Andover RFC - Youth Academy
News from the Under 14s
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Sunday, 18th December 2011
For their final game before the Christmas break the Ken White Distribution sponsored U14s hosted Wimborne in a friendly at the Goodship ground. The U14s hadn’t played the visitors in recent memory, but they were known to have a large squad and came with a strong reputation. However, they were using the fixture to give a chance to some of their developing players, so the relative strengths of the sides was something of an unknown. Andover suffered a setback during the warm-up when forward Ollie Dewell was taken poorly and was unable to play.
Wimborne let the Andover kick-off bounce and Gary Walker was up quickly to put the visitors under pressure. Andover recycled the ball which was taken on by James Marlow and Sam Walsh with a couple of powerful thrusts which took play up to the Wimborne 22. Andover again won quick ball which was spun swiftly along the line, but a final hand just prevented Tommy Macfarlane from touching down for the opening try. Wimborne were awarded a 5 metre scrum and then a free kick from which they were able to clear their line up to their 10 metre line.
Andover shovelled loose ball back from the lineout, but it was cleaned up by Jared Rolfe and then driven on by the pack in a rolling maul. Kieran Holmes did well to work the ball free and it was taken up the narrow side by Tommy Macfarlane. Andover again won the contact area and Ollie Parry used the quick ball to make a scything break through the defence to 10 metres out where he offloaded to Charlie Donnelly, well up in support, and then Gary Walker who crossed over under the sticks for a lovely try. Ollie Parry added the extras to give Andover a 7-0 lead.
Kieran Holmes took the restart cleanly and set off on a storming run through the Wimborne defence, stepping and brushing off would-be tacklers in a great solo effort only to lose the ball with the line at his mercy for a Wimborne 5 metre scrum. Wimborne won the scrum and their centre tried to run it out but was well stopped on the visitors 22 by Jamie King. Another turnover and swift hands by Ollie Newcombe gave Ollie Parry some space and he again cut the Wimborne defence to shreds with a lovely step and swerve to go over under the posts for a super try which he then converted to stretch Andover’s lead to 14-0.
Jamie King caught the restart and set off on a curving run. A pass to Ollie Parry saw him make ground and draw his man with a well timed pass which gave Charlie Donnelly a bit of space. He worked up to full steam along the touchline, handed-off the fullback and went over for a fine try in the corner. The difficult kick was missed, but Andover on fire, with lots of pace and variation to their attacks and racing to a 19-0 lead.
Andover then eased their foot off the gas, messing up the restart and allowing Wimborne to break through a couple of tackles before Tommy Macfarlane forced play into touch on the Andover 22. Wimborne were penalised at the lineout and, with everyone expecting the touch kick, Ollie Parry chose to run it. A nice feint and acceleration by Charlie Donnelly enabled him to open up the defence and Gary Walker was then on hand to show his pace, round his opposite number and cross over for an excellent fourth try to take the score to 24-0.
Andover were again sloppy at the restart and Wimborne secured a lineout just inside the Andover 10 metre line. Andover were then penalised twice in succession for hands in the ruck and a high tackle allowing Wimborne to make ground up to 15 metres from the Andover line. A further penalty for offside was stopped by a great tackle from Luke Wilkins, some good counter-rucking and scrum half Ollie Newcombe digging the ball out of the back of the ruck for Ollie Parry to kick up to the 22. Loose ball at the lineout was snaffled by George Compton who made a powerful break which was taken on by Tommy Macfarlane, Gary Walker and James Marlow, but the ball was lost in contact and Andover were again penalised at the breakdown. Wimborne’s penalty took play up to their 10 metre line, but their poor throw saw loose ball cleaned up by Nick Cannon and an offload to Sam Walsh who drove up to the visitor’s 22. Andover won good ball at the contact and Kieran Holmes burst for the line to notch up Andover’s fifth try to take the score to 29-0.
Mitchell Bennett took the restart cleanly but Andover lost possession in the tackle for a Wimborne scrum just inside the home 10 metre line. Andover’s backs were pressing hard from the scrum, but were caught offside. Wimborne’s kick ahead was well taken by fullback Ben Fraser who put in a good return kick, but Andover were again caught offside. The visitors then piled on the pressure with a couple of scrums and another penalty close to the Andover line, but the home side threw everything they had into the defence and weathered the final couple of minutes of the opening half without conceding any points. A great opening session by Andover with some exhilarating rugby backed up by some solid defence.
Wimborne sent for the cavalry at halftime, bringing on some more experienced players to bolster their side. Andover were going through a rocky patch with their restarts, knocking on another one to give Wimborne a scrum on the Andover 22. The visitors big, new number 8 broke blind but was brought down by Nick Cannon. Andover tried to rumble forward from the breakdown, but were penalised. Wimborne decided to run it and broke through the initial cover only to be called back for a forward pass when they looked on for a score. Andover tried to run from the scrum, but dropped the ball and only good work by Luke Wilkins recovered a nasty situation. Charlie Donnelly then made ground and drew his man well to put Gary Walker in space on the Andover 10 metre line, but he was called back for a forward pass. A pre-match session on the scrummage machine had obviously benefitted Andover as the front row of James Marlow, Dylan Patel and George Compton got a nudge on against their heftier opposite numbers to take the scrum against the head. Will Scobie got the ball away quickly to Ollie Parry going blind, it was then fed on, but a good overlap was squandered and Wimborne forced a turnover. Mitchell Bennett was in with a powerful tackle, but Andover were then penalised twice in succession enabling Wimborne to kick play up to the home 22. Wimborne broke from the lineout, but inexplicably their winger kicked ahead with the line at his mercy and the ball went dead. The visitors were awarded a penalty, however, and a tap and go saw them drive over for an unconverted try to take the score to 29-5. Wimborne coming much more into the game, with their substitutes making a real difference, and Andover with much more of a fight on their hands.
The visitors big number 8 ran the restart back but was forced into touch on halfway by Gary Walker. Greg Davis won quick, clean ball from the lineout which was taken on in a curving run by Kieran Holmes. From the contact Charlie Donnelly cut round on the blindside, going past a couple of defenders with a lovely dummy before shipping it on to Gary Walker on the visitors 22. He made ground and then put in a low kick past the fullback, easily winning the race for the ball to cross over for a very well worked try. The kick from wide out was missed but Andover back on the score sheet after a period of Wimborne pressure and with a comfortable 34-5 lead.
Greg Davis did very well to take a high restart under considerable pressure, but Andover were then driven backwards to their 22 for a scrum. Andover were penalised at the set piece but a quick tap and go on the narrow side was forced into touch by Tommy Macfarlane and Nick Cannon for an Andover lineout 5 metres from their line. Andover couldn’t secure clean ball, but Wimborne killed it at the ruck and allowed Ollie Parry to put in a good kick from the penalty to take play up to just short of the Andover 10 metre line. Andover were awarded a free kick at the lineout and a quick tap and go by Kieran Holmes saw him gallop through a surprised Wimborne defence to go over wide out for an opportunist try to take the score to 39-5.
Nobody called for the restart and Andover again failed to take it cleanly, one of the few weaknesses in their performance. Wimborne went blind from the scrum, but were stopped by Jamie King and Ben Fraser and forced into touch. The visitors managed to steal the lineout and their number 8 broke along the narrow side but was hauled down by a super tackle from Gary Walker. Mitchell Bennett took a good short lineout, but the ball was shipped back loosely and Wimborne were awarded a 5 metre scrum. They managed to get a shove on and their impressive number 8 picked up and drove to go over for a converted try to take the score to 39-12.
Wimborne ran the restart back strongly, but were stopped on the home 22 by Gary Walker. The loose ball was cleaned up and driven on by Nick Cannon and then Ollie Parry kicked up to the 10 metre line with a good chase from Charlie Donnelly catching Wimborne in possession for an Andover lineout. Mitchell Bennett again secured ball at the front of the lineout and drove on well supported by Dylan Patel and Jared Rolfe. Greg Davis then made a break into the visitors half, followed by Kieran Holmes, but the final pass went to ground as the whistle went for full time.
A convincing win for Andover with a good supply of ball in the first half being used to excellent effect, with some fine running, good support play and excellent passing. Andover were made to work harder in the second half, but still managed another two tries for an impressive seven overall. A great way to go into the Christmas break. Well done!
Result: Andover 39 – Wimborne 12
Andover Scorers:
Tries: Gary Walker (3), Kieran Holmes (2), Charlie Donnelly, Ollie Parry
Conversions: Ollie Parry (2)
Andover Man of the Match: Shared by outside half Ollie Parry and centre Charlie Donnelly for some very classy back play with some superb breaks, great running angles and unselfish offloads.
The Andover Squad: Mitchell Bennett, Nick Cannon, George Compton, Greg Davis, Ollie Dewell, Charlie Donnelly, Ben Fraser, Kieran Holmes, Jamie King, Tommy Macfarlane, James Marlow, Ollie Newcombe, Ollie Parry, Dylan Patel, Jared Rolfe, Will Scobie, Gary Walker, Sam Walsh, Luke Wilkins.
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