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Kilburn 5 v 38 U16B

Kilburn 5 v 38 U16B

Stephanie Yule14 Jan 2013 - 10:28
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Mark Firth reports from an "interesting" away trip.

Tring U16’s played their 3rd league match of the season at Kilburn last Sunday.

17 players and 2 coaches arrived to find that they were to play on a “bog” of a pitch with a small lake in the middle and the pitch sloped at a 25 degree angle! The ref was “chatty” beforehand and regaled the players with stories of his time playing and thoughts on the games rules throughout the match, this pleased the “backs” no end as they stood freezing waiting for the match to restart at every lineout and scrum.

Undeterred the players followed the game plan, playing down hill in the first half and trying to play a fast running game and racking up 28 unanswered points. The second half saw a more determined opposition who clearly believed playing with the slope would enable them to claw back the deficit, they scored first but then our “kicking for territory” plan came into action and Kilburn were unnerved by playing on “green stuff” called grass at the top of the pitch and Tring scored 2 more unanswered tries to finish the match 38 -5 winners.

What pleased Andy and I was the way the players kept there focus, played for each other and got on with the game, they showed true rugby spirit and I think actually enjoyed the match despite a few moans about mud and the cold.

Our hosts were gracious in defeat, it’s a shame they have to play in such dilapidated surroundings without it seems assistance from the local RFU. No man of the match – but that honour should go to the parents who had to wash the player’s kit afterwards!

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