Our second offering for the day features Bath against Leicester,
in an old rivalry which surely has been passed down by the senior members of
the club. Leicester have reverted to the old ways, and gone with letters on their shirts instead of the common number system. Mixed reactions on social media about this, mostly in favour. Particularly for me, since it's easy to write down a different system for different teams!
Bath kick off through
the boot of Waters, and Leicester fail to take it cleanly. Bath win the scrum,
but Leicester counter well, winning a penalty as Hastings fails to release the
ball.
Leicester’s Odogwu has some real pace, and rushes down the
wing. An off load to Galletly, then onto Hills starts the next phase well, but
is fumbled in the tackle. Leicester take a later lineout and both teams look to
assert some dominance early on. A knock on by Bath in the midfield stops play
for a scrum, as we notice Giordan Murphy running about with a Hydration bib on.
Leicester’s Thacker is down, so we take a breather. Bath appear to have some
dominance at scrum time, but Leicester pick the ball up to go blind. Bath win
the lineout, but are turned over as Thacker rips the ball out of his opposite
man’s hands. A cross field kick to the winger and he takes some stopping. The
ball makes it back to Thacker; he spots a gap and runs in for the try! Sutton
misses the conversion so the score remains 5-0 to Leicester. The younger
brother of Harry and son of Troy (both hookers) is not looking out of place in
this game so far.
A second try for Thacker is ruled out as the last pass to
him goes forward, but our referee was playing advantage for a side entry at the
driving maul against Bath, so we go for the lineout. Nearly won by Leicester,
but a knock on by the receiver means a Bath scrum right against their posts.
The pass to B10 goes forward along the ground, so Leicester have the put in 5m
out. Leicester are far more frantic to attack the line, and Bath struggle to
defend the gaps. Thacker nearly runs in again, but he passes to the waiting
arms of no-one into touch. Bath clear their lines and the Leicester backs
literally run into each other to get the ball. Bath are forced to a sub, Vecchio’s
coming on for Blackmore. Restarting with a Bath penalty for a side entry.
Leicester’s backs are putting immense pressure on their Bath counterparts,
forcing Hastings to juggle a ball he could have easily called a mark for. The
rain is coming down harder though, so we may see a change in playing styles
later on.
Leicester’s forwards are still showing signs of dominance,
pushing back Bath with rucks and mauls pressuring their defence. An eventual
penalty for a high tackle brings play to a stop and Leicester aim for touch.
The driving maul that follows on from the lineout gets a second drive and
powers over the line for Hills to score. Converted by Sutton, now 12-0 to
Leicester.
Leicester don’t want to give up their pressure and attack
for all their might. A loose pass finds its way back into Bath hands, but an
isolated player leads to a turn over. Leicester keep attacking until a penalty
comes to the tigers. Bath’s captain, Bayliss, gets a talking to, and Leicester
opt for the points on offer. Now 15-0 to the Tigers, and boy is it soggy here
now!
Bath are forced into another sub, Smith on for Ransom after
another injury. Leicester now in Bath’s 22 are trying to drive on with a
rolling maul, but Bath are not going down easy. A later phase of play is
interrupted by Bath using their hands at the ruck, and Worth kicks to the
corner. Lineout goes well, and Leicester clear wide, getting the ball to Odogwu
who scores the third try for the Tigers. The conversion goes wide, so the score
remains 20-0.
Rees looks to be attempting to run through like Rokogunduni,
and the Bath patience is rewarded with a penalty. Far more Bath supporters here in Barnet, but
happy to watch their boys run towards the Tigers line. Having said that, poor
hands and a slow pass means Odoguwu is able to snipe the ball, rushing under
the posts for his second. Sutton takes the conversion, so the score now 27-0 to
Leicester.
Scrums are far less frequent during this game as, both teams
seem to want to run the advantage instead, but the handling errors are creeping
in just before half time. Our half time score Leicester 27: Bath 0
Leicester have made a sub at half time, Duffield, appearing
to be playing as a fly-half. Leicester are keen to press home their advantage,
scoring another try through the power of the forwards and the hands of Sutton,
who dutifully converts his own try. 34-0
Leicester fail to take the restart cleanly and Bath have the
put in for the scrum. Famous last words just before half time about handling
errors.
Bath win the scrum and kick for territory deep in the 22.
Leicester clear after winning the lineout but a stray Bath hand means the
Tigers take possession again.
Despite a Leicester shove on the scrum, Bath take it away
and Waters runs through the gap. Isolated, he attempts a chip through, but is
charged down. Leicester kick it back but are penalised for pushing a man out
the way. Bath sub Shrestha and MacKenzie for Dabell and Kelly respectively as
the lineout takes place.
Leicester win the lineout through a knock on by Bath, and
push back up field, turning over the Bath men, running some fabulous lines,
leading to a try by Poole. Sutton shoots just inside the right hand post and
scores. 41-0. Bath sub Oghre and Martin on for Morris-Mean and Graham.
Frost takes a quick penalty and attacks Leicester, gaining
advantage as he’s tackled by an offside player. Bath kick to touch and
Leicester make subs whilst we wait. Duffield goes off for Simmons, with his arm
in a sling. Bath win the lineout and set the driving maul. Speedy hands off the
back pass out to Frost to score, and Waters converts. 41-7
Bath are keen to avenge the scoreline, and seem to be
challenging far harder at rucks and mauls. The handling, however, is still
causing some problems from both sides, as the ball is spilt into touch.
Leicester’s lineout is won, but a penalty for playing on the floor gives it
back to Bath. Bath now have a lineout 7m out of the Leicester try line. The
lineout works well for them, and after a long ruck, the ball fizzes out wide,
for Rees to score a try. Conversion taken but missed by 22. 41-12 to Leicester.
Leicester sub Harvey and Evitt for Grimes and Green, though
I’m not sure who is on for who.
Leicester find some extra ferocity and attack the Bath
defences, looking to make back some points. Worth receives a pass at his boot
and drops it, though advantage was being played, so no damage done. The kick is
aimed to touch for another lineout, this time 10m out of the Bath try line.
Bath defend well, and eventually turn it over, breaking towards the 10m line,
before being pushed into touch.
Leicester force another lineout further down field, and go
long, but the ball goes loose in the back, cleared by Bath for a third lineout
in as many minutes for Leicester. It goes
too long and open, Bath kick it into the arms of Yawayawa, who runs it and
feeds it through his backs. The breakdown gets turned but Bath knock on,
letting Leicester put into the scrum. A free kick lets Leicester attack
immediately, until the defence of Bath brings a maul and the game to a stop.
Full time score Bath 12 – Leicester 41. Our third place team
for the Under 18 league is Leicester Tigers. Congratulations to them!
Ones to watch – Charlie Thacker. He has a family name rich
in Tiger blood, but he has the potential to be his own man, devastating when he
gains his last few inches and gets his first stripe. Watch out for this boy,
the cub has claws!
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