Andover RFC - Youth Academy
News from the Under 14s
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Sunday, 15th January 2012
The Ken White Distribution sponsored U14s opened 2012 with a friendly at the Goodship Ground against Hampshire Division 1 side Winchester. Andover had struggled against the visitors in recent years and this would be a real test of the progress they’d made in the current season. Some late reshuffling of the front row was required by the absence of George Compton through illness and the late withdrawal of George Shrapnel through a shoulder injury suffered in the warm-up. However, Andover were able to welcome back from injury Hampshire county squad member Jordan Gray and forwards Lai Suka and Alfie Thomas both making their first appearances. To enable the sides to make full use of their squads it was agreed that the match should be played as four 15 minute quarters.
Andover kicked off in cold, sunny, dry conditions, just right for running rugby. However, the chase of Ollie Parry’s long kick failed to put Winchester under any pressure and they had ample time to kick deep into the Andover half. Fullback Josh Chatee then made ground up the touchline before being forced into touch halfway between the Andover 22 and 10 metre lines. Andover secured the lineout, but a loose pass had them in trouble and Ben Fraser did well to flip it on to Josh Chatee. He made an excellent curving run outside the visitors’ defence, but Andover were penalised for offside at the breakdown near the Winchester 22. Winchester’s kick gave them a lineout just inside the Andover half and their backs then chipped into the Andover 22. Andover kicked back into the middle of the field and this time Winchester ran it. Andover’s first up tackling was poor and the visitors broke through to set up a maul just short of the Andover line. Quick ball was moved to the slightly narrower side and a simple dummy saw Winchester over from close range. The conversion was missed, but an ominous start for the home side.
Winchester let Andover back in from the restart with a forward pass for an attacking scrum 30 metres out from the visitors’ line. Winchester were then offside at the scrum, but Andover’s drive was stopped very quickly, the ball turned over and then Andover were penalised for a high tackle. With errors littering the Game, Winchester were penalised for coming in from the side at the next maul and Ollie Parry’s penalty took play 15 metres into the Winchester half. Andover tried a long lineout, but although Dylan Patel’s throw was straight, the ball was turned over and a long floated pass put the visitors’ winger outside the defence. Jamie King did well to get back to make the tackle, but Winchester were able to recycle and flop over for a second unconverted try to give them a 10-0 lead.
Alfie Thomas took the restart cleanly and made good ground. Ben Fraser took it on but Andover again offended at the breakdown and Winchester were awarded a penalty on their 22. Surprisingly they tried to run it, but managed to knock it on for an Andover scrum in a good attacking position. A quick heel by the front row of Jared Rolfe, Dylan Patel and James Marlow, and swift service by Will Scobie saw a nice break by Ollie Parry and a lovely floated pass which put Ben Fraser outside his man. He shipped it on to Josh Chatee coming up on the outside who sprinted in for a very classy try. Andover couldn’t add the extras from wide out, but right back in the game at the end of the first quarter, trailing 5-10.
Winchester’s restart was kicked back by Jordan Gray, but Andover’s chase gave the visitors too much room and a couple of missed tackles then allowed them to make ground to the Andover 22. Charlie Donnelly then put in a strong tackle to force a knock-on for an Andover scrum. Winchester got a nudge on and took the scrum against the head before spreading it wide. Again, some patchy tackling allowed them to make ground before a thumping tackle by skipper Luke Wilkins forced an Andover scrum 15 metres from their line. Winchester were penalised for not binding at the scrum and Ollie Parry put a good kick into touch on the Andover 10 metre line. Loose lineout ball was cleaned up by Nick Cannon and Winchester were penalised at the breakdown allowing Ollie Parry to work Andover up to the visitors’ 10 metre line. Aimless kicking by both sides ended with good work at the breakdown by James Marlow to win an Andover penalty 5 metres into the Winchester half. Alfie Thomas put in a strong burst from the tap with Andover winning a scrum 10 metres further into the visitors’ half. Nick Cannon then made ground with a break from the blindside of the scrum and Winchester were penalised for a high tackle. Ollie Parry placed a nice kick 10 metres from the Winchester line for an Andover throw. Solid stuff by Andover, working themselves into a good position, but the work was undone by a lost lineout. Winchester failed to find touch, however, and a powerful run by Lai Suka had the visitors on the defensive. Jordan Gray, Tommy Macfarlane and Alfie Thomas kept the pressure on, but Andover were then penalised for holding on in the tackle and were unable to convert their territory into points.
Winchester secured their lineout midway to their 10 metre line but their initial break was stopped by Luke Wilkins. They then varied their play with a little chip through but it was easily marshalled into touch on their 10 metre line. Winchester began to enjoy their own period of pressure with a good tackle needed from Charlie Donnelly to stop a threatening move. Andover then conceded a couple of penalties, the second of which Winchester ran from 30 metres out, breaking left then right. They then opened up the Andover defence with a dummy to go over close to the posts, despite a good effort by Josh Chatee. With the conversion made, Andover were trailing 5-17 in a close game, but with Winchester able to turn their opportunities into points.
Luke Wilkins put in a great chase from the restart to catch Winchester in possession just inside their 22. Andover were there in numbers and able to recycle the ball to Jordan Gray who dummied the first defender and then drove strongly to force his way over for an unconverted try. Just the start Andover needed and right back in the game at 10-17 down.
Mackenzie Whitehead took the restart cleanly, but Winchester were in quickly with a fierce drive and Andover did well to retain possession. Jamie King put in a clearing kick, but Winchester were clearly stung by the early score against them and ran it back strongly. A missed tackle enabled them to progress up the touchline, but they were just halted with a try saving tackle from Ollie Parry 5 metres out. Andover then scrummaged strongly and a good service from Ollie Newcombe and a fine kick from Ollie Parry showed textbook defensive play. Unfortunately, Andover were offside at the lineout and Winchester ran the penalty before chipping through. Josh Chatee collected the ball near his own line, beat the first man and then put in a good kick and chase to collar the Winchester defender. Andover were then awarded a penalty just outside their 22 and Ollie Parry’s kick took play up to near halfway.
Loose ball from the Andover lineout was made worse by being shovelled back under pressure like a hot potato until Andover lost possession 5 metres out from their line. Winchester moved it wide but managed to butcher a three man overlap with a forward pass to let Andover off the hook. Another good Andover scrum gave Ollie Parry time to put in a good kick up field. Ollie Dewell, making an injury substitution on the wing, showed great pace and commitment to make the most of a favourable bounce on the Andover 10 metre line to snatch the ball from under the nose of the visitors’ fullback and sprint through for an opportunist try under the posts. The kick was just missed, but a real body blow for Winchester, and Andover making the most of their chances to bring themselves back to 15-17.
Lai Suka put in a storming run from the restart, brushing off defenders to take play into the Winchester 22 before he was finally hauled down. Jordan Gray took it on from the contact and the visitors were then penalised at the next breakdown. A quick tap and go to Jordan Gray gave them no chance to organise their defence and he blasted over from close range. Ollie Parry converted the difficult kick and Andover were in the lead 22-17 having done all the scoring in a terrific spell in the third quarter.
Andover let their concentration lapse after the score and knocked-on the restart to give Winchester a scrum 25 metres out from the Andover line. Winchester ran it and, although their move lacked any bite, they gained a penalty for hands-in at the breakdown. A drive from 15 metres out was halted by Dylan Patel and Jordan Gray, but Winchester recycled and then moved it wide. Again, Andover slipped off a couple of tackles and, despite a good effort by Luke Wilkins, the visitors managed to go over for the equalising score wide out. The conversion was missed and a real ding-dong battle was poised nicely at 22-22.
Sam Walsh made a surging run from the restart to take play up to the Winchester 22. Alfie Thomas was on hand to take it on and Andover then went blind from the contact, but the move petered out with a knock-on 30 metres out from the Winchester line. Andover put good pressure on the visitors’ backs but were brought back for an offence at the scrum and the Winchester penalty took play up to halfway. Alfie Thomas disrupted the visitors’ lineout but Andover couldn’t capitalise on the loose ball and Winchester were awarded a scrum on halfway. Andover were penalised for an early push and the visitors made ground up the touchline before excellent cover by Josh Chatee and Charlie Donnelly forced them into touch for a lineout 10 metres from the Andover line. Andover secured the lineout, but the relieving kick just failed to find touch and over eagerness at the chase saw Andover penalised for offside. The Winchester tap and go was well stopped by Alfie Thomas, but Andover ‘hands in’ gave Winchester another penalty 10 metres from the Andover line. This time their drive was stopped by Luke Wilkins and Greg Davis, forcing a knock-on for an Andover scrum 5 metres from their own line. Andover under real pressure and a good shove from Winchester saw them take the ball against the head and break blind. Nick Cannon stopped the move, but Winchester recycled and moved the ball quickly to the open side. A three up, two back defence created a dogleg which Winchester exploited to put their winger in wide out. The conversion was missed, but Andover trailing 22-27 and with time running out.
Andover contested the restart strongly and forced a scrum on halfway. Winchester were penalised for offside at the scrum, but in their haste to take a quick penalty Andover knocked-on. Winchester spun it wide from the scrum, but their move was very lateral and easily marshalled by Tommy Macfarlane who forced a knock-on on the visitors 10 metre line. Andover’s move from the scrum was rather laboured and the ball was dropped. However, Winchester only regained possession temporarily and another turnover saw a great run by Lai Suka which was taken on by Ollie Parry and Charlie Donnelly to the Winchester 22. Andover were awarded a penalty at the breakdown and another strong run by Lai Suka took play to 10 metres from the Winchester line. The visitors were now on the back foot but managed to scramble the ball clear and put in a good touch kick for a lineout on their 10 metre line. Mackenzie Whitehead and Jordan Gray disrupted the Winchester throw and gained a scrum for Andover. A loose Andover pass was hacked on but reclaimed by Winchester who tried to break through up the narrow side but were forced into touch by Dylan Patel on halfway. Good lineout work by Greg Davis saw the ball whipped out to Charlie Donnelly who made a half break which was taken on by Josh Chatee coming in at pace. He made ground to the Winchester 22 before being forced into touch. Andover were penalised at the lineout, but Winchester’s kick just failed to find touch with Tommy Macfarlane making a superb catch right on the touchline. The ball was spun wide but the Winchester defence had it well covered and managed to force play into touch for the final whistle.
A super game with plenty of open rugby, with the result being contested right to the end and with neither side deserving to lose. Andover creating opportunities, but their first up tackling letting them down on occasions and Winchester making the most of this. Nonetheless, a very good performance against one of the strongest sides in the county and a couple of fine debuts from Lai Suka and Alfie Thomas.
Result: Andover 22 – Winchester 27
Andover Scorers:
Tries: Jordan Gray (2), Josh Chatee, Ollie Dewell
Conversion: Ollie Parry
Andover Man of the Match: Shared by Jordan Gray, straight back from injury with two storming tries and a fine all-round display, and Ollie Parry, for some mazy running, excellent kicking out of hand and strong defence.
The Andover Squad: Nick Cannon, Josh Chattee, Greg Davis, Ollie Dewell, Charlie Donnelly, Ben Fraser, Jordan Gray, Kieran Holmes, Jamie King, Tommy Macfarlane, James Marlow, Ollie Newcombe, Ollie Parry, Dylan Patel, Jared Rolfe, Will Scobie, George Shrapnel, Lai Suka, Alfie Thomas, Sam Walsh, Mackenzie Whitehead, Luke Wilkins.
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