Bath Under 15 V’s Caldicot Under 15’s

 

This time, Caldicot under 15’s were on there travels. We upped rowing poles and boarded our long boats to invade the English shores of the West Country. As the team visited the ancient Roman city of Bath! Alright weren’t quite in the fable city we were closer to the racecourse. Where we picked a horse to run at 3.30 and by all accounts, is still running!

The question was: were Caldicot to be slain in the lions den as Barbarians for entertainment at the Coliseum by the Roman warriors of Bath? Quite simply...ah no! Russell Corwe......ah I mean, Jack Kedward announces that he is Gladiator.....sorry, I mean Captain and, leads his merry band of Caldicot- Barbarian warriors; emerging victorious, and gaining independence for Wales! OK that part wasn’t in the script, but it would have been a nice touch thought!

One or two players were missing for today’s match due to injury and absence and senior coach Alan had to make a few changes. The team was as follows:

At the coal face (the forwards): 1) Lewis Jones, 2) Jack Herbert, 3) Benjamin Mckeon-Williams, 4) Jordan Fuller, 5) Joe Ross, 6) Adam Davies, 7) Brandon Mustoe, 8) Jack Kedward (Captain)

The Orchestral conductors (the backs): 9) Nick Weaving, 10) Guy Nicholas, 11) Joel Brian, 12) Dan Cassey, 13) Liam Spencer, 14) Kieran Samules (aka Dodge) & 15) Callum Lewis.

The water bottle carriers (the replacements): Billy Roberts, Steve Allsop, and Will Branston

The man in the middle with the whistle, for this week’s game: was a gentleman from Bath and I mean a gentleman from Bath – who looked a little like George from George and Milldred!

Caldicot kicked off through Liam Spencer, and camp in the Bath half for the first five minutes but can’t make any head way against a strong Bath defence. Ball not coming out of the ruck and the referee awards a scrum to Caldicot just inside the home side half. However, the referee isn’t happy with the front rows on both sides, and eventually after three or four attempts, the ball finally comes out on the Caldicot side, who look to attack through the backs, but the Bath defence is there and snuffles the attack out. The ball is not fort coming from the ruck and it’s a scrum to Caldicot, still in the Bath half.

This time is a Bath scrum and there backs seek to attack from deep within there own 22, but the defence by the visitors is robust and they stop the home side attack. Bath try and win the ruck but they infringe and Caldicot win a penalty, which is in kickable distance just outside there 22.

Liam Spencer duly steps forward; he takes a long look at the posts and steadies him self, and with a clean strike of the ball, slots the penalty home! It’s first points to Caldicot and the score line reads Bath nil, Caldicot 3.

Bath restart and Brandon Mustoe, calmly takes the ball and his immediately on the attack, pack a little bit slow to arrive in support but they eventually due so and they drove Brandon on into the Bath half. Caldicot win the rustling ruck and Guy Nicholas makes a little break pushing deeper into the Bath half. That man Brandon Mustoe is there again, but unfortunately at the ruck loses the ball. Bath lunch attack themselves through there backs and gain territory in the Caldicot half. However, the Caldicot defence arrives and halts the attack, Bath try and win the ruck but the ball isn’t coming and the referee blows for a scrum down to Bath, still in a very good attacking position inside the Caldicot half.

From the scrum Bath look to attack again through the backs and move the ball swiftly to there number 11, but the Caldicot defence is strong and they keep the home side out. Bath fail to win the resulting ruck and  are penalise for holding onto the ball. Caldicot relive the pressure, and opt to go for a quick tap and go, Callum Lewis makes a break, and is ably supported by Adam Davies who takes play into the Bath half. The rest of the team arrive and seek to carry the attack further, but eventually the Bath defence holds and pushes the visitors into touch just on the half way line.

Line out to Bath, Caldicot manage to win the ball, but its untidy and the Bath second row knocks-on. Scrum down to Caldicot, the Bath pack put a squeeze on, and the ball is not very clean coming out the back, but Nick Weaving manages to get the ball away to the Caldicot backs who look to attack, but it breaks down and its a line-out to Bath. Caldicot again win the line out and from the ruck Bath appear to have stolen the ball, but Brandon Mustoe comes away with the ball and feeds Jack Kewdard. The home side defence is strong and robust and they halt the attack. However the ruck area is a bit of a mess and the ball is not coming back. Loud blow on the whistle by the referee, and its a penalty to Bath who take a quick tap and go but manage to lose the ball at the ruck and Caldicot come away it deep inside there own 22. However, the visitors knock-on and it’s a scrum down to Bath who look to attack through there backs, but the passing is a bit way would and the attack breaks down.

Bath still trying to keep the pressure on but infringe at the ruck and Caldicot get a reliving kick and push play back into the home side territory just inside there half. The ball is untidy from the line-out and comes back on the Bath side who look to attack, unfortunately, they knock-on and Caldicot kick through and it’s now a foot race, but the covering defence from Bath is there, and they manage to clear there lines.

Caldicot now trying to put the pressure on the home side as they are looking to add extra points, however, Bath win the resulting line-out, and a ruck forms, but they fail to secure the ball and Brandon Mustoe comes away and goes on one of his trade mark terrier runs taking play deep into the home side territory.

The Caldicot pack arrives and drives towards the try line, but unfortunately they infringe at the maul and Bath win a penalty and clear there lines. From the resulting line-out Bath attack, but Caldicot somehow manage to wrestle the ball and turn defence into attack through Captain Jack who bursts through the Bath defence, but sadly loses the ball, and this time its Bath who turn defence into attack. They move the ball swiftly through there backs and there number 11 sprits through the Caldicot defence taking play into the visitors 22.

However, the covering defence from Caldicot is good and they eventually bring the Bath number 11 down and tackle him into touch. Line out to Caldicot inside there 22, but the ball comes back on the Bath side who attack and put pressure on the visitors try line. Bath keep the pressure up and eventually Caldicot can’t keep them out and they score a well deserve try under the visitors posts. It’s Bath 5, Caldicot 3, with the conversion to come and the home side duly added the extra points and take the score line up to Bath 7, Caldicot 3.

Caldicot restart through Guy Nicholas who puts a lovely hanging ball into the air for his forwards to run onto. Bath failed to gather the ball, but they keep the ball and looked to attack through there backs, and appear to have overlap, but they don’t use it, and Jack Kedward puts a thumping tackle in on one of the Bath players. The tackle is deemed dangerous, and it’s a penalty to Bath.

At this point, Lewis Jones leaves the pitch to be replaced by Steve Allsop. Bath decide to take a tap penalty, and attack, but the Caldicot defence is robust and strong; they halt the home side attack. Bath opt to chip through and push play deep inside the visitors half. Line out to Caldicot just outside there 22, but they lose the ball, Bath seek to attack again but the defence is excellent and they keep the home side out. However, Bath win a penalty from the resulting ruck as Caldicot infringe and take a quick tap and drive close to the Caldicot line. Again the Caldicot defence is superb and keeps the home side out, and the visitors manage to steal the ball at the ruck and Benjamin Mckeon-Williams bursts through and it takes several Bath players to bring him down has he move play up to just over the 22.

At the resulting Caldicot somehow manage to wrestle the ball and they chip through taking play into the home side half, reliving the pressure. Alan makes another change and Billy Roberts comes on for Adam Davies, who takes a well earned break.

From the scrum Caldicot look to attack and Liam Spencer makes a lovely break, and lays the ball back well at the ruck, and Jack Kewdard takes play further into the Bath half. However, loud blow on the whistle from the referee indicates Bath have, yet again, infringed at the ruck area and it’s a penalty to Caldicot just outside the home side 22. Again, the penalty is in kickable range for Liam Spencer.

Liam Spencer steadies himself, and takes along hard look at the posts, the kick looks good, it is good! The score line moves up to Bath 7, Caldicot 6, and the score comes just on the stroke of half time.

Caldicot make one or two changes at half time; Kieran Samules comes off and his replaced by Will Branston. Otherwise, the line up is much the same as the first half.

Bath kick off the second half and Steve Allsop gathers the ball well, and passes to Brandon Mustoe who takes play into the Bath half and is ably supported by Benjamin Mckeon-Williams who makes another good break taking play deep into the home side half. However, Caldicot manage to lose the ball at the ruck and Bath counter-attack through the backs, but again appear to waste a certain overlap as the strong Caldicot defence smothers the attack. At the ruck, Caldicot win possession and Will Branston tries to set-up a counter attack, but the Bath defence halts the attack, and win a penalty as Caldicot infringe at the ruck.

Bath kick to touch and take play into the visitors 22, and they keep the pressure on Caldicot. At this point Jack Herbert comes off to be replaced by Lewis Jones. Line-out to Bath who thrown in, but they don’t take there own ball and Jack Kedward cleans up the untidy ball and makes a terrific run down the blind-side cutting through the non-exist Bath defence, but the support play from Caldicot is sadly lacking, and he’s eventually tackled and knock’s the ball on.

From the scrum Bath look to attack and get back into the Caldicot half. However, the tackling from Caldicot is excellent, and Bath can’t make any head way, but they manage to keep the momentum going and push into the visitors half. Callum Lewis makes a fine tackle to bring the attack to a stop. Good rucking by both sides and the ball is coming one side then the other and eventually Joe Ross gathers the ball and makes a good break and feeds the ball to Jack Kedward who makes further progress into the Bath half taking play into the home side 22. However, the pass goes behind Joel Brian but he manages to pick up and makes good ground, but is tackled by the Bath defence. The ball is not forth coming from the ruck, and they win the putting at the scrum.

Caldicot in a good attacking position, just metres short of the Bath try line, are seeking to turn the pressure into points. The ball comes back on the Caldicot side, and Dan Casey makes a break towards the Bath try line, but his well tackle by the home side defence, who then win the ruck and try to break out from there own 22. Bath make good ground and push into Caldicot territory.

Bath keep the ball at the resulting ruck and seek to attack again, Brandon Mustoe steals the ball and slips the ball to Lewis Jones who takes play back into the Bath half, he finds Billy Roberts on his shoulder, and he makes a fine break into the home side 22. Caldicot now pressuring the Bath line and Jordan Fuller makes an excellent break as the forwards inch there way towards the Bath try line.

The ball comes back on the Caldicot side and Benjamin Mckeon-Williams makes another break, but sadly the move breaks down and eventually at the ruck Bath win a penalty. Instead of kicking to touch, Bath opt for adventure and look to run from deep within there own 22, but knock-on and put pressure back on them selves. Scrum down to Caldicot who are in an excellent attacking position. So far, the pressure as all been Caldicot, but they just can’t quite turn it into much needed points.

At this point Joel Brian goes off to be replaced by Kieran Samules and Billy Roberts comes off to be replaced by Adam Davies. Play still in the Bath half and after several attempts the scrum is eventually form, but the ball comes back on the Bath side, but Nick Weaving puts good pressure on his opposite number the ball is spilled and the Caldicot back row are all over the ball like a cheap suite! Brandon Mustoe comes up with the ball and crashes over the try line for a well deserve try! It’s Bath 7, Caldicot 11, with the conversion to come, and Liam Spencer duly adds the extra points and the score line ticks over to Bath 7, Caldicot 13. The try is just rewards for all the territory and pressure Caldicot have had.

Bath look to restart but the ball doesn’t go the 10 metres and Caldicot opt for a scrum on the half way line. Immediately, the home side have put themselves under pressure. However, Caldicot lose the ball at the scrum and Bath come away it, and look to attack, but Brandon Mustoe steals the ball and feeds Jack Kedward who makes a superb run into the Bath 22, who passes to Lewis Jones and makes further ground. From the rustling ruck, Caldicot are straight back on the attack, looking to add more points as Liam Spencer makes a break and the pack arrive in numbers to try and drive him towards the try line.

However, the maul turns into a ruck and Bath come away with it, but the clearing kick is poor and puts the home side under enormous pressure. The ball bounces dangerously in the Bath in goal line area, and Caldicot claim to have scored a try, but Bath stated they got there first. After much debate between the referee and the travelling Caldicot supporters he eventually awards a five metre scrum to the visitors.

Caldicot are still looking to turn there pressure into more points, and have a good attacking scrum. Its not long, Caldicot do indeed score, as from the scrum, Jack Kedward picks up and goes and brushes aside the Bath defence and scores a superb captain’s try in the corner. The score line now moves up to Bath 7, Caldicot 18. A difficult conversion to come for Liam Spencer, but a brilliant kick from way out on the touch line adds the extra points and the score line moves up to Bath 7, Caldicot 20, much to the Spencer’s family delight!

Bath restart the game and Caldicot take well, and Guy Nicholas clears there lines. Bath look to counter attack, but Adam Davies puts in a strong tackle. Maul forms but the ball is not coming and Bath appeared to have joined from the wrong side and it’s a penalty to Caldicot. Guy Nicholas looks to kick to touch but changes his mind and puts up a huge Garrow-Owening or in Rugby league terms: an Up and Under! Into the air, which throws the Bath defence into confusion, and the clearing kick is charge down, Caldicot nearly score another try, Bath mange to scramble the ball into touch. Caldicot are still camped in the home side 22, and shorten the line-out and look to attack but the ball comes back on the Bath side who just get it back into touch.

Again Caldicot shorten the line-out and this time win the ball, Brandon Mustoe comes through on the Blind side and cuts the Bath defence to ribbons, and scores a magnificent second try! The score moves up to Bath 7, Caldicot 25. Another difficult conversion to come, for Liam Spencer, who makes a valid attempt, but the kick falls short and the score line remains the same.

Bath restart but Caldicot take well and set-up to counter attack, but its stop by Bath who win a penalty and opt to kick to touch. For the last five minutes of the game Bath try earnest to grab a late consolation score, however, the magnificent Caldicot defence holds them out, and they eventually run out winners by 25 points to 7.

All-in-all, a superb away for the boys at a top class English side, the forwards fought well at the rucks, mauls and scrums against a much bigger pack; the defence by all was excellent only allowing Bath to score one try in the first half and then to completely shut them out in the second half. Then to turn around at half time to be only a point behind and to score 19 unanswered points in the second half was brilliant. Well done lads! Keep it!

Man of the match (was a four way split between Jack Kedward, Brandon Mustoe, Benjamin Mckeon-Williams and Dan Casey), but the winner this week, and who lead from the front and played a superb Captain’s role: Jack Kedward!

 

 Report by Mike H Mckeon-Williams