Self Belief abounds as Newbury U14 Stags win well against Camberley
Two weeks ago leafy Henley and the Thames this week, replaced by the micro climate of Monks Lane and cold dank winter morning, Newbury Under 14 Stags played host to Camberley another strong Junior Club from Surrey.
After the traditional rememberance 2 minutes silence dutifully and respectfully observed by all, the Stags kicked off into a light breeze and the training pitch work outs started to show.
Newbury began strongly attacking at pace and driving through the opposition at the breakdown and this gave Newbury a platform to release their growing in confidence midfield of Nicholls, Bates and Telford to put pressure on the defence. Camberley competed and defended well but continuous Newbury pressure began to pay off and after several ‘almost’ clear breaks Newbury produced one of their best sequences of play of the game if not the season so far with backs and forwards interchanging down the right flank only to be thwarted by an interception and break away from Camberley. Stoic back peddling in defence allowed Newbury to counter again and with great support Herrod-Taylor broke away to score under the posts for Bates to convert. 7 – 0 Newbury.
Newburys confidence was showing and dominant forward play, led from the front by Captain Ross Collington and well supported by the rest of the pack gave scrum half Andrew Maher time to run his back line. At each phase the backs attacked and broke the gain line, Bates particularly working hard to create chances and break down any Camberley counter.
More pressure was absorbed by Newbury and again after winning more turnover ball the backs combined to release Telford with a great individual run to score again under the posts. Bates converting 14 – 0 Half time
Coaches View
“Some really good passages of play. Much better in contact and we need to work a bit harder at that breakdown to release quicker ball. Pleased though, good first half and lots to build on”
Second half underway and a couple of changes brought Aaron Castle and Ollie Norman to the fray. Newbury’s effort had not waned and the guys stepped up play again to compete strongly at the tackle area. Camberley seemed more in control in the early exchanges but Newburys tackling and dominance of midfield showed no let up and Cole Bates with his midfield of Telford and Nicholls broke every Camberley attack to create a platform for Newbury.
Newburys pack drove on with Castle making an impact from the moment he arrived and this just added to Camberleys woes as the Newbury front five drove Camberley backward and the Newbury back row created more ball for the backs.
Inevitably Newbury continued to counter all that Camberley threw at them and again from a counter Herrod-Taylor broke the defence line to run in unopposed and make the score 19 – 0 with Bates converting 21 – 0.
All done except Camberley were having none of it and with Newbury tiring Camberley mounted a late charge to score in the corner and spoil a clean sheet but it was a well deserved consolation try for Camberley who’d competed really well throughout and given Newbury a stern test.
Final Score 21 – 5 Newbury and a job well done.
Coaches View:
“Good performance, Good effort and the training is paying off. Really impressed with everyone that’s played and this week they believed in themselves, defended and countered well and most importantly played as a team. Of course there are always good individual performances but the spirit in the whole squad is good and confidence of everyone is rising. Great to see the boys smiling and supporting each other.
Well done for another good all round effort.
