it was evident that the Sedbergh boys wanted to make their time on the pitch and the 600 miles on the bus worth it. They wanted to enjoy their day and send our leavers off with a good final game under their belt. Played 12 Won 12 Lost 0 Points for 500+ Points against 122 Average of 40points + a game

This has been a very special team to coach. With players of such ability that they would grace the 1st XVs of many other schools. 

Their commitment has been complete and they have played the game hard and fair, they have won the respect and admiration of the opposition and indeed their coach.

To our leavers, Jonno, Ben, Wardy, Bolts, Ethan, Harry and Mossy I salute you and say be proud of the legacy you leave behind. You now go down in the books as young men who have tested themselves and beaten all who have come in front of you. You can be proud. 

To the boys who remain, I hope not to see you next season as I am sure that you will play at the higher levels here at school. But don’t forget Lupton, playing under Winder and what our Football club is about. 

Our parents and supporters have been wonderful from Sanders, Carruthers and Birdy to the parents who have done the miles in supporting us, you are all part of our Football Club and we thank you for your continued commitment.

We also thank Mr South, the ground staff, Queens Hall and our medical staff for all their support and Mr Mulholland who sets the tone for our club.
Well done lads.

Tries: Heathcote2, Madronal 3, Graham, Brogan 2
Cons: Chamberlain 5
Big Macs consumed: Wardy 6, Jonno 4, Chamberlain 5, 
Colours awarded: Park-Johnson, Madronal, Heathcote
CH

A1 v Millfield Lost 34-17
The scene was set for a colossal tussle between two heavy weights of colt’s rugby and the first few minutes demonstrated just that on the Jubilee 1st XV pitch. Two fantastic line breaks in the first few minutes by forwards Hill and Patchett showed the visitors their attacking threats, though owing to an injured Millfield player – the game was moved to pitches on the hill 10 minutes away.

Re starting the game seemed to take its toll on both sides, and a mistake ridden first half for both sides, witnessed either side scoring off turn over ball. Frustratingly for A1 they did not take there advantage of the gradient and the half time score was 10-10.

The second half had a bit more control from both sides, though the pace of the Millfield back division gave A1 problems and uncharacteristically a few missed tackles witnessed the home side take the lead and with the slope continue to pressure the away sides 22. Millfield scored again after retaining the ball well midway through the second half.

After a soul searching under the posts chat, A1 then stepped up their game and with more intent to carry hard and desire to win rucks, it was the away side that ended the game scoring last through the forwards. A disappointing loss but many many lessons learnt in this game and the others before it, with everyone stepping up their performances each and every week.

I now look forward to seeing A1 Squad members mix it with older boys next term in the Junior Bigside teams. I wish them well and a great xmas.
PJEC & CPM 

B1 v Millfield Won 22-7
Sedbergh showed a level of composure that has previously eluded them this season to put together an excellent performance to beat a good Millfield side. 

There were long periods of this game which saw Sedbergh defend waves of Millfield attack and B1 managed to repel the opposition through aggressive tackling and a high work-rate. 

Similarly, Millfield defended well and Sedbergh had to be patient in attack, retain the ball and wait for their opportunities to score. There were some delightful individual touches but this was an excellent team performance that set Brown up well for a titanic clash with Wellington the following day. 
CJS

C1 v Millfield Lost 26-19
C1 started strongly against Millfield, with slick handling and effective breakdown work taking them into a 12-0 lead with only 10 minutes played. Disappointingly, however, they lost their way after this and after a frantic second half came away losing a game they really should have had sewed up by half time.

All the possession was with C1 from the opening kick-off and after a concerted period of pressure the consistently excellent Cooney broke down the wing to score. This was followed by good work up front in a series of aggressive carries close to the breakdown, led by the influential Johnson at 8, culminating in a try for Mullins from 5 metres out. We looked in complete control of the game, but Millfield were to get a foothold as half time approached when a mistake close to our own line led to an opposition scrum five metres out, from which their flanker sauntered over the line. 

The second half was disappointing. C1 allowed the Millfield forwards to get the upper hand at the breakdown and also gave the opposition centres far too much space to run. Panic set in for no obvious reason and C1 began to slip off tackles and also to throw ball away, when possession was at a premium. Two soft tries ensued and Millfield came away with a victory they could scarcely believe had come their way. Their tenacity and self-belief had deservedly taken them to victory and C1 must learn a lesson from that. 
JDL

B1 v Wellington Lost 27-3
Sedbergh closed the gap on a side that beat them comfortably last year and showed enormous heart and passion to compete with one of the top sides in the country. 

The relentless and strong carriers of Wellington’s forward pack proved too strong for Colts B who struggled to get their own attacking game going. Wellington competed well at the breakdown and slowed the ball down effectively. Colts B can be very proud of their efforts on this two-day tour but will have to improve in certain areas to compete at this level in the national cup. 
CJS

C1 v Wellington Lost 45-12
A game against this organised and athletic Wellington side was going to be a tough ask at any stage, but particularly so after the bruising encounter the day before. The boys were up for the challenge, however, and started the game well, winning early possession and making good inroads up the pitch, putting a succession of phases together combining forward thrusts in the midfield and a good break from Balogun out wide.

Eventually, however, a penalty was conceded and after a couple of swift phases, slick handling saw Wellington open the scoring out wide. There was no shame in conceding this try, but the rather lacklustre tackling which was to follow this, allowing Wellington to run in a succession of soft tries, was somewhat less impressive. 

C1 stuck to the task, however, and hit back with a try of their own from the electric Cooney, who found himself with ball in hand out wide after some slick handling from the three quarters. The introduction of Clarke at 10 brought an added sense of urgency out wide as half time approached, but frustratingly after a good period of possession from C1 a simple turnover led to a try for the men in black on the stroke of half time. 

Soon after the break Cooney limped off injured and we rang the changes. Morale was certainly tested and it was very pleasing to see the boys’ response to this test. C1 tackled their hearts out against a now buoyant Wellington side who were cantering down the slope towards our try line at any given opportunity.

The forwards really stood up at the breakdown and on the fringes, with Jackson and Tigere particularly influential and substitute Jameson playing his part, whilst Naylor and Ogden seemed to be everywhere, both in defence and attack. Somehow we ground out an extended period of possession which took our from our own try line to that of our opponents, where birthday boy Johnson, having his second excellent game in a row, eventually powered over from close quarters. This was an outstanding team try and a reflection of the quality this side possesses in attack when it can retain the ball and patiently build pressure. 

Wellington finished the match as they had begun it, with a well worked try scored out wide, but the prevailing mood in the C1 team talk after the match was a positive one; despite the heavy defeat there were a lot of positives to take from the performance, particularly in the second half. Such positives will need to be much in evidence as we steel ourselves for yet another battle, against a prolific Woodhouse Grove team, in 48 hrs time. The boys are up for the challenge. 
JDL

1st XV v Llandovery Won 48-3
Sedbergh saved their best performance for last in a masterful display of attacking rugby in wet playing conditions. Llandovery simply had no answer as the Sedbergh pack in particular powered them into the ground. Two early tries from Sam Moore & Josh Hodge quickly opened up a 12-3 lead. Hodge then kicked a penalty in front of the Llandovery posts and the outstanding Theo Smith crashed over just before the half time break after beautifully timed pass by Harry Laidler.

The second half was more of the same Sedbergh were in a dominant mood, constantly breaking the line on attack and putting in punishing collisions on defence. Smith scored his second try from short range with a strong carry & this was followed by a brilliant individual try from the elusive Cameron Redpath. Outstanding captain Will Hill finished off a break from Moore to extend the Sedbergh lead and then the final try of the match was scored by Tom Walsh who showed some great soccer skills  to kick and regather the ball before diving over. 
What an incredible performance! 

I am extremely proud of the players. They have consistently given their all in what has been a brilliant season.

Tries: Moore, Hodge, Smith 2, Redpath, Hill, Walsh.
Cons: Hodge 2, Redpath 3
Pens: Hodge
SM 

2nd XV v Woodhouse Grove Lost 18-12

C1 v Woodhouse Grove Lost 39-5

Follow Sedbergh: