Match Report - South vs. Burton (u13's) - Nov 2014

No Soc ref, so Burton coach kindly stepped in.
Beautiful sunny day at South.
South short one player, Burton with 20 in squad lent a rolling sub.

First Half:
South kicked off...
Burton, clearly well drilled and organized, passing out of tackles and repeatedly recycling the ball... this was not going to be easy!
2' - 5 phases from kick, and Burton scrum half scores left of posts (no conv.): 0-5
Continued pressure from Burton after restart, powerful scrum meant no ball for South.
South put pressure on the Burton backs, some serious tackling from all the lads but particularly Jack, Callum and Reece, resulting in turn-over ball for South and a 50m run for Sam to the Burton 22m line on right but Burton scrum.
13' - South turn-over from another crunching tackle on Burton fly-half by Cameron, Callum pick-up, out to Jono, down the line, try to Ben, converted by Alex: 7-5
15' - Burton put pressure on from restart, get penalty 10m out, Burton charge the try line and go over but South forwards hold the ball up, scrum 5m. Burton ball, tiny scrum-half runs into Morgan who carries both scrum-half and his wing man in to touch.
16' - South line-out 5m out. Untidy South ball, fumble, Burton capitalize and score (no conv): 7-10
20' - Pressure from Burton after restart and turn-over, Burton centre 40m run down touch, few missed tackles from South until finally felled by Jack at speed!
22' - Burton pressure, phase after phase, South tackling resulted in turnover, but followed by another to Burton in return, along the Burton line, try ( no conv.): 7-15
24' - Pressure from South, 4-5 good phases to Burton 22m but first half ended with a knock-on.

Second Half:
Burton restart short. Retry in to touch on South 10m line.
27' - South line-out but turn-over to Burton who apply pressure, resulting in another try in left corner (no conv.): 7-20
30' - South restart and immediately get turn-over ball from effective counter-rucking on the Burton 22m, Morgan gets the ball and storms through the Burton defence to score (no conv.): 12-20
33' - Pressure from Burton after the South restart but knock-on near the right corner 5m from South try line. South scrum won but run in to touch 10m out. Burton line-out, Burton win the ball from the ensuing ruck and score (no conv.): 12-25
Burton threatening to pull away!
35' - Burton knock-on after the restart, win the scrum.
37' - South again turn-over the ball after more effective counter-rucking, ball out to Jack who, on the charge, proves unstoppable and scores our 3rd try under the posts, converted excellently by Alex: 19-25
40' - Burton restart but play stops for injury to a Burton player. South scrum to restart but Burton again win the ball, and threaten the South try-line in the corner, tackled 10m out but passed out of tackle to score again in the corner (no conv.): 19-30
More urgency in the South game, as we sense an unlikely victory when Burton start to tire under the constant pressure.
42' - After the retaken restart, pressure from South resulting in penalty to us on Burton 22m, quickly taken, out to Mitch and on to Alex, who eludes tackles only to be brought down just in field but knocked on.
44' - Scrum Burton 15m from their try-line, Burton ball, forced in to kicking to clear but expertly caught by Sam, perfectly positioned at full-back, who then fools everyone by ignoring the gaping space on the left, running instead straight towards the oncoming Burton forwards. Miraculously, however, and not for the first time, avoided all of the attempts to get hold of him, to score another individual try in the right corner (no conv.): 24-30
47' - Long kick in to space behind South at restart catches South napping, attempted clearance kick in to Burton player, caught by South and Burton players off-side as a result, penalty South.
49' - South run out of defence and Sam makes it to half way line, foul play injures Sam on the ground, unseen by the ref and South players understandably annoyed but take the law in to their own hands in front of the ref... tempers raised on and off the pitch result in rash decisions by all! Game brought to a premature end as a result. This should take nothing away from the passion and determination our lads showed on the pitch... For which they should be tho

Full-time: 24-30 to Burton

Summary:
A well drilled and organized Burton side, with a powerful pack but lacking players with real pace, met a developing South Leicester side with plenty of pace and passion, intent on making their mark on a game that many might have said they should lose. Burton led the way and threatened to leave South behind. South showed true grit and not a little pace in refusing to give up, staying just within contention. Burton starting to tire and South sensing an unlikely victory. Unfortunately, some ill-discipline and questionable decisions resulted in the game being brought to a premature end. This should take nothing away from the passion and determination our lads showed today, for which they should be very proud. Well done again lads!