BOYS’ SPORTS REPORTS 17/11/14

2nd XV V Ermysteds 1st XV Lost 24-21
The 2nd XV came back from 24-0 down with 15 minutes to go to lose narrowly at home to Ermysteads 1st XV. This against an unbeaten 1st XV is no disgrace but after a poor start, the 2nd XV ended dominant and should not be disappointed with the result.

Outstanding performances from Bentley & Cunha-Vaz earned them their 2nd XV colours. 
Tries; Cunha-Vaz, Statham, Jackson
Cons; Brown 3/3

GUN

4th XV v Kirkby Kendal Lost 28-19
Good game and a pleasing finish to the season performance wise. We lacked punch in the centres and lost ground too often as a result.

SRA

B2 v Kirkby Kendal Won 24-21

C2 XV v Kirkby Kendal Won 33-19

A hard fought game was expected before this fixture and that is exactly what each team’s performances produced. Unlike against RGS Lancaster, C2 soaked up the physicality of their opponents and used their superior skill levels to continually build phases in attack.

This often put Charlie Campbell in positions where he could use his own power and stature to score three tries. A very pleasing results ensued with the boys coming out worthy winners, looking forward to their last fixture of the term this week. 

JSA

Saturday 22nd November
1st XV v Warwick Won 22-17

Sedbergh bounced back from there defeat to Kirkham with a hard fought victory over a very determined Warwick side on Buskholme. The visitors started the better of the two sides when they capitalised on a mistake from Sedbergh deep inside there 22 to open the scoring at 7 – 0. Sedbergh then replied quickly with an excellent team try of their own to Jonny Keh who beat two defenders to dive over in the corner in an extremely powerful finish.

Michael Lavery was the next Sedbergh player to score as he snuck over from close range to end what was a very patient attack from Sedbergh going through multiple passages of play involving key contributions from Johnny McPhillips and Max Davies. On the edge of half time Warwick scored an opportunist try that was completely against the run of play to even the scores at 12 apiece and bring themselves firmly back into the game.

The second half was a very tense affair with both teams sharing possession and territory. The crucial scores of the game came midway through the second period as McPhillips sliced through the middle of the Warwick back line off a well-executed set piece move to score under the posts. He then converted his own try and added a penalty to give the home side a comfortable ten point lead.

Warwick then cut Sedbergh’s lead to within a score in the final minutes of the match as they fought valiantly to the end and never gave up. In an exciting finish Sedbergh’s defence eventually held strong as they absorbed one final wave of pressure from the visitors to hold on to the win.
Tries; Keh, Lavery, McPhillips
McPhillips 2 cons, 1 pen

SM

2nd XV V Warwick Won 53-5

An impressive performance all round with the 2nd XV always in control. Phelan looking more confident by the day at half back and Blackhall quite outstanding.

Tries; A Brown 2, Blackhall, Irons, A Brown, Phelan 2, Savage 
Cons 6/8

GUN

A1 V Warwick Won 31-14

Warwick came out strongly but we got off to an excellent start when they spilled the ball in our 22 and, despite the torrential downpour, we capitalised by moving the ball quickly left and Chamberlain fed Madronal who went 70 metres to score under the posts. Chamberlain then kicked the first of 4 excellent long range penalties to put us 10-0 up.

Warwick had a big pack, however, and the wet conditions suited their game plan and they looked to drive line-outs and hit us around the fringes. Pressure eventually told and their big centre crashed over under the posts and they then scored 10 minutes into the second half to move into a 14-13 lead.

At this point we realised that despite the wet conditions we had to keep the ball in hand and move the Warwick pack around the field and the strategy eventually paid off with tries from Madronal and Heathcoat and the reliable boot of Chamberlain helping to secure an excellent victory.

B1 V Warwick Lost 66-5

A tough day for B1. Warwick will be contenders for the National Cup this year and Sedbergh were shown how to finish opportunities and handle in wet and muddy conditions. Sedbergh did however compete until the end and their commitment and sportsmanship were noted by the Warwick staff. 

CJS

C1 V Warwick Won 45-0

Heavy rain from the first whistle ensured that this was a hard-fought encounter at close quarters, which was ultimately decided by three tries in quick succession just before half time. We started poorly, completely failing to adapt to the conditions and insisting on playing an offloading game which was never going to work.

Our fast outside backs were nullified due to conditions underfoot and it fell to the forwards to tuck the ball under the arm and make the hard yards. This they eventually did, with Harry Hill being particularly effective (another four tries) and captain Tom Russell having by far his best game of the season.

Will Haydon-Wood varied the game sensibly at fly-half, even employing a couple of judicious kicks when Warwick left the backfield open. Charlie Scott performed well on the wing in his first game for C1, whilst Chris Park-Johnson also made a useful contribution off the bench, coming on at fly-half. 

A (pleasing) rumour was circulating at Warwick that C1 have not conceded a single point this season; whilst this is patently untrue, we have now kept a clean sheet for four consecutive games, which is very heartening.

Committed and aggressive work on our own line was required today on more than one occasion to ensure that this sequence remained in place.