What a performance !

Match report 29/1/17

South v Northampton Old Scouts

It was soft underfoot but good conditions for a match generally and having not played Old Scouts since u13s, we were not sure what to expect. Scouts arrived with a large pack and some solid backs so it looked like it was going to be a real test for us.

We started strongly from the kick off with Josh on the img taking a clean ball and running straight at the Scouts back line, the defended well recycled only to be double tackled by Cam and Charlie close to their 22".

Scouts were awarded a penalty, cleared their line and from the set piece attacked our back line, Spencer and George putting in some lovely tackles to stop them.

We won the loose ball and some wonderful inter passing and support, from Charlie off George then to Spencer took play into the Scouts half.

Scouts rallied won the ball back and attacked the left wing, stout defence from Ollie in a driving maul stopped the attack driving play into touch.

South won good ball from the lineout and took playhard back at the scouts line, Mitch becoming a real handful at the base for the scouts scrum half. He fed the ball to Callum who scored through the tacklers for the opening score !

He then converted his own try with a stunning kick !

7-0 to South

Our concentration dipped slightly and Scouts managed to quickly even the score but missed their kick at goal

7-5 South

From the restart Luke got possession and smashed hard at the scouts tacklers, good forward support followed and as play edged forward South were awarded a series of penalties resulting in Sam, showing how much gas he's got for him to sprint over for a beautiful try ! Callum again banged over a corker of a kick for the extra two !

14-5 South

Half - time

South were really starting to fire now and play went straight back down into the Scouts half, were some lovely play from Mitch taking the ball forward, fed a lovely pass to Joe, who was on the rampage, battering his way over the line for cracking try !

Kick missed but lovely effort.

19 - 5 to South

Scouts showed their quality however and weren't giving up, scoring a well taken try outwide being the score to

19 - 10 to south

Played restarted and the Luke made some lovely ground passing to Issac in only his second game, who showed some lovely footwork and good strength to take the ball forward.

A series of set pieces followed before Callum showed some tremendous skill by cutting through the Scouts defence, seeing the space and out sprinting the tacklers for a awesome try.

Two more points form his boots and the score was

26 - 10 South

South then maintained the pressure through some excellent forward work, winning a kickable penalty near the scouts 22" - Callum was on form and bagged another three points.

29 - 10 South

Then came the play of the match, George took the ball forward from loose play, made ground off loaded to Jack on his shoulder, who too made good ground, fed to Mitch haring up in support, then to Ollie, who fed a lovely pass to Joe who was like a tank in green and white, to scream over for a fantastic try ! Just unlucky with the kick.

34 - 10 to South

South weren't finished there though and displayed some phenomenal skill, Sam, Mitch and Alex, (welcome back from injur Alex !) linking beautifully to cause real problems outwide, with Cam and Jack, immense at the breakdown, jackling like pros to win second phase ball.

From just a breakdown, George who has a massive engine and didn't stop running all day, burst through passed to Luke who off loaded to Joe, who showed great determination to score his hatrick !!

Callum scored the conversion

41 - 10 to South.

Lads, this was easily your best performance of the season and was a joy to watch. Your teamwork, attitude, guts and skill levels were first class ! Your thought about what you were doing, helped each other and showed real grit when Scouts who were big strong lads came firing back at you. You ALL played your part, from the full back to the wingers to the centres, to the half backs, to the back row, to the second row to the front row you were all immense and we are all very proud of your performance!

Man of the match was Sam Darch, who had a magnificent match, good tackling, phenomenal speed in attack ! Keep it going Sam.

Massive thanks to Neng Uaroon who sponsored the match youre a