BOYS’ SPORTS REPORTS 21/11/16

RUGBY

1st XV v Kirkham Lost 15-9
In a highly anticipated fixture between two very good sides Sedbergh entertained Kirkham on a beautiful day on Busk. The visitors were the first team to put points on the board when their fly half glided through a huge hole to give the outside centre an easy run in under the Sedbergh posts.

The next 25 minutes was a very physical and back and forth affair with both teams exchanging penalties. Sedbergh went very close to scoring on one occasion but the ball carrier quickly became isolated and was turned over by a hungry Kirkham defence.

10-6 down at the break Sedbergh new the next score was crucial but it would be a similar story to the first half as Kirkham scored within three minutes converting on a great scrum position 5m from the Sedbergh line. Josh Hodge continued his good day with the boot when he kicked a penalty to bring the home side within a score at 15-9.

The final twenty minutes was an extremely exciting and dramatic period. Sedbergh had a lot of possession as they went searching for the lead. Will Haydon wood went close for Sedbergh but was ruled out by the touch Judge as he dived in at the corner flag.

More Sedbergh pressure was applied and several dropped balls proved costly as we finally got in behind the Kirkham defence. Kirkham’s defence held strong as the final whistle blew on Busk. The Sedbergh players gave their all in this match and I could not be prouder of them. We now look forward to Wellington College next Wednesday in what is always a brilliant match at Broadstreet RFC.
Pens: Hodge 3
SM

2nd XV v Kirkham Won 24-12
An excellent game 0-0 after 20 mins and 12-5 at half time. Both back lines defended superbly but Sedbergh’s high tempo & superior skill levels gradually wore their bigger opponents down. Combe & Steele awarded 2nd XV colours. 
Tries: Silvester, Combe, Foster, Birch
Cons: Stewart 2
GUN

3rd XV v Ampleforth 2nd XV Won 35-7
A number of boys have woken this morning and it will have crossed their minds that they won’t pull on a Brown shirt in a competitive home fixture again. So for Masters Ward, Bolton, Chamberlain, Heathcote and Moss life will hold many challenges and much fun but they won’t play for Sedbergh on home fields again.

How fitting it was then that Winder was pitched against a stunning blue sky, the opposition was Ampleforth and Lupton was verging on a bog! The intensity of this fixture is never in doubt and the boys flew out of the blocks from both sides. Ampleforth failed to gather the kick off and Sedbergh forwards urged on by Moss at ten went around the fringes seeing Williams crash over from short range.

Moss and Taylor directed the game beautifully in the opening stages. It was not a day for wide rugby although the boys did throw it around. Moss found Brogan and Chamberlain on hard lines, he mixed the game with dummy and break inviting the forwards to do the dirty work at the break down. Moss has continued to develop through the season; his defence was fantastic yesterday. 

Chamberlain played with immense emotion, his eyes burned and he ran the ball with power and pace, he kicked tactically when it was on and he demanded that his troops followed him. Bolton certainly did this. He carried impressively and his voice could be heard time and again as he urged the forwards on.

Heathcote in the back gave the perfect foil to Chamberlain, he is powerful and quick. After Moss had scored on the left wing from a powerful Brogan carry and off load, Heathcote scored on the right using his pace to ensure that no one would catch him. Heathcote has joined us late on this season and I have been impressed and grateful for the way in which he has played. He is passionate and dedicated to his shirt. He defended extremely well as the Ampleforth full back, a good player, attacked his channel time and again.

Chamberlain kicked everything on a day that was very difficult underfoot- another string to his bow! Three yellow cards were issued to Sedbergh through the afternoon which took the gloss off the performance- this discipline must come back. The ruck area needs to be tidier and this week we will concentrate on “giving a yard” in defence. 

After he break the Ampleforth boys returned with fire. The score line flatters us somewhat as the opposition did not in any way roll over. Ward was epic. He is at the bottom of everything apart from when he is winning line out ball for us. Wardy is a genuinely good player. He has not missed a tackle all season and he led the forwards yesterday. Whitehouse had his best game of the season, Halsall worked tirelessly, Gray was a man possessed and Simpson was incredibly physical.

Turner had a quiet game until he started to look for the ball in the second half. He did this really well and played his part. Graham ran the ball back from defence and will be looking forward to the pitch down south.

Halsall scored a driven line out that was superbly executed by the forwards with the power of Taylor lending a hand. 

Heathcote finished the scoring collecting one of a number of missed touch kicks and running it back from half way for a fantastic solo score.
So, the home games have finished but the season is not over. The final challenge is what we have been building for, and dare I say it that there will be 15 boys and a coach feeling the same 250 miles away in Somerset.
We have some prep to do.
Won 35-7
Tries: Williams, Moss, Heathcote 2, Halsall
Cons; Chamberlain 5
CH

4th XV v Ampleforth 3rd XV Won 70-0
Unfortunately the first half ended after 10 minutes in with a suspected neck injury to an Ampleforth player who had landed awkwardly in a tackle. It was decided to start the second half on Powell pitch and abandon the remaining time in the first due to the delay. Ampleforth were genuinely very weak and it rapidly turned into a try fest before the game was ended early after 29 minutes.

Sedbergh ran hard direct lines and recycled the ball well in contact, the backs were often able to exploit overlaps to put the wings over the line.  Occasional poor handling was the only thing that held back the score.
Result 70:0 – 39 minutes played – non game really
SRA

A1 v Kirkham Won 19-3
A tough encounter against strong opposition away from home witnessed A1 continue to take big strides forward in their development. Some outstanding defence as well as composure and strong ball carrying in attack meant A1 came away as deserved victors. 

After a strong start by the hosts where they secured 3 points from a penalty in front of the posts, Sedbergh piled on the pressure at the breakdown, which led to a turnover and Hooker Declan O’Neil driving over the line. Michele Brighetti successful with the conversion. 

The half time scoreline 7-3.The second half began as it had ended -with the visitors showing more tenacity in attack but confident in their defence. Captain Harry Hill dominating many collisions.

Midway through the half, a good team try after some excellent ball retention, witnessed returning Centre Ryu Fung crashing over. The conversion again successful for Brighetti. With heads up and a bit more freedom to attack, a fantastic line break from Fly Half Barber meant a score in the corner by full back Alex Brundage.
Final Score 19-3 to A1.
Tries: O’Neill, Fung, Brundage
Cons: Brighetti 2
PJEC

A2 v Ampleforth U16A Lost 56-0
A2 started well against a strong Ampleforth team but couldn’t take their early chances. The home team gradually worked themselves into the game and scored several tries through their strong outside runners.

The second half started the same way as the first, with Charlie Scott making some breaks in the centre. However Ampleforth gained the ascendancy with their number 8 punching big holes in the A2 defence. A2 tackled to the end but were well beaten by an Ampleforth team playing their best rugby of the season. 
JO

B2 v Ampleforth U15A Lost 32-0
The boys stuck manfully to the task but lacked the cutting edge against an incredibly fast Ampleforth defensive system and struggled to deal with their kicking game and driven lineouts, whilst losing too many on our own ball.
HRD

C2 v Ampleforth U14a Lost 20-19
In a brutal encounter against a naturally fired-up Ampleforth team C2 showed huge character to respond to losing Tatenda in the first minute; unlucky to lose by a single point. 

Ampleforth opened the scoring when slow line speed allowed them to ship the ball to their pacey winger who ran half the pitch to touch down.  C2 responded well with some strong running from Chaffer in particular who nearly scored but was held up short of the line. Poor support play meant that we were penalised for not releasing; it wasn’t going to be the first time that we conceded the ball in such a manner. 

Chaffer eventually broke through to make it 5-5; Ferrer then adding a typically powerful converted try only for an opportunistic Ampleforth score to make it 12-10 at half time.

The shape of the second half was determined by a lengthy stoppage to treat an injury to the outstanding Chaffer. Ampleforth clearly responded to this the better, seemingly gaining motivation from the sight of a seriously injured Sedbergh player. 

C2 were clearly affected by this and conceded two soft tries immediately after the restart. However, it was now that the Sedbergh boys showed true grit and defended heroically, allowing Clarke to score a characteristically robust try.

However, the backs found it difficult to escape the suffocating, unnaturally quick, line speed of the Ampleforth defence which meant that the game was played out in our 22.

A final chance came when Tyser put in a huge hit, hacked the loose ball forward and was clearly winning the foot race before being called back for a knock on. This was the last play and, to the huge relief of the Ampleforth contingent, the animated referee blew for full time.
Tries: Chaffer, Ferrer, Clarke
Cons: Scott 2
PCL

RUNNING

1st Team @ Shrewsbury Relays – report to follow from JDWR/ELAW