U14's Green's 24 v Barker Butts U14's 20

Barker Butts U14’s 20 v Melbourne U14’s 24

A few changes to the teams this week to give the coaches and players an opportunity to try different options. Was this an A+B team or B+A team – who knows? Let’s just call it ABBA.
Benni Stevenson was back in at full Back, Joe Bruntson was starting at Centre, Finn Cribbsonson, Jack Sedge-Bergson, Lewis Altonson and Ag(nus)etha Wallison all came into the team to face a new opponent in Coventry based side - Barker Butts.
Lots of teams playing at B.Butts on Sunday morning and the sight of 100+ Rugby players stood arm on arm in a line behind the Single Bugler playing the last post before the minutes silence was fantastic and respected by all.

Quick warm up and coaches brief on the game plan and ask the boys if they understand – “We do, we do, we do, we do, we do – was the reply. After 10 minutes it was clear that “they don’t’, they don’t, they don’t, they don’t they don’t”!!
Barker Butts were pinning Melbourne back deep into their own half and making them play from deep – dropped passes and second best at the breakdown was gifting B.B’s too much time on the ball and it wasn’t long before the BB’s speedy winger outpaced the defenders to score in the corner, within a few minutes the same player quicker than a Chiquitita up a drain pipe was leaving defenders in his wake to score his second try in the corner - 10:0 to BB’s and Melbourne hadn’t strung a decent phase of rugby together.

A rant behind the posts that went something like “Boys – S.O.S - Rugby is The Name of The Game, take a Chance on Me and get that ball in your hands, go forward and start testing the BB’s defence”.
The next 10 minutes were much better and Voulez Vous we were back in the game following two quick try’s from Josh Pearchson and Seb Williams-son – both converted by Pearchson – 10:14 to Melbourne from nowhere.

Half time team talk was – I have a Dream – two more try’s and this game was won and Knowing you, Knowing me we can do this if we keep doing the simple things well. We started as we had finished the first half with a try in the corner by Taylor Swiftson to increase the lead to 10:19.
Barker Butt’s came back determined and put pressure on the Melbourne defence, great tackles and work rate from the forwards with special mention to Bjorn Turton-Borg and Max Allinson-son who were ferocious at the breakdown. Barker Butt’s closed the gap in the score following a cross field kick that bounced perfectly to their Flying Fernando on the wing who scored his third try of the morning yet gain in the corner – 15:19.
Melbourne’s play became a little too frantic going into the last quarter as they camped in the BB’s 22, lots of chances with some good runs by Bjorn Turton Borg, Taylor Swift, Tom Eaganson and Frankie Thompson-son but unfortunately the last pass kept going astray or white line fever was taking hold. Melbourne did score again through Taylor Swiftson to take the score to 15:24 but BB’s hit straight back through – yes their winger scored his fourth try who had slipped through the Melbourne defenders fingers all morning to finish the game – Barker Butt’s 20 – 24 Melbourne.

Barker Butt’s – Great Team, Tough Opposition –Played as rugby should be played, good sportsmanship and thank you for your hospitality.

Melbourne – Played well in patches, need to work on support and off loads at training – Rugby is a game played with 15 players and tough games need all 15 playing together as a team. Player of the Day – Max Allinson-son for work rate and tackle count all morning. Good to see all the boys enjoying themselves and Thank you for the Music in the Changing rooms.