Andover RFC - Youth Academy
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Saturday, 5th February 2011
Alton Colts 15 - 10 Andover Colts
Andover Colts, sponsored by the Cricketers Arms, Tangley, and ShowLite Ltd, travelled to Alton for a league match. The Andover squad were down to just seventeen players due to a combination of injuries and work commitments. Those unavailable to play included Fabian Kidd, Jack Stott, Cameron Jobson-Wood and Sam Earle; all regular first team players. The opposition looked physically stronger and more mature than the Andover team; this was going to be a difficult game. The playing conditions were to be of little help either with a strong wind and persistent drizzle in evidence.
Andover were under pressure from the kick-off, but did have the advantage of playing with the wind. Against the run of play, Andover were awarded a penalty in the thirteenth minute as a result of the Alton back line moving. Jonny Rogers duly slotted the ball home to give Andover a 0-3 lead. This was just the start that they needed.
Alton came back at Andover forcing them to contest the game in their own half. However, the forward line including Dec Gillan, Ed Cronin and Matt Moore fought for every ball and were determined not to give way. The Andover captain, James Bacon, personified this spirit by continuing to play on after his wrist had to be strapped up. Unfortunately, Andover were to succumb to a couple of injuries shortly afterwards. Tom Redshaw sustained a neck injury and had to be replaced. Then on twenty minutes, Dan Knight was literally flattened by the opposition prop having received a blow to the left eye. He too had to be substituted.
While Andover were reorganising themselves, Alton took the opportunity to score a try on twenty-five minutes, thereby giving the home team a 5-3 advantage. However, despite the loss of two influential players, Andover stuck resolutely to their task and started to exploit the width of the pitch. One such move resulted in a try. Ollie Lindridge broke down the right wing at pace and offloaded to Ryan Rooney to score. Jonny Rogers, ably assisted by the wind, converted to put Andover back in the lead; 5-10.
Andover managed to stay in front until the interval, but recognised that the second half was going to prove very challenging with no substitutes available and having to play into the wind.
As predicted, Alton came at Andover immediately from the restart. All the Andover players were fully committed to the cause and stoutly defended their half of the field. The forwards were working well in the scrum and the backs were continuing to try and breakdown the Alton defence. Inevitably, however, tiredness started to play a part. Alton brought on their substitutes to counter the problem, but with no replacements available Andover had to battle on with the same personnel.
Fifteen minutes from the restart and the Alton scrum half broke through the Andover line to score. Thankfully there was no conversion, but with the points equal at 10-10 the game had swung most definitely in favour of Alton.
Jake Kane epitomised the Andover spirit when he charged down an Alton kick and made for their try line. Unfortunately he was prevented from capitalising on the opportunity. On the twenty-fifth minute, Alton’s efforts were rewarded when a clever chip over the heads of the Andover players dropped into the hands of their scrum-half who ran home a try. With the score at 15-10, Andover had it all to do. Despite some brave forays in to the Alton half in the remaining ten minutes, Andover could not make any of them count. Consequently, the final result was a 15-10 win to Alton.
All of the Andover players are to be congratulated for a committed performance in difficult circumstances. The ‘man of the match’ was awarded to Jonny Rogers for his contribution to the game.
Squad: Luke Linssner, Matt Moore, Tom Redshaw, James Bacon, Charlie Ward, Eddie Cronin, Dec Gillan, James Ashton, Taro Rowe, Jonny Rogers, Jack Williams, Matt Woodhouse, Ollie Lindridge, Dan Knight, Will Quincy, Ryan Rooney, Jake Kane.
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