Caldicot Under 15’s V’s Coney Hill

The visitors to the Stadio De-Longfellow road were Coney Hill from Gloucestershire. A side Caldicot had played last season at there ground and ran them close. The question is: with home advantage, could Caldicot achieve a victory? Ah....... sadly no! Coney Hill was certainly no Coney Island pleasure beach in Porthcawl and this was no pleasure ride down the bigger dipper! In fact, this was more like Caldicot’s version of Hamburger Hill: quite simple they were, sadly, blown away!

Again, due to various injuries and absences, Alan and Darren, dug deep into there box of tricks and reshuffled the team, unfortunately they did produce a white rabbit out of the hat, like Paul Daniels used to in the eighties!

Anyway, the team was as follows:

The Dark Arts (the forwards): 1) Benjamin Mckeon-Williams, 2) Jack Herbert, 3) Lewis Jones, 4) Steve Allsop, 5) Joe Russ, 6) Adam Davies, 7) Joel Brain, 8) Jack Kedward (Captain)

Looking to keep there shorts clean (the backs): 9) Nick Weaving, 10) Guy Nicholas, 11) Will Branston, 12) Liam Spencer, 13) Barney Nightingale, 14) Kieran Samules (aka Dodge) & 15) Callum Lewis.

The one water bottle carrier was Dementos

The man in the middle with the whistle, for this week’s game: was our very own Mr Simon Allsop! Again as Caldicot were playing a team from across the border, English laws applied (like they have done for the last thousand years in Wales!), which means no lifting in the line-out!

Caldicot kick off, through Guy Nicholas, who puts a long ball into the Coney Hill half, a little too long for his forwards to run onto. Coney Hill, take and a ruck forms, but the visitors infringe and it’s an early penalty to Caldicot. Unfortunately, the kick doesn’t find touch and Coney Hill kick long from the 22 drop out. Guy Nicholas takes and attacks, and pushes play into the visitors 22, but  he his well tackle by the strong Coney Hill defence; a ruck forms, but Caldicot infringe and Coney Hill take a quick tap penalty deep from within there own half.

Coney Hill spread the ball quickly and wide to there backs. Caldicot’s defence is no where to be seen and they score an early try through there winger. The score board reads: Caldicot nil, Coney Hill 5, the conversion attempt is missed.

Caldicot restart through Liam Spencer who puts a long hanging kick, again a little too long for his forwards to run onto. Coney Hill failed to gather cleanly, and knock-on, referee tries to play advantage, but none is forth-coming, and it’s a scrum down to Caldicot just inside the visitors half. They lose the putting at the scrum as Coney Hill take one against the head, but they can’t do anything with the ball, and the referee blows up. Scrum again to Caldicot, and after three attempts, Caldicot try to move the ball through there backs and Liam Spencer makes a lovely break through the Coney Hill defence, but the covering tackling is there and the attack is halted. A ruck forms and Caldicot look for quick ball as they take play into the visitors 22, but Coney Hill steal the ball and knock-on as they try to clear there lines.

Scrum down to Caldicot again still in the visitors 22, but the Coney Hill eight put a good shove on the Caldicot pack putting them under pressure. However, the ball does come back on the Caldicot side and they try to move the ball through the backs, but the Coney Hill defence is very strong and robust and they halt the home side attack. They win the ball at the ruck and Coney Hill clear there lines and find a good touch taking play back into the Caldicot half. Caldicot win the line-out and launch another attack and are looking to penetrate the Coney Hill defence, this time Liam Spencer tries to unlock them by chipping over the top. The Coney Hill full-back gathers the bouncing ball well and immediately counter-attackers putting Caldicot back on the back-foot, and he his tackle into touch.

Play is back in the Caldicot half, and they shorten the line-out, and Guy Nicholas clears the ball and puts in a fine touch finder, taking play back into the Coney Hill half. So far, for all the ball and territory Caldicot have had, they can’t break the Coney Hill defence. The ball is not straight at the line-out and the home side opt for a scrum, but the ball comes back on the Coney Hill side who kick off the top and Callum Lewis at full-back gathers well and puts up a kick to chase. Unfortunately, it’s a little too long and immediately, Coney Hill seek to counter attack through there full-back, and they spread the ball wide nearly scoring but they infringe at the ruck.

Caldicot have a reliving kick, which takes the pressure of them, and takes play back into the Coney Hill half. Line-out just inside the Coney Hill half, and they manage to steal the ball and break through, but the defence is strong by Caldicot, and Benjamin Mckeon-Williams wins the ball and makes lovely break. At the ruck, Coney Hill ruck over from the wrong side, and are penalised straight away!

Guy Nicholas takes a quick tap and go, makes a few years before being high tackled by the Coney Hill defence. It’s another penalty to Caldicot and this time it’s within kicking range of Liam Spencer, but unfortunately he misses. Coney Hill gather the ball and with great skill and advantage move the ball swiftly and counter attack from deep within there own 22. They take play into the Caldicot half, and move the ball quickly from the ruck and score a second try. It’s Caldicot nil: Coney Hill 10. This time it’s an easy conversion and the score moves along to Caldicot nil: Coney hill 12.

Caldicot restart through Liam Spencer, but again the ball is long and is easily gather by Coney Hill, but they are well tackled by the Caldicot defence. Ball is not coming back, and it’s a scrum down to Caldicot, who press the attack through there backs and Barney Nightingale manages to pierce the Coney Hill wall of defence and makes a great break taking play well into the visitors half. The Coney Hill defence eventually arrives and Barney Nightingale makes several roll-poles, but the referee doesn’t award a 10 for effort and style, instead he’s penalised.

Coney Hill clear there lines and put in a huge touch finder taking play back into the Caldicot half. They shorten the line-out and Coney Hill attack through the backs, and look to break through the defence, but knock-on. The Caldicot pack are again under pressure at the scrum and the ball doesn’t back cleanly, Coney Hill pour through and seek to attack from the break down, but fortunately knock-on. Scrum down again to Caldicot, this time they hold well, against the shove from the Coney Hill eight and Guy Nicholas clears the ball well to touch, reliving the pressure.

However, from the shorten line-out, Coney Hill attack through there backs, but again knock-on and the move breaks down. The referee plays advantage to Caldicot, who look to counter attack from deep within there own half, but nothing is forthcoming and its a scrum to Caldicot just inside the Coney Hill half. Caldicot attack through the backs but the defence from the visitors is there and they nullify the attack and push it into touch.

From the line-out, Coney Hill win the back and again with great advantage attack deep from within there own 22, but the defence from the home side is good, and they push the attack into touch just inside the Caldicot half. Line-out this time to Caldicot, the ball is not taken cleanly and a maul forms. The maul spins one way then the other, and eventually Benjamin Mckeon-Williams snatches the ball and makes a great break taking play back into the Coney Hill half. The defence from Coney Hill is very organised and strong and he’s well tackled. They manage to rip the ball and immediately are on the attack, but this time the defence from Caldicot is equally strong. Adam Davies manages to steal the ball and looks to attack.

Coney Hil are offside and the referee awards a scrum to Caldicot. However, Nick Weaving fails to take the ball cleanly from the scrum, and the Coney Hill back-row are all over him like rash and pour through on the lose ball like hungry lions looking for there next meal. With a flash of lighting they whip the ball wide and score a third try. The Caldicot defence is no where to be seen. The score board ticks over to Caldicot nil: Coney Hill 17, fortunately for the home side, the conversion is missed.

Caldicot restart through Liam Spencer who opts to kick long again, and the ball is easily gather by the Coney Hill defence, who are straight on the attack. The visitors seek to move the ball, but the referee is looking to take part in the match and gets in the way! Obstruction by the referee and it’s a scrum down to Coney Hill just inside the Caldicot half. They make several attempts at scrumming, and eventually Coney Hill get the ball away and look to attack making good ground into the Caldicot 22. From the ruck they swiftly move the ball wide and almost score but are held up over the line by last gasp tacking by the Caldicot defence. Half time whistle blows and it couldn’t come a moment to soon for Caldicot.

Caldicot turn around at the break 17 points down.

Coney Hill kick off the second half, Caldicot gather well and set-up a ruck, but the visitors steal and within seconds are on the attack seeking to build on there first half lead. Caldicot seem to have picked the pace up and there defence is there in numbers and they halt the attack. Coney Hill managed to retain the ball and press the attack, pushing towards the Caldicot try line but they lose the ball in the tackle. A fortunate let off for Caldicot so early in the second half. A Coney Hill player gives some back-chat to the referee, and Caldicot are award a penalty, and take play into the Coney Hill half.

From the ruck, Caldicot try to attack, but the impregnable Coney Hill defence is there again, but they infringe at the ruck and Caldicot trying to keep the tempo and pace of the game up and take a quick tap penalty, but the referee is not happy, and this time Liam Spencer opts to kick to touch and takes play into the Coney Hill half.

Line-out in the Coney Hill half, and again it’s a shorten line-out, but they don’t win the ball and it comes back on the Coney Hill side. Somehow Caldicot manage to steal the ball at the ruck but it’s deem illegal and Coney Hill kick the resulting penalty into touch pushing Caldicot back into there own half.

The shorten line-out is a ploy well used by both sides, and from the line-out, a well drill move results in a try for Coney Hill. The score board moves up to Caldicot nil: Coney Hill 22. Fortunately for Caldicot, the conversion is missed, and the score remains the same.

Caldicot restart through Liam Spencer who kicks off and this time it’s a better hanging ball for the forwards to run onto. Coney Hill take the ball and from the ruck break through the leaky Caldicot defence, but unfortunately they knock-on and its scrum to Caldicot. This time from the scrum, Guy Nicholas kicks over the on coming defence and Barney Nightingale catches the ball but the visitors cover is there and they steal the ball at the ruck. Coney Hill swiftly move the ball through the backs, a long pass form the outside half sends the Coney Hill winger on his way, deep from within there own half, and the Caldicot tackling is no where to be seen and they score a superb try in the corner. Score board moves up to Caldicot nil: Coney Hill 27, again the visitors have left there kicking boots back in Gloucester, and the conversion is missed.

This week Liam Spencer is gaining some kicking practice but only at the restarts! Dementos comes on for Will Branston. This time Liam Spencer kicks off but it’s easily taken by Coney Hill, however they make a rare mistake and they knock-on. It’s a scrum down to Caldicot just outside the visitors 22. A good attacking position for Caldicot as they seek there first points of the match. Caldicot look to attack through the backs, but the defence again from the visitors is superb and Liam Spencer is well tackled by three defenders. However, Coney Hill infringe and it’s a penalty to Caldicot who take quick tap through Jack Kedward and push into the Coney Hill 22 but he his a little isolated. Finally, the pack arrive and Barney Nightingale puts through a little grubber kick in vain effort to unlock the visitors defence. It almost works and from the ruck, Caldicot press the attack through Joel Brain who passes to Barney Nightingale who tries again to break down the Coney Hill barriers, but the fortress holds out, and Coney Hill clear the threat and take play back up to the half way line.

However, from the ruck, Coney Hill infringe and it’s another penalty to Caldicot. This time Guy Nicholas puts up a huge Gary Owning (and in the immortal words of Eddie Wareing: ‘It’s Up and Under’), uncharacteristic for Coney Hill the ball bounces dangerously in the 22, and Caldicot get a sniff of the try line as Barney Nightingale steams through. Coney Hill recovers well and put a huge clearing kick into touch to relive the pressure. A sniff of the try line for Caldicot is what it remains.

From the Line-out, Coney Hill steal and attack as there centre breaks through the flimsy Caldicot defence; they move the ball wide and kick through and it’s a foot race, but Barney Nightingale is there to safely tap the ball down for a drop out 22. However, Caldicot fail to clear properly and it’s not long before Coney Hill are back on the attack and they pour through the paper thin defence to score another try under the home side posts. The conversion is added, and the score line reads Caldicot nil: Coney Hill 34.

Another restart and this time Liam Spencer opts to kick long, and Coney Hill make a rare mistake and knock-on. Scrum down to Caldicot, Jack Kedward picks up and makes a break but the support is lacking and he is well tackle into touch. Coney Hill win the line-out and with great aplomb, attack deep from within there own 22. There outside throws a beautiful dummy and makes an excellent break into the Caldicot half. The covering defence eventually arrives, and he gratefully knock-on’s. Scrum down to Caldicot who try in vain to break the Coney Hill defence but it’s to no anvil as at the ruck they steal the ball and again turn defence into attack and push deep into Caldicot territory, but another knock-on halts a promising attack.

Scrum down to Caldicot just on the half way line, and they try to break through the wall of defence with a nice angle running from Liam Spencer. However, the strong Coney Hill defence stops the attack in its tracks and they immediately rip the ball and are on the counter attack. Within seconds they are breathing down the Caldicot try-lines neck, but fortunately for the home side they knock-on and in the process Simon Allsop is bold over! Sadly, Simon Allsop now has to washes his shorts, as they are little bit dirty! After a quick slurp of whiskey...... sorry water! Simon Allsop his back on his feet and the game continues.

Scrum down to Caldicot, as Coney Hill are now tighten there grip on the game and keep the pressure up on the Home side. With nothing to lose now, the Caldicot side decide to attack from deep within there own 22 and Liam Spencer chips over the on-coming defence and gains a penalty has he his late tackled by Coney Hill. The offensive takes place from where the ball as landed just on the half way line. However, from the kick Liam Spencer fails to make touch and a chance goes begging.

Coney Hill look for more advantage but the Caldicot defence is there and they opt to kick instead. However, the kick is not good and Barney Nightingale counter attacks and throws an excellent dummy and makes a wonderful break pushing play back into the Coney Hill 22. The attack from Caldicot is short lived, as Coney Hill rip the ball in the tackle and in a blink of eye are on the attack, the Caldicot defence is ripped to pieces and they score a fabulous break-out try. The score board is now looking a bit sad, as it reads Caldicot nil: Coney Hill 39, again the conversion is missed.

Caldicot are now trying to pick them selves up and keep going to the end. Liam Spencer kicks long again, but Coney Hill gather the ball and immediately look to attack and they have overlap but the pass is behind the Coney Hill player and he knocks-on. After several attempts Caldicot break and get a penalty when Coney Hill come in at the wrong side at the ruck, they take a quick tap penalty just outside the visitors 22. Benjamin Mckeon-Williams makes another break but Coney Hill knock-on at the tackle and it’s a scrum down Caldicot still inside the visitors half.

The home side showing lots of endeavour; are looking for a consolation score, keep pressing the visitors line, but they lose the ball, and immediately Coney Hill counter attack and are pressuring the Caldicot try-line. It’s a simple gave and pass; they create the overlap and it’s another try for Coney Hill. The conversion is missed and the final score reads a very sorry: Caldicot flat zero: Coney Hill 44!

Sad to say after last weeks brilliant performance against Bath, the team came crushing to earth with a very big bump today. However, they did come up against a very strong, well drill, organised and skilful team. Who could quickly turn defence into attack, and on occasions counter attack brilliantly well to score several excellent tries. Indeed, if they had kicked there conversions and several passes had stuck; the score would have read more like a cricket match!

Never mind lads: you can’t win them all! Work harder in training and take an object lesson in how to play rugby from a very good team.

Despite all that: this weeks man of the match (the author would like it know that he had no influence on the coaches choice, and that his mother was not on the sidelines shouting him on! Oh already............. she was!)

A young lad who played extremely well at tight head against  much bigger opponents; who made several impressive breaks, was very good in the lose and (OK readers: the author will get there in a minute, I’m just building the tension) tackled well. The match of the man is: Benjamin Mckeon-Williams!

 

Report by Mike H Mckeon-Williams