Tough 1st Game of Season

A belated start to our U16 A's season, with this rescheduled HML game vs H&F, being our first competitive run-out. While not the finished article, lots of positives on the day with great defensive work, offensive tackling and playing largely in the parts of the field, we wanted to be.

After H&F running Old Albanians close a few weeks back, we knew in for a tough game and that it was, (despite the opposition being light on forwards today through injuries), with our power up-front and a couple of opportunistic tries early on seeing us steady nerves the nerves by 1/2-time to lead 19 - 5.

With the sun coming out at the start of second half, we exchanged tries as well as yellow cards, (for a late tackle and holding on in ruck), although the game was played in good spirits and no unnecessary bad behaviour. The second half was slightly less fluid as the game broke down a fair bit, we gave away too many penalties, rotated our subs and tinkered with some positional ideas, as 3 "newbees" settled in and fatigue caught-up with a few that had also played tough school games yesterday. A late break-away try from Williams (J) and Longaretti settled the nerves for the last 10 min although H&F didn't lie down and toughed it out for another try for themselves, from there very good back line, who regularly looked like having an overlap on us but never quite fully capitalised.

Pleasing for the touchline parents to see 5 different BSRFC boys, finish-off 6 tries to 3 winners on the day, thanks to our 1st XV for letting us use their changing rooms and they seem to have been as "lucky" for our Ladies 1st HOME win of the season 26 - 24. Training on Tuesday, to work on those areas we feel will prepare us for the challenges vs Saracens next weekend and our old friends from Cheshunt on the 12th November.