6/4 U17′s Just pipped by Exeter
April 6, 2009
Newbury U17s vs Exeter (National U17s Cup South West Division Final – 05/04/2009)
Newbury’s high-flying Under 17s squad visited Wimborne on Sunday afternoon for the regional final of the National Under 17s championship, after a triumphant run, which has marked them out as one of the top eight teams in the country at this age group (and deservedly so).
Newbury started without the injured Ben West, Jack Brassey, and Jack Sherratt but the feature of this squad has always been strength in depth and so it proved in this match as the players coming into the side stepped up to the mark. Exeter were known from their victories over Bournemouth and Redingensians to have a huge pack and probably started the game as most people’s favourites, but it appeared that no one had told that to the Newbury team!
The first five minutes saw the forwards sizing each other up in the middle of the park. Exeter put up a couple of high kicks to test the Newbury fullback, but Jamie Mcintyre caught both superbly. On 8 minutes it was Newbury who showed the first real flair, with a looping run by Rhys Jenkins and the ball going wide to Darren Smith who was only stopped by a very good (if slightly high) tackle. Then it was Exeter who threatened the Newbury line only to be stopped by Ollie Spanswick robbing the ball brilliantly and Jenkins clearing safely to touch. At the midpoint of the first half it was all Exeter in terms of possession and territory, but Newbury were equal to all threats and it was unexpected when the Exeter 10 cut through the middle, only to drop the ball in the act of scoring.
On 26 minutes, Exeter had a very kickable penalty, which was surprisingly missed by their kicker. Then when Newbury managed to get the ball upfield and ease the pressure, we saw Jenkins looping again, which led to first Mcintyre then Smith running inventively at the Exeter defence. Again back with the ball deep in the Newbury half, we saw Guttridge break from defence and release the backs, the ball swinging wide to Remi Digby whose run down the touchline was stopped only by an excellent Exeter tackle.
On 37 minutes and still playing, Jim Monger caught another Exeter kick, and ran an outrageously wide arc back into the Exeter half, where Exeter infringed at the subsequent ruck, and Jenkins uncharacteristically missed the penalty attempt. As the half ran interminably on, Exeter were awarded a penalty and Tom Dyer received a harsh yellow card for a series of infringements by his team. Exeter kicked it and looked as though they would have a scarcely deserved half-time lead.
But straight from the restart, Jamie Guttridge rose high to catch the kick, Newbury drove him forward, and when the ruck formed Exeter put hands in to concede a penalty, from which Jenkins made no mistake – three points all! At last the half-time whistle came.
Two minutes into the second period Exeter responded to what must have been a very severe half-time lecture by forcing a scrum on the Newbury 22. Their excellent scrumhalf, Nathan Banks, picked up at the back and looped wide to score in the corner. The conversion was just too difficult, but now at 8-3 Newbury were on the back foot.
Newbury responded, and Mcintyre and Josh Love combined well, Scotty Wilson kicked to the corner and Newbury forced a lineout. From the lineout, Newbury drove over the line, but were held up. An Exeter forward infringed and Newbury took the penalty quickly. The ball was moved down the line, Monger ran an inside line from Chris Lawrence, and although he was stopped, Newbury were awarded a second penalty which Jenkins kicked for 6-8.
At 10 minutes an Exeter man received a yellow card for coming into the side at a ruck. Newbury now had the extra man. Wilson departed with a knock and Josh Bartlett replaced him. Despite being one man down, Exeter forced their way forward again and won a penalty, which they gratefully accepted for an 11-6 lead.
On 15 minutes Newbury won a penalty, which Guttridge took quickly. When he was stopped Exeter were adjudged not 10, and Jenkins kicked the new penalty to the corner. Dyer won the lineout cleanly, Newbury drove him across the line, and Josh Love gratefully took the ball to touch down.
Even Rhys Jenkins could not kick that conversion – from the touchline and against the wind. So entering the final quarter it was 11 points all.
Tom Sanders came on for Jack Caunt, and made an immediate impression with a bullocking run up the middle. Then on 23 minutes the whole Newbury pack joined a massive drive to take Newbury up to the 22 where they won a scrum. From the ruck which followed the scrum, Exeter were again penalized for putting hands in, and Jenkins calmly slotted the penalty to take Newbury ahead for the first time, 14-11.
With 5 minutes left, Exeter stepped up the pressure, but Newbury’s defence was amazing, tackle after tackle forcing Exeter backwards. It looked as though the pressure was over when the scrumhalf lost his footing, but somehow Exeter retained possession and their prop gathered and forced his way through to score. A successful conversion left Newbury 4 points behind with just a few minutes to play. Newbury tried to come back, but even with the fresh legs of Craigen and Maher, it was just too late and the final whistle came with the score at 18-14 to Exeter.
This has been an amazing season for Newbury Under 17s, with this group of young men finally fulfilling the potential which has been evident for a number of years, both in winning the Oxford, Berks and Bucks league, then in this superb run all the way to the National South West Final where they came within 4 minutes of a famous victory. Immense credit is due to head coach Andy Widdop and his team, and to manager Mick Futcher.
This season has seen three or four players join the club in key positions, plus a number of others stepping up their game to reveal hitherto unsuspected talents. This is combined with the fact that almost without exception the players who have shone through at Under 16, Under 15, and Under 14 …in many cases back to Under 7 have stayed in the ranks. It means Andy has been picking from a pool of players well in excess of 30, all of whom have stepped up to the mark when their chance has come. It will be a major surprise if we do not see several of this squad playing for Newbury first team before too many years go by.
Newbury: Guttridge, Love, Caunt(Sanders); Dyer, T.Clark(Craigen); Murray(Maher), Hobbs, Spanswick; Wilson(Bartlett), Jenkins; Monger, Digby, Lawrence(D.Clarke), Smith; Mcintyre; subs: Futcher, Martin
Paul Sanders U17′s roving reporter
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