Caldicot Under 15 V’s Crosicylliog – 09/10/11

 

After the sun drench, palm springs of El-Dufryn (aka St Joseph) of last week, where the temperatures were in the scorching 80’s. South Wales on this Sunday, at least, had return to normal. Weather was cold, slightly wet and windy. And pleasingly Caldicot Under 15’s were back to there normal winning ways. Especially, after the inept performance last week against St Joseph, where they ended-up on the losing side.

Caldicot had return to there spiritual home of the Stadio De Longfellow Road, and the visitors were from the Police Headquarters side of Cwmbran: Crosicylliog. A side they have met on many occasions and been on the right side of winning.

Several players this week had return to the fold, having been missing last week due to injuries and absence.

The team was as follows:

The Engine room (the Forwards): 1) Steve Allsop, 2) Jack Herbert, 3) Lewis Jones, 4) Jordan Fuller, 5) Joe Ross, 6) Adam Davies, 7) Jack Kedward (Captain). No Number 8 this week, Crosicylliog had only 14 players and both sets of coaches decided to drop the number 8 position from the teams.

The Dancers, (the backs): 9) Nick Waving, 10) Liam Spencer, 11) Joel Brian, 12) Barney Nightingale, 13) Will Branston, 14) Dan Casey, 15) Calum Lewis.

The Water Bottle carriers (the substitutes):  Benjamin Mckeon-Williams, Billy Roberts, Brandon Mustoe, Dementeos, Alex North, and Will Frances.

The man in the middle with the whistle: Mr Simon Allsop!

The wind was blowing strongly in from the west and Crosicylliog elected to have it at there backs. Caldicot kicked off, and Crosicylliog gathered well and drove into the Caldicot half, only for Caldicot to win the ball at the resulting ruck and attack deep into the Crosicylliog half. The attack was halted by some fine tackling by Crosicylliog. However, Caldicot win the ruck and Jack Kedward makes a break and scores Caldicot’s first try. 5 nil to the home side – unfortunately Liam Spencer misses with the conversion as the swirling wind makes kicking difficult.

Crosicylliog restart and Caldicot gather the ball well and immediately are on the attack again, pushing deep into the visitors half.  Adam Davies makes a lovely break, and Jack Kedward is in support and takes the try scoring pass to go in under the posts unopposed. 10 nil to the home side and Liam Spencer slots the easiest of conversions to take the score line up to 12 nil for the home side.

Again Crosicylliog restart and Caldicot now have the tails up and are straight on the attack breaking out from within there own 22, but sadly the pass goes astray and Crosicylliog pick up and lunch a counter attack into the Caldicot half. Good strong tackling by Caldicot halts the attack and ruck forms, unfortunately Caldicot infringe at the ruck (holding onto the ball) and penalty goes to Crosicylliog – who take a quick tap penalty. They drive towards the Caldicot try line and are within a few feet of the line, but the ball is not forthcoming straight away. However, the ball eventually appears and the Crosicylliog number 10 takes the ball and scores a well deserved try for there efforts. The Crosicylliog number 9 adds the extra points and takes the score line to 12-7.

From the restart Caldicot put pressure on the Crosicylliog ball catchers and tackle him to the ground, and win the resulting ruck and mount attack into the Crosicylliog half. However, stout defence from the visitors stops the Caldicot attack and at the resulting ruck Crosicylliog turn the ball over, and try amount a counter attack. This time, the home side defence is solid and brings the counter attack to halt, and steal the ball at the ruck, but unfortunately Steve Allsop manages to run into the referee! The referee polity apologises for standing in the way and gives a scrum to Caldicot. From the scrum Caldicot amount attack and this time Liam Spencer opts for the kicking option, and puts through a cross kick that lands nicely into Barney Nightingale’s arms who runs in under the posts for Caldicot’s third try. Liam Spencer adds the conversion and the score board ticks over to 19 -7.

Crosicylliog restart and Joe Ross takes the ball and jigs through the on coming Crosicylliog attackers only to be tackled on the half way line. Ruck forms, but Caldicot infringe at the ruck and Crosicylliog win the penalty, they take a quick tap and go, but the Caldicot defence is robust and repulse the attack. However, Crosicylliog win the ruck and decide to put a kick through. Dan Casey sensing the move comes in off his wing and clatters into the kicker and sadly injuries himself. Unfortunately, it’s deemed a late tackle and a penalty is award to Crosicylliog. Will Frances comes on for the injury Dan Casey on the wing. Keeping the pressure up, Crosicylliog take a quick tap penalty and drive for the line but are held up by the Caldicot defence. However, the visitors can’t be kept out and eventually they cross for there second try. The Crosicylliog number 9 adds the extra points and the score line reads 19-14.

Caldicot restart and Liam Spencer puts a lovely hanging ball into the air for the forwards to run onto. The Crosicylliog defence is a little slow to claim the ball, and Caldicot pounces on it. The visitors defence wakes up and tackles the Caldicot player to the floor and win the ruck and through quick hands by the backs send there number 13 on a good run only to be tackle into touch. Line out to Caldicot who amount another attack deep into the Crosicylliog half, again solid defence by the visitors stops the attack and a ruck forms but the ball is not forthcoming and they win the scrum in a good attacking position. From the scrum Caldicot make a mistake (engaging too early), and the good attacking position is lost. Free kick to Crosicylliog who opt for the running option and try to break out of there own 22. They make good progress, but again the defence from the home side is excellent, and the attack is brought to a close and the ball is turn over as they mount a counter attack deep into the visitors half. The attack is nearly undone when the pass is almost intercepted by the Crosicylliog number 13, but sadly (for them), and not for Caldicot, he can’t quite grab hold of the ball and knock’s-on.

The pressure from Caldicot is now unrelenting as they camp in the visitors 22, looking for more points before the break. However, all the hard work is nearly undone on a second occasion when the ball is almost intercept by the same Crosicylliog player, but again his hands fail him and he drops the ball.

Scrum to Caldicot, but the pass is untidy from the scrum and Liam Spencer is well tackled, however, Caldicot mange to keep the ball alive and push again into the visitors 22, with Joel Brian coming off his wing to try and barge is way up the middle. Sadly, he gets injury in the process and his replaced by Dementeos. Scrum to Caldicot as they keep the pressure on the visitors, again another nice set move from Liam Spencer who puts through a lovely grubber kick for Barney Nightingale to gleeful take and score his second try. The conversion is missed, and the score remains at 24-15. Half time arrives.

The coaches Alan and Darren make several changes in the interval: Benjamin Mckeon-Williams on for Jack Herbert; Brandon Mustoe on for Adam Davies; and Alex North on for Jordan Fuller.

Caldicot are now playing with the wind at there backs. The kick off by Crosicylliog is not a good one and bounces aimlessly into touch. Immediately from the line out Caldicot look to attack, and Liam Spencer puts through another kick for the Caldicot runners to chase after deep into the visitors 22, and bounces into touch. Caldicot steal the Crosicylliog ball at the line out and drive for the line but are held up by the visitors defence. The ball is not forth coming from the ruck and Crosicylliog have a scrum inside there own 22. Caldicot put pressure on the Crosicylliog scrum and there scrumhalf scrambles the ball away to there number 10 who kicks to touch.

However, the relief is short for the visitors as at the line out, Caldicot amount another attack deep into the Crosicylliog 22, but there defence holds up well and they stop the move, again the ball is not coming from the ruck and Crosicylliog are awarded the scrum. The Caldicot forwards are really putting the squeeze on there opponents at the scrum and they drive the visitors back. The ball is scramble away through the Crosicylliog backs as they try and amount a counter attack deep from within there own 22. However, the Caldicot tackling is strong and hard, and the move breaks down as the Crosicylliog backs spill the ball.

The lose ball is quickly swept up by Caldicot who move the ball swiftly into Will Frances his hands and he crosses in the corner for a fine try. The score moves up to 29-14. A difficult conversion for Liam Spencer who makes a valiant attempt but the ball just drops short of the up rights.

Crosicylliog although down, but are no means out of the game just yet, and from the kick off mount a attack deep into the Caldicot 22, a place they haven’t visited for awhile, and after several rucks the ball is moved through the backs to there full back who goes on a jigging run through the maze of the Caldicot defence, who for once, don’t get there tackles in, and scores a fine sole try. The score moves along to 29-19, but the conversion goes astray as again the windy conditions take there toll.

But Caldicot are not to be out done either, and the tries keep coming! Straight from the kick off, the Crosicylliog defence fails to gather the hanging kick, and Captain Kedward, lovingly takes the ball tightly into arms and goes on a blistering run that the visitors can’t stop and scores unopposed under the up rights.  It’s a hat trick for Jack Kedward, who has played a Caption’s role in this game and lead from the front. The kick is made simple, and Liam Spencer adds the extra points. Score board now reads 36-19.

Caldicot are not prepared to set back and rest on there lead; immediately from the kick off they look to attack into the visitors half. Barney Nightingale makes a fine break and sends Will Frances soaring away down the wing, but a flaying hand from Crosicylliog brings him crashing to the floor and into touch just on the visitors 22.

At this point, Captain Jack takes a well earned rest and is replaced by Joe Ross. From the line out Crosicylliog try and amount an attack deep from within there own 22, but the Caldicot tackling is strong and on times, hard, much to the visitors travelling fans displeasure (possibly they don’t like there players getting a little hurt – legally!). After several rucks, the visitors do manage to push into the Caldicot half, but this is short-lived as the ball is knocked-on and falls into the hands of Barney Nightingale who starts a counter attack, and a possible try goes begging, as he doesn’t see the overlap out side him, and gives away the ball as he subsequently holds onto it at the ruck. This time Crosicylliog decide to kick to touch and relief the pressure, for now. However, the visitors fail to hold onto the ball at the line out and Caldicot steal and began another attack deep into the Crosicylliog 22. Again, the visitors managed to halt the attack, but the pressure is again mounting on Crosicylliog as the attacks are relentless from Caldicot who are looking to add more points.

Sure enough from a Crosicylliog scrum inside there 22, the Caldicot pack puts the squeeze on and the ball is split by the visitors as it comes out of the back of the scrum. Brandon Mustoe, always on the look out for a scrap of ball, grabes the ball, and, in typically Brandon Mustoe terrier fashion, crashes over the try line for a great flanker’s try. 41-19 to the home side, Liam Spencer, however, misses the conversion.

Before there’s a chance to catch your breath; Caldicot are on the attack again from the kick off, a good take by Alex North and he puts Liam Spencer away who opts to put a beautiful high cross kick into the air, and again, Barney Nightingale is the willing recipient and crosses the try line unopposed and gains his hat trick. Liam Spencer adds the extra points and the score line now reaches 48-19.

To Crosicylliog credit, they do keep going and from the kick off make ground into the home side’s 22. The Caldicot defence through out this game as been excellent, they have tackled robustly in the contact area, and again halt the attack, but from the resulting ruck are penalised for hands in the ruck. Crosicylliog are getting a little frustrated and tempers break out into hand bags at twenty paces! The man in the middle, with the whistle (Mr Simon Allsop) manages to claim things down, and awards the visitors a penalty. They take a quick tap and go and attack deep into the Caldicot 22, but a crunching tackle by Barney Nightingale stops the attack dead in its tracks. Sensing tempers were to rise again, the referee decides to send Barney off (yellow card), for what is deemed a dangerous tackle, although to most of the home supporters it looked fair, but hard.

From the resulting penalty, Crosicylliog try to throw the last roll of the dice, but to no avail, the Caldicot defence remains strong right to the very last (even with Barney Nightingale taking early bath!), and the referee blows for full time. Final score: 48 -19 to Caldicot.

Overall, a superb game of rugby to watch; very entertaining, with both sides showing attacking enterprise and on occasions was end to end stuff.

A vast improvement of 100% for Caldicot after the previous dismal performance against St Joseph, the team show great togetherness and were playing with purpose and intent. The defence was out standing.! Well done lads! Keep it up!

Man of the Match: Captain Jack!

Of note: Mr Simon Allsop, who refereed this game, came in for some unfair criticism and abuse from the travailing Crosicylliog supporters. This is not warranted, as Simon Allsop referred the game in good sprits and in a fair manner and tried to keep the game flowing, especially as these are only youngsters who are still learning the game. He penalised Caldicot just as much, if not, more than Crosicylliog on occasions.

The hope is that it doesn’t deter Simon Allsop  from referring in the future, and when Crosicylliog visit again they show much more respect to the referee, who after all, like the coaches and parents, volunteer to do this in there spare time for there’s and everybody else’s kids.

Anyway: that’s enough of this reporters soapbox! Next up it’s a round robbing next week: Abergavenny and Millfield High School. Yes: the Millfield High School that produced a certain Mr G Edwards in the sixties. Now then: what ever happen to him?!

Report by Mike H Mckeon-Williams