U13s End of Season Tour Matches

BRACKNELL U13’S KICK OFF END OF SEASON TOUR BUT GET STUNG BY HORNETS
Bracknell U13’s started their end of season tour to the West Country with an evening fixture against Weston Hornets under floodlights.
The Bracknell boys started very poorly and within 5 minutes found themselves 20-0 against a very strong well organised team as a result of a lack of concentration and poor tackling. At the end of the first 15 minute quarter Weston were leading 30-0.
After a stern talking to by the Bracknell coaches the boys rallied and started to play good rugby and battled back with tries from second rowers Will Taverner and Sam Sershall. What followed was some good running rugby by both sides but Hornets equalled the tries scored with the Hornets left wing to touch down twice in the corner for them to end the second quarter 40-10 up.
The Bracknell boys continued to compete and were unlucky to concede two further tries by the Hornets right wing again to find themselves 50-10 down.
Bracknell never gave up and defended well but never really got a chance to dominate and the game finished 65-10 to Hornets who showed why they are one of the best sides in their area.
The Bracknell coaches awarded the Hornets inside centre ‘Man of the Match’ and the Hornets coaches picked Sam Sershall for Bracknell.
After the game the boys returned to Barton Camp for a night of fun and games in typical tour fashion.
The next day the boys, parents and coaches attended the Bristol Bears v Saracens game at Ashton Gate which Bristol Bears won with the last kick of the game from a penalty. Although it turned out to be a very boring game and not a good advert for running rugby with too much emphasis on aerial ping pong.
After returning by coach to Barton Camp what followed was another night of fun and games but as the boys had another match the next morning it was an early night for all of them.
On Sunday morning the tour team arrived at Clifton Rugby Club, (which coincidentally is also the training ground for Bristol Bears) for a 10:35 am kick off.
Unfortunately Clifton only had 12 players so Geoffrey Manners of Bracknell started at centre for them and within 2 minutes he drew the Bracknell defenders to put Clifton’s left winger away for the first score. Minutes later he was even more unpopular with his Bracknell team mates when he put in a try saving tackle on Bracknell’s left wing, Harrison Barter. Clifton increased the score when the Bracknell boys allowed the Clifton fullback to run in unopposed to make it 10-0 to Clifton.
Bracknell bounced back after some good rucking with Seb Corley securing the ball and putting Sam Sershall in for a try, 10-5 to Clifton at half time.
Within two minutes of the start of the second half Clifton’s left wing scored another try in the corner, 15-5 to Clifton.
Straight from the kick off James Branch caught the ball and passed to Will Taverner who scored, 15-10 Clifton.
Two minutes later Bracknell Fly half Zach Pugh intercepted on the Clifton 22 metre line and ran in to level the scores, 15-15.
Clifton bounced back with three further tries from their fullback and two from their outside centre to take the score to 30-15.
Just before the last quarter Will Taverner scored again after breaking from the half way line to make it 30-20 to Clifton.
Clifton’s fullback and centre were at it again to move the score on to 40-20 before Will Taverner went in for his hattrick followed by a great try by Harrison Barter from 30 metres out to make the final score 40-30 to Clifton.
It was a very evenly balanced game that was played with good spirit and good running rugby from both teams.
Bracknell’s coaches awarded ‘Man of the Match’ to Clifton’s outside centre who happened to be named ‘Evans’!!
Bracknell’s playmakers, Zach Pugh and Geoffrey Manners were jointly awarded ‘Man of the Match’ by the Clifton coaches.